Watermelon Plant Is Dropping the Flowers After They Open

Question

The plant started to flower but it drops the flowers after they open. Since the fruit is supposed to follow the flower, does this this mean that I will not get fruit? Please help, don’t know what I’m doing wrong. Thank you so much for your advice.

Answer 1

This is common for melons and squash. These plants produce male and female flowers. In the beginning of the season, they will produce more males than females. The males cannot make fruit as they are only for pollination and they fall off the plant.

This article will help you identify the females from the males:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/female-male-squash-blossoms.htm

If you find the females falling off, this is a pollination issue. This article will help you with that:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/melons/hand-pollinating-melons.htm