Watermelon farming is a good agri-enterprise and with good management practices, one can get high yields of up to25-30 tonnes per hectare.

Watermelons grow and blossom, usually producing yellow flowers. Shedding of flowers portends serious losses to the farmer.

It should first be noted that watermelons lose male flowers by shedding them at the beginning of the flowering stage.

Thus, check if it is male or female flowers that are affected. Females can be recognised by their short stems and usually have a swollen area at the base of the flower.

If the female flowers are falling, then that would be a serious problem caused by poor pollination or pest and disease attack.

To curb the problem, ensure there is good pollination by planting pollinator plants near your farm to facilitate pollination by the bees.

Also, ensure there is good fertilisation of the plants prior to flowering for strong and healthy crops and grow good varieties that are resistant to pests and diseases.

If there is a threat of serious economic losses especially if bacterial or fungal diseases are involved, spray with appropriate chemicals.

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