Cucumbers - Pinching out growing tips

[robfosters]

When and how should this be done?. A little confused. My cukes are coming along OK as seen in the pic, just not sure about this growing tip issue.

[zazen999]

???

Why would you do that in the first place?

[robfosters]

I have read on the BBC that it encourages fruiting.

[zazen999]

Can you post a link to that please!

[robfosters]

BBC - Gardening - Gardening Guides - Techniques - Growing cucumbers

It's in the training section.

[zazen999]

* Regularly secure stems of indoor varieties to the cane and once it has reached the roof, pinch out the tip.
* Pinch out the shoots from side branches holding fruit, leaving two leaves after each. All female varieties produce fruit on the main stem, so remove laterals altogether.

* Allow outdoor varieties to trail across the ground like marrows.
* When plants have five or six leaves, pinch out the growing tip and allow side branches to grow. If stems do not bear flowers, pinch out at the seventh leaf.

Personally, I don't pinch out any of my cukes; but IF you are going to - you do it after the plant has five or six leaves and you allow the side branches to grow. However their advice is very confusing esp as they say to pinch out the shoots from said side branches.

[Kristen]

I think the pinch-out after 5 or 6 leaves is for outdoor Cues. I don't do that for my Greenhouse ones (and I don't grow Outdoor ones, so not familiar with them ... but Dr. H. says the same thing for Outdoor Cues)

[robfosters]

They are outdoor cucumbers. They are on the windowsill atm, but will be planting them outside when the weather is better.

[zazen999]

I don't pinch out my outdoor ones either - but the BBC guidance makes no mention of whether to do this on outdoor only.