- Cucumber does not bear fruit due to lack of dust
- Cucumber does not bear fruit because it is watered poorly
- Cucumber doesn't bear fruit because it's too cold
- Cucumber does not bear fruit because it is poorly fertilized
- Cucumber does not bear fruit because we pick it too rarely
- Cucumber does not bear fruit when grown under cover
Sometimes it happens that despite careful carecucumbers do not bear fruitThey bloom profusely, but there is no or very little cucumber fruit. There can be several reasons for the lack of cucumber fruit, and it is worth knowing all of them. In this article you will learnwhy cucumbers do not bear fruitand how to fix it.
Why cucumbers do not bear fruit
Fig. depositphotos.com
Cucumber does not bear fruit due to lack of dust
Cucumber is a dioecious and monoecious plant - male and female flowers are located on one plant - they grow in the leaf axils.Male flowers are usually found on the main shoot, and female flowers - which form the fruit - on the side shoots.In order for the cucumber fruit to form, the pollen from the male flower must reach the female flower
Why cucumbers do not bear fruit
Fig. pixabay.com
In cucumber field crops, where flowers pollinate bees or pollen is carried by the wind, there are usually no problems with pollination. In the case of growing cucumbers in a greenhouse or a foil tunnel , manual pollination may be necessaryFor this purpose, you can use a soft-bristled brush to collect pollen from the anthers of male flowers (just touch the anthers a few times), and then transfer it to the pistil in the female flower.
Manual pollination of a cucumber with a brush
Fig. depositphotos.com
There is also anothermethod of manual pollination of cucumber flowers , which is much more laborious but highly effective. Remove the male flower from the plant, remove the petals, put the anther directly to the female flower and rub it lightly.
Cucumber does not bear fruit because it is watered poorly
Cucumbers have a shallow root system and are plants extremely sensitive to the presence of water in the substrate. Both excess and shortage of watercan cause flowers and fruit buds to drop .
Water the cucumbers regularly during the fruit growth period
Fig. depositphotos.com
Watering cucumbers is especially importantduring the period of germination, flowering and fruit setting. We should water in the morning and in such a way as to avoid wetting the leaves. Water intended for watering should be at a temperature above 14 ° C.
It is recommendedfrequent but not too abundant watering of the cucumbersso that the soil is constantly moist but not excessively wet. During dry periods, cucumbers should be watered every 2 days. Cucumbers grown in pots on balconies and terraces need to be watered daily.
An important element in cucumber cultivation is mulching the soil between plants, which not only prevents weeds from growing, but alsoreduces water evaporation from the soil , helping to retain more moisture. Before planting cucumber seedlings in the beds, it is also worth using a hydrogel that is mixed with the soil. The hydrogel granules absorb water after watering and gradually give it back as the soil dries up. This keeps the substrate moist for longer.
Recommended for gardening applicationsa product containing a hydrogel is TerraCottem, which is additionally enriched with slow-acting fertilizers and ingredients that loosen the soil structure, thanks to which it has a positive effect on cucumbers.
Cucumber doesn't bear fruit because it's too cold
Cucumber is a thermophilic speciesPlants are planted or sown into the ground when the soil temperature reaches at least 14 ° C.The optimal air temperature for plant growth is 20-25 ° C, and when it drops below 0 ° C, young plants are seriously damaged or even die. At temperatures below 15 ° C, plant growth stops andfemale flowers fall
Cucumbers damaged by frost
Fig. depositphotos.com
Growing cucumbers on mulched beds with black polypropylene fleece or polyethylene film will increase the soil temperature and maintain it. To protect the young, most sensitive plants, we can also protect them from the cold with white agrotextile.
An electronic soil meter will help us to maintaincorrect temperature and soil moisture in the cultivation of cucumbers . It is enough to place the meter probe in the ground for a moment to find out what the earth's temperature and humidity are. The meter also shows the strength of sunlight and allows you to measure the pH of the soil.In this way, it helps us to create ideal conditions for the fruiting of cucumbers.
Cucumber does not bear fruit because it is poorly fertilized
Fertilization of plants should always be based on soil analyzes. In this way, we will avoid both over-fertilization and nutrient deficiencies.In the case of cucumbers, improper fertilization may be one of the reasons for the lack of fruit .
Excess nitrogen in the soil causes rapid growth of stems, leaves and hollow flowers, while high calcium deficiencies lead to flower dieback. Boron deficiency, on the other hand, causescucumber buds to die.Plants shed some of the buds, also due to general malnutrition, when they cannot properly develop all fruits.
Therefore, it is extremely important toprepare the soil for the cultivation of cucumbersand enrich it with organic fertilizers, such as e.g.compost. During the growth of cucumbers, it is worth continuing organic fertilization, e.g. by watering the cucumbers with diluted vermicompost. A good solution is also sprinkling mineral fertilizer for vegetables with micronutrients under the plants.
Cucumber does not bear fruit because we pick it too rarely
Pick the cucumbers often , even every day, because overgrown cucumbers inhibit the ripening of the remaining fruits. During the harvest, we also remove damaged, diseased fruits, which, if they remain on the plant, slow down the formation of new flowers.
We collect cucumbers regularly as they mature
Fig. depositphotos.com
Cucumber does not bear fruit when grown under cover
There are many factors in cucumber cultivation under cover that caninhibit flowering and fruit setting . These problems include:
- too high temperature (above 35 ° C),
- high relative humidity (over 90%),
- high plant density and light deficiency,
- large diurnal temperature difference
When growing cucumbers under cover, first of all, remember to shade the plants, air them frequently, and, if necessary, to pollinate the flowers manually.
MSc Eng. Anna Błaszczak
