How to Prune & Train Cucumbers

Kristen Andersen, Vegetable Product Manager and Trials Manager at Harris Seeds & GardenTrends gives an overview of how to grow cucumbers vertically for high tunnel, or limited-space production.

[@gardengrower7633]

Thanks for the clear video.

[@AnwarulIslam_ca]

Loved your to-the-point and concise presentation.

[@marthaenyinam8396]

Thank you for this. I have learnt something new tonight.

[@michaelwinslow3666]

Great info, thank you!!!

[@myFloridaOasis]

Absolutely the best. Thank you so much for this info.

[@OldSal-d8h]

Well done! Excellent presentation!

[@bhavadasaacbsp3274]

Great instructional video! Perfect. Thank you.

[@matthewrichardson7885]

Really helpful video. Thank you for sharing.

[@octavioayala2001]

Thanks for a great video!! It would be great if you could do one about watering and feeding 🙏

[@ahmadrana413]

Thank you for helpful video. please suggest solution for nematode in roots of cucumber. or precaution

[@HarrisSeedsCompany]

Best precautions are to monitor nematode populations, manage host weeds, and implement crop rotations. If populations reach levels of economic loss, then chemical control might be required. This should be with advise from Cooperative Extension as to best products and practices to use.

[@amierullridzwan2025]

Hye i am cucumber farmer, we use 6 x6 inches of net and do not prune the shoot , just prune the old leaf . You will maximize the yield.

[@shamsgardeningcrafts]

Hi there iv got a question for you, I want to harvest my cucumbers from my plant, the plant is doing very well, am thinking to cut the leaves off aswel when I take every cucumbers from the plant, due to the leaves are massive and I want it to focus on the top that's developing new cucumbers would that effect the plant?

[@HarrisSeedsCompany]

Removing the lower leaves from your cucumber plants is fine to do and will encourage new growth and fruit development. It is important not to remove too many leaves, because that may place too much stress on the plant, especially if done on warm days. A good rule is to remove no more than 1/3 of the leaves at a time.

[@renee2005]

Thank u for sharing 🥰🥒🥒🥒

[@CityWideGardens]

At what stage of growth do you start pruning? Do you wait until a certain # of days after growing or certain height of the plant??

[@HarrisSeedsCompany]

Pruning can begin as soon as you start to see side shoots. It is easiest to remove them when they are a few inches long, as you are less likely to damage the lead shoot.

[@TallerThanTreesMusic]

Can you link the rope and clips that you use Please :)

[@laurenswanson3985]

Thank you for such a helpful video! How tall are your strings from the base to the top securing wire?

[@HarrisSeedsCompany]

We're glad to hear that you find the video helpful! The strings in our tunnel are about 7 feet from the base of the plant to the wire.

[@sleepdepp]

I have six or Seven cucumber plants arranged in a circle around an old T shaped laundry pole in my backyard with the string method. there's one plant in particular that has been acting differently than the others. It's a darker green and is much larger than the others. The others have grown at 25-50% slower than the big one. Also look a bit more lighter green. Is one cucumber stealing the nutrients? Even tho I daily water with small amounts of nutrients. Also there is a street light/flood light in the vicinity that shines on the plants at night. I'm curious is cucumbers have photoperiods and Require a certain amount of dark time?

[@h.s.2598]

Hello, thank you for your question! Based on the description of your planting, all the cucumbers should be expected to grow at the same rate and have the same appearance, except if one of the plants is a pollinator. Depending on the variety of cucumber you are growing, the seed package may have had a pollinator variety mixed in. This plant will produce more flowers than fruit, providing pollen to help the other plants set more fruit than they would on their own. Not all varieties of cucumber come with a pollinator, however. Also, the plants should not be affected by the streetlight. They would be affected if they received less than 10 hours of daylight, but should be fine with receiving more.

[@jasavariraj3143]

very nice ma

[@keales9564]

Does every nodule have fruit? I have a lot of male flowers only.

[@punkinhed81]

Is there any certain slicer variety you would recommend for doing this?

[@HarrisSeedsCompany]

If growing in protected culture, parthenocarpic varieties will perform best because they do not require bee pollination. We recommend Diva, Manny, or Iznick.

[@HarrisSeedsCompany]

www.harrisseeds.com/collections/cucumber

[@kenjo168]

What do you do when the cucumber plant grows to the top of your trellis? Do you just cut it off at the main stem at the top to prevent it from growing any higher?

[@h.s.2598]

If you are using a string and bobbin trellis, as in this video, when the plant reaches the top you can unwind some string from the bobbin, lower the plant and lean the vine along the ground. You can continue to do this each time that the vine reaches the top, and over the course of a season you might have a vine that reaches 40+ feet! We recommend pruning off any leaves that may be contacting the ground to help with airflow and disease management. If you are using a stationary trellis, you can either let the plant continue to grow and it will lay back down on the trellis over time, growing toward the ground. The other option is to cut it at the top of the trellis and encourage a new main stem to grow from the base of the plant. If the main plant is cut it will not produce any more fruit and the new set will come these new side shoots.

[@kenjo168]

@@h.s.2598 I got mine on a stationary trellis so wasn’t too sure at first. Thanks for clearing things up for me. Novice gardener right here 😄

[@davegalas9107]

When do you start trimming the cucumber leaves.

[@HarrisSeedsCompany]

We trim any leaves that are touching the ground after the vines are lowered and leaned. It is important not to trim more than 1/3 of the entire plant foliage to minimize stress to the plant.

[@sajus3538]

💞 💞 💞

[@stevegriffen4775]

Where can we purchase the hooked bobbins?

[@HarrisSeedsCompany]

We're sorry, but we are sold out for the season: www.harrisseeds.com/products/41206-bobbin-plant-hanger-with-twine In the meantime, you may want to check out a greenhouse supply company.

[@ramoutarrsn5132]

Hello Miss Andersen Are you in Facebook , am new in greenhouse vegetables Production and we are having pollination issues... need some advice and varieties of cucumber on your behalf. Thanks in advance mam

[@punkinhed81]

How close in row?

[@HarrisSeedsCompany]

In our trial, we used 18” spacing, but wider spacing can be used.

[@ritagaston1556]

Close up or no point to this vid.

[@kenstreat6127]

Two things, first show us slowly and clearly what you are talking about, and second, slow down, breath out.....

[@lovefortruth4778]

You are so so cute girl!!! I really love you ! Advice!

[@Yoyo-rp8jv]

The amount of times she said “Um” 😑

[@33BScott]

You do not need to buy all that fancy equipment to train anything on string.

[@englishbob5106]

What stops the mature plants from collapsing under their own weight ?