The abundant color of cucumber crops is not a guarantee of abundant yield, since many flowers can often turn out to be barren flowers, after they wither, fall off, and never form ovaries. Experts name the reasons for barren flowers and offer a solution to the problem.
What is barren flowers
Barren flowers are male flowers that do not form ovaries. They can only be observed on female flowers. Barren flowers do not occur at all in parthenocarpic hybrid cucumber varieties. They do not need pollination, since in such hybrids all the flowers are female, which means that cucumbers will grow 100%. And only bee-pollinated (ordinary) cucumber varieties can form empty flowers - the reason for low yields. It is easy to understand that the gardener has female flowers, not male ones. Male flowers grow on legs, and female flowers always have a compaction in the form of mini-cucumbers.
Poor quality seed material
A novice vegetable grower may not know that not all cucumber crops will be suitable for growing in the country. As a result, what often appears from the seed material is completely different from what he wanted to see. A lot of empty flowers on the planted seedlings is evidence that the "donor" of the seeds was itself a hybrid species or crossed with a hybrid.
The solution is to buy seeds from a reliable agricultural company or grow only varietal cucumber species nearby.Collect seed material from them.
Irrigation violation
If the seeds were purchased from an agricultural company with a good reputation, but the seedlings still have too much empty color, the reason may lie in improper watering of the plantings. If you water excessively or with very cold water from a hose, the barren flower will not take long to emerge.
The solution is to use the “shock” method to increase the number of ovaries. Before flowering begins, the plantings are not watered. Cucumbers from such stress begin to bloom profusely with female flowers. After this, you can water as usual.
Very hot or cold
Both are bad for cucumber seedlings. In hot weather, the pollen from male flowers becomes infertile. Cold can kill the plant.
Solution: on hot days, you should practice abundant watering in the morning and evening hours. When it’s cold outside (no more than 15–16 °C), watering, on the contrary, is reduced.
Little light
Sun deficiency negatively affects crop yields. When plantings are located in the shade, you can’t count on a rich harvest.
The solution is to sow in the southeast of the garden - where there is a lot of sun. When the cucumbers are already sown, reducing the amount of watering and pinching the main vine will help. In early-ripening varieties, the stem is pinched after 8–10 leaves, in late cucumbers – after 6–8 leaves.
Excess nitrogen
If the plant is overfed with nitrogen, they will only grow greens without forming cucumbers. The reason for this is that an overfed plant simply does not want to take care of the offspring. He is already comfortable with an excess of nitrogenous substances.
The solution is to feed on a schedule.For abundant fruiting, cucumbers must be fed with potassium and phosphorus.
Dense plantings
When cucumbers are planted close together, there will be a lot of barren flowers. When plant crops are crowded in the garden, this will negatively affect growth. Growth will slow down and female flowers will not form.
The solution is to not disturb the planting pattern (400×400 mm) when sowing. If cucumbers are already planted on the site, you will have to “clean” the place. To do this, pinch the thick lash of the plant.
Knowing the reasons and ways to solve the problem of barren flower formation, it will not be difficult to grow a rich harvest of juicy and healthy cucumbers.
what to do if there is an ovary but cucumbers do not grow, the entire ovary disappears
Tell me please