What to do when pumpkins have a low fruit-setting rate? Methods to improve the fruit-setting rate

Pumpkin is one of the melon and vegetable crops produced in summer. It is sweet and palatable, rich in nutrients, and a vegetable favored by consumers. It has extremely strong stress resistance, numerous varieties, a wide distribution, and good storage tolerance, making it a relatively high-yielding vegetable. However, many friends get very low yields when growing it, mainly due to the fruit-setting rate, so how do you improve the fruit-setting rate? Let's take a look together with Qinong Web.

1. Timely pinching

When the vine grows to about 2 m, promptly remove the growing tip of the main vine. This is to promote the vine to branch in time. After pinching the main vine, 3-4 side vines will grow and keep growing, increasing the number of flowers. With a large number of flowers, the fruit-setting rate will naturally increase.

2. Building a trellis

Building a trellis is done after pinching. After the main vine is pinched, side vines of varying numbers grow out. When the side vines grow to a certain length, if they are not managed, the side vines will become entangled with each other, resulting in poor ventilation and light penetration, and also making it easy for diseases to invade. Therefore, build a trellis in time and guide the vines onto it. This can not only increase the permeability between the vines, but also reduce the chance of disease occurrence. Generally, after building a trellis, the fruit-setting rate can be increased to more than 40%.

3. Preventing excessive vegetative growth

To improve the fruit-setting rate, preventing excessive vegetative growth of the vines is essential. Excessive vine growth will seize a large amount of nutrients, resulting in fewer fruits. The way to prevent excessive growth is to control the application rate of nitrogen fertilizer and appropriately increase the application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. In addition, after excessive growth appears, the excess side vines and leaves can be cut off to reduce nutrient consumption. Also, at a point 25—30 cm from the root of the vine, make a small slit and insert a small piece of charcoal into the cut. This can inhibit plant growth.

4. Assisted pollination

Pumpkin achieves fruit setting through cross-pollination, mainly by wind and bees and insects. However, in rainy weather, the pollen is damaged, reducing the pollination effect and lowering the fruit-setting rate. At this time, artificial pollination is needed to improve the fruit-setting rate. Cover the flowers with pumpkin leaves to prevent rain from entering. After the rain, place a male flower over a female flower and remove it after 2-3 days to complete pollination.

5. Removing yellow leaves

Removing yellow leaves is also one of the methods to improve the fruit-setting rate of pumpkins. On vines that have already flowered and set fruit, promptly remove the basal leaves and yellow leaves from the vines, and remove one third of the male flowers. This can improve the permeability of the plant, and also preserve the plant's nutrients as much as possible, avoiding excessive consumption, so that it can flower and set fruit.

The above are the methods brought to you by Qinong Web for improving the fruit-setting rate of pumpkins. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more about pumpkin cultivation knowledge, please stay tuned to Qinong Web.