What to Do About Pumpkin Fruit Abortion? Cause Analysis and Prevention Methods
Pumpkin is a fairly common gourd vegetable in our daily lives, and whether it is stir-fried as a dish or processed into products like pumpkin cakes, it is very popular. Pumpkin cultivation techniques in our country are also fairly mature, forming an entire industry chain, but even though the techniques are mature, many people still encounter many problems when growing them. Fruit abortion is one of them. Fruit abortion means the pumpkin dies while still a young fruit, which has a major impact on yield. So how should we prevent pumpkin fruit abortion? The details are as follows:
1. Fertilizer and Water Management
Doing a good job with fertilizer and water management is key. Generally, when pumpkins reach the flowering and fruiting stage, they do not need fertilizer or watering, to prevent excessive vine growth. If excessive vine growth still occurs, we can use a chlormequat chloride solution to water the pumpkin roots, inhibiting vine growth. Then, when 1-2 young fruits have formed, in order to improve the survival rate and fruit-setting rate, topdressing should be done in time, with the specific amount of fertilizer depending on the growth progress and the fertility of the soil. Also, in later growth, if the pumpkin leaves are found to gradually become lighter in color and begin to turn yellow, topdressing should also be done in time.
2. Artificial Pollination
Pumpkin is a cross-pollinated crop, and pollination is usually carried out by various insects. However, sometimes the success rate of insect pollination is not high, and sometimes there are even no insects. So at this time, we need to carry out artificial pollination. Artificial pollination should be done in the morning, preferably before 8 o'clock, and sunny weather is most suitable. If the number of male pumpkin flowers is small or there are none, small pumpkin pollen can be used appropriately. After successful pollination, wait until the pumpkin grows true leaves, then spray it with agents such as ethephon, and spray again half a month later. This can promote growth and increase the fruit-setting rate.
3. Pruning and Vine Pressing
The pumpkin plants should be pruned appropriately, but during pruning, care must be taken in the operation to prevent the plants from suffering unnecessary damage and producing wounds, which would affect pumpkin growth. When the main vine extends to 60 cm, the first vine pressing should begin, and then press the vines at appropriate times according to the length of vine growth, generally 3-4 times is enough. As for the fruits on each vine, try to keep only one. If two or more young fruits appear, choose the fruit with the best growth and the largest size, then remove all the excess fruits, remove the side vines, and carry out topping and pinching.
4. Pest and Disease Control
Suffering from pests and diseases will also cause great harm to the survival of young fruits. Patrol the pumpkin patch frequently, disinfect the pumpkin patch regularly, and handle abnormal situations in time. Special attention should be paid to the control of aphids, which can be controlled with agents such as Kangfuduo, because aphids not only gnaw on pumpkin plants but also transmit disease pathogens, leading to multiple diseases occurring together. Preparatory work should be done for various pests and diseases, so that once pests and diseases occur, they can be treated in time. Strengthening the management of the pumpkin patch and ensuring the surrounding environment are the only ways to effectively prevent fruit abortion.
The above four points are the main methods for preventing pumpkin fruit abortion. Fruit abortion causes death during the young fruit stage and has a serious impact on pumpkin yield, and may even cause total crop failure. Therefore, everyone should do a good job managing the pumpkin patch, improve the plants' resistance, and ensure the pumpkin fruit-setting rate. Only then can the occurrence of fruit abortion be reduced. That is all for today's introduction. Thank you all for reading and your support.