Wasteland on cucumbers, why does it appear, how to fight
Many gardeners are faced with such a common problem as barren flowers on cucumbers. As a result of the appearance of a large number of male flowers on plants, less ovary is formed. This directly affects the yield.
What is a wasteland
For normal development and fruiting, male and female flowers should be on plants in the same amount. If one or the second type of vegetative organs predominates, then the process of pollination will not occur correctly, it is difficult to achieve normal fruiting. In this regard, there is no need to interfere with the natural process of cultural development.
India is considered the birthplace of cucumbers, where this culture has existed for about 6000 years.
Not every gardener knows how to distinguish barren flowers from cucumbers. First you need to understand the structural features of the female flower; in the inner part of this vegetative organ, there is a small green cylinder between the petals. In appearance, this part resembles a small cucumber. The ovary begins to form from this place. Pollination of the considered crops is carried out bees or other insects that carry pollen from another type of inflorescence.
The barren flowers on the cucumber are male flowers. It differs from female organs in the presence of anthers and the absence of a mother liquor. Due to the impossibility of forming an ovary, such inflorescences are usually called barren flowers.
The appearance of a large number of female flowers on a plant can be achieved by heating the seed material on a battery or in a thermostat.
Barren flowers on cucumbers, causes of appearance
For many gardeners, it remains a mystery why barren flowers appear on cucumbers in greater numbers than female inflorescences. Poor quality seed is considered one of the most popular reasons. Good results can be achieved when using seeds for sowing, which have been lying down for 2-3 years. In this case, male and female flowers are formed in approximately equal quantities.
Some gardeners are interested in the question of why barren flowers on cucumbers in a greenhouse are formed in large quantities. Overgrown crops are one of the most likely causes.
The grower should maintain the optimum distance when sowing seeds:
- row spacing is 70 centimeters;
- the distance between individual seeds in a row is within 20-25 centimeters.
- on each square meter of usable area there should be no more than 7 crops.
Ignoring these requirements leads to disastrous results. Such plants will reach for the sun and develop incorrectly. Thickened plantings lead to the formation of a large number of barren flowers, the inflorescences dry out and fall off, a limited amount of ovary forms on the plants.
Another reason for barren flowers is improper watering. The cucumber is considered a moisture-loving crop, but it must be watered correctly.For such procedures, it is recommended to use a liquid with a temperature of 22-25 degrees. One of the popular options is to infuse water in the sun in a large container throughout the day.
Intensive watering is necessary for the culture in the period from germination to flowering, as well as at the stage of fruiting. During flowering, soil moistening is not carried out in order to create extreme conditions. In such a situation, the culture gives all its strength to form the harvest. As a result, male and female inflorescences appear on the lashes in equal numbers.
Watering is not recommended at air temperatures below 16 degrees.
The appearance of barren flowers in cucumbers can also occur through a lack of lighting, especially when growing crops in greenhouses. In this case, it is necessary to thin out the bushes. When grown outdoors, it is necessary to create a special microclimate for cucumbers, they do not like cold and strong gusts of wind. To do this, place from the northern part of the garden corn and other tall plants.
How to deal with wasteland
What to do if a huge amount of barren flowers appears on cucumbers?
First of all, you need to pay attention to the following points:
- temperature regime;
- soil composition;
- grade;
- a place for planting a culture.
It is not recommended to place a crop bed in elevated areas where it is hot and dry. It is also undesirable to plant cucumbers in low-lying areas, because cold and humid air accumulates here. For intensive development and better productivity, it is advisable to place the plants on a trellis. In this case, the lashes will curl along the supports, receive a sufficient amount of heat and light.
Another important point is the composition of the soil. The soil should contain the optimal amount of nutrients necessary for the full development of the cucumber. For example, excess nitrogen leads to intensive development of vegetative mass to the detriment of fruiting. In the case of a predominance of barren flowers on the lashes, feeding is carried out with liquid organic solutions with a mullein in a ratio of 1 to 10 with water or bird droppings in a ratio of 1 to 20.
Unfavorable weather conditions can also cause barren flowers to appear. Cucumbers develop poorly at night temperatures below 18 degrees. Prolonged drought is also undesirable for them. When the temperature rises from 26 degrees, pollen in male inflorescences becomes sterile. In greenhouses, doors and windows are opened or closed to regulate the temperature regime; in open ground, soil mulching or planting of tall crops between rows is necessary.