Watermelons ( Citrullus lanatus ) are ardent - time of year annuals and depending on the miscellanea , can take anywhere from 60 to over 100 days before the fruit isripeand quick for harvesting . That means month of wait . A good signaling your flora are healthy and happy is see the sunny jaundiced bloom spring and bloom . Next comes the most authoritative whole tone in the flower ’s lifecycle – pollination . Read on for tip on understanding the characteristics and habits of Citrullus vulgaris blossoms .
Anatomy of a Watermelon Blossom
If you look at theflowersof plant in the Curbitaceae kinfolk , which include Citrullus vulgaris , other melons , squash and cuke , you ’d probably comment they all look similar . All produce yellow-bellied blossom that are double-dyed and either manly or female .
Seedless vs. Seeded Watermelon Flowers
The major difference of opinion between seeded and seedless mixed bag is the case of flush each plant produces . sown types acquire both male and distaff blossom , so pollination is n’t a problem . However , seedless works make only female flower , thus an extra pollinator is required for fruit set .
Expert Tip : If grow aseedlesswatermelon , be certain to plant another hill or course of a variety producing seeds so its male blossom pollinate the seedless variety ’s flowers .
Blossom Development & Habits
After sprouting , it takes about 30 days for watermelon vine vine to set about flower . Male flowers blossom first , look along the vines , with female person flower on the lateral shoots . bloom bloom presently after sunup and only stay open for one day , so it ’s important for pollination to take place during this window of fourth dimension .
Watermelon plants produce many more male and distaff flower than will set up fruit , so do n’t be alarmed to see blossoms drop . If your vines are about 10 groundwork long and you still have n’t seen any blossoms , cut back off the vine ’s closing makes it grow extra lateral shoot , where distaff flowers form .
Always use neat pruning prick when cut back off the watermelon vine ’s end . You do n’t require to transfer any disease to the plant . Wipe the blades off with alcohol .
The Importance of Pollination
If your watermelons plants are healthy , growinglike gangbusters and blooming like crazy , the next important step in the flower ’s lifecycle so it make grow those lip - smack , juicy melons is pollination . Without proper pollination , the female flowers wo n’t train into fruits .
The little workhorse of nature , honeybees and aboriginal bees are the major pollinators of Citrullus vulgaris flush . For complete pollenation , it can take bee eight trip to a seeded variety ’s flowers and 21 for a seedless type .
During clock time of bad weather , such as showery , windy or cold conditions , the bee sojourn dwindle , thus the Citrullus vulgaris flowers might not have proper pollination . If pollenation of the flower is poor , it results in misshapen or small melons .
DIY Pollination
Whether due to risky conditions or you do n’t see many pollinator visiting your watermelon vine plants , and you feel pollination might be poor , you’re able to aid pollenate the blossoms yourself .
You have sex pollenation was successful if you see the bulge in the female flower grow and work into a miniature watermelon .
