The correct method and key operational points for hand-pollinating watermelons

(Agricultural Wealth Network) Both the female and male flowers of watermelon have nectaries and are typical insect-pollinated flowers. In low-temperature and rainy weather, timely artificial supplementary pollination should be carried out to ensure normal fruit set in watermelons. Artificial pollination is generally done on a sunny morning by taking male flowers that open that day and placing them in a moisture-retaining container to let them open naturally. When the female flowers open, remove the petals from the opened male flowers, point the anthers of the male flower at the stigma of the female flower, and gently smear them several times; each male flower can pollinate 2 to 3 female flowers. On a normal sunny day, the flowers open and can be pollinated at 6 a.m., and pollination should be finished before 9 a.m.; after 9 a.m., the fruit-setting rate declines. Artificial supplementary pollination should be focused on when the 2nd to 3rd female flowers on the main vine are in full bloom.