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How to tell if Watermelon is pollinated, We have received this question countless times from students and agricultural aspirants.
Watermelon helps you stay hydrated. It is packed with nutrients and beneficial compounds. Watermelon helps to improve the health and development of the health.
Keep reading this post and get the answers you seek.
How To Tell If Watermelon Is Pollinated?
The Watermelon fruit develops at the ovary near the base of the pistil at the early stage of development.
The Ova becomes fertilized after pollen is taken to the top of the pistil of the watermelon. The stigma determines whether the vine ever ripens into a fruit.
After pollen is deposited o the stigma a germ tube must grow down the length of the watermelon’s pistil so that the male cell can fertilize the ovum for fruits to begin developing.
However, if the germ tubes are not fully developed, pollination becomes useless.
The only way you can tell if your watermelon plant was pollinated is to watch its fruit development. If fruiting doesn’t occur the pistil and stigma will dry out.
How to tell if Watermelon is pollinated? You can know if your watermelon is pollinated by checking the ovary of the plant. The ovary suddenly becomes enlarged because the eggs were fertilized. This process leads to the development of fruits.
Read Also: How To Tell If Corn Is Pollinated [3 Signs To Watch For]
How Can A Watermelon Plant Get Pollinated?
Your watermelon plant can get pollinated in many ways. Wind, insects, self-pollination, and human assistance can lead to the pollination of your watermelon plant.
1. Insects Can Pollinate Watermellon.
Bees are the best watermelon pollinators. They help pollination occur on a watermelon without stress.
According to the University of Califonia, when pollination doesn’t properly take place. The results would be poor fruit sets and misshapen fruits.
Bees are important in the Watermelon pollination process. It doesn’t only help a watermelon plant to produce abundant fruits, it also ensures that your fruit is healthy and in a good shape.
Furthermore, Bees are attracted to the juiciness of watermelon. When pollination is successful, the fruits become a source of sugar for humans, animals, and insects.
You can only see a watermelon flower the morning of the following day after its pollination. This is why bees must visit the flower on the appropriate day so that the chances of pollination are not lost.
According to a series of research, bees must visit the flowers of the watermelon plants 7 to 8 times for fertilization to take place.
Fortunately, bees are also attracted to other flowers. So, if your watermelon doesn’t get pollinated your other flowers can. The bees can shift to other flowers.
This is why watermelon farmers must plant other flowers or plants very close to their watermelon flowers. Because the bees can pollinate their watermelon after pollinating the other flowers.
2. Artificial Pollination of Watermellon Flower.
What if I don’t have bees around my surroundings? How can a watermelon get pollinated?
Well, if you have little or no bees near you, you can pollinate your watermelon by yourself.
To begin this process, you must be able to differentiate between a male and a female flower.
The male flower has a stamen while the female flower has pistils. These are the male and female reproductive organs of a plant.
The ovary of the watermelon flower is where the fruits develop. However, ovaries need pollen grains from the anther of the stamen to develop fruits.
Female watermelon flowers bloom about 11 to 16 days after the male watermelon flowers have opened up.
Carefully examine the female watermelon flower so you can see when it opens up. Immediately you notice this process, conduct manual pollination between 6 and 9 a.m.
Start the process by taking out some stamen from the male flower. Place these stamen at the center of the female flower.
Furthermore, Ensure that you do not damage the flowers during this process.
When you do this transfer of pollen has been achieved. You can use 1 male flower to pollinate more than 3 female watermelon flowers.
If you carry out this process successfully, your watermelon would develop fruit after 4 months of pollination.
What Is The Best Weather Condition To Plant Watermelon?
Watermelon develops more during the hot season. This is why farmers should plant their watermelon during the summer season.
A watermelon plant requires full sunlight to properly develop.
Read also:
- Ladybugs Vs Asian Beetles | 4 Main Differences
- How To Tell If Corn Is Pollinated [3 Signs To Watch For]
What Soil Type Is Best For My Watermelon Plant?
Watermelon is more productive on sandy loam soil. Because sandy loam soils are well drained.
Your watermelon would be stunted if you don’t control weeds from growing around it.
How Much Water Do Watermellon Need To Survive?
The Watermelon plant requires a lot of water to develop quality fruits. Ensure you always keep the soil moist.
Furthermore, the morning hours are the best time for watering your watermelon plant. It helps the water to drain into the soil before the sun comes out.
A drip irrigation method can help remove or lessen the issue of watering every morning.
Nonetheless, make sure you water your watermelon plant after pollination. It needs more than 1cm of water every day to develop.
This act keeps the soil moist during the process of fruit development.
Can A Watermelon Flower Fall Off Prematurely?
Yes, your watermelon leaf can fall off without properly developing due to many reasons.
Some of these reasons are pollination problems, soil type, irrigation problems,s and pest issues. All these can deteriorate the health of your watermelon plant.
Conclusion.
Answers to your question “how to tell if Watermelon is pollinated” have been provided.
However, for a bountiful harvest, follow the procedures above. Carry out all the steps listed in this article to help your watermelon get pollinated.
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