Why your trees rarely bring forth any fruits

It can be disappointing to wait for plants to bear fruits and they fail to. The question is, why would a plant flower and then fail to bear fruits? The following reasons could explain why your plants are not producing fruits.

Inadequate Pollination is a Problem

Pollination is the primary step in seed formation. Inadequate pollination is one reason why plants do not produce fruit. Most food crops require pollination to yield fruit or seeds. 

Biologists have shown that pollination failure can occur at all steps in the dispersal process and at several different levels. Increased risk of pollination failure is associated with pollen if it is delivered to a stigma too little, too much, too late, too mixed in composition or too poor in quality. A key indicator of inadequate pollination is when plants produce many flowers, but fail to bear any fruit.

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Crops such as cucumber, muskmelon, squash, pumpkin, and watermelon require cross-pollination to produce fruits. Separate male and female flowers are produced on the same plant. Pollinator insects move pollen from the male flowers to the female flowers where the pollen can fertilise the tiny seeds inside the very small fruits that appear below the female flowers. When the seeds are fertilised the fruit enlarges. Twisted or deformed squash are the result of insufficient pollination.

Flowers on plants in this family typically are only open for one day. Blooms will simply drop off the plant if they are not pollinated. This can be caused by low bee activity due to cool, wet temperatures or from pesticide sprays. Undeveloped fruits will drop off with flowers or may drop several days afterward due to the same lack of pollination and fertilisation.

Do not apply insecticides in the vegetable garden during the bloom period. To correct the problem, it is important to attract pollinators to your farm by establishing an environment that would attract bees. Consult an agricultural extension expert to establish which plants will be most beneficial for your farm.

Severe Weather Conditions

Severe weather can also result in poor fruit formation. Abnormally hot, cold, dry, or wet conditions can interfere with fruit production. Wind and heat can dry out soil and scorch plants. Excess moisture may cause mold and fungus growth on plants, and may also attract and keep certain pests around. Frost is capable of damaging the flower buds and flowers of fruiting plants to the extent that the plants will not bear fruit.

Nutrient Imbalance

Too much nitrogen can cause plants to produce primarily leaves and stems. The plant will be large and usually very green and healthy, but will have few or no flowers. Nutrient deficiencies may result in reduced flower production or poor pollination. However, nutrient excess can be harmful to plant growth.

For example, phosphorus levels need to be sufficient in the soil for flower formation, but excessive amounts reduce the availability of several micronutrients to plants, especially iron. A boron deficiency may lead to incomplete pollination. Pollen quality, pistil formation (part of the female flower), and pollen tube elongation are affected by insufficient boron. But be aware that there is a fine line between sufficient and excessive soil boron, which can become toxic to plants if the levels become too high. Therefore, test the soil periodically for the recommended fertilisers for various plants. 

 [The writer is an expert on sustainable agriculture]

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