Growing cucumbers on a trellis in open ground - the secrets of a rich harvest

You can get a rich harvest of cucumbers only with proper care. It consists not only of regular watering and fertilizing, but also of the correct formation of the cucumber vine. It should be juicy and well developed. The trellis method allows you to achieve this state. Growing cucumbers on a trellis in open ground is what is needed for good vine growth. On such devices, the vegetable crop develops quickly and produces a large harvest in the shortest possible time.

Growing cucumbers on a trellis in open ground

What is a trellis?

A trellis is a structure that consists of support posts, a special mesh and steel wire. It serves as a kind of canvas along which the cucumber lashes will climb up. The trellis device looks like this:

1. The base consists of wooden stakes or iron pipes.
2. The stakes or pipes should be 50 cm deep into the ground for stability. This must be taken into account when choosing the length of the pillars.
3. The height of the support and mesh also depends on the selected variety of cucumbers. On average it ranges from one to two meters.

The height of the trellises ranges from one to two meters

• Trellis are installed on the ridge in one long line. If you plan to plant a lot, you can make several beds with a distance of 1.5 meters between them.
• With this arrangement, cucumbers need abundant watering. Therefore, it is advisable to immediately equip an irrigation system based on the drip method. It is attached to the lowest tier of the wire structure.


Watering cucumbers using the drip method

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When creating a trellis structure, you can even do without additional financial investments. The equipment is easily assembled from available materials - poles, ordinary wire, wooden slats. If there are no other options, you can use a wall or wooden fence as a support. The wire is fixed to a vertical surface with screws and used as a trellis.

If cucumbers are planted as ready-made seedlings, a drip irrigation system must be installed immediately before transferring the young shoots into the ground.


Growing cucumbers on trellises

What are the dangers of illiterate planting placement?

When crops are densely planted, plants are forced to compete with each other for living space. Crowding when planting cucumbers entails:

• damage by putrefactive and fungal diseases;
• unhindered reproduction of insect pests;
• abundant appearance of barren flowers;
• defective development due to lack of lighting, moisture and nutrition.

The other extreme is planting seedlings at a considerable distance from each other. Irrational use of land area means loss of potential harvest. To prevent this from happening, cucumbers are planted taking into account the growing method (in a greenhouse, greenhouse, open ground or under frame shelters). When calculating the required area for 1 cucumber bush, the size of an adult plant, the growing season, the degree of climbing, and the requirements for free space inherent in a particular variety or hybrid are taken into account. Seed manufacturers usually indicate this data on the packaging. In any case, planting density must be observed: no more than 3-4 plants per 1 m².

What are the advantages of trellises?

Recently, many gardeners have been inclined to grow vegetable and berry crops on trellises. This method is perfect for cucumbers, and here's why:

This method has only one drawback - the labor-intensive construction of the structure. However, there are also modern systems that are simply installed and just as easily removed for the winter.

Cucumbers with abundant greenery and many fruits grow on trellises

Trellis prices

trellises

Principles of trellis arrangement

The structures are located on the site according to certain rules that help achieve a good harvest with maximum convenience. For example:

• the optimal place for the structure is the south side of the garden plot, where there are no drafts;
• The installation location must be level or slightly sloping;
• The soil is chosen to be fertile or it is fed in advance with organic fertilizer to achieve a good harvest.

Cucumbers are planted in the garden next to the trellis. The distance between plants should be from 15 cm for ordinary varieties and from 25 cm for crops with lush greenery.

Layout of cucumber bushes

Preparing the beds and installing trellises

1. To begin with, a layout diagram of the trellises is developed.
2. The soil is disinfected and low beds are formed.
3. The material for the manufacture of the trellis structure is selected.
4. And the last thing would be a secure installation.

Trellis can come in different shapes and sizes. When choosing a design, you should start only from your own preferences and the dimensions of the garden.

When installing trellises, it is important to consider the location, lighting and soil on which the vegetable crop will grow.

How to install the system on site?

As a rule, most gardeners opt for a standard design. To create it, scrap materials that are unnecessary on the farm are often used. They will not look as aesthetically pleasing as more modern trellises, but they will be very functional.

Classic trellises are placed on a ready-made bed, taking into account the following recommendations:

1. The supports are dug in the center of the bed in one longitudinal line. There remains a distance of 4-5 meters between the pillars.
2. From support to support, stretch the wire in 3 rows one below the other. If the mesh will not be attached to the wire, the supports should be installed in smaller increments.
3. A metal mesh with 15x15 cm squares is tied to the wire and supports. To prevent the mesh from sagging, the top wire can be replaced with a wooden lath or a metal stick. This will add rigidity to the structure.

Metal mesh on supports

This is just a classic variation of the device. Thanks to the resourcefulness of gardeners, a lot of other, no less functional manufacturing methods have appeared.

Installation of a classic design

Prices for metal mesh

metal grid

Making different types of trellises

Trellis are quite easy to make. Among the variety of methods, the simplest is considered to be the manufacture of a wooden structure. It is the easiest to assemble, and the slats connect as quickly as possible. At the same time, it takes up very little space.

Wooden structure

When creating a wooden frame, you need to consider that:

• wooden posts made of pine are suitable as support;
• the outermost pillars must have a cut diameter of at least 5 cm and a length of 2.8 m, since they will bear the entire load;
• intermediate support pillars can be 40-50 cm shorter, cut diameter - 3.5-4 cm;
• The step for installing additional supports depends on the length of the bed: if it is shorter than 3 m, auxiliary posts may not be useful.

The table below shows the easiest types of trellis to make. At the same time, the designs are very reliable and tested by dozens of gardeners.

Table 1. Design options for trellises.

If you don’t have time to design trellises yourself, you can go to a specialized gardening store. They sell convenient ready-made structures of various shapes and sizes. As a rule, they are easy to install and remove for the winter.

Important! The supports at the beginning and end of the ridge should be much stronger than the additional ones. After all, it is they who will bear the entire burden during the ripening of the crop. Even if you plan to create a wooden structure, it is recommended to use reinforced concrete pipes as outer supports.

How to properly form cucumbers in open ground

There are many ways and methods for forming a cucumber bush, and new ones are constantly appearing. Let's look at the most popular ones.

With garters

Most methods of forming a cucumber bush require the use of a garter at least at the initial stage of growth. This is necessary, for example, when using a natural trellis.

When attached to a wire, the garter serves as a support throughout the life of the plant. The first procedure is carried out when the plant reaches 30 cm in height. At this time, the stem becomes quite strong and enters a period of active growth; 5-6 full-fledged leaves have already been formed on it. After 30 cm, growth without a garter is dangerous for the stem. This can lead to breakdown and death of the plant.

On the other hand, there is no need to tie up a plant that is too young, weak, and easily damaged. When the bush grows to the desired height, the support and tying will have to be redone.

Without garter

For short lashes, pinching and tying are not carried out. The procedure is necessary for varieties that form long vines. In this case, nets will be an alternative to tying. The lashes will attach to them on their own.

On the trellis

A wooden trellis can be designed in an original way, and it will not only support the cucumber vines, but also decorate the area. The lower shoots and 3 leaves are plucked off so that the cucumbers bear fruit well.

Using a natural trellis is a method that requires minimal effort. The bushes are planted at a distance of 20-25 cm from the fence of the site - a fence or mesh. From them, oblique ropes are stretched to the top of the fence. As a result, vines cover the hedge like a grapevine, and the summer resident reaps a rich harvest without interference. In the fall, however, you will have to work a little to clear the fence of dried lashes.

On a wire

One of the methods of formation is fastening on a wire. For this:

1. Along the far edges of the bed, where the cucumbers are planted in 2 rows, drive 2 pegs about 1.5 m high.
2. A wire is pulled between the supports.
3. Twine is attached to each plant in the first row, thrown over the wire and tied to a plant from the neighboring ridge. Before this, all the lower shoots and 3 leaves are plucked off.

When the vines grow, a kind of green hut of cucumber greens forms in the beds. The plants in it will feel great without touching the ground, will be well ventilated and bear fruit abundantly.

On the grid

Using a mesh is one of the most aesthetic and comfortable ways for a plant to support and form:

1. Mesh fabric of the required length is purchased in advance at a gardening store.
2. Two strong vertical supports (beams or pipes) are buried deep in the soil at the far ends of the cucumber row.
3. A mesh is stretched between the bases from the ground itself, slightly retreating from the stems of the bushes.
4. Secure it to a vertical base using wire.
5. Remove lower shoots and leaves from plants.
6. Periodically direct the growing lashes in the desired direction and straighten them. The vines will attach themselves to the trellis mesh.

This method, like others, allows you to control the development of each plant, care for it and easily harvest.

What varieties of cucumbers are grown on trellises?

This method can be used to grow almost any variety of vegetables. However, gardeners recommend choosing the following varieties:

• bunch hybrids of the first generation (F1): “Maryina Roshcha”, “Three Tankmen”, “Chistye Prudy”, “Anyuta”;
• varieties with rapid ripening: “Real Colonel”, “Emelya”, “Mazai”;

Cucumber variety Mazai

Important! When growing cucumbers on trellises in open ground, you need to choose varieties that are resistant to low temperatures.

Cucumbers variety F1 Sugar giant, cold-resistant

Prices for cucumber seeds

cucumber seeds

Technology and secrets of growing cucumbers in open ground

Many summer residents are interested in the question: how to properly grow cucumbers in open ground? This technological process is not complicated, but it requires attention from a person. Compliance with all the rules and recommendations will allow you to get a successful result and a rich harvest.

Growing cucumbers begins with purchasing seeds. You can prepare the seeds yourself, but in this case there is no guarantee of their fertility. There are many varieties on sale for open ground (Amur F1, Murashka F1, Aquarius, Nezhinsky, Kustovoy, Lapland F1, Petersburg Express F1, Zyatek F1). It is best to plant ready-made seedlings in open ground. Up to 4 bushes are allowed per 1 m2 of area.

Seedlings should be prepared in greenhouse conditions in separate containers (plastic disposable cups are best). It is not necessary to feed the seeds during ripening. But when planting, you can revitalize the soil with organic fertilizers. The best for this purpose is a mixture of compost, sawdust and ash (half compost and half sawdust are poured into one bucket, then wood ash is added and mixed thoroughly).

Place the prepared mixture and one bush in each hole, then cover it with earth and water it with water. After planting all the seedlings, you can sprinkle the remaining fertilizer evenly over the garden bed. During the growth period, it is necessary to periodically water the bushes. It is only recommended to do this in the evening, after sunset. If you do this during the day, the water that gets on the leaves can cause the leaves to burn out.

During rapid growth, trellises should be installed in the garden bed near each bush. This will allow you to unhindered harvesting and observe the ripening of each fruit.

Principles of planting cucumbers when growing trellises

There are two ways to plant cucumbers under trellises - by seedling method and by direct sowing. In both cases, loose fertile soil with neutral or low acidity is used for planting. But each method has its own nuances.

Table 2. Principles of different methods of planting cucumbers.

The soil under cucumbers must be kept moist, since cucumbers are very moisture-loving. The growing shoots are watered every 4-5 days. From 3 to 6 liters of water should be used per square meter of bed.

Features of care

Cucumbers are not a fussy crop. If you properly care for the beds and take into account the developmental characteristics of the plant, it will not be difficult to grow a decent harvest.

Watering

Cucumbers are moisture-loving crops, so they do not allow the soil to dry out too much. Otherwise, the green mass will dry out, and the ovary will turn yellow and fall off. However, waterlogging the soil is also undesirable, since the root system will rot and fungal infections may occur. Basic rules of watering:

uniform watering promotes the formation of beautiful, even fruits

Alternating drought with waterlogging can lead to bitter fruits and their deformation; It is important to take weather conditions into account. In dry, hot weather, the beds are watered every day; If the plants have not been watered for a long time, the volume of watering is increased gradually.

It is advisable to water the bushes with warm water. Morning and evening hours are the optimal time for watering plants. The wet soil needs to be slightly loosened.

Mulching

The benefits of mulching cannot be underestimated: mulch maintains soil moisture, looseness and fertility, and prevents overheating and cooling of the plant root system. Different materials are used to mulch cucumber beds:

• depleted soils are mulched with an organic mixture (manure mixed with hay or straw);
• A common option is mowed grass. It is not recommended to use freshly cut greens (mulch cakes, does not allow air to pass through well and can rot), or grass with seeds. Dry material is applied in a layer of at least 7 cm, otherwise the soil in the cucumber bed will dry out quickly;
• mulch from rotted sawdust improves the structure of the earth;
• Cover the ground with a special black perforated film before planting cucumber seedlings. Holes for seedlings are marked in advance. To prevent the ground from overheating too much, a white covering material is laid over the black canvas.

The dug up beds are covered with mulch in the spring. Pre-litter is removed, fertilizer is applied and the soil is moistened.

Fertilizer

During the season, the beds are fertilized at least four times. When choosing top dressing, you need to take into account the fertility of the land, climate characteristics, and season:

• after planting, manure, saltpeter, and potassium salt are used to stimulate the growth of green mass;
• When the first flowers appear, ash and superphosphate are used. The composition is added to the soil or simply sprayed on cucumber bushes;
• to prolong the growing season, use organic matter or diluted urea (15 g of fertilizer is diluted in 10 liters of water).

If the soil was well fertilized in the spring or the area is fertile, then fertilizing the cucumber bed can be applied twice (at the beginning of the season and to prolong the growing season).

Trimming

Experienced gardeners know that increasing vegetable yields is possible not only by adding fertilizers to the soil. A simple pruning procedure allows you to reduce the growth of green mass and direct nutrients to the formation of the ovary and the growth of fruits. Basic rules of procedure:

• It is better to do pruning in the morning;
• use special sharp garden shears;
• if the growth of the stems has slowed down, you need to thin out the leaves - carry out lightening pruning.

In greenhouses on a cucumber bush below the 6th leaf, all stepsons and leaves are torn off. With further growth of the plant, you can leave several side shoots (no more than six), but you need to make sure that they do not grow longer than 25 cm.

In open ground, cucumber bushes form into several stems, since bee-pollinated varieties have male flowers on the central stem, and female flowers on the side shoots.

Forming cucumbers on a trellis

As the cucumbers grow, the stems begin to twist around the twine or move along wooden slats. The gardener must help the plant. He carefully guides the stem and begins to form a bush.

Correct formation consists of two important stages - pinching and tying. It is very important to do everything right. Only in this case can you get a rich harvest of fresh cucumbers.

The formation of the bush begins when the stem grows to 15-20 cm

Stage 1. Pinching

When the plant enters the fruiting stage, it is shaped so that only the main stem and small side shoots remain. To do this, growth points are removed from the side branches.

The procedure is carried out in the summer, when the vegetable crop has already grown enough. As a rule, 4-5 lower leaves are completely removed. Also remove the first small cucumbers near the first 3-4 leaves. This will allow you to direct all the force to the growth of the cucumber bush. The first cucumbers greatly deplete the young plant, so if you leave them, you will have to wait a long time for the next harvest.

Correct pinching of cucumbers

The formation of the top occurs according to the following principles:

• starting from the 6-7th branch, the side shoots are left, but shortened by 1-2 leaves;
• from the middle of the stem to the very top, each side shoot is pinched into 2-3 leaves, up to 4 leaves should remain on the shoot;
• As a standard, the stem is wrapped around twine twice a week. If this is not done, it may tilt and break in half;
• There is no need to pinch the tops, they are simply wrapped around the twine without creases.

The tops of the cucumbers must be wrapped around the twine

The appearance of cucumber mustaches does not affect crop growth in any way. They are removed only to simplify the formation of the bush.

Important! Without pinching the side shoots, the main stem will not stretch upward. Only side branches will grow, most of them will remain at the bottom. The harvest will be poor due to lack of juiciness in the stem and will appear late.

Pinching cucumbers

Stage 2. Garter

For tying, soft elastic threads are used so as not to injure the stem. The rope is firmly tied to the top of the cucumber stem and, as it grows, it is fixed to the trellis system. As a rule, the plant is tightened every 3-4 days.

Important! Ropes should be tied tightly on ropes or slats with a “bow” or slip knot. The cords should be strong enough to hold heavy fruit without damaging the stems.

Scheme for tying cucumbers

Harvesting

The first harvest of cucumbers grown on a trellis appears approximately 5-6 weeks after planting (the timing is determined by the varieties). Thanks to the supporting structures, you can comfortably collect fruits of different sizes, using them for various purposes:

• cucumbers less than 5 cm long ripen in 2-3 days and are excellent for pickling with spices. In one jar you can combine several small pickled vegetables (cucumbers, beans, cauliflower, corn);
• popular gherkins (fruits 5-6 cm long ripen in 5-6 days) are excellent for preservation;
• cucumbers up to 13-15 cm long are especially aromatic and juicy, so they are used fresh for making salads.

During the ripening process, it is important to promptly remove damaged or twisted fruits so that they do not waste nutrition. It is best to pick cucumbers in the morning or evening.

How to care for cucumbers on trellises

Caring for the future harvest begins even before planting. The bed must be prepared in the fall. To do this, the soil is dug up with the addition of organic fertilizers, before planting it is watered and treated with an anti-fungal composition.

Autumn tillage

Caring for adult cucumbers does not require much effort. They require:

1. Watering. Cucumbers require a lot of moisture. Drying out the soil underneath inhibits the growth of the bush, and the fruits will be bitter due to lack of liquid. The bushes are watered under the stem every 2-3 days. You need to make sure that water does not get on the leaves, otherwise they will burn.
2. Mulching. It is recommended to mulch plants using dry grass or fallen leaves. This technique will help maintain soil moisture and prevent weed growth.
3. Fertilizer. Plants need to be fed every 2 weeks. Organic and mineral compounds are used as fertilizers, which are applied at the root. It is also recommended to spray the leaves with a urea solution for fruit growth.
4. Trimming. If abundant greenery has accumulated in the upper part of the bush, it needs to be thinned out. This is done in the morning so that the wounds have time to heal before evening.

With proper care, cucumbers ripen juicy and without a bitter aftertaste.

You can read more about caring for cucumbers in open ground in our article.

Prices for mineral fertilizers

mineral fertilizers

Harvesting

Creepers on trellises begin to bear fruit approximately 1.5 months after planting. With these structures, the harvest volume increases by 3-4 times compared to conventional “spread” ripening.

The fruits are collected depending on the needs of the gardener:

• pickles (ripening in 2-3 days): no longer than 5 cm, they can be preserved;
• gherkins (4-5 days of ripening): from 5 to 9 cm long, for pickling;
• greens (7-11 days): length up to 14 cm, eaten fresh.

Rotten and injured cucumbers must be removed immediately so that they do not take juices from the stem and interfere with the formation of young fruits. The optimal time for picking cucumbers is early morning and evening.

Cucumbers can be harvested when they grow to 3 cm.

What to do after harvesting?

After the end of fruiting, the stems and leaves of the cucumbers are removed. Healthy stems are sent to a compost pit, sick stems are burned. The net is removed and stored until next season. The supports must be pulled out, cleaned of soil and plant debris, then dried and removed. The bed where the cucumbers grew must be immediately dug up and the remaining roots removed.

Methods for storing cucumbers

Possible mistakes when growing cucumbers

Inexperienced gardeners may make mistakes in the process of trellis growing cucumbers. The most common of them are:

1. Formation of beds in the same place. Some gardeners plant cucumbers in the same bed year after year so as not to dismantle the trellis structures. You can't do that. The beds should be free from cucumbers for at least 2 years. This plant can be planted in areas after tomatoes, cabbage, onions, garlic, eggplants and herbs.
2. Placing cucumbers in the wind or in the shade. A good harvest can only be obtained in a warm, illuminated place, so planting cucumbers in the shade and in a draft is contraindicated.
3. Attaching trellis mesh to an iron fence. Metal sheets under the sun's rays can heat up to 50-60 degrees. The cucumber stem may simply burn before the fruit appears.

Preparatory stage

The biological characteristics of cucumbers determine the principle of growing this crop in open ground. There are many criteria that can either help you get a decent harvest, or ruin the whole idea. Therefore, prepare well before starting the lesson.

Conditions for growing crops in open ground

Cucumber belongs to the pumpkin family, which means it is very picky about air temperature. The optimal indicator for good development and growth of the vegetable is 22–27 °C during the day and from 18 °C at night. If the temperature drops sharply to 10 °C, cucumbers stop growing, and if the temperature is maintained at this level for a long time, the plant may die.

Try to protect cucumber seedlings from rain and cold

When you choose a planting date, make sure that during the emergence of seedlings the temperature will be constantly maintained at the desired level, eliminating the occurrence of return frosts. In our latitudes, planting cucumbers in open ground is carried out in late April-early May, when the soil is well warmed up. At the end of the month, you will have strong shoots, and temperature changes will no longer be scary for them.

Note! Drafts are the enemies of the cucumber vine. When choosing a place for a garden bed, choose an area protected from winds and well lit by the sun.

Predecessors of cucumber

It is highly not recommended to grow cucumbers in the same area every year: the soil quickly releases all the substances useful to this particular plant. Therefore, the land must be given rest for at least 2 years. The cucumber will feel great in the place where it grew last season:

• roots;
• cabbage;
• tomatoes;
• onion;
• eggplant;
• garlic;
• potato;
• greenery;
• legumes.

But the soil where melons grew - pumpkins, zucchini, watermelons, squash and melons - is not the most suitable place for growing cucumbers.

Rules for fertilizing and preparing soil

Growing cucumbers in open ground, including on a trellis, requires preliminary preparation of the soil. You will have to start work in the fall. Before frequent rains and frosts set in, carefully dig up the soil in the selected bed so that it is saturated with oxygen. If the soil is heavy, add sawdust, peat or sand to it to make it easier to loosen.

The beds for planting cucumbers must be prepared in advance, from the previous autumn

In addition, you will need to add organic fertilizers. 6 kilograms of manure per 1 square meter of bed is enough. You can add 1 tablespoon of superphosphate, a glass of ash or dolomite flour.

In the spring, disinfect the soil by watering it with a hot, strong solution of potassium permanganate. Immediately before planting the seeds, apply a small amount of manure or chicken droppings locally into the holes, covering them with soil. When decomposed, organic matter will release the heat necessary for the seedlings and serve as feeding for them during the period of growth and development.

Preparing seeds for sowing

Cucumber seeds have a stable germination rate that can last up to 8 years. But the best yield comes from those that are no more than 3 years old. Seeds stored from the previous harvest usually produce too high a percentage of empty flowers, so let them sit undisturbed for at least another year.

When purchasing, experts recommend paying attention to the so-called pelleted seeds, covered with a colored shell of a solution of fertilizers and nutrients - they are already completely ready for planting in the ground.

Correct selection of seeds is the key to a cucumber harvest

If you are breeding seeds yourself or purchasing them at the market, then prepare them in advance. Soak them for 12 hours in a solution of the following microelements per 1 liter of water:

• 0.2 g boric acid;
• 0.5 g potassium permanganate;
• 0.4 g of ammonium molybdic acid;
• 0.01 g of copper sulfate.

A solution of 10 ml of liquid humate per 0.5 liter of water is well suited for soaking. You can also buy a ready-made mixture at a hardware store.

After soaking, dry the seeds until they flow or leave them to germinate as seedlings in peat cups: this will help you achieve earlier harvests.

Types and options

It is very easy to make a trellis for cucumbers with your own hands. The supports for it are made of wood or metal. The designs of this structure can be different:

• rectangular - vertical or inclined;
• round - “tent” or “herringbone”;
• wall - the role of supports is performed by a fence or wall.

Trellis for cucumbers in open ground: photos of options

Rectangular trellises

The construction of a rectangular vertical trellis is not a labor-intensive process. They collect it directly from the garden. To do this you need:

1. Prepare supports 2.5–2.8 m long and at least 5 cm in diameter.
2. Make horizontal fastenings from thinner material.
3. Drive or dig supports into the ground every 2–2.5 m along the row of cucumbers.
4. Connect the supports with a crossbar along the top edge and in the middle (if necessary).
5. Stretch the twine or net, securing the lower edge in the ground and the upper edge on the crossbar.

Rectangular vertical trellises for cucumbers are easy to make

More complex designs will require more effort and material costs. The size of the harvest does not depend on the shape of the trellis. Any of them is done only so that the cucumbers grow upward and do not spread along the ground.

Video: simple trellis for cucumbers

Cucumber net

Many gardeners prefer a net so as not to waste time on tying. On such a trellis, the cucumbers themselves are secured with mustaches. If the structure consists of twines or rods, you have to attach the stems to the support every 2-3 days, twisting the lashes around it.

When using a net, there is no need to attach cucumbers to it yourself

Video: mesh trellis for cucumbers

Garter and bush formation

When growing cucumbers on trellises, the technology of gartering and the formation of bushes on a support is of no small importance.

Garter

The correct way to tie cucumber lashes to the trellis support is to do this using long strands or cords to the top bar. More often, synthetic twine is used as a suitable material. To do this, every 3-4 days the regrown branches are wrapped around the garter with due care.

Formation of bushes

The process of correct formation of bushes determines how much cucumbers on a trellis in the open ground will form a single leaf mass and grow to the desired size by the fruiting stage. The process of pinching involves the removal of stepsons, flowers and ovaries on the lower part of the stem. With further growth of the cucumber bush, only the lateral shoots remain, which are pinched when they reach a certain length.

We plant cucumbers in the soil. Growing cucumbers on trellises, under covering material

Growing cucumbers. Formation of bushes

How to properly grow cucumbers in open ground

Cucumbers in open ground. How to Get a Harvest in an Unfavorable Summer.

All about growing cucumbers. Planting seeds and seedlings of cucumbers in the ground. Part 4

The rules of stepsoning involve following the scheme in several stages:

• if there are at least 5 leaves, excluding cotyledons, remove all stepsons, inflorescences and ovaries without exception,
• When 6-9 leaves have grown in time, the stepsons are removed, leaving 1 ovary each,
• at the growth stage of 10-15 leaves, only the first stepson with two leaves and all the ovaries are left, all other shoots are removed,
• on 16 or more leaves, 1 stepson with three leaves and an ovary remain, the remaining shoots are removed.

When the main cucumber vine reaches the top of the trellis support, it is tied around the trellis and lowered down for further growth towards the surface of the earth. The top of the cucumber vine is truncated 0.8-0.9 m before the soil.

Answers to frequently asked questions from gardeners

Question No. 1: Why did the remaining plants wither and die after thinning the seedlings?

This happened due to damage to the plant root system. When thinning, cucumbers are not pulled out, but cut or pinched. Excess seedlings are removed when the first true leaf appears. After the thinning procedure, abundant watering is necessary.

Question No. 2: Why was the yield of bee-pollinated cucumbers much lower than stated?

In order for ovaries to form on cucumbers of bee-pollinated varieties, it is necessary to attract as many pollinating insects as possible to the site. You should take care of this in advance by planting plants with fragrant flowers near the cucumber bed: fragrant tobacco, alyssum, sweet peas.

Question No. 3: What to do if seed germination is low and some of the holes remain empty?

It is recommended to replant empty holes using a reserve supply of seeds. The ripening of greens on these plants will occur 1–2 weeks later, but by the period of mass fruiting this difference is leveled out.

Question No. 4: Is it necessary to dig in the stem of a cucumber when planting it in a greenhouse?

Burying seedlings stimulates the development of additional root shoots. For southern regions with a long growing season, this technique is justified. A plant with an expanded root system will give a good harvest. But in the middle and northern zones this technique is not practiced so as not to waste time. Seedlings are planted vertically, without covering the cotyledon with soil. The stems of overly elongated seedlings are covered with peat, sawdust or any other mulch.

Pros and cons of the trellis method

Growing cucumbers on a trellis has its advantages:

• plants are evenly illuminated by the sun;
• you can effectively use a small plot of land;
• when watering and fertilizing, moisture does not linger on the leaves, so the plants do not get sunburn;
• the work of caring for and harvesting is facilitated;
• When collecting fruits, the lashes are not damaged.

When using a trellis growing method, it should be taken into account that vertically located plants require more fertilizers - the need for phosphorus increases by 20–30%. They are also susceptible to the drying effects of wind and sun, so they need additional watering.

Video: making a trellis with your own hands from scrap materials

Growing cucumbers on a trellis allows the plant to absorb solar energy more efficiently. Additional light radiation accelerates the development of cucumbers - stems and leaves grow faster, flowers and fruits develop. Light intensity affects the yield, which depends on the ratio of male and female flowers. In bee-pollinated varieties, when there is insufficient illumination, more male flowers are formed, and when there is high light, the number of female flowers on which fruit ovary is formed increases.