Clip cucumber leaves to increase yield

Do you want to maximize your cucumber harvest this year? Well, you will need to take a proper care obviously, but watering and fertilizing regularly is not enough. We shall give you a tip that should increase your cucumber harvest this year. You need to cut off old leaves. You probably will not find any garden without cucumbers (Cucumis sativus). Especially in Eastern Europe people love cucumbers and enjoy them in various forms (pickled, marinated) all year round.

Leaf cutting trick

Because we have been growing cucumbers in Europe for many years, people have come up with many tips and advices how to make growing easier and more efficient. There are dozens of guaranteed tips that will help you maximize your harvest. One “trick” that certainly works well is to use homemade fertilizers. Cucumbers must be included in various salads. We all know that, but many people also make a cold cucumber soup. These dishes are healthy and great for weight loss programmes, because they contain almost no calories and plenty of water.

Photo: Pixabay

Old leaves

As the plant develops, it grows more and more. It is getting longer and produces lot of leaves. That is natural of course but some old leaves can be harmful to your plant. Firstly, the plant has to nourish all the big leaves, and this requires energy. Secondly, old leaves are susceptible to rot and diseases, which can easily spread around. So, the reason for trimming is quite clear. Remove old leaves to preserve energy and prevent diseases.

Leaf cutting

By removing old leaves, the plant will have more energy for fruit development and will be more resistant to diseases. Last but not least, by cutting of old leaves you will create more room for air and light. If you let cucumber grow uncontrolled, it will develop many male flowers which do not form fruits. Start removing dry lower leaves. As the plant grows, remove side shoots, right after the first leaf.

How to cut

Use sharp garden shears. Cut the leaf as close to the stem as possible but do not damage the stem. Do not water the plant on the day you cut off leaves. Let the wounds heal. Cut regularly once a week and continue to do so throughout the growing period. You can start cutting when the plant develops about eight true leaves. A good idea is to cut in the morning so that the plant has time to heal during the day – before the night and the morning dew comes.

Source: https://www.ireceptar.cz/zahrada/okurky-stare-listy-30000523.html

Preview photo: Pixabay