Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
FIGURE 4.9
Cucumber tendrils must be removed daily.
the suckers on the laterals will not grow when fruit is forming. Pinch the
growing tip of the laterals as they reach two-thirds of the way down or
after 8 to 10 leaves. Once the fruit on the first laterals has matured, cut
back the laterals to the next set of suckers near the top of the plant and in
this way the growth repeats itself with the next set of laterals. With this
method of training you can carry the plants up to 10 months. However, in
my experience with indoor growing, it is better to start new plants after
about 3 months.
POLLINATION
Cucumbers are all female without any male flowers. For that reason, they
do not form seeds. We, in fact, do not want any pollination of the female
flowers or seed would form. Tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers need to
be pollinated.
In commercial greenhouses we employ bumblebees to pollinate. I do
not think that you would want these critters in your house; besides, a small
hive has far too many bees for your indoor garden, unless you had a large
backyard greenhouse. Pollinate by hand. The simplest method is to use an
