Why does bitter melon only bloom but not bear fruit?

Bitter melon , pumpkin, loofah and other melon vegetable crops are grown by many friends in rural areas, but various problems may arise during the planting process. For example, the problem of bitter melon blooming but not bearing fruit troubles many growers. This situation may be caused by many factors. Let’s learn why bitter melon only blooms but does not bear fruit.

1. Improper management during the seedling stage

If the bitter melon seedlings show signs of leggy growth, that is, the stems are thick, the leaves are thick, and the growth is too vigorous, it may cause the plant to only produce male flowers or only produce flowers without bearing fruit.

Solution: Reasonably control water and nutrients, avoid excessive fertilization, especially nitrogen fertilizer, to reduce excessive growth.

2. Management issues during flowering and fruiting period

During the flowering and fruiting stage of bitter melon, factors such as poor pollination, unsuitable temperature during the flowering period, insufficient light or insufficient fertilizer and water may lead to the phenomenon of flowers without fruits.

Solution: Ensure good pollination conditions, adjust temperature and light, and fertilize and water appropriately.

3. Pollination factors

Bitter melon depends on pollination to produce fruit. If there are rainy days, few insects, or insufficient pollen during the flowering and fruiting period, pollen pollination will be poor, making it more difficult to set fruit.

Solution: When natural pollination conditions are not good, artificial pollination or the introduction of pollinating insects such as bees can be used to improve the success rate of pollination.

4. Temperature Factor

Bitter melon requires suitable temperature conditions during the flowering and fruiting period. Low temperature climatic conditions can cause flowers and fruits to fall, resulting in flowers but no fruits.

Solution: In seasons with unsuitable temperatures, take insulation or cooling measures, such as using a greenhouse or shade net.

5. Lighting conditions

Bitter melon likes light and is heat-resistant, and requires high light conditions during the flowering and fruiting periods. Continuous rainy weather will lead to insufficient light and increase the phenomenon of melon molting.

Solution: During periods of insufficient light, artificial light can be used to supplement the light.

6. Pest and disease control

Bitter melon is susceptible to a variety of diseases and pests during its growth period. These diseases and pests will attack the leaves, weaken photosynthesis, and directly affect the fruit setting rate.

Solution: Check the plants regularly to detect and prevent diseases and pests in a timely manner to keep the leaves healthy.

7. Overnutrition or undernutrition

Excess nutrition causing the plant to grow too fast, or insufficient nutrition causing the plant to grow weakly, may affect the fruit setting of bitter melon.

Solution: Apply fertilizer appropriately according to the growth stage of bitter melon to maintain balanced growth of the plant.

8. Boron deficiency

Even if the bitter melon grows normally, if it has flowers but no fruits, it may be due to the lack of trace elements such as boron, which affects the differentiation of flower buds and the germination of pollen tubes.

Solution: Add fertilizer containing boron in a timely manner to promote flower bud differentiation and normal development of pollen tubes.

The above is an analysis of the reasons why bitter melon blooms but does not bear fruit. Changing these habits can effectively increase the fruit setting rate of bitter melon, reduce the phenomenon of blooming but not bearing fruit, and thus increase the yield and quality of bitter melon.