Cucumber question

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Is there any benefit to cutting back the vines?

I typically grow my pickles on trellises and usually have good luck with that. But a few times I've had to deal with mildew related things. So I'm curious if trimming the vines to prevent over shading is beneficial?

In a manner similar to cutting off tomato suckers or such.
 
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In my experience, pruning cucumber vines can be beneficial for a few reasons. First, removing some of the leaves can increase air circulation, which can help prevent mildew and other fungal diseases. Additionally, trimming back the vines can encourage the plant to put more energy into producing fruit, rather than growing more foliage.

When pruning cucumber vines, it's important to be careful not to remove too many leaves, as the plant still needs them to produce energy through photosynthesis. It's also best to wait until the plant has developed a few true leaves before pruning, to ensure it has enough foliage to produce energy.

In terms of timing, I usually start pruning my cucumber vines once they reach the top of the trellis or other support. From there, I'll remove a few of the larger leaves at the bottom of the plant, as well as any smaller shoots that are starting to grow off the main vine. I'll continue to prune as needed throughout the growing season, depending on how the plant is growing and if I notice any signs of disease or pest issues.

Overall, I've found that pruning cucumber vines can be a helpful technique for improving plant health and encouraging fruit production, but it's important to do so carefully and judiciously.
 
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Is there any benefit to cutting back the vines?

I typically grow my pickles on trellises and usually have good luck with that. But a few times I've had to deal with mildew related things. So I'm curious if trimming the vines to prevent over shading is beneficial?

In a manner similar to cutting off tomato suckers or such.
Have grown cucumbers years back with many vines - never had mildew issues - they were facing west, hottest part of the garden.
 

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