Cucumbers are one of the most popular vegetable crops grown in summer cottages and garden plots.
However, it is not always possible to get a good harvest of this tasty and healthy vegetable. One of the reasons is the appearance of barren flowers, that is, flowers that do not form into fruits.
What are barren flowers and why do they appear?
Barren flowers are cucumber flowers that are not pollinated and do not produce ovaries. They can be either male or female, says Anastasia Kovrizhnykh.
Male flowers usually appear at the beginning of cucumber flowering and serve to attract bees and other pollinators. Female flowers are formed due to lack of pollination or unfavorable conditions for fruit set.
There are several factors that can contribute to the appearance of barren flowers on cucumbers:
Wrong variety
To get a lot of fruit, it is better to plant varieties with a large number of female flowers or parthenocarpic varieties that do not require pollinators.
Lack of light
Cucumbers are light-loving plants that need sufficient sunlight for normal growth and development.
If cucumbers are grown in the shade or under a screen, this can lead to a decrease in the number of female flowers and an increase in the number of empty flowers.
Incorrect watering
Cucumbers are moisture-loving plants that require regular and abundant watering. However, excess or lack of water can also negatively affect flowering and fruit setting.
Too much water can cause root rot and slow plant growth, while too little water can cause flowers to wilt and fall off.
Inappropriate temperature
Cucumbers are heat-loving plants that are sensitive to temperature changes. The optimum temperature for flowering and fruit setting is 20-25 degrees Celsius.
If the temperature is too high or too low, it can cause stress on the plants and reduce their productivity.
Nutrient deficiencies
Cucumbers are demanding plants that require sufficient amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other microelements.
Deficiency or excess of these substances can disrupt the balance of plant growth and flowering, and also affect the quality and quantity of fruits.
What to do to avoid being left without a harvest
In order to prevent the appearance of barren flowers on cucumbers and get a good harvest, it is necessary to follow several rules:
1. Choose a suitable cucumber variety for your region and growing conditions. It is advisable to choose varieties with a predominance of female flowers or parthenocarpic varieties that do not require pollination.
2. Provide cucumbers with sufficient light. Place cucumbers in a sunny spot or use additional lighting. Avoid shading plants with other crops or buildings.
3. Water the cucumbers regularly and generously. Maintain constant soil moisture, but do not allow over-watering. Water the cucumbers in the morning or evening with warm water, avoiding water getting on the leaves and flowers.
4. Maintain the optimum temperature for cucumbers. Protect plants from frost, heat and drafts. Ventilate the greenhouse or hotbed at high temperatures. Cover the plants at low temperatures.
5. Feed cucumbers with complex mineral or organic fertilizers. Follow the recommended doses and timing of fertilizer application. Do not overfeed plants with nitrogen, as this can promote the growth of greenery to the detriment of fruits.
6. Promote pollination of cucumbers. Attract bees and other pollinators to your plot by planting honey plants. Or conduct artificial pollination by transferring pollen from male flowers to female flowers using a brush or cotton swab.
Conclusion
Barren flowers on cucumbers are not a death sentence, but a signal that the plants lack something for normal flowering and fruit set.
If you take into account all the factors that affect the fruitfulness of cucumbers and create optimal conditions for their growth and development, then you will be able to get a good harvest without barren flowers.
Earlier, the expert told what work must be done at the dacha in January.
Expert: Anastasia Kovrizhnykh
