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1:09 pm
October 26, 2010
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My ridge gourd plants seem to have come up well. While the male flowers look fine, the female flowers (with the small gourd) don't seem to open up at all and wither away. Is there some (preferably organic) solution to this problem?
I have seen sites for eg: http://aaqua.persistent.co.in/.....advocating use of growth hormones like ethrel but I am not sure if is applicable in a small scale, potential side effects etc.
Jaga
3:20 pm
May 1, 2010
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Jaga,
Are the female flowers browning and drying away before it opens up? I am thinking there is a possibility of nutrient deficiency. Since it doesn't even open up. Pollination is out of question.
Are there already some ridge gourds developing in the plant. I am growing sponge gourd now. It can handle 1 or 2 fruits at any point in time.
A good manure (with more potassium and phosphorous) is something worth trying. BioFarm organic manure is good. Check it out.
8:26 pm
May 1, 2010
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4:08 pm
February 25, 2011
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Hi Jaga and GG,
I am facing the same problem with my Ridge-gourd plants. Were you able to resolve the problem?
In fact my problem is slightly more complicated. I have two Ridge-gourd plants. One has grown very tall with a lot of buds, but not even a single female flower/fruit. The other one is short but once in a while has some female flowers but they become yellow and dry off.
I also see a lot of red ants on both these plants, tried Chilli powder, Turmeric, but it doesn't reduce. So I have few questions:
1. Are the red ants causing so much damage to the plant that there is no fruiting?
2. Are there some plants which will not have female flowers at all, how much ever they grow?
3. Is it just nutrient deficiency issue? The potting mix is red soil and goat manure. I had given a dose of Panchagavya one month back.
Regards,
Shankar.
10:32 am
November 9, 2010
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Hi Shankar:
Your problems are really strange but then this is gardening. Each plant is
like an individual with his own likes, dislikes and behavioural patterns. I am
sure you will solve the issues sooner or later. As far as the red ants are
concerned I would like to make a suggestion. There is an insecticide in powder
form called Sevin. You can spray its solution as well as pour it on the
ant-hills. It is very effective. Only problem is that like most other
insecticides this too is toxic for bees also. It is therefore suggested that
you use it well after sunset when the bees have returned to their hives.
Regards.
Satish
7:48 pm
March 10, 2011
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hi folks,
I am facing some issues with my ridge gourd vines, from what I have observed
there is a lack of pollinators - my house sits bang on the main road - lot of noise and dust, and I dont have flowers in colours which attract bees, so i have to do hand pollination, adding to that..
even though the vines are quite spread out going from a neem tree to a banana and then to an oleaner and give out a lot of male flowers but only very limited no. of female flowers and a lot of time the female flowers dont seem to mature at all and wither away
I have got only 5 ridge gourds from 4 vines 
in 3 months
Any ideas on what I can do to improve the situation ?
thanks,
ramna
11:26 am
November 9, 2010
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Hi ramna:
Don't get disheartened! All gardeners have similar problems. Last year from 8 sponge gourd vines I got only 5 fruits. If you don't have enough pollinators around the only choice is to either take-up hand pollination or start the very profitable hobby of bee keeping alongside! The ratio of male:female flowers is a riddle. Such riddles are what make gardening such an exciting and creative activity. I have been studying some of my bottle gourd plants in this regard and will express my humble opinion on this in the topic "Growing cucurbits" since it seems to be a common problem of this family. Regards.
Satish
2:11 pm
October 14, 2012
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I am facing a similar problem. I have 2 vines in my balcony and they look pretty healthy. There are a lot of buds too. I am guessing the buds which come up in a bunch are the male flowers and the single buds are the female flowers? right?
Today morning I saw 2 female flowers on the floor 🙁 I am not sure how they snapped out of the vines. Wondering if it is because of the ants or is the plant nutrient deficient? Also the stalk of these flowers were pretty slender and long. Is that the way they are supposed to be?
I sowed the seeds exactly a month back. Is it too early for the vines to be flowering? Also the male flowers are still pretty small and doesnt look like they will bloom any time soon.
Lastly, I am not sure if I should let the vines grow on the grills or if I should shift the plant to the terrace and just let them spread on the floor?
Please advise.
Thanks
Aruna
5:29 pm
June 26, 2011
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Hai,Aruna regarding to gourds the main shoot produces males &the laterals produces females.Rigid give yield after 75 days of sowing.The falling of flowers is due to potassium deficiency or of early flowering or of low space of containers.Please post your photos of your gourds.Thanks Raghu.
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