Is it necessary to remove the runners from cucumbers when growing in a greenhouse or open ground?

To ensure a good harvest, gardeners try to employ a variety of agricultural practices. The question of whether to remove cucumber runners is a concern for many. These shoots are essential for the climbing plant to securely attach to its support. Whether to remove runners or not is a matter of debate, and the debate continues. Each person must decide for themselves.

Reasons for trimming mustache

In cucumbers, runners are shoots and leaves that have taken on this shape. They form from the leaf axils to support the stem, which is unable to hold itself upright. The main advantage of this type of attachment is its cushioning—the stem stretches and then returns to its original position. This feature allows the plant to receive more sunlight, which it needs.

Trimming cucumber runners is common practice when growing them in a greenhouse. In these conditions, there's no need for additional support, so they can be removed. This also makes harvesting easier.

Reasons to remove cucumber whiskers

There are several main arguments in favor of this type of treatment. All of them apply to cases where cucumbers are grown in a greenhouse and do not need to compete for light:

• If you need an early harvest, the cucumber tendrils will only slow down the ripening process of the fruit, taking away nutrients from them;
• When cucumber bushes are planted close to each other, the runners often cling to neighboring stems, getting tangled and creating unwanted shading;
• If dense thickets appear, they interfere with proper care of the plants;
• In greenhouse conditions, plants are fixed with twine, so they do not need tendrils.

The reasons listed are based on the characteristics of this crop. However, some gardeners find them insufficiently substantiated.

You may be interested in:

DIY cucumber supports
Growing a good cucumber harvest requires more than just planting seeds and watering the sprouts. Cucumbers love…Read more…

Reasons against removing cucumber whiskers

Not all experts agree that it's necessary to trim cucumber tendrils. It's worth listening to their arguments to form your own opinion:

• there is no reliable data to support the fact that such shoots take away strength from the plant;
• the antennae die off on their own if they do not find an obstacle in their path;
• pruning requires a lot of time and effort;
• the procedure must be carried out very carefully, otherwise it may cause damage to the plant;
• shoots appear again at high speed.

The usefulness of this technique is questioned by many gardeners, who can achieve high yields without it.

How to properly remove cucumber whiskers

To trim cucumber runners, you need to know how to do it correctly. Pulling or pinching them off by hand is not recommended, as this method often damages the plant. It's much easier to use sharp garden shears or pruning shears.

You may be interested in:

Controlling spider mites on cucumbers in a greenhouse
If you're wondering how to get rid of spider mites on cucumbers in a greenhouse, it's worth checking out folk remedies...Read more…

Before performing the procedure, wash your hands with soap to avoid introducing additional germs. You can wear gloves, but wipe them with disinfectant first. The instrument should also be disinfected. The remaining cut should be at least a couple of centimeters long. After a few days, it will dry out and fall off.

In the greenhouse and on the balcony

Many people plant cucumbers in greenhouses, and some even manage to grow them indoors in windowsill boxes. In a polycarbonate greenhouse or on a balcony, it's best to remove the runners. It's enough to leave just a few shoots so the plant can cling to the support. Once the plant is firmly attached to the trellis, all the remaining shoots can be cut off.

A dull tool will leave creases at the cuts, so scissors must be sharp enough. After pruning, the beds are watered and fertilized with mineral fertilizers to strengthen the plant's immune system and speed up recovery from stress.

You may be interested in:

Why aren't cucumber ovaries growing in the greenhouse?
Many gardeners and summer residents wonder why cucumbers aren't growing in the greenhouse—they're setting fruit in large numbers, but they're not growing. But this phenomenon...Read more…

In open ground

The question of whether to remove suckers from cucumbers grown outdoors remains open. Outdoor plants are more difficult to protect, as they are exposed to adverse environmental factors. There's a real risk of fungal infection developing at the damaged site left after removal.

https://youtu.be/vgCpbljYioo

The disease can attack every wound that appears. Such pruning will then do more harm than good. Young runners on seedlings aren't a serious hindrance to their development. However, pinching them off can negatively impact the health of the entire cucumber plant.

Precautionary measures

Removing any part of the plant can expose its tissue to infectious or fungal diseases. Removing cucumber tendrils significantly increases the risk of these problems. Sometimes, harvesting in a greenhouse becomes increasingly difficult due to overgrown shoots clinging to everything around them. Then, it becomes necessary to prune at least some of the shoots.

Excess tendrils should be pruned off at the very base. Experts recommend treating all wounds with ash or a weak solution of potassium permanganate. It's easy to apply the solution with a cotton swab. It's best to perform the procedure in the morning or evening. During the day, especially in hot weather, the bushes will be too vulnerable.

After reviewing reviews and recommendations, it becomes clear that plucking cucumber runners in a greenhouse should only be done when they are truly in the way. Doing so to increase yields is pointless; it's better to use other, more effective, proven methods.