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Vegetable Gardening

flowering stopped

daninthedirt (USDA 8b, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)

11 days ago

We've has a couple of months of AMAZING production of Armenian cukes (which are actually melons). Probably harvested thirty or so in four yards of bed. But although the foliage still looks very healthy and robust, flowering has now all but ceased. This seems strange. Now, it's been blisteringly hot, but it has been for months, and these guys (as melons) love the heat. I grow these things every year, but usually just let the heat take them in August. This year I'm watering like crazy. Maximum irrigation does tend to leach away nitrogen, but I throw on some N-fert every few weeks and, as I said, the foliage looks fine. My beds test out as overabundant in P and K, so I'm not too worried about those. So what's going on? Does C. melo just get tired out?

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Comments (6)

carolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
10 days ago
Might it be too hot to set fruit? I know that's true for tomatoes...
daninthedirt (USDA 8b, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
Original Author
10 days ago
last modified: 10 days ago
No, it's not about not setting fruit. It's about not producing flowers, which they were doing handily in the last couple of months of 100F temps. Tomatoes don't produce fruit in heat because their flowers can't pollinate themselves. But they'll produce lots of flowers in the heat.
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Here I am gentlemen! Lol Wow amazing Bob! What varieties of pummelo do you have? The one that I am dying to add in my collection is the valentine pummelo. I heard that they are very amazing but no one seems to carry this variety now. I wish that Laura will comment on this variety one day. I remember that she has one and I always love to read her comment fruit comparison. Bob, love your jaboticaba and I am very happy with mine. I read everywhere that they are supposed to be slow grower but mine grows non stop since I bought it. Is it because I use holly tone like you and they love it? Oh also, do you use holly tone with your citrus and avocado too? I never had luck with mango trees until a few weeks ago I gave them some holly tone. Believe it or not it’s now bursting with new growths! Youhou!! Brian, you are so humble! All your trees are gorgeous no matter what you do!! Brian, did you try any of your gold nugget so far? Mine is finally picking up in growth after two years of struggling. Are you happy to get a little bit of rain? Finally, right? My rain barrel was almost empty! have a nice week end everyone!
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Donald V Zone 6 north Ohio
10 days ago
That is odd. Maybe to hot, plant is "waiting" maybe try a little shade over a patch?
daninthedirt (USDA 8b, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
Original Author
10 days ago
last modified: 10 days ago
Well, as I said, it hasn't been too hot for the last three months, when it has been just as hot as it is now. Nothing I'm aware of has changed. That's what's mysterious. Now, that we're past the solstice, if anything there already is a bit less sun. I'm going to throw on some more P and K and see if I can kick up the flowering. P and K are important for flowering and while N leaches much more readily than P and K, the latter two CAN leach, and this burning summer, with lots of irrigation, is probably making my bed leach-city.
CA Kate z9
9 days ago
last modified: 9 days ago
I wonder if they are taking a rest. ?

I think it might be time for a good drink of diluted liquid fertilizer. I just gave everybody a good soaking today with an appropriate liquid fertilizer, but then all mine are in pots.
daninthedirt (USDA 8b, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
Original Author
9 days ago
last modified: 9 days ago
Whatever the reason for this issue, it's probably an important lesson that with intensely hot conditions (and this summer has been by far the worst in a long time), fertilization is especially important, because of the rampant leaching of nutrients that you get with massive amounts of irrigation.

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