How experienced summer residents "blind" cucumbers and why they harvest more than those who do not know about the procedure
Want to harvest more cucumbers? Then a fiery salute, comrades, restless summer residents! Take a break from weeding the sow thistle for a moment - today I will talk about such an interesting technique for increasing the yield as "blinding". This is one of the options for the formation of a cucumber bush, which significantly increases the yield in kilogram equivalent.
What cucumbers should be "blinded"
Globally, there are 2 types of cucumbers: self-pollinated (they were also called by the abstruse word parthenocarpic, God forgive me) and bee-pollinated (those that need an insect visit for the ovary to appear). So find glasses and carefully read the inscription on the bag of seeds that you planted. And their formation is fundamentally different.
To form a bush of bee-pollinated cucumber, you need to pinch the central shoot over 5-6 leaves. Because female flowers grow on lateral strings. Everything is simple here.
But to the comrades who found the inscription "parthenocapic", I advise you to make "blinding".
What is cucumber blinding and what is it eaten with
This is a kind of shock therapy for the cucumber bush. In the course of the gardening operation, we will remove quite a bit of the green part at the bottom of the plant.
- After manipulation, the cucumber tries to compensate for the lost. Starts develop more actively the "top", with which the citizens will reap the fruits.
- The time of fruiting is approaching and it becomes more active. This is because the removal of a part of the bush, albeit a very small one, becomes a stress factor for the plant. And it tries to continue its race as soon as possible. Seeds, naturally. And for this you have to give as many cucumbers as possible. Get the baskets ready, comrade!
- Nice bonus. Most parthenocapic varieties and hybrids tend to be beautiful and very productive. "bouquet" fruiting. This is when cucumbers effectively grow in clusters of several pieces. So, it is the blinding that helps the plant to do such a beautiful thing.
Comrade! "Blinding" cucumbers is an absolutely safe and absolutely effective procedure. Of course, if everything is done correctly.
How to blind a cucumber
The first step is to wait until the plant has reached a height of about 50 cm. Fortunately, the cucumber is very nimble, so you won't have to wait long.
Blinding is carried out only dry. And in the sense that you thought about, so as not to be mistaken and not to do a lot of business in the greenhouse. And in another: it is necessary to guess the time for the procedure so that the plants are dry and remain for another day until the next watering. This is a precautionary measure; so that fungi and bacteria that rage under the condition of moisture do not get into the wounds on the plant.
Now counting 4-5 leaves from the bottom of the plant. From their sinuses, boldly cut with sharp scissors:
- flowers - preferably before they open;
- shoots;
- mustache;
- perhaps ovaries, if you have already missed the flowering time.
Do not touch the leaves themselves! It is very important. Let them continue to participate in photosynthesis. From the "blinding", the cucumber will at first be stunned, and then it will begin to bear fruit diligently.
I recommend to everyone! If you are afraid, try on at least one plant. I am sure you will like the result!
Are you growing cucumbers and was this article helpful? Press, comrade, "Thumbs up"! Sincerely yours, Fyodor Tyapkin-Sklyankin, with a wish for space harvests. Ogurtsov and not only.