Pruning tomato plants is an optional technique that some gardeners use to keep plants tidy, manipulate fruit size, and even speed ripening. There is one big catch: You should only prune indeterminate varieties, which produce new leaves and flowers continuously through the growing season. Here are some reasons to prune.
Do you like to train your plants and check up on them almost every day? If so, then you may be a natural tomato pruner. Pruning tomato plants is an optional technique that some gardeners use to keep plants tidy, manipulate fruit size, and even speed ripening. There is one big catch: You should only prune indeterminate varieties, which produce new leaves and flowers continuously through the growing season. If you prune determinate varieties, you may reduce the harvest. (Looking for indeterminate varieties to plant? Try our Tomato Chooser.) Here are some reasons to prune tomatoes.
Cucumbers are a delight to grow and eat but it’s important to plant them at the right time for the best results. As the summer progresses you may find yourself wondering – is it too late to plant cucumber seeds? With some planning and care, late planting can still lead to a successful cucumber harvest.
When is the Best Time to Plant Cucumbers?
Ideally, cucumbers should be planted after any danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures reach 60-70°F This window falls approximately in late May to early June in most regions You can get a head start by sowing seeds indoors 3-4 weeks before your last expected frost date, then transplanting the seedlings outside after hardening them off for 7-10 days.
If planting directly outside, sow cucumber seeds when soil temperatures have sufficiently warmed, generally in mid to late June at the latest Cucumbers require 50-70 days to reach maturity and bear fruit, so that harvest window needs to be accounted for
Is It Too Late to Plant in July or August?
It is possible to plant cucumber seeds successfully in July or even August, but the timeline is tight. Here are a few key factors to consider:
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Maturity Rate – Opt for quick-maturing cucumber varieties that can form fruit within 50 days to maximize your chances.
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Season Length – Assess if there is enough warm growing time left in your area for the cucumbers to reasonably mature and produce.
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Seedlings vs Seeds – You can plant seeds directly in July, but using transplants gives plants a developmental head start.
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Sun Exposure – Site cucumbers where they’ll get at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.
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Pest Protection – Monitor closely for pests which may proliferate mid-summer. Be ready to manage issues.
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Cold Protection – Shield tender cucumber plants from dropping temperatures which could damage them.
Tips for Maximizing Late-Planted Cucumbers
If sowing cucumber seeds in July or August, follow these tips to boost your odds of success:
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Start seeds indoors – Give plants a head start of 3-4 weeks indoors before transplanting out.
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Warm the soil – Use black plastic mulch to warm the soil before planting.
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Provide support – Trellising improves air flow and protects fruits from pests.
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Water consistently – Cucumbers need 1-1.5″ of water per week for best growth and fruiting.
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Monitor for pests – Be vigilant about controlling cucumber beetles, aphids and other pests.
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Scout for disease – Powdery mildew thrives in mid-late summer. Treat promptly if found.
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Use row covers – Row covers protect tender plants from insect pests and cold weather.
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Harvest promptly – Pick cucumbers young and often to encourage ongoing production.
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Fertilize – Fertilizing every 2-3 weeks provides nutrition for plants and fruits.
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** Choose disease-resistant varieties** – Seek out mildew-resistant cultivars for better disease resilience.
Key Factors Affecting Late Planted Cucumbers
A few critical factors play a role in the success of cucumbers planted late in the summer. Here are some key considerations:
Maturity Rate – The shorter the “days to maturity” for a variety, the better when planting late. Early maturing cucumbers (50 days or less) are best.
Season Length – Assess if your growing season has enough warm weather left for cucumbers to reasonably mature and fruit before the first fall frost.
Sunlight – Cucumbers require at least 6 hours of direct sun daily. Site them appropriately.
Soil Temperature – Cucumbers grow best once soils warm to 60-70°F. Use plastic mulch to help heat soils if needed.
Watering – Consistent moisture is vital, especially as plants start fruiting. Aim to provide 1-1.5″ of water weekly.
Pests & Disease – Scout regularly and be prepared to promptly manage pests like cucumber beetles and diseases like powdery mildew.
Cold Protection – Shield plants from cold snaps which could damage growth. Use cloches, row covers etc.
Late summer planting of cucumber seeds can result in a harvest before fall frost, but timing is critical and care is required. With smart variety selection, protection from pests and cold, attentive watering and nutrition, even August-sown cucumbers can thrive. Just be sure to monitor carefully and maintain vigilance over plants! Adjusting our approach, late season cucumber success is certainly within reach.
Improved airflow and less disease
With fewer leaves, pruned plants are less dense, allowing more air to move through the plants. The leaves dry faster after a rain, so they are less susceptible to the diseases that need prolonged moisture to develop — something that can be very helpful in wet climates. Plus, fewer leaves make it easier to spot insect pests that might otherwise be hidden by a thick canopy.
Pruning at the right time directs energy toward creating and ripening fruit instead of making more leaves. Overall, you will probably have fewer fruit on a pruned plant, but it will be bigger. And, since pruned plants can be put a bit closer together in the ground because the growth is so vertical, youll have room for additional plants to make up the difference in harvest numbers.
When a plants leaves and physiology have fewer fruit to take care of, that fruit ripens faster. This can really help in short season climates, where getting a tomato harvest is often a race against time, thanks to early fall frosts.
How to prune tomatoes (indeterminate varieties only!)
Youll want to prune tomatoes throughout the season. Heres what to do and when:
- Remove the lower leaves when planting so you can bury plants deeply into the soil. If youre planting a Bonnie plant, follow the directions on the wrapper.
- Remove any flowers present at planting time (even if they were on there when you bought the plant), so energy goes into leafy growth instead of fruiting at this early stage
- Remove flowers until plants are 12 to 18 inches tall, so plants can direct more energy to the roots.
- Remove all leafy suckers beneath the first fruit cluster so they wont slow the development of the fruit. Suckers are the little shoots that form in the spot (called an axil) where the leaf stem attaches to the main growing stem. In northern regions, many gardeners go further, removing all suckers as they appear. In warmer zones, though, experts often recommend practicing whats known as Missouri pruning, where you pinch off the leaflets on the end of each sucker, leaving only the two base leaflets in place. As these leaves enlarge, they help shade fruit and protect it from sunscald. Try to remove suckers when theyre small enough to pinch with your fingers, so you dont leave a gaping wound on the stem. If you do have to cut them, use a sharp knife or pruner blade to make a clean cut as close to the main stem as possible without damaging stem tissue.
- As the growing season draws to a close, tomato plants are often still loaded with fruit. To speed ripening late in the season, remove the growing tip of each main stem about four weeks before the first expected fall frost. Called “topping,” this type of pruning causes the plant to stop flowering and setting new fruit, and instead directs all sugars to the remaining fruit. This way, the fruit will ripen faster, plus it becomes more likely that the green tomatoes you pick before frost will actually ripen when you bring them indoors. It may be hard to bring yourself to do this, but it will be worth it if you wish for ripe tomatoes! Of course, if you prefer your tomatoes to remain green for use in frying and jelly, you can certainly skip this step.
Your Cucumber Plants Will DIE Every Time You Make This Mistake!
FAQ
What happens if you plant seeds in July?
If your summer is flying by and you haven’t gotten to everything on your to do list, it is not too late to plant seeds. July is actually an optimal time as the ground is warm and the daytime and nightime temperatures are warm so your seeds will germinate faster and your plants will grow very well.
Can I start cucumbers in June?
May and June are the best months for planting cucumbers in the U.S. (late May through mid-July in colder zones).May 4, 2024
Do I need to soak my cucumber seeds before planting?
Do I need to soak cucumber seeds before planting? Soaking cucumber seeds before planting is not necessary for germination, but it can give them a head start.Jan 28, 2025
Can you plant cucumber plants in July?
Both pickling and slicing cucumbers are dependable summer crops. They can be sown in July and tolerate the heat well as long as they’re watered consistently.