For many crops, pruning or trimming is as important as watering or fertilizing. Often, when it comes to pruning, gardeners make mistakes.
Don't think that pruning only concerns fruit trees and shrubs. Experienced gardeners "trim" even cucumbers.
Let's figure out what can be cut off on cucumbers.
First of all, the leaves on the shoots are cut off. And this is not a fiction, but a real and mandatory procedure. Pruning allows you to form cucumber vines, thanks to which the forces will be distributed evenly - to the formation of fruits, and not just to the growth of greenery.
Subtleties of pruning
1. For hybrids, it is recommended to trim the upper part - above the sixth leaf. The plant will bear fruit well if you leave three subsequent shoots on the sides.
2. During harvesting, the upper leaves are not cut off, as they are needed for the formation of fruits.
What is the effect?
Cucumbers will get sick less often, will not be attacked by pests as often, will begin to grow and ripen faster, and will also bear fruit longer.
This procedure has absolutely no drawbacks, if, of course, it is carried out correctly.
It is worth keeping in mind that the need for pruning in open beds depends on the climate. In hot weather, it is better to leave more leaves to create shade, and in a rainy summer, just the opposite - the foliage will interfere.
