How To Prune Cucumber Plants, Grow Cucumbers NOT Leaves!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Congrats on 1 million subs! Who would’ve thought that so many years ago, the simple act of removing a chunk of lawn and planting some food in its place would turn into this? You’re truly living the dream, James! 👏

[@jamesprigioni]

Thanks bro that means a lot! Yeah it’s come a long way and it’s taken a good amount of time and effort but I’m happy I finally reached the milestone, and I’m sure you will be at a million before you know it. ❤️😁

[@TheMillennialGardener]

@@jamesprigioni the journey is the fun part! Keep growing on!

[@jamesprigioni]

I try to remind myself that everyday but I still struggle to truly enjoy it because I get too focused on my goals. Def working on it though ❤️😁

[@TheMillennialGardener]

@@jamesprigioni I know the feeling. It is a problem with goal-oriented people. We are always moving on to the next big thing, and we often miss out on appreciating the progress. I’m fortunate that here in NC, I can still garden in the winter, so I can appreciate it more since I don’t have to worry about pests, irrigation and all those other tasks. In the summer, there is so much to do that it is hard to admire the progress. I have to try and force myself to appreciate the progress more. I’m as much a work in progress as my garden.

[@thecat6164]

Well deserved James, as you and the Boss Tuck are a wealth of knowledge as well as Inspiration. Thanks for the BEST vid on Cucumbers, I spent a couple of hours sorting out my cucumber mess thanks to you and the Boss ☺️

[@finehowareyou]

you really deserve your 1 million subscribers!!!

[@chrisg3093]

This video is perfect timing for me first time growing cucumbers

[@jamesprigioni]

Let's Goo Chris!

[@danielsavage3405]

Me too, let's get it! Good luck brotha🤙

[@LightRenowned]

Same!!!

[@starladoak7276]

@@jamesprigioni will the suckers of cucumbers root as the suckers of tomato plants do

[@viviteshome9983]

Thank you so much. You showed us clearly. I will be praying. Just in time.

[@dustinallman]

I have watched close to 100% of your videos for the past 3+ years. I learn something in all of them. But I really liked the approach you took on this video. It was still fun and enjoyable to watch but it was PACKED full of info. Like, "Here's a tip, boom, here's another, boom, boom, boom, also boom, and this too. I would love to see more videos like this!

[@jamesprigioni]

First off, thanks for watching and supporting the channel. Me and Tuck are glad to hear you enjoyed this one, and I really appreciate this kind of feedback. I will look into doing more How To videos in this style and pace. The food forest videos sometimes I can get a bit carried away because there is so much to show 😂

[@dustinallman]

@@jamesprigioni I enjoy and appreciate all of your videos. Truly. I really think having a few like this every once in a while would be very beneficial to so many new growers. Easy to digest and not confusing to someone who doesn't even know what a "sucker" is yet. Excellent job. All my best!

[@hollysharvest]

Congratulations to you and Tuck for reaching 1M subscribers! It is very well-deserved! I've waited eagerly every week for your videos (and to see Tuck!) for the past several years now. Your enthusiasm is so infectious, and you and The Boss have inspired so many people to grow their own food, myself included.

[@haventli]

Well said. Congratulations from all of us, Tuck and James!

[@nancydrewsgarden]

Summer 2022!!!🍄🍄🍄here we goooooooo!!!!!!let’s get ittt ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🐶❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏❤️❤️❤️❤️ congratulations to the king of gardens 1M!!! 💯 💯💯% devoted to what you love. Such an inspiration! And the good old Boss 🐕 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@Search4TruthReality]

My row of cucumbers are healthy, green, getting bushy and I was wondering why they weren't growing upward as easily as my pole beans. Now I know. Thank you for the excellent tips! UPDATE JULY 27, 2022: Cucumbers are gowing like crazy - I'm getting loads of cucumbers (Muncher, 9"). So happy!

[@sislertx]

Well i guess proof is in the cucumbers....yes bad pun I have such a problem.thinning this will send me over the edge of.obsession with cucumbers i fear...as it is every.single morning i.hand pollinate them

[@Jenura01]

How didn’t I know this? I do the same exact thing on my tomatoes. Just totally didn’t realize it. Thanks James! Always enjoy your happiness in the garden.

[@jameswiggle]

you don't need to do that for tomatoes...those grow to branches which have flowers

[@dragoncarver287]

Removing the lower leaves... good to remember that leaves wear out and don't convert the amount of sunlight to energy like they once did. But the plant keeps giving nutrients to it. In other words, they worn out leaves don't pull their weight so it's best to remove them. they are probably more susceptible to disease because they are worn out. I was watching this two years ago and needed a refresher course. Thanks, James.

[@michellep1592]

I don't usually comment, but I've been watching you for a long time and I appreciate your knowledge always something to learn! Your passion with your channel is amazing! Thank you!

[@LaMagnatron]

Prigioni knows his ish!!

[@richard6048]

I truly RESPECT the way YOU explain - and at thd same time demonstrating the practical to us.. Good one.. I am a small Farmer in 🇯🇲 ..

[@imsodone4309]

Tuck is so cute❤❤❤. I’ve grown cucumbers vertically before, but I never knew about pruning. I didn’t know about the big overripe cucumbers causing the plant to quit producing too. Thank you so much for this video.

[@imatugwaddle2291]

Another winner---THANK YOU, JAMES!!!!

[@christopherfreitag5121]

Thanks for your channel. It has introduced me to continuous gardening and hope for my plants.

[@wolfgangwunschel-b4p]

getting hot, i have to soak/cool down my head in a water bucket in yhe shadow 1 min. every half an hour to get the cooling effect of its evaporization thus avoiding insolation from sun exposure gardening; while hiking/travelling spraying us water upon helps. we had heat waves of more than 40ºc last summer.

[@tanelions1993]

Great video. First one I've seen about pruning suckers and lower leaves. Now I know what my cucumbers currently need.. Thank you!

[@roxannetracy2931]

This is so weird. I was looking this up today. I knew I needed to prune my cuc's but wasn't sure what exactly to do. Divine providence! Thanks!

[@scottmiller1916]

Me TOO, Strait 8’s and little picklers

[@nancyspruiell347]

I've never grown cucumbers before until now and didn't know they have suckers like tomatoes that need to be clipped. Thank you for the info. Glad to know a broken tendril doesn't mean disaster. Congrats on 1M subscribers. You deserve it! Smile and have a blessed day!

[@SozoSeasonFreedom]

I have been watching gardening and homesteading videos for a couple of years now, but only dipped my toe in. I don't think I have grown cucumbers yet, but plan to get them started this year. I never knew that if one reaches maturity, the plant will stop producing. I always learn something new on your videos!

[@carlinwilson3755]

You need to have DOG merchandise! Tuck needs to be represented! I have 3 dogs and would love to see some doggie bandana's or food bowls, etc. Love Tuck!!!

[@jkimmel13]

Thanks! How did pruning your cucs work out for you?

[@jamesprigioni]

Hey John thanks for yeh generous contribution!! They worked out great my trees are loaded with small fruit!! 🍎🍑

[@coachmikekapusta7811]

You’re the man dude. Zone 6B here in PA. You’ve taught me a lot. Thank you.

[@gailbozeman9626]

Wow last year was my 1st year growing cucumbers and I did pretty well, but after looking at your channel ...imma bout to be the MVP of cucumbers ...Thank you....I love your doggie

[@PhoenixArk123]

love seeing that beautiful borage beside those cukes, always good to bring in the pollinators :-)

[@dancersdigst1754]

wow....I'm 59 and didn't know this much about cucumbers. Now I know why my dad's harvest didn't get many fruits because he grew on the ground and not a trellis. Thank you!

[@mayshomesteadchronicles]

Great video! I will say that thinning the leaves like you did at the bottom of the plant could be a bad idea for growing zones that get really hot. The leaves can protect the base of the plant from the scorching heat in the summer. But I think get leaves cut that are touching the ground is a great idea. Just gotta consider other growing zones

[@bobcatbigpaws5597]

Yeah the leaves protect the fruit.

[@elainelight9286]

No, getting rid of the bottom leaves is always a good idea. There’s lots more leaves above to protect the fruit.

[@teddyritter7853]

Incredible information. You have corrected like three mistakes I have been making and was still successful. Can't wait for this!

[@k.a.nso6455]

I wish I’d found this excellent instruction when I grew cucumbers several months ago. I’m looking forward to doing it correctly this next time around!

[@joannecostigan4244]

Tuck is such a gorgeous little guy!! ❤️

[@smas3256]

James. Have you grown radishes as companion plants for cucumbers to repel those beetles? I did not know about the plant stops producing when we let one fully ripen. I came here for the pruning and learns so much more. You are a great teacher. Thank you.

[@sbffsbrarbrr]

Whoa! Congratulations on 1 Million Subscribers! So well deserved 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@jamesprigioni]

Thank you!!! Me and Tuck have had this as a goal for a long time now 😁🐕❤️

[@sbffsbrarbrr]

@@jamesprigioni Mission accomplished. Thank you for all you and Tuck do to help so many of us garden more effectively!

[@jackielambert7980]

💖💖💖💖Tuck💖💖💖💖

[@MH-pl1el]

Had no clue cuces had suckers! You've perfected my tomatoes pruning this year so I better throw the cuces in too! Your down to business vids are so appreciated and encouraging.

[@ZanddyH]

My cucumbers are growing well for the first time, so pruning is a must this year. Thank you for the video, just in time.

[@jackiek4159]

Love seeing Tucker being spoiled in your videos! Thank you for your wisdom James! 🙏💞

[@aprilarmijo6967]

Awe your puppy is absolutely adorable ❤️🐾🐶. He loves cucumber 🥒

[@lilal3753]

I love your energy in this video. It's much calmer. 😊

[@manuelcavazos6154]

Thank you for the new video about the cucumbers 🥒 and the suckers! Great information and now even The Boss Tuck is happy for more cucumbers! Way to go ,and thanks again 👍 Enjoy the good weather Tuck !!

[@motomaster9781]

Hi. I’ve been blundering in the garden for 6 decades, following in my father’s footsteps, just planting various edibles and watering. I’ve learned so much from you and enjoy you with your large personality and Tuck too! How in the world did you get him to want to eat all these veggies? He must be a very healthy boy. Love his name too! Keep teaching and I’ll keep amending my ways!💜💜💜

[@ronj5714]

Look at your background- my dream! I remember years ago when you cleaned out your back yard & began this journey. So inspiring. I just got a little garden down here in central Florida & am trying to get hubby on board. Lol. Never get tired of your energy at your intro- keep it up James!! Tuck got a haircut. ❤

[@puhoota]

You earned a new sub in the first 2 minutes of this video! What an informative video. Literally everything I wanted to know in 14 minutes! Great work!

[@patriotswearethephoenix3546]

Great video!!!!! I've grown cucumbers off and on for years and never knew u could prune them. I always figured if you cut them that would kill the whole plant. Thank you sooooo very much for the video and info. I'll prune mine tomorrow!!!

[@jefflewis1659]

Thank you for posting so much valuable content. I am a new gardener and am endlessly inspired by your work. As a side note, you are also one of the only gardening videos that plays well at 2x speed!

[@TnT_F0X]

Mice video. I have about a dozen male flowers and all the females are small... but I'll try this once the plants get bigger and have both flowers.

[@MrNeillawrence]

Hey James. My first year growing cucumbers, and I thought 'why not grow up strings like the tomatoes?' Great to see that my instincts were on the money! Perfectly timed video about pruning them - am about to run out to the greenhouse to start snipping

[@katesmith3904]

Fantastic video! I've been trawling the web and gleaning little bits of info here and there (mostly contradictory) and getting very confused. I wish I'd found your site first. Everything I needed to know in one place! Thanks a million 🥰

[@dianesaldivar824]

Thank you. You made it so visually clear as to the parts of the plant , what to remove and what to watch. Repeating the process by example makes me feel more comfortable that what I am doing is right.

[@erikaroy2549]

This has helped me a thousand times over. I can't wait to see my yield of cucumbers this year. Wish me luck! You're a good teacher so I have a good chance! I sowed a million cucumbers this May without realizing how many I sowed so I am hoping to find homes for my cucumber plants. Thanks for posting this valuable information. It is only my second year growing cucumbers and I didn't really know what I was doing.

[@ThunThunChannel]

Doing this to my cucumbers now! Thank you

[@Iamgoddessofthemoon]

Thank you for the great info! Now I know how to prune my cuc's properly. I love how you have your furbaby with you everywhere. He's so sweet.

[@beautifulnature5593]

Love and hugs to Tuck, he is so adorable! 💖 You don’t really need to prune cucumbers, they will do just fine and produce very well! It’s a waste of your time if you have plenty of space in a garden... unless when people don’t.... then yes, you can prune with great results. Love your Videos and subscribed of course, as you fellow NJ gardener, always good to learn from each other. Thank you!!!

[@wallyosmond9204]

I dunno about this TBH. You can pull them off but I've always found letting them branch just produces even more vine and encourages the cuke to dig bigger roots. Some with lots of tomatoes. It's insane how big a self-sustaining plant you can produce if you don't prune the suckers. I've had no lack of cukes at all. Once the new vine gets established it just starts producing at it's own rate. I really don't think having a single vine gives you the same production. Maybe if you plant a ton of them but if you're going for a small space suckers == more production. I train the vines into small spaces. Insane amount of cukes.

[@floridastitcher1]

You are a great teacher. I always learn so much. Cukes are on my list to try so this was good timing. Congratulations on 1 MILLION subscribers! Hugs to Tuck. 😊

[@celesteisneat]

Thank you! I’ve been chopping leaves off all willy-nilly from the advice of other videos that told me the pollinators couldn’t find the flowers. I’m so excited I’m about to go out at 11pm with my headlamp

[@lusoroofing5221]

congratulations on 1 Million subscribers…most informative Nd also entertaining garden content!

[@jamesprigioni]

Thanks Luso I appreciate the kind words my friend

[@RabbiShalom-b3v]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge ❤🎉

[@fedderfarms]

Thanks for the refresher course James. Look twice and cut once! Cucumber beetles have been such a big problem in the Northeast, we are now trialing the grafting of our cucs to watermelon rootstock. Fingers crossed for a big harvest this season.

[@Acts-1322]

Interesting concept, what will they graft next 😂

[@hopestephen2012]

My son and I congratulate you James for reaching 1M!!! Always watching from 🇵🇭

[@jamesprigioni]

Thank you Hope and Stephen! ❤️

[@anitab1369]

Thanks so much for the tips on pruning cucumber plants. This is my first year gardening and they were really getting out of hand, so your advice was very timely. Now that I've trimmed them, I can actually see what is going on with each plant. :)

[@stevetrivago]

Hope you had a great experience last year…. I’ll be starting my garden this week. I used to stick plants in the ground and forget about them, hence the reason for the extremely crop… This year I’m going to use all the great resources available… Have a great summer

[@Perseverence]

9:22 That lovely dove

[@beccacacioppo8664]

My absolute favorite gardening channel!!! So excited and happy for you and Tuck for reaching 1 Million subscribers!!! Thank you for sharing, keep doing what you're doing!!!

[@traeannahbrown5699]

Your intro always makes me smile! Thanks for always giving us great content!

[@gemrosegardening4051]

Congrats on hitting 1 million subscribers! You and Tuck are true inspirations to us as gardeners!

[@jamesprigioni]

Thank you my friend 😁❤️

[@gemrosegardening4051]

@@jamesprigioni You're most welcome! Truly deserved! Thank you for your amazing and fun videos all these years. You and Tuck helped give me confidence to expand my garden each year and the hard work is starting to pay off. Bless your hearts 🥰

[@debbymyers921]

Oh my goodness! Congratulations on your 1 million subscribers! I’m so happy for you😃

[@davidsexton2649]

First time growing cucs for us so thanks for the tips and tricks! Love your videos man! My wife kids and I have several varieties of tomato, as well as pepper. We started snap peas and a couple different berries as well. This is our first year doing cucs, and a couple different types of lettuce! I’ve learned a lot of information from your videos and they are always entertaining! Keep on growing brother!

[@italiana626sc]

Makes me want to quote James - "We love to see it!" 😀

[@barbaraking1545]

I understand u very well easy to understand. Thanks

[@issacwyre06]

Congratulations on 1 million subscribers

[@jamesprigioni]

Thanks Issac!! Me and Tuck appreciate you 🐕😁❤️

[@thornalas4385]

Your enthusiasm is priceless! Regards and best wishes from a fellow gardener in the Midwest.

[@shelbydonaldson5862]

Last year, I tried growing on a shorter "trellis" (much like the fencing bed you showed) and had hog fence panels attached at the top coming up and out diagonally, with the goal of creating a small shaded area as cuke plants spilled over, in order to grow more peas (never have enough!) and any other plants needing protection from hot afternoon sun in the later summer. It didn't work as I had imagined so went back to letting them sprawl this year (also because we've had such odd weather this year in the PNW, and everything had a late start (including me, just glad I got mostly everything planted!) But with all the info you've covered in this video, it is a total game changer! I'm excited to grow successful trellises and maximize growing space! Thanks!

[@nancyrea3863]

Tuck is really enjoying that water. I like how you take care of your fur baby.

[@amyk6028]

Hi James! This video came at the perfect time. I was outside looking at my 4 Cucumber plants today thinking they just aren’t producing like They should! Thanks for the info 👍🏼

[@thesteinhauerscene]

Same!!!

[@melindabennett2313]

I learned several new things I will be doing with my cucumbers this year. Thank you!!!

[@ahoffman1979]

Perfect timing for me! My cukes are ready for their thinning, and your video both reinforced what I already knew and also taught me some new tips. Thanks for your great content, as always!

[@jiwbink]

In 2020 I first tried growing cucumber, did fairly well. I had an area about four feet wide by ten feet long. After the season ended,I took most of the soil from that bed to great another smaller growing area. Then in 21,I had absolutely no,I almost said luck. But if you know what to and not to do,luck has little to do with growing. I did not do well at all! This year,in an effort to make up for last years failure,I have far too many plants in an area far too small. In fact your over run patch there looks far and away better than mine. If the vines were laid flat on the ground,they'd be every bit of ten to twelve feet long. I have blooms everywhere and very very few cucs... Thanks for this video! INSTANT SUB!

[@TamenHade]

Congrats on getting a million subscribers. I love your content and you have definitely giving me the blueprint to become a successful gardener. I thank you for your service to gardening KZbin community. If you write a book, I’m going to pre-order it and send it to a few friends. Congrats bro.💪🏽💪🏽

[@andielliott7721]

1 MILLION subscribers...that's quite an accomplishment. Congratulations James and Tuck!

[@freakinfrugal5268]

Freakin excellent. If the suckers are long enough when you snip them, would they root like tomato suckers?

[@jamesprigioni]

Yeah they should, but they won’t root as easily as tomatoes that have those little hairs in the stem

[@artistlovepeace]

Perfect timing! James Prigioni is legit!

[@ryanricker6556]

Excellent information! We have cucumber plants and they’re a bit out of control. Going to fix that now. Thank you, extra snacks for my man Tuck 🐶 ❤️

[@The.Ghost.of.Tom.Joad.]

Damn. A million subscribers. Nice. You deserve it since you're one of my favorite gardening bloggers, even though my gardening space is quite tiny (in an urban lot). Because you have that east coast energy which I love... even though I'm a Midwesterner. Probably because my father was born in Phili, and many of his extended family live in south jersey, So they a lot sound like you.

[@jiujitsuforall8627]

Hey James, we appreciate your videos! How do you determine the difference between a sun leaf and a sucker when you've let the sucker grow to the same size as the sun leaf??? I'm afraid of removing the wrong leaf.

[@YourMelaka]

Attempted in planting cucumbers and this time the plants grow. This is the reason why I am watching this video. Thank you a lot!

[@maggieq091]

Yesss !!!! I needed this video 🌱 🥒 THANK YOU 🪴💚

[@jamesprigioni]

Let's Gooo Maggie!

[@judyanderson2807]

WOW 😮thank you this will be my second time growing cucumbers those tips really help…. Okay can I use straw also or brown mulch?

[@SundiMyint]

Hey James! My zucchinis have been doing great once I started applying your tips, and I'm now trying to help out my cucumbers, so this video has great timing. I don't have a lot of pollinators in the area, so I hand pollinated my zucchinis and I was wondering, how do you help pollination with cucumbers? Is it the same technique as the zukes?

[@DerpyGrump]

First time growing cucumbers. They haven’t started flowering yet, but the tendrils have made their appearance! Thank you for preparing me for the next stage(s) of my cucumber growth!

[@frankbarnwell____]

Have a drink Tuck. Chug the bottle Oh MG. A million subs? Gardening rocks!

[@jamesprigioni]

Hahah!! The boss does what he wants, one of the perks of being the boss 🐕❤️

[@frankbarnwell____]

@@jamesprigioni just saw the 1M. Great. Got a little rain on Texas coast, garden drinkin it up.

[@barbsygirl68]

Your instruction is the best on the internet! You don't push products as much and I love Little Tuck!!

[@AiT8Keys1]

Thank you for this video! We love watching your videos! Had a question for you. When you were cutting the lower leaves, you didn't cut close to the main stem and left some of that leaf stem on there... why is that?

[@jamesprigioni]

Just wasn’t paying 100% attention to what I was doing when I was talking, I should have cut it closer to the stem

[@patriciaknight1332]

I just bought eucalyptus mulch. The guy at the store said it would help deter bugs . Now I am wondering if it is ok to use on food crops. What do you think?

[@irenesgardenandmore]

👍🏼🌸👌🏼this is such a great idea ! Mine are all over the ground and it’s too late now ,,, but next year for sure ! Thanks for this share James !

[@moorechains]

I had a mix of them on the ground & on the trellis-pruned them back a lot, but it hurt cutting out some of the longer suckers, most of which were already flowering

[@jeremiahmoss6015]

First time cucumber grower. Doing Armenian cucumbers and the are getting crazy wild. Now i know how to prune. Thanks man.

[@Earthy-Artist]

👍Congrats on 1M woohoo!! & Thank you James!! I've never learned to prune the suckers off until watching your video. By utilizing your pruning method my cucumbers will be so much easier to control and should be more productive this year! Mine are running amuck right now & trying to take over with lots of renegade suckers. I know what I'll be busy doing later!

[@gregswintek448]

Thanks for more great information.

[@lauraring1937]

James, would this pruning process be the same for a spaghetti or butternut squash if growing vertically?

[@anneciamartin9514]

I was just about to ask that question.

[@patrickgniech7873]

James, I began container gardening last season, and string trellised with very good success. Out of 6 plants, we harvested close to 90 cucumbers.

[@joecuthbertson6476]

Tuck 2024

[@jamesprigioni]

Already got the signs and pins made up! His slogan is riddled with cucumber and carrot puns.

[@ronnieandrea1704]

Thanks for the tips how to prune cucumbers

[@collinsddc1206]

Thankyou, first time growing a cuke up instead of ground. Love seeing Tuck!

[@dalegaa4094]

Passing and found this video and I'm very glad I did. It seems I have a lot of work to do with my cucumbers. My 1st yr growing them and I had no idea they should be pruned. I have subscribed.

[@lizchapman1684]

Fab video. I’m growing cucumber for the first time this year in my greenhouse in Shropshire 🇬🇧 Growing very well. Your video was excellent & I’m heading into the garden to prune it & remove the lower leaves !

[@rosebrown5256]

This is my go to channel for everything gardening. People saying have a green thumb. I say no. I watch KZbin and then point them to this channel