Growing and forming cucumbers on a trellis in a greenhouse and open ground

It is not surprising that high cucumber yields are easiest to achieve when grown on trellises. By its origin, an ordinary cucumber is nothing more than a tropical liana. This fact easily explains why cucumbers are so drawn to the light and wrap their tenacious tendrils around any support.

All vines grow very quickly and choose a favorable location relative to the sun. Cucumbers are no exception, but they prefer not the sun, but the sliding shadow.

What is a trellis

The neat design, which helps green cucumber stems grow freely and trail, is deservedly popular among summer residents and experienced gardeners. The trellis not only helps to save space, but also allows you to comfortably grow vegetables.

Among the variety of designs, it is easy to choose the appropriate option. According to the method of arrangement, there are two types of trellises:

• single-plane - the optimal choice for arranging small beds. Structures 1.5-2 m high provide plants with good lighting and ventilation. Such trellises can be used as partitions;
• two-plane - a good solution for arranging large double-row beds. Installed at an angle.

Trellis are constructed from different materials. Manufacturers offer supporting structures made of plastic and metal. Most often, gardeners use improvised materials to build supports: stakes, sticks, metal reinforcement, rims from bicycle wheels.

Advantages of using the trellis method of growing in open ground and greenhouses

The most common method of growing cucumbers is arranging trellises. It is easy to monitor the growth of fruits and prevent overripening. But the trellis option has other advantages:

• site area is saved;
• the green mass of bushes receives enough sunlight and is well ventilated;
• the number of ovaries increases, the fruits do not lie on the ground and remain clean;
• comfortably care for plants and harvest;
• the green mass remains dry, which reduces the likelihood of disease.

There will always be available tools on site for arranging a trellis and you won’t have to spend a lot of time installing it. In a greenhouse, you can use the frame as supports.

Reviews from gardeners

Natalya Klin

In my opinion, growing cucumbers on a grid is very convenient. The mesh is coarse-mesh, made of nylon threads, and has been in service for about 15 years. The cucumbers do not need to be tied up - they cling on their own, they are always well ventilated (which means there are fewer diseases), it is convenient to collect and they are always dry and clean.

Source: forum.prihoz.ru

mishan

That year, cucumbers were planted on a trellis; the harvest was simply huge. For this we want to use a plastic grille, I think the result will also be excellent.

Source: indasad.ru

How to place it correctly on the site

Cucumbers are a moisture-loving crop, so it is advisable to place the beds near a water source. A universal option is to install a drip irrigation system. At the same time, water will be used sparingly, each bush will receive full watering and the liquid will not get on the leaves and stems.

To ensure that the plants are illuminated evenly and receive equal portions of illumination, the trellises are placed in the east-west direction. For comfortable maintenance of plants, the distance between the beds should be 0.8-0.9 m. If the bushes are planted in two rows, then a distance of 0.15-0.2 m is maintained between the rows.

When growing any vegetables, it is important to follow the rules of crop rotation. It is not recommended to plant cucumbers in one place for more than two seasons in a row. Therefore, it is advisable to install simple structures that will be easy to assemble/disassemble and move to another location.

Installing a simple support

Cucumbers begin to be planted in early spring.

• The part of the garden prepared for growing vegetables must be loosened to a depth of 10 centimeters and divided into cells. This will be useful if the summer resident is going to make a support for cucumbers with his own hands. The width of the cage between the posts should be 1 meter.
• After installing the posts, the ground must be loosened again.
• Before the cucumbers are planted, twine is stretched across the supports in 3 rows with a distance of 20 centimeters.
• The first shoots of the plant must be secured with twine, slightly wrapping the tendril to form the correct direction of growth.
• Once the cucumber vines reach a length of 30 centimeters, they need to be tied up. To do this, use fabric strips of 3-5 centimeters: wire or thin threads can damage the stem.

How to install correctly

The structures are assembled from different materials. Correct installation of supports will allow the trellis to reliably support the weight of green mass and fruits. Primary requirements:

• the posts are dug into the ground to a depth of 0.5-0.6 m. The earth around the supports is carefully compacted so that they do not lean;
• on short beds, it is enough to install racks along the edges and secure one crossbar to them;
• if the beds are long (more than 1.5-2 m), then intermediate supports are additionally installed between the outer posts. The distance between adjacent racks should not be less than two meters.

High beds, which are framed around the perimeter, are becoming increasingly popular. In this case, it makes sense to install arched structures, the support posts of which can be fixed to the side walls of the frame.

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DIY making

The choice of the type of structure is influenced by several factors: the area of ​​the plot, the size of the cucumber beds, the availability of materials for self-arrangement of the trellis, and the personal preferences of the gardener. But we must take into account that a cucumber bush can have a significant mass due to the weight of the stems, foliage and fruits. Therefore, any supports must be strong enough.

U-shaped system

The structure is installed along the rows of cucumbers. To construct it, strong supports are dug in along the edges of the bed (wooden posts, metal pipes, slats 2-2.5 m high are used). In order for the structure to remain stable, the distance between the supports should be no more than 2.5-3 m. The tops of the supports are connected by a crossbar.

A mesh is stretched between the vertical supports along the bed. To tie the stems, use strips of fabric or hemp rope. When growing highly growing varieties, it is advisable to tie each bush to a separate rope support.

Frame made of wooden sticks

The classic principle of trellis formation is preserved - support posts are dug along the edges of the bed. To weave cucumber branches, a lathing made of long slats is fixed between the posts. The main difference is that the tops of the supports do not have to be connected by one crossbar if one lattice is installed.

On long beds it is necessary to install intermediate supports. To increase the strength of several connected gratings, a crossbar is secured between the supports.

From scrap materials

It is not necessary to spend money on purchasing a special net, especially for arranging a short cucumber bed. Resourceful summer residents use various materials at hand as support for the stems. An original solution is an armored bed mesh. Naturally, its canvas is fixed on vertical supports. Place the mesh vertically. A horizontal crossbar to which you need to attach the upper part of the mesh will help prevent the wire frame from sagging. You can also attach the net near the wall of the house or wrap it around strong tree branches.

Hut construction

This trellis is installed on short beds and is suitable for growing poorly growing varieties of cucumbers. Thick, even branches, wooden sticks, and ropes are suitable for arranging the structure. The main stages of creating a “hut”:

• Along the edges of the bed, at a distance of 35-50 cm, sticks are stuck to a depth of at least 30 cm.
• The tops of the sticks are tied in pairs and fixed on one common crossbar.
• To weave the stems, you can fasten several horizontal ropes to supports. Or each bush is tied separately to a vertically fixed rope.

An excellent solution is to weave some kind of mesh from horizontally and vertically fixed threads. You can choose the size of the cells yourself.

Round

The original method is to “use” unnecessary bicycle wheels, from which the spokes are first removed.
Secure round supports to different ends of a strong stick or metal pipe using screws. See also Possible diseases of cucumbers in open ground and methods of their treatment

The threads are pulled vertically between the rims and secured in the holes from the knitting needles. Cucumbers are planted in a circle around the trellis. Such designs look very original and decorate the site in an unusual way.

Typical gardener mistakes

When growing cucumbers, many gardeners encounter problems that lead to deterioration in the quality of the fruit or a decrease in yield.

So, the lack of feeding entails:

• shedding of ovaries;
• yellowing of leaves;
• fruit deformation.

If the cucumbers on the trellis have acquired a non-standard shape, this may be a signal:

• lack of potassium - the shape of the cucumber becomes pear-shaped;
• lack of nitrogen - this is evidenced by the narrow, lighter, curved tip of the cucumber;
• temperature fluctuations and watering with cold water - this can be “indicated” by a narrowing in the middle of the fruit, similar to a woman’s waist;
• infrequent watering - cucumbers can grow crooked, in the form of an arc.

What varieties can be grown

Before choosing the type of structure and method of its installation, it is advisable to decide on the variety of cucumbers and the characteristics of their cultivation.

Bunch hybrids

The peculiarity of the varieties is a large number of ovaries (more than 3 female flowers are formed in each node); hybrids are both parthenocarpic (do not require pollination by insects) and bee-pollinated. The fruits ripen are small in size (gherkins and pickles). Other advantages of hybrids:

• cucumber bushes are characterized by consistently high fruiting;
• the fruits do not outgrow;
• Since several ovaries are formed simultaneously in the nodes, several fruits ripen at once (about 12-15 pieces).

If the yield has decreased, there may be several reasons: high air temperature, lack of moisture, excess nitrogen fertilizers. It should also be taken into account that these are very light-loving varieties of cucumbers, so shading reduces yield.

Varieties with weak branching: Balalaika F1, Bouquet F1, Alphabet F1. Since the plants do not need pinching much, horizontal trellises can be installed on the beds. Plants with powerful branching (Petrel F1, Balcony F1, Karapuz F1) require constant formation of bushes and grow well on vertical trellises.

Fast maturing

Early ripening varieties have a short period of fruit ripening. From the emergence of seedlings to the collection of the first fruits, 38-52 days pass. When choosing varieties, you need to decide on the growing method.

Bee-pollinated varieties can be planted in open ground; this is done in the second half of May. Popular types of cucumbers are Rodnichok F1, Muromsky 36, Murashka F1, Amur F1.

The best choice for a greenhouse is self-pollinating varieties. The best choice is Zozulya, Masha F1. The German F1 cucumber variety deserves attention (the yield per square meter of planting reaches 25 kg).

With abundant branching

Such varieties require constant attention. To simplify care, vertical trellises are installed on the beds and each bush is tied up separately. Cucumbers can be grown in greenhouses and in open ground, but it must be taken into account that plants have a long development period. Good branching is the key to long-term active fruiting. Common varieties: Burevestnik, Bogatyrskaya sila, Boy with Thumb.

With moderate branching

Such cucumbers do not need constant attention, but it is impossible not to form bushes for a long period. The varieties differ in the average period of fruit ripening. It is recommended to plant plants in greenhouses. Popular varieties: Nasha Masha, prestige, Russian style. Breeders have managed to develop cucumber species that are distinguished by limited shoot growth, but at the same time maintain a long fruiting period (Ant F1, Grasshopper F1, Mazai F1).

Garter technique

Methods for gartering cucumbers are selected depending on the design of the trellis. The main options: vertical, horizontal and mixed. They begin to tie up the plants before the tendrils appear, but not earlier than the stem reaches 30-40 cm.

In the first method of gartering, the plant is tied with a rope, which is vertically attached to the upper support point and sets the upward direction of growth.

The material for the garter should be strong and elastic, the knot should be secure, but easily untied as needed, so that the ropes can be tightened during the growth process.

The horizontal method is used on simpler support structures, made of ropes stretched between vertical supports dug into the ground.

This method has a significant drawback: the whip may stop stretching upward, catching on the lower row of ropes and then spreading to the side. This may damage other plants planted nearby.

The mixed/hybrid method is used when installing supports diagonally. For example, when branches installed at an angle were used to make trellises.

With any method of gartering, it is recommended to create additional support points for the plant by passing the lashes through ropes or other supporting structures in a checkerboard pattern, which will subsequently help the plant not to break under the weight of the fruit. This must be done carefully, without damaging the delicate stem of the plant.

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Advantages of the trellis method:

• saving space in the garden, cucumbers on a trellis can be a decoration for your garden
• uniform heating, lighting and ventilation
• increased yield, earlier onset of fruiting and longer fruit harvest period
• caring for plants is simpler, it’s easy to pick fruits, weed and water without fear of stepping on the plant
• cucumbers become more resistant to diseases because the foliage of the plant is not in contact with the ground and is well lit

Planting principles for trellis growing

Planting is carried out in two ways: seedlings and seeds. In both cases, the soil is first loosened and moistened. The choice of trellis depends on the area of ​​the bed and the variety of cucumbers. It is advisable to install the structures before planting seedlings or seeds.

Planting seedlings in open ground

In order for the harvest to appear faster in the cucumber bed, it is recommended to plant seedlings. There are no specific dates for planting seedlings - climatic conditions are the guideline. The planting scheme depends on the type of trellis and the variety of cucumbers. The optimal distance between bushes is 25-30 cm.

You can start staking seedlings after 3-4 weeks, as soon as the stem grows 30-35 cm long. It is important not to miss this moment, since the stems still retain their elasticity. The stems of older plants may simply break when tied. If a special mesh is used, then the stem can be passed through the cells several times. In the event of a sharp spring cold snap after planting seedlings in open ground, it is advisable to cover the trellis with covering material.

Seeding

As soon as the surface layer of the earth warms up to 15 ° C, seed material can be planted in the beds. Before planting, the seeds are heated for 2-3 hours and then soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate for half an hour.

A common scheme for sowing seeds: 3-4 grains per meter of bed (you need to decide in advance on the type of trellis). If cucumbers are planted in two rows, a distance of 40-50 cm is maintained between the holes.

Round and arched designs

They are more difficult to implement. Creating an arch is especially difficult, but it looks incredibly beautiful.

The choice of a specific option depends on the amount of square meters of land allocated for supports, the selected material of manufacture and personal preferences.

How to properly form cucumbers on a trellis

You need to tie up the stems and form bushes throughout the season. Otherwise, the side branches will grow and the harvest will be very meager. Without timely dressing, the stems may break or shade the cucumber planting.

Topping

An important procedure is needed to form cucumber bushes. Pinching increases yield. The plant is pinched in such a way as to preserve the main stem and several shoots.

The removal of growth points on the side branches begins in the summer, when the bushes have grown sufficiently. To direct nutrition to the growth and development of fruits, the lower leaves (3-5 pieces) and the lowest small fruits are also picked off. The main subtleties of bush formation:

• Each side shoot is pinched approximately above the middle of the stem (3-4 leaves can be saved on them);
• to prevent the stem from breaking during growth, it is regularly wrapped around a rope support;
• the tops of the bushes are also wrapped around ropes.

Expert opinion

Stanislav Pavlovich

Gardener with 17 years of experience and our expert

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Important! The tendrils do not need to be specially torn off - they are removed only when forming individual bushes, making sure that neighboring plants do not intertwine.

Garter

Cucumber stems can grow more than 2 m long. And if the green mass is not tied up in time, the stems will get tangled and break. With the trellis method of growing cucumbers, three types of tying the stems are practiced.

Vertical

The essence of the method is simple - high supports along the edges of the bed are connected by a crossbar to which ropes are tied. The lower end of the twine is fixed on a peg stuck near the cucumber bush. If you do not use pegs, it is recommended to wrap the cucumber stem with fabric tape, to which a support rope is tied. The number of rope supports of the trellis should correspond to the number of bushes in the bed.

This method is practiced when growing vegetables in greenhouses. In large buildings, ropes can be tied to the greenhouse frame. Or they build a special frame - a sheathing, which is installed on supports. Vertical staking makes it easier to control the growth of individual bushes.

Horizontal

The most unpretentious method of arranging trellises, which can be used by beginning gardeners. Along the edges of the bed, low posts are dug in (height 1-1.5 m), onto which several parallel rows of twine are secured. The horizontal supports should be pulled tight enough so that they do not sag under the weight of the green mass and fruits. Therefore, you can use thin wire or rope for these purposes.

The distance between horizontal rows is 0.2-0.3 m. The first level is located at a distance of 0.15-0.2 m from the ground surface. To make it convenient for the cucumber stems to climb up the trellis, in some places the horizontal supports are intertwined with vertically located ropes.

See also how many days do cucumber seeds sprout after sowing: reasons for the lack of sprouts

This method of gartering is convenient when growing cucumbers in small open beds. It is only important to control the growth of the stems - long plants will hang down and shade the bushes in the garden bed.

Net

The special canvas is easy to attach to vertical supports. A mesh of thin plastic cells measuring approximately 10x10 cm is stretched between the posts. Manufacturers offer the material in rolls 5-500 m long and 1.7 m wide.

Interesting! It's easy to weave a mesh support yourself. Use thin wire, jute or hemp rope, thin rope. It is easier to fix the mesh on wooden supports, and the size of the cells can be chosen arbitrarily.

General properties

A rigid (or trellis) mesh performs more than one task. With its help, you can organize even the longest and tangled lashes. This allows you not to give up growing cucumbers in a small bed, thanks to good space savings. They are also attached to the mesh to help collect sunlight and heat that may be missing.

Regardless of the material of the products, cucumbers on the net will be convenient to collect. In addition to those listed, the design has other tasks:

• The soil underneath is easier to loosen and mulch.
• Plants suffer less from fungal diseases.
• The stems and flowers are better protected from damage than if they were on the ground.

These structures can be installed even on uneven ground, which will allow you to use previously unsuitable areas of the garden.

The lashes attach themselves using antennae. But it is believed that they need to be attached so that the bush grows further and the tendrils do not die off, which will increase the yield.

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:

• Even 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.

Preparatory stage

Before installing the trellis, it is necessary to perform a number of preliminary works:

Optimal conditions for growing cucumbers

Agricultural technology for cucumbers consists of observing certain conditions that contribute to the successful cultivation of this crop and high yields.

Lighting

Cucumbers need light, since its lack will affect the appearance of the bush:

• the shoots will rapidly stretch out;
• leaves will lose color;
• flowering will come later and will be scanty;
• the taste characteristics of the fruit will be of poor quality.

The amount of heat

To germinate seeds, the minimum soil temperature must be at least +12°C. Before planting, you should make sure that the soil is warm enough, and for this you can use either technical devices or pay attention to natural clues: the flowering of lilacs and yellow acacia. If there is a lack of heat, this vegetable crop will not grow. For planting, it is better to select an area on the sunny side.

Moisture

There are periods when cucumbers need abundant watering, but at the same time there are times when it is completely undesirable to water the bush. The period of active growth should be accompanied by abundant soil moisture, which will contribute to a good set of vegetative mass. However, you should not over-fill the soil to prevent water stagnation and cause rotting of the stem. When the first flower buds appear, watering is curtailed, stimulating the development of female flowers. Over time, watering is gradually increased, reaching its maximum value by the time the green plants appear on the vines.

The water temperature for watering cucumbers should be warm and be +20…+25°C. It is better to water in the evening, without getting on the foliage. Cucumbers urgently need all the conditions listed above, since the lack of at least one of them can significantly affect the development of the bush and the volume of the harvest. In addition, before determining a landing site, you need to make sure that the place is sufficiently protected from strong gusts of wind. It should also be mentioned the need for high-quality soil fertilizing, which will be discussed in more detail below.

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Predecessors of cucumbers

It is recommended to plant cucumbers in the area of ​​the garden where the following vegetable crops were previously grown:

• tomatoes;
• potato;
• cabbage;
• onion;
• pepper;
• legumes

Soil and bed preparation

Pre-landing preparation must necessarily include:

• soil condition monitoring;
• soil cultivation;
• soil fertilization.

Cucumbers are best planted in open ground with the following characteristics:

• loose;
• with good breathability;
• moisture-absorbing, capable of absorbing and retaining moisture;
• well warmed by the rays of the sun, warm;
• no weeds;
• well fed with organic matter;
• neutral, with a slightly acidic reaction.

The most commonly used organic feeds are:

• manure;
• mulch;
• chicken manure solution;
• mullein tincture;
• pine needles;
• complex mineral fertilizer.

To maintain looseness, you can add to the soil:

• peat;
• sand;
• old sawdust;
• humus.

Selection and installation of trellises

The first step is to develop a scheme for planting cucumbers in a given garden plot, and after that, make a decision on the choice of material from which the trellis will be built.

It can be made from:

• wood, log houses;
• gland;
• concrete pipes;
• become;
• twine ropes;
• grates.

As a rule, the height of the trellis is 2 m above ground level and 0.5 m deep into the soil. The installation procedure of the structure must be carried out carefully, without damaging young shoots.

The process involves:

1. Installation of main supports, which are often used as wooden sticks. They are dug in to the above depth at intervals of 4 m.
2. Stretching rope, wire or nailing wooden horizontal guides, depending on the chosen material. The crossbars must be quite strong so that they do not bend under the weight of the bushes with the harvest.
3. If you plan to use the trellis as a decorative element, then it can be made openwork, with patterns of metal or wooden elements.

• twin structures - a powerful structure combining 2 rows of cucumber bushes;

• hut - often used as decoration, used in small areas;

• living trellis - planting tall vegetable crops, such as sunflower or corn, which are planted together in one area and grow at the same time, is used as support.

Planting seeds

There are 2 ways to grow cucumbers in open ground:

• sowing seeds;
• planting seedlings.

1. Selection of high-quality planting material. To do this, it can be poured into a 3% saline solution, in which good seeds will settle to the bottom of the container, and unsuitable seeds will remain on the surface of the water.
2. Treatment with a weak solution of potassium permanganate (1%), which will help kill possible infections.
3. Soaking in a solution of wood ash for 6 hours.
4. Rinse.
5. Wrapping with a wet cloth.
6. Warming up in the sun on the windowsill.

As a result of these manipulations, the seeds become slightly swollen, ready for immediate germination. All varieties of cucumbers are suitable for planting in open ground; you just need to carefully read the instructions on the packet of seeds, focusing on the desired taste characteristics, fruit size, harvest volume and resistance to diseases and pests. It is worth paying attention to hybrid varieties that have a large number of positive characteristics, are resistant to many diseases and are easy to care for.

The timing of harvest ripening should not be overlooked:

• early ripening;
• mid-season;
• late.

Sowing in open ground begins from mid-May to mid-June. During this period, the soil is already sufficiently warmed up and there is no possibility of frost returning, the maximum duration of daylight hours is observed and high rates of air heating are recorded. All these factors contribute to successful germination and rapid germination of seeds.

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.

Useful tips

To get a high yield of quality fruits, experienced gardeners advise paying attention to the following recommendations:

1. The seed selection process is very important. It is not recommended to use seeds that have been collected recently, as this will prevent the formation of female flowers, the number of which determines the volume of the cucumber harvest. Planting material has a fairly long germination period, which can reach 8–10 years, so you should carefully look for the expiration date for the seeds indicated on the paper bag in the store. As a rule, it is 2–3 years from the date of collection. It is better to choose those seeds whose age is more advanced.
2. A cucumber bush will delight you with good yield if it is not overloaded and no more than 20 cucumbers are left at a time.
3. During flowering, insects can be attracted to provide pollination. To do this, use a hot aqueous solution with the addition of sugar and boric acid.
4. To increase the number of female flowers on the bush, it is recommended to stop watering for a while before flowering begins. This provokes a self-preservation reaction, since the plant perceives this as a threat to its vital activity, and it begins to form fruits more intensively.
5. An option to enhance fruiting is cross-pollination of different varieties, provided that different types of cucumbers are planted close together.
6. To obtain a larger harvest, it is recommended to remove the first ovary. In this case, the plant becomes stronger and produces more fruits.

What to do after harvesting

At the end of the season, the cucumber bed is tidied up. The remains of plants are dug up and dry leaves are swept away. Sorting is carried out - healthy plants are pulled out and filled into a compost pit, and diseased bushes are necessarily burned.

To extend the life of the trellis, it is dismantled:

• The trellis net is carefully removed and rolled up. Rope supports can be untied and wound into balls;
• the racks are pulled out, cleared of soil, and left to dry in the open air for a while. It is advisable to store both metal and wooden trellis posts indoors.

After removing plant debris and dismantling the structure, the soil is dug up, the remaining roots are pulled out and burned.