Causes of Melon Blossom Drop and Failure to Set Fruit, and Growing Methods

Melon, also called oriental melon, and in some places cantaloupe is also referred to as melon, is an annual plant of the Cucurbitaceae family. Melon has good adaptability and is grown in all regions of our country, and in recent years melon has sold quite well on the market. Many melon growers previously left comments for the editor, saying that their melons do not set fruit, or that fruit set is unstable. Why is this? Below, the editor will take everyone to explore the answer.

1. Reasons for failure to set fruit

There are many reasons why melons fail to set fruit. For example, if there are too many female flowers and too few male flowers, or too many male flowers and too few female flowers, this will affect pollination, so naturally it is very likely that no fruit will set. Second, improper fertilization leads to excessive vine growth, which also prevents fruit set; there is also malnutrition, where the growing point of the vine and the young fruit compete for nutrients, causing the fruit to drop; if the growing environment is unsuitable, such as temperature, moisture, soil, and light, these factors can also affect fruit set in melons; finally, some pests and diseases also have a very large impact on fruit set in melons. These are all reasons why melons fail to set fruit.

2. Control methods

For the different reasons why melons fail to set fruit, the solutions we adopt are also different. Generally speaking, the most commonly used approach is to do a good job of training the melon vines and pinching the growing tips, which can regulate nutrient supply and improve the relationship between the growth of bearing branches and the growth of young fruit. There is also the rational use of fertilizer: do not apply too much nitrogen fertilizer alone, combine it with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers and boron fertilizer, and while applying sufficient base fertilizer, carry out reasonable topdressing. When the growth ratio of male and female flowers is poor, we can use artificial pollination to increase the fruit set rate. Finally, reasonably control water supply and combine it with spraying growth-regulating hormones, which can increase the fruit set rate.

3. Points to note

When growing melons, there are also many things we need to pay attention to, so as to ensure the fruit set rate of melons. Generally speaking, when choosing agricultural chemicals for melons, we should buy them from regular manufacturers. Second, we should use them according to the usage and ratios in the instructions. There is also the fact that when carrying out artificial pollination on melons, there are specialized pollination agents, so do not choose the wrong pollination agent. Pollination is generally done after 4 p.m. or 6 p.m.

4. The relationship between growth and fruit set

The growth of melons has a very large impact on fruit set; it can be said that they are in a mutually interacting relationship. The vigor of stem and leaf growth in melons is greatly related to the number of fruits set, but it does not mean that the more vigorously the stems and leaves grow, the more fruit will be set. Second, during the growth process, melons need pruning, which is also a way of regulating the relationship between growth and fruit set. This is mainly to control vine growth and increase the fruit set rate. Therefore, when growing melons, the relationship between growth and fruit set is also a subject that must be studied.

Causes of melon blossom drop:

First, overly dense planting and excessive nitrogen fertilizer application cause uneven distribution of generated nutrients, so the young fruit cannot obtain enough nutrients and drops; second, excessively high nighttime temperatures during the fruit-setting period and overly strong respiration lead to blossom drop; third, too many fruits are set without thinning, and malnutrition leads to blossom drop.

Control methods:

Because the causes of blossom drop are relatively complex, to prevent blossom drop it is necessary to promptly identify the cause and take targeted control measures. Fertilize and water scientifically. Before sowing, apply heavy base fertilizer, mainly organic fertilizer, combined with quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer, phosphorus fertilizer, and potassium fertilizer, etc. When fertilizing at the vine-running stage, reduce the amount of nitrogen fertilizer as appropriate, grasp the fertilization principles, and appropriately control watering so that growth is steady and excessive vigor is avoided. In melon fields where plants grow too vigorously, after the young fruit has been normally pollinated, squeeze the vine stem behind the fruit firmly; this can reduce the ability to transport water and fertilizer to the top and concentrate nutrients to supply the young fruit, reducing blossom drop. Thin fruits in time. In greenhouse cultivation, be careful to control nighttime temperatures so they are not too high.

The above is the editor's analysis today of the reasons why melons fail to set fruit. At the same time, several solutions and points to note during cultivation were also introduced, hoping to help everyone. If you want to learn the complete melon growing techniques, remember to leave a comment for the editor.