Should cucumber plants be thinned of fruit and sideshoots?

**supraflyguy** · 01-07-2010, 08:44 PM

Sorry can't give you any help, but I'm subscribing to the thread as I'd like to know

I did however watch an episode of the Beechgrove Garden on BBC Scotland and they removed both tendrils and baby cucumbers, but I wasn't convinced...

**CaroltheCarrot** · 01-07-2010, 08:50 PM

Originally posted by supraflyguy View Post

Sorry can't give you any help, but I'm subscribing to the thread as I'd like to know

I did however watch an episode of the Beechgrove Garden on BBC Scotland and they removed both tendrils and baby cucumbers, but I wasn't convinced...

I did this after watching Beechgrove and mine are thriving,six inch cucumber on one plant now,not anywhere near 50 but still pleased

**ddiogyn** · 01-07-2010, 09:11 PM

Was it recommended to remove all the plant's tendrils? I've left them on, although they're not really needed as i've been tying the stems onto a trellis.

I'll thin out one of the plants to be safe - shouldn't be too greedy, may end up with nothing

**Tomatoking** · 01-07-2010, 09:15 PM

Originally posted by ddiogyn View Post

I have three outdoor cucumbers. On one plant alone i've counted over 50 baby cucumbers, and each plant typically has a side shoot from each leaf node of the main stem. They're beginning to overtake the patio!

Can a single plant support so many fruit; should i be removing some of the side stems? Can they be repotted (cf. 'armpitting' tomatoes)?

Hi ddiogyn

What will happen if the plant gets overloaded, is that some of the tiny cucumbers will start turning yellow, so cut them off as soon as they do.
I am aiming for 50 cues of one plant this year, but I do tend to train up a few shoots to grow most of them on as this gives more leaves to help the production.

I have never tried armpitting cucumbers as i always get more than I need from my few plants.

Check the cucumber section on my blog which will show you how I train them, although yours are outdoors you can still use the same system.

It sounds like they are doing really well for outdoor plants.

Mr TK

**CaroltheCarrot** · 01-07-2010, 09:17 PM

Originally posted by ddiogyn View Post

Was it recommended to remove all the plant's tendrils? I've left them on, although they're not really needed as i've been tying the stems onto a trellis.

I'll thin out one of the plants to be safe - shouldn't be too greedy, may end up with nothing

Yes Jim said to snip them off,and whatJim says I do

**hamsterhead** · 02-07-2010, 12:15 PM

Originally posted by Tomatoking View Post

Hi ddiogyn

What will happen if the plant gets overloaded, is that some of the tiny cucumbers will start turning yellow, so cut them off as soon as they do.
I am aiming for 50 cues of one plant this year, but I do tend to train up a few shoots to grow most of them on as this gives more leaves to help the production.

I have never tried armpitting cucumbers as i always get more than I need from my few plants.

Check the cucumber section on my blog which will show you how I train them, although yours are outdoors you can still use the same system.

It sounds like they are doing really well for outdoor plants.

Mr TK

I'm growing the Champion Bush variety of cues in a pot so do I still need to train these up a cane or trellis?

**thegardener007** · 02-07-2010, 12:30 PM

Hooray for overtaken patios!

**Tomatoking** · 02-07-2010, 02:13 PM

Originally posted by hamsterhead View Post

I'm growing the Champion Bush variety of cues in a pot so do I still need to train these up a cane or trellis?

Well definatly not like I grow mine, but some support might help to keep them in order, like a small piece of trellis. To be honest I have never grown a bush type, but did see a photo of one on a trellis for a bit of support. I am sure someone on here has grown this type and will give you some advice.

**cupcake** · 02-07-2010, 04:39 PM

I've never had much success with cucs. 3 off 2 plants! But I bought 2 plants from our local nursery this year and put them into my new polytunnel and I have 20 babies on the way

.There are 2 of us! Luckily I have sourced lots of cucumber recipes

**ddiogyn** · 02-07-2010, 06:55 PM

I've done the deed and removed all tendrils and culled a lot of baby cucumbers leaving one per leaf... We'll see how it goes, hopefully some fruit will now begin to swell.

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Should cucumber plants be thinned of fruit and sideshoots?

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