What to Do About Flower and Pod Drop in Yardlong Beans? A Detailed Guide to Prevention and Control

Yardlong beans are relatively difficult to manage during cultivation and production. They are highly prone to excessive vegetative growth that makes pod setting difficult, and flower and pod drop may also occur. This affects the yield of yardlong beans and directly impacts farmers' income. So what should you do about flower and pod drop in yardlong beans? Let's take a look at the details.

1. Causes

① Temperature too low or too high. If the temperature during the flowering period is above 35°C or below 15°C, it will affect the plant's flower bud differentiation, cause poor development of the floral organs, and produce sterile flowers, thus leading to flower and pod drop.

② Insufficient nutrients. During the flowering and pod-setting period, the flowers and pods need abundant nutrients to grow. If the plant lacks nutrients, the flowers and pods compete with each other for nutrients, and uneven nutrient distribution will cause flower and pod drop.

③ Zinc deficiency. In yardlong bean plants, zinc deficiency leads to a decrease in gibberellin synthesis, and because the petioles and fruit stalks lack auxin, abscission occurs.

④ Humidity too high or too low. Humidity also affects pollen germination. Especially in a high-temperature, high-humidity environment, the impact is greater, causing the sticky substance on the style to lose its ability to induce pollen germination.

⑤ Insufficient light and poor ventilation. Yardlong beans are relatively sensitive to light intensity during growth. Especially after flower bud differentiation, when light is weak, the number of dropped flowers and pods increases. In addition, poor ventilation can also cause flower and pod drop.

2. Preventive Measures

① Choose good varieties and sow at the right time. Before planting, choose excellent varieties with wide adaptability, strong stress resistance, and a high pod-setting rate. In addition, according to local climatic conditions, choose a sowing time so that the full flowering period of the yardlong beans avoids the high-temperature season.

② Plant at a reasonable density. When planting, intercropping or trellising can be used to create an environment with good ventilation and light transmission, which can improve light and ventilation and reduce air humidity.

③ Strengthen fertilizer and water management. Apply nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers as well as other trace elements reasonably. When fertilizing, follow the principle of light application before flowering, heavier application after flowering, and heavy application during the peak pod-setting period.

④ Spray foliar fertilizer. During the flowering and pod-setting period, the plant will produce a large number of old leaves. At this time, promptly spray zinc-containing foliar fertilizer, which can accelerate gibberellin synthesis and prevent premature aging of the plant.

The above is an introduction to what to do about flower and pod drop in yardlong beans. We hope it helps you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.