Foods And Drinks: Growing

How to Prune for Growing Cucumbers on Netting

Pruning method depends on the variety of cucumber you're growing.

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Trellising and pruning both offer a number of advantages when it comes to cucumber production. The support of a trellis improves the efficiency and yield of harvesting and allows fruit to grow more uniformly on the plant. It improves sun exposure and fruit quality. Likewise, pruning encourages uniform growth and fruit production as well as straighter cucumbers. These methods require diligence from the gardener, but with some effort you can grow desirable cucumbers for cooking, eating fresh in salads or pickling.

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Whether your netting is composed of string or wire, it will require effort on your part to help train the vine to its support. This can be done by twining the stems and tendrils through the netting as the plant grows, which usually requires about three or four trips during the course of a plant's development to accomplish. Continue training until the vine reaches the top of the netting. Pinch the top stem tip to prevent growth from continuing upward. Ties can be helpful when attempting to train a cucumber vine to net trellis.

Tree System

The growth habit of seedless cucumbers makes a tree system preferable for trellising. In this system, the first four to six lateral runners, as well as leaves that appear in the first 20 inches of the plant, are removed. The higher lateral runners should grow naturally, but the stems of the growing tip should be cut off once they develop two leaves. The main stem of the plant should be attached to the top of the trellis structure with ties so its growth can continue horizontally along the top of the netting..

Umbrella System

When growing a seeded variety of cucumber, an umbrella system of trellising is used. In this system, all lateral branches except the top two are removed. These two main lateral branches are allowed to hang down on either side of the stem. Once they produce fruit and are harvested, cut the stems away and encourage a new set of strong lateral branches to take over as fruiting stems.

Pruning

General pruning practices are important, regardless of the type of trellising system applied. To ensure a balance of foliage and fruit, remove excess fruit and allow just one cucumber to grow with each leaf axil. In other words, each leaf should be paired with a single fruit to ensure a balance of fruit production. Too many fruits on a plant at once can diminish their quality as the plant may not have sufficient food reserves to support them. Dead or damaged foliage should also be removed to ensure a healthy crop free of disease and insect damage. Excess foliage can also prevent the fruit from gaining sufficient sun exposure.

ReferencesUniversity of Alaska Fairbanks: Cucumber Production in GreenhousesNorth Carolina State University: Trellised CucumbersPhoto Credit PhotoObjects.net/PhotoObjects.net/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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California , Growing , Lighting , Needs , Peppers

Lighting Needs for Growing California Bell Peppers

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When harvesting, allow a portion of stem to remain on the pepper.

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Light conditions greatly influence fruit production in California Wonder bell pepper plants. Plants grown in undesirable lighting produce little to no fruits and experience poor growth. Grown in desirable conditions, California Wonders are hardy pepper plants. The plant has the additional benefit of resistance to the deadly tobacco mosaic virus, according to North Carolina State University.

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California Wonder bell pepper plants can grow up to 2 feet tall, with a spread of more than 12 inches. Foliage and branches are deep green. Foliage is smooth and 3 to 4 inches in length. When the plant is ready for fruiting, it produces small white flowers. When the blossoms fade and drop, a pepper begins forming in its place. The peppers are approximately 4 inches long and green when ready for harvesting. If left on the plant, the pepper eventually turns bright red. The pepper usually has four inner lobes, with thick walls. The outer flesh is smooth and glossy. Harvesting occurs approximately 72 days after germination.

Garden Growth

Consider California Wonder’s light requirements when selecting a planting location. The pepper requires a minimum of six hours of daily sunlight for proper fruit production and growth, according to Texas AgriLife Extension Service. It performs even better receiving eight to 10 hours of sunshine. Plant it in an area located in full sun, with soil that drains well. The pepper plant grows best when outdoor temperatures range between 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Amend the planting site with organic materials and fertilizer before planting. Work an 8-inch layer of peat humus, manure or compost 12 inches into the soil. Use 2 tablespoons of a 10-10-10 fertilizer blend per plant and work it into the soil with the organics. Space multiple plants 12 inches apart and keep the garden soil moist by watering regularly.

Container Growth

If your yard space is limited and has poor lighting, grow the bell peppers inside containers. You can then situate the California Wonder plants in a sunny location. Just like peppers grown in the garden, potted plants require at least six hours of direct sunlight. Gardeners can increase lighting by placing the container on a white surface, such as a sidewalk or on white stones. Placing the container on aluminum foil also attracts light. Use a 2-gallon container per plant, according to Arizona Cooperative Extension. Fill the container with a fertile, lightweight potting mix. Amend the mix with a slow-release fertilizer, following package directions. Keep the soil moist through regular irrigation.

Indoor Seed Starting

Gardeners can start California Wonder bell pepper seeds indoors six weeks before planting them outdoors. Use peat pots filled with a seed-starting mixture. Plant the seeds ¼ inch deep into the pot. The seeds require warm and bright conditions for germination to occur. Place the peat pots in a south-facing window that receives bright sunlight most of the day. If the window conditions do not produce adequate light, supplement by using a grow light. Follow the particular light’s directions and suspend it over the pepper pots. Keep the soil moist. Transplant the bell pepper plants outdoors once temperatures are optimal and plants are approximately 6 inches tall.

ReferencesUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa: PepperTexas AgriLife Extension Service: PeppersNorth Carolina State University: Vegetable Cultivar Descriptions for North AmericaArizona Cooperative Extension: Vegetable Garden: Container GardenResourcesOhio State University Extension: Growing Peppers in the Home GardenUniversity of Illinois Extension: Starting Vegetable Seeds IndoorsPhoto Credit Tom Brakefield/Stockbyte/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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How to Prune for Growing Cucumbers on Netting

Lighting Needs for Growing California Bell Peppers