Growing Cucumbers in a Green House in North Central BC

Living in P:rince George BC growing cucumbers can be a bit hit and miss.  This year I did some reading and decided to do an experiment.  I planted 2 Sweet Slice Cucumber plants from seed.  After transplanting  they were placed in my green house and trained to grow up some twine.  I read of two  different methods of  "pruning" - both guaranteed to give greater yields and quality.  So the very unscientific Julie decided to do an experiment.  One plant with no pruning, one plant with the plant buds pruned out and one that had the buds, flowers and tentacles pruned out until there were seven leaves.

Sweet Slice Cucumber with no pruning

This is a picture taken August 8 of the Sweet Slice Cucumber with no pruning - just let it grow and fertilized regularly.  Today there is no sign of any baby cukes

Pruned until 7 leaves appeared

This is a picture taken August 8 of the Sweet Slice cucumber with pruning of the flower, bud and tentacle until there were 7 leaved.  We have a few flowers but not much in the way of fruit developing.

Just the leaf buds were pruned

This is the cucumber that had all the leaf buds pruned out.  We have already eaten one large very tasty cucumber and as you can see there are many more!  Now we have to admit that July was really lacking in heat and sunshine and that many have been a factor but it looks like I have found the pruning method that work best for Sweet Slice in my greenhouse.