What to Do When Greenhouse Zucchini Fruit Does Not Swell? Cause Analysis and Solutions
When growing zucchini in greenhouses, the fruit is prone to failing to swell after setting. This is a major headache for farmers, because if the fruit does not swell, no matter how many fruits set, it is meaningless. So why does greenhouse zucchini fruit fail to swell? How should it be solved? Let's take a look together.
1. Excessive vegetative growth
Zucchini plants that fail to swell generally show excessive vegetative growth. The nutrients a plant absorbs are limited, so if vegetative growth is too vigorous, reproductive growth will inevitably be affected, causing the zucchini fruit not to swell. Therefore, growth control must be done well during the zucchini seedling stage. In addition to using growth control chemicals, adjustments can also be made in terms of fertilizer, water and temperature. Zucchini has strict temperature requirements. Generally, it needs to be kept at 18-22°C during the day and 13-15°C at night. If the temperature is too high, especially when the night temperature is too high, excessive growth is very likely to occur, so the temperature must be well controlled. In addition, on the basis of applying sufficient base fertilizer, avoid applying too much nitrogen fertilizer after the seedlings recover, because nitrogen fertilizer easily causes the plants to grow leggy. During the fruit-swelling stage, a suitable application of high-potassium fertilizer can be made.
2. High concentration of flower-dipping solution
The concentration of the flower-dipping solution should change with temperature: it should be lower at high temperatures and higher at low temperatures. If zucchini fruit fails to swell because the concentration of the flower-dipping solution is too high, then watering should be increased, and gibberellin or cytokinin mixed with brassinolide should be sprayed to alleviate it and allow normal growth and development.
3. Low temperature and insufficient light
Under low temperature and insufficient light, zucchini not only grows and develops slowly, but nutrient synthesis and transport are also hindered. During the day, photosynthesis produces insufficient nutrients, and nutrient supply is inadequate. Low temperatures also cause cells to stop elongating, resulting in fruit that does not swell or that drops. Therefore, it needs to be solved by keeping warm and increasing light. On sunny days, open the greenhouse later in the morning and cover it earlier in the evening to extend the lighting time. On cloudy and rainy days, when temperature permits, appropriately open the straw mats to let light through, and also wipe the greenhouse film in time to increase the time and amount of light the vegetables receive.
The above is an introduction to the causes and solutions for zucchini fruit not swelling in greenhouses. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.