According to the optimal number of leaves left per melon, the author derived this conclusion through practical experience. Last year, a trial was conducted with three different leaf retention strategies for cucumber plants. The first group left one melon for every two leaves, the second group left one melon for every five leaves, and the third group left one melon for every three to four leaves.
In the first group, each plant retained seven leaves, with an average of two leaves per melon. However, only three melons per plant developed into commercially viable cucumbers, while the remaining four were either deformed or failed to grow properly. The plants also showed signs of stress, such as premature flowering, and during the cold season, their growth slowed significantly, leading to a reduced overall yield.
Conclusion: This method of leaving too few leaves is not ideal. The leaves are unable to provide sufficient nutrients for the melons, resulting in low-quality produce and overburdened plants that struggle to recover, ultimately lowering the total yield.
In the second group, one melon was left for every five leaves. The plants had enough nutrients to support healthy growth, and no defective melons were observed. On average, each plant produced seven melons from planting to harvest. However, this approach led to an excess of nutrients, which wasn’t fully utilized by the plants. Since two crops are typically grown per year, the plants remained strong during the spring but didn’t perform as well as newly planted ones, causing wasted resources and lower profitability.
Conclusion: Although the plants weren’t overworked, they didn’t reach maximum yield within the required time frame, leading to inefficient use of nutrients and lower overall returns.
The third group left one melon for every three to four leaves. This strategy resulted in the highest yield, as the leaves provided enough nutrition to support both the melons and the overall health of the plant. On average, each plant produced ten melons throughout the growing season, making it the most efficient and profitable method.
Conclusion: For cucumbers grown in two cycles per year, leaving 3–4 leaves per melon results in the highest yield and the best economic benefits. This balance ensures that the plant remains healthy and productive without being overburdened.
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