It would seem that the cucumber seeds thrown into the ground have successfully hatched and sprouted, the plant is developing at full speed, blooming and has already formed the first ovaries...
But suddenly something goes wrong, and the cucumber begins to shed its ovaries, without allowing them to form into full-fledged cucumbers. The expert of the online publication BelNovosti, agronomist, landscape designer Anastasia Kovrizhnykh suggests finding out about the reasons for such an unpleasant phenomenon, so as not to encounter it again.
In fact, there are quite a few factors that can influence such “behavior” of a crop, but the main one is the lack of pollination.
A moment of theory: during pollination, pollen is transferred from the stamens to the pistil of the flower, resulting in fertilization and formation of the fruit.
When it comes to cucumbers, pollination in this case can be either self-pollination or cross-pollination.
The first option is typical for parthenocarpic cucumbers, while cross-pollination, which requires pollinators, is typical for most varieties.
So, if you have chosen to plant cucumbers that require cross-pollination, you will have to ensure that there is a sufficient number of those same pollinators – bees and other insects – present on the site.
It is easier to do this than it may seem at first glance – all you need to do is plant honey plants next to the cucumber beds. These include such popular crops as beans, peas, as well as clover, mint, lavender, etc.
