Why cucumbers have only one empty flower – 6 most common reasons

First, let’s remember botany. Many plants have male and female flowers. They even differ in appearance: male flowers have stamens, and female flowers have pistils. Only females produce fruits and seeds. But for this to happen, pollination is necessary – and here you can’t do without “boy” flowers. It turns out that both are equally important for the continuation of the cucumber family.

Cucumber flowers

Look closely at the cucumber flower. If you find an ovary underneath it that looks like a small long cucumber, you can be sure: this is a female flower. If the yellow flower is located right on a thin peduncle, you have a male specimen in front of you.

Cucumber flowers come in three types, not two, as many people think. In addition to male and female, there are also hermaphrodite flowers. And they were the ones that started the evolution of the plant. Each flower has both pistils and stamens. They also have an ovary, but it is not long, but round.

Reasons for the appearance of empty flowers on cucumbers

Male flowers are commonly called empty flowers, because they do not form ovaries and, therefore, do not produce fruits or seeds. Empty flowers appear at the beginning of the plant’s flowering and often outnumber female flowers. Why are these “unnecessary” flowers formed? Let’s name the 6 most common reasons:

Reason 1 – poor quality seeds

For sowing, it is recommended to take seeds that are at least three years old. When buying them, pay attention to the date of collection. “Young” seeds, as a rule, give fewer shoots and more empty flowers. Try to help them in the following way: put them next to a heating device for 2-3 weeks. At a temperature of 25-28 ° C, the seeds will warm up well, and this will increase their germination.

Reason 2 – unfavorable weather conditions

Cucumbers love warmth. The most comfortable temperature for them is close to 23-25°C during the day and about 20°C at night. At lower temperatures, plant growth slows down and the formation of female flowers stops. In this situation, you should cover the plantings and stop watering.

If the air temperature is significantly higher, it is harmful for male flowers. The fact is that at temperatures above 27°C, pollen is sterilized and the ability to fertilize disappears.

Reason 3 – incorrect watering

Cucumbers are moisture-loving plants. However, excessive watering or watering with cold water is more harmful to the formation of ovaries than a slight drought.

To make cucumber shoots produce more female flowers, give them stress therapy. Leave the plant without watering for a few days. Due to the lack of moisture, it will begin to produce female flowers in abundance. It is important not to overdo it and resume watering in time.

Reason 4 – Incorrect feeding

If the nutritional balance is disturbed, there may be an excess of nitrogen-containing fertilizers in the soil. This will lead to increased growth of green mass, but at the same time the ability to form ovaries will decrease. If this happens, urgent measures must be taken:

• leave the plants without watering for a week and spray their leaves with a superphosphate solution (3 tablespoons per 10 liters of water);
• after 7 days, water the plants at the roots with the same composition – 1 liter under each bush;
• Remove one leaf from each plant every 2-3 days.

Reason 5 – Lack of pollinating insects

This problem can be caused by prolonged rains or growing bee-pollinated varieties of cucumbers in a greenhouse. To help the inhabitants of the greenhouse, spray the plants with a sweet solution. Its smell will attract insects there.

The problem associated with rainy weather can be solved by artificial pollination: in between periods of precipitation, transfer pollen from male flowers to female flowers manually.

Reason 6 – dense plantings

The optimal distance between cucumber bushes is 20-30 cm, in rows – at least 50 cm. If planted more closely, the plants do not have enough light. This will lead not only to the formation of a large number of empty flowers on cucumbers, but also to other problems: falling ovaries, slow growth, disease. As our ancestors said, “do not plant densely – it will be empty!”

What to do with empty flowers on cucumbers

Some gardeners ruthlessly remove these unnecessary flowers. You should never do this! Yes, they do not form ovaries themselves. But without their participation, female flowers will not be able to do this either. And as a result – no fruits. I just want to say: “Take care of the men!”

The Tale of the Cucumber

Grandfather planted a cucumber seed. A week later, a tiny sprout appeared from the ground. Over time, it turned into a long shoot. The shoot was full of little yellow flowers. And suddenly… all the flowers turned out to be barren. Grandfather never got to see any cucumbers…

I hope that after our article your cucumber fairy tale will have a happy ending!