Each gardener wants to collect the largest possible crop from his plot (whether it be a greenhouse or a garden). One way to increase the yield of cucumbers is pinching (pinching). This method is suitable for almost all hybrid varieties, but it has a certain implementation technology, which is different for cucumbers grown in a greenhouse and open ground. It will be discussed in this review.

Why pinch cucumbers

The pinching of cucumbers is due to the fact that this climbing plant gives many shoots. A bush is formed from the main whip, in the axils of the leaves of which lateral shoots arise, a large number of which adversely affect productivity.

If you do not control the growth of the plant, then a lot of shoots are formed, and the main lash grows excessively in length. The leaves to its edges are located farther from each other, and the distance between the side branches increases significantly.

Important! Trimming one stepson is a plus of 2.5-3.5 kg of cucumbers.

The disadvantage of such cultivation, when the gardener does not interfere with the growth of cucumbers, is that the crop yield suffers. The bush looks thick, spreads along the ground, which negatively affects the yield - the plant transfers almost all of its nutrient resources to maintaining the overgrowth of shoots, and not to the number of fruits.Another problem of such cultivation is this: the deciduous massif creates a dense shadow, which is why fruiting also becomes scarce.

In the presence of a limited garden plot, such a use of space is economically disadvantageous. Large cucumber bushes occupy a large area. It also requires a lot of time, effort, watering and top dressing, and the crop does not cover expenses.

All these problems can be solved by cultivating the plant by controlling the growth of cucumbers. For this, the procedure of pinching, or pinching, is used.

The essence of the technology is that the side shoots that occur in the axils of the leaves (they are called stepchildren) are cut off. Thus, cucumber growth is controlled.

Despite the fact that it is the lateral shoots that bear fruit, everything can not be left, as too dense vegetation will form. Excess stepchildren need to be removed, leaving only the necessary amount. In this case, cucumbers will bear fruit better earlier.

It is impossible to remove absolutely all stepsons, since a significant loss of foliage will affect the ability of plants to photosynthesis, because of which it will weaken and may even cease to bear fruit.

Cucumber leaves need to be trimmed carefully, at a certain time, and only certain shoots - in this case, it turns out to form a beautiful bush densely dotted with fruits.In addition to increasing the yield, pinching has such a positive effect:

• the bed looks well-groomed, and it is easier to look after it;
• on the trimmed bushes the fruits are better seen, therefore harvesting is simplified;
• if the plants are tied to trellises and grow vertically, then during the rainy summer the fruits do not rot;
• cucumbers begin to bear fruit earlier - already in mid-July;
• fruiting lasts longer, up to and including autumn.

The benefits of pinching get any cucumbers - and those that grow in the garden, and those in the greenhouse. And if the former are still able to do without stepsoning, because in the open ground they do not have such a strong deficit of space and light, then greenhouses, deprived of the sun and free space, need to be trimmed and a bush formed.

How to pinch cucumbers

Cucumbers begin to stepson before the beginning of July - in the first half of summer. Later pruning is allowed only when the crop is planted late.

Important! The length of the shoots (stepsons) is crucial in pinching. It is best to clean the sprouts when they are still 4-6 cm long. If the shoots have already reached almost 20 cm in length, then pinching will have no effect.

The growth of each side branch leaves nutrients that the plant could spend on the ripening of greenery. And if the stepson has time to grow long, then this negatively affects the yield - minus 1.5-2 kg of fruits from the bush.Stepsoning is a simple process. With one hand, leaves are removed that interfere, and with the other, a side shoot is cut off, which is closer to the stem. If the shoots are still small (up to 6 cm), then you can simply pinch them off with your fingers.

And although the procedure seems quite simple, it has its own nuances in the greenhouse and in the garden. Different growing conditions determine different requirements for the formation of a cucumber bush. Therefore, there are several basic schemes for pinching cucumbers in a greenhouse and open ground.

In the greenhouse

The requirements for the conditions of plant maintenance, when they grow in the greenhouse, differ from similar ones in the garden. This is due to the fact that the space of the greenhouse is very limited, and the bushes are planted densely. Cucumbers are not able to spread along the ground, and crampedness provokes the shading of some plants by others.

Therefore, the stepson of the greenhouse cucumber culture solves several problems in a positive direction:

• lack of space;
• insufficient amount of light;
• low productivity.

Greenhouse cucumbers are grown by tying them to trellises, along which they stretch vertically upward. The main lash is tied to the trellis immediately after the seedlings have been transplanted into the ground. After this, stepsoning is carried out taking into account the basic principles:

1. In a greenhouse, it is best to form one lash without side shoots. This is due to lack of space. If you leave the lateral sprouts, then they will need to be tied up later, and this is impossible in limited greenhouse conditions. If the side shoots are twisted around the trellis along with the main stem, then it will be shaded, which will also negatively affect the yield.
2. Trimming of lateral shoots and leaves takes place not earlier than the appearance of 5-7 leaves on the plant.
3. Shoots that have reached a length of 5-6 cm are removed (in this case, the plant will tolerate the procedure with minimal stress).

Did you know? Cucumbers having square fruits are not fiction. A similar species was developed after breeding in the United Arab Emirates.

Pinching of greenhouse cucumbers is carried out according to the following scheme:

• when the first 5-7 sheets are formed on the whip, the first pruning is performed;
• all lower lateral leaves, sprouts, shoots and even flowers are removed up to 4-5 leaves, the most healthy and strong remain;
• when the plant grows up, then in the next section, in which 3-4 leaves appeared, remove all stepsons. Let the ovaries form;
• in the next section of 4-5 leaves, leave processes with two leaves and an ovary;
• all subsequent shoots need to be pinched on every third leaf.

If you follow this pattern, the shape of the bush is obtained in the form of an inverted Christmas tree. This is a classic scheme, the most convenient for growing in a greenhouse.

After the main stem grows too long, it is thrown over the trellis so that the top descends to the ground. If you do not want to lash too long, you need to pinch the top of the main stem, which is the growth point when it grows into a trellis of 6 leaves.

The same applies to the side shoots that have reached the trellis - their tops are pinched.

The stepsoning of balcony cucumbers is carried out according to the same scheme as the greenhouse ones. The difference is that the amount of space on the balcony is even more limited. Therefore, it is necessary to limit the growth of the bush up.

To do this, just pinch the top of the plant after the appearance of the tenth leaf. In this case, the bush will grow lush and compact, without taking up too much space.

Important! The ovaries of cucumbers that are 70 cm above the root grow twice as fast as those below. That is why it is necessary to rid the plant of all lower stepsons, since they significantly inhibit the development of the upper fruits. After this procedure, all the forces of the plant will go to the formation of roots and a strong stem, which will significantly accelerate the ripening of the crop.

In the open ground

Outdoor pinching can be similar to that used in a greenhouse. Such a scheme is relevant if you plant the bushes very tightly, tie them to the trellises and form a vertical growth.Another method of pinching is used if the bushes are formed horizontally and spread along the ground. This method is good if the site is spacious and allows you to maintain the distance between the bushes.

The stepsoning of cucumbers in the open ground for the formation of a lush bush is carried out according to the following scheme:

• conditionally divide the whole plant into 4 parts (4 leaves in each);
• in the lower part, remove all shoots, leaves, flowers and processes up to 4 leaves;
• in the next section on the lateral branches, leave only one ovary and one leaf, and remove the rest;
• in the third part, you need to leave 2 leaves and 2 ovaries on each shoot;
• in the last section, leave already 3 sheets and 3 ovaries;
• pinch the growth point of the main lash - the plant will cease to grow up from this, but all the side shoots will actively grow.

In addition to the stepsons, on the cucumber bush, you also need to remove all the antennae, dry and damaged shoots and leaves, because they take away the forces that can go on the formation of greenery.

Important! Cucumbers are a photophilous culture. With a lack of sunlight, they will slowly grow and bear fruit poorly, and greenery will be small and lethargic.

What cucumbers do not need to pinch

To understand whether you need to pinch absolutely all the cucumbers, you should pay attention to the structural features of each individual variety. Not all types of cucumber culture grow very much, and therefore pinching is not necessary for some varieties.

Such types of stepsons do not need to be trimmed:

• forming only one stem and not growing;
• those that bloom only with female flowers;
• growing in the form of a bush and not releasing curly stems;
• releasing only short side shoots.

Varieties that do not need pinching include:

• Northerner;
• Valdai;
• Gribovchanka;
• Winter storm;
• Sarovsky F1;
• Petrovsky F1.

Did you know? Cucumbers owe a bitter aftertaste to male flowers. To avoid the appearance of bitterness, you need to get rid of most male inflorescences, leaving mostly female.

Pasynkovanie cucumbers - this is a painstaking process, but not time consuming, it requires attention to plant growth. However, after performing the necessary manipulations, you will receive not only neat bushes that are easy to care for, but also a denser crop, and cucumbers will be early, juicy, large and devoid of unpleasant bitterness.