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Pinching cucumbers: how to increase the yield without causing harm
05.07.2024 04:10
One of the important aspects of cucumber care is pinching, which can increase the yield and improve the quality of the fruit.
Pinching is the process of removing excess shoots and lateral shoots from a plant.
This is done so that the vegetables can spend more energy on growing fruits, rather than on growing foliage and side shoots.
When to pinch
It is best to pinch cucumbers within three weeks after the sprouts appear.
At this time, the plant does not have many leaves and shoots yet, so removing the extra ones will not harm the plant. Also, if you notice that lateral shoots have started to appear, they also need to be pinched to increase the number of fruits.
How to pinch
To pinch, use sharp garden shears or pruning shears.
It is not recommended to do this by hand, as this can damage the plant and cause it to become diseased.
You only need to pinch off excess shoots and lateral shoots that do not grow in the pollination site.
There is no need to pinch the leaves, as they play an important role in photosynthesis and plant nutrition.
Afterwards, do not forget to remove the cut shoots so that they do not attract pests and cause diseases.
How to increase harvest
Here are some more useful tips:
1. Fertilize your plants correctly. Cucumbers need nutritious soil and regular fertilization. It is best to use complex fertilizers for vegetables.
2. Provide proper watering. Cucumber, perhaps more than any other vegetable, needs enough water to keep it from drying out and rotting. However, do not overdo it with watering, so as not to cause rotting of the root system.
3. Ventilate the greenhouse or growing area. It is important to provide enough fresh air to avoid diseases.
4. Monitor for pests and diseases. Inspect regularly for pests and diseases so that you can take prompt action to eliminate them.
5. Pick cucumbers on time. It is better to pick them daily or every 1-2 days so that they do not overgrow and become bitter.
Earlier we wrote about why the onions grew soft, watery and tasteless.
