Pruning Cukes and Identify Suckers and Tendrils

[Shawn]

Here is a video (basically for outdoors) that shows how to Prune a Cucumber plant.  It also shows where the suckers are and the tendrils

It is okay to prune cucumbers.

Prune cucumbers throughout the growing season. Watch for new growth points and get rid of them while they’re under 2” long. Additionally, be on the lookout for damage and disease which should be removed immediately.

Young cucumber plants may get ahead of themselves and flower while they’re still small. Clipping off the lower flowers redirects the energy to stem and leaf growth, leading to more fruit in the future.

Lateral shoots, flowers, and fruit that develop on the lower 5-7 leaf nodes should be removed. This is especially important on seedless greenhouse types of cucumbers, as they can support only one fruit per leaf node. If more than one fruit develops, remove it.
Find more on this Here - 

Here is a VIdeo from Johhny's

[lynnee]

These videos are so instructive! Maybe they should be stickied, Shawn?

[Shawn]

Mar 28, 2022 11:56:04 GMT -5 lynnee said:

These videos are so instructive! Maybe they should be stickied, Shawn ?

Will do

[Sher]

I wish I had known that when I was trying cucumbers. Thanks, Shawn!

[lynnee]

Hopefully I can remember to review this thread again when my next Mini Munch gets going! I never took new growth points off until the plant was really large. 🥒

The growth points can develop rather extensive vines of their own. These produce some cucumbers, but they get entangled with the main vine. Then the cucumber plant is hard to control even with the 36" of growing height in a Farm 12 XL.

[subarumike]

I feel stupid because I watched the first video twice but I still don't know 100% what is what and I don't want to pinch off the wrong thing I wonder if I should let the sucker grow a little but before I pinch them? I just don't want it to delay growing the cucumbers.

[lynnee]

Aug 29, 2024 21:01:08 GMT -5 subarumike said:

I feel stupid because I watched the first video twice but I still don't know 100% what is what and I don't want to pinch off the wrong thing I wonder if I should let the sucker grow a little but before I pinch them? I just don't want it to delay growing the cucumbers.

Sounds like a plan! My cukes have never minded undergoing major surgery to sort out overgrown vines. Once you see what the plant does naturally, you'll be able to identify the suckers when they're small.

I learned how to identify the growing tips on tomatoes by doing exactly what you propose for your cukes.