Forming a cucumber bush correctly is a rather troublesome and complicated matter. After all, the concept of molding includes a lot of parameters. Actions aimed at increasing fertility and improving the health of the plant are related to them.
Many summer residents believe that a bush can be formed by cutting off an extra stem and side shoots. But this approach is fundamentally wrong and even harmful. It will be more important to remove the leaves rather than the extra stems.
By the way, pinching the bush gives an increase in the number of ovaries, but removing the leaves allows these ovaries to gain strength and not catch the disease. The plant remains healthy and is supplied with fresh air. This is very important for fruit growth.
How to identify a leaf unnecessary for a plant
Of course, when we talk about removing leaves, we do not mean completely removing the leaves. And not even most of it. Only those areas are removed that interfere with the proper development of the vine. After all, the leaves of a cucumber are a very important tool with which the bush receives nutrition. If too many leaves are removed, the plant may die. But even if the bush survives, then you will not get cucumbers from it.
The leaves must be torn off pointwise and extremely carefully, trying not to damage the stem. Now I will explain how and which leaves you can and should get rid of.
1. Old lower leaves.
If the sheet has already served its purpose, then it must be removed. He not only does not benefit, but also pulls off nutrients on himself.
You have probably seen that from below the leaves begin to look withered, sluggish, they change color. The plant does not need such leaves. They can be safely torn off or cut off if neatness is not your strong point.
You might think that the leaves turn yellow due to lack of nutrients or moisture. In fact, this is not the case. Blame it all on time. These leaves are just very old. The plant has already built up a worthy replacement for itself and does not need them.
2. Growth point.
For a number of varieties, you need to pinch off the extreme part of the vine. It is better to do this together with the last leaves. As a rule, this technique is practiced after the plant has released 4 real, full leaves. Otherwise, the lack of green mass and low absorption of nutrients will be noticeable.
If there are many barren flowers on the bush, then this procedure will be extremely useful, because then lateral shoots form, they also form a color and an ovary. Accordingly, the yield rises. Pinching allows the plant to release additional vine (s). You will certainly be pleased with the harvest from this bush.
3. Side vines
You can remove the side shoots, of course, along with the leaves. Yes, completely. The plant will only get better from this. Then fruits begin to form on its main branch. Not all shoots can be removed and not completely. Often there is simply a strong pinching of additional lateral vines. Here you need to look at the bush itself and its fruiting.
4. Sick leaves.
If the leaf for some reason becomes stained, turns yellow and does not look the way a full-fledged cucumber leaf should look, then it must be removed. Often during the growth of cucumbers, its leaves change color. Sometimes this happens from lack of nutrition, or time (old age of the leaf). This can be observed with a sharp change in weather. Leaves do not withstand temperature changes and react to it in the same way. If all the leaves have changed the color, you do not need to leave the bush without a crown. It is necessary to include a sense of proportion and remove only those leaves that will definitely not be able to fulfill their function.
5. Dense green mass.
If there are too many leaves on one branch, then they need to be thinned. This will enable light, sun and air to penetrate the bonds. Which will have a beneficial effect on productivity.
