What causes flower and fruit drop in honeydew melons, and how can it be prevented?

The honeydew melon is a type of melon, and because its flesh is sweet and tender it is deeply loved by consumers, and quite a lot of people grow it. When growing it, farmers often use greenhouse seedling raising and double-film cultivation methods to increase economic returns, but this method results in a low fruit-setting rate and severe flower and fruit drop. So how can flower and fruit drop in honeydew melons be prevented? Let's take a look.

I. Causes of flower and fruit drop

There are mainly several causes of flower and fruit drop in honeydew melons. First, applying too much base fertilizer, especially a one-sided application of quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer, causes excessive vegetative growth of branches and leaves and inhibits flower bud differentiation; second, prolonged low temperatures in the environment hinder the development of the reproductive organs; third, high humidity, with soil moisture in a saturated or overly wet state, seriously affects the transpiration of the leaves and the absorption function of the root system, making it difficult for pollen to be released or causing pollen to rupture, which affects the fertilization rate; fourth, insufficient light causes nutrients to accumulate less, the sugar content to be lower, and the quality to be poorer.

II. Preventive measures

1. Improving the environment

First, standing water in the soil should be drained promptly to promote the sprouting of new roots. Then, on sunny days, open the plastic film to both keep warmth and supplement light, promoting strong plant growth. At the same time, note that on rainy days the film on both sides of the greenhouse or at the base of the greenhouse should be opened, so that scattered light can also be supplemented on rainy days.

2. Regulating stem and vine growth ⟧10⟧For piglets that have already grown excessively, paclobutrazol can be sprayed. Generally, 40 grams of paclobutrazol per mu is diluted with 50 kg of water, or 10 ml of mepiquat chloride per mu is diluted with 40-50 kg of water and sprayed. This can noticeably inhibit the stem and vine growth of the plant, concentrate nutrients on fruit enlargement, and improve yield and quality.

For piglets that have already become leggy, paclobutrazol can be sprayed. Generally, 40 grams of paclobutrazol per mu is diluted in 50 kg of water, or 10 ml of mepiquat chloride per mu is diluted in 40-50 kg of water and sprayed. This can significantly inhibit the growth of the plant's stems and vines, concentrate nutrients on fruit expansion, and improve yield and quality.

3. Inducing fruit set

Treatments such as Zuogualing or Zuoguoling can be used on female flowers to make the fruit-setting rate reach more than 90%. In the afternoon of the day before the female flower opens or on the day it opens, spray the young fruit with a 200-400 times dilution of Zuogualing, or apply a 10-20 times Zuogualing solution to the fruit stalk. The effect is relatively good and can noticeably increase the fruit-setting rate.

4. Artificial supplementary pollination

Honeydew melons grow male and female flowers on the same plant, and the female flowers are also bisexual flowers. To increase the fruit-setting rate and reduce flower and fruit drop, artificial supplementary pollination can be used. After picking the male flowers, apply their pollen to the stigma of the female flowers. Generally, each male flower can pollinate 2-3 female flowers, or after collecting the pollen, use a brush or cotton swab to dip the pollen and apply it to the stigma of the female flowers; the effect is the same. Pollination should be done on sunny days from 7-9 am or from 4-6 pm in the evening, avoiding periods of high temperature and strong light as much as possible.

The above is an introduction to the causes of and preventive measures for flower and fruit drop in honeydew melons. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please keep following us.