Are you worrying about your Gourd flowers doesn’t mature as big size gourd?

Nothing to worry…  Do Hand Pollination…  Will Get Big size fruits…

You may have lot of questions while growing Bitter gourd / Snake gourd / Ridge gourd / Cucumber / Bottle gourd, etc., (especially Cucurbits).

No pests attack…

Plants looks Healthy….

Good number of Flowers …..

But flowers are not converting as big size gourds. Fruits are destroys in small size and drop off. Despite, we are providing opt nutrition and care.

What would be the reason behind this?

Please remember your childhood Botany….

The reason behind this is failure of pollination…

Gourds produces male & female flowers separately in the same vine.

Male flowers appear first.

Easily differentiate the male flowers from female. As the female flowers have the small gourd shape below the bloom.

Male & female flowers ratio generally 10 : 1

Pollination depends on bees, beetles & butterflies. If the pollination occurs, female flowers will grow as fruits.

In kitchen & terrace garden, the population of bees & beetles is minimum. So, go for hand pollination.

Hand pollination: 

Can be done by using soft brush or buds or soft cotton cloths. Just touch the male flower centre parts by brush & collect the pollen from it. The collected pollen will be transferred in to female flower by touching the same brush on female flowers centre portion gently.

Or

Simply break off the male flower from the plant & keep it on the female flowers inverse position. Press it gently.

Most of the gourd flowers bloom during evening. Please do hand pollination either in the morning or evening.

Continuous monitoring of female flower production and hand pollination will  increase the yield in your kitchen /  terrace garden.

Tips to increase female flowers: First vine grows from seeds will have mostly male flowers. Hence, pinching tip of the vine 30 days after seeding will increase side branches and female flowers. Gourds are usually heavy feeders. Apply vermicompost & home made nutrition 15 days once will increase yield.

Happy Greening

P. Dheivanai, M. Sc. Ag. 9382132593

SAAI Greens