Main stem length of cucumber

In professional breeding and variety testing of cucumbers, the key trait is the length of the main stem or vine. In bush and determinate forms, this indicator does not exceed 0.8 m, whereas in typical open-field varieties it is up to 2.0 m, and under protected cultivation conditions using trellises, it can reach 5 m.

The stem length trait and growth intensity directly dictate the plant training technology and planting density. For indeterminate hybrids, pinching and side-shoot removal are mandatory, as uncontrolled growth leads to excessive vegetative development at the expense of fruiting and shading, which causes ovary drop.