Why Are My Flowers Falling Off?

Discussion and tips for growing all types of peppers
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Setec Astronomy
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Why Are My Flowers Falling Off?

#1

Post: # 22386Unread post Setec Astronomy
Sat Jun 13, 2020 11:22 am

I have had this same problem in previous years, my pepper plant produces flowers, then the flower shrivels up like it has set fruit, then it falls off, stem and all. I'm in a grow bag and it's a Sunrise Orange plant.

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bower
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Re: Why Are My Flowers Falling Off?

#2

Post: # 22443Unread post bower
Sat Jun 13, 2020 9:11 pm

Peppers will do that unless or until they have all the conditions they like. Day/night temperatures and such. Daylength is another one - I had peppers in house one winter, which flowered continuously but dropped every flower until the days got a certain length, then finally they started setting again.
Never keep peppers in the office btw. The pollen is cpu deadly. :geek: :evil:
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Re: Why Are My Flowers Falling Off?

#3

Post: # 22457Unread post Setec Astronomy
Sun Jun 14, 2020 5:15 am

Well we've been having some cool nights, day length of course about the longest right now, how does moisture level affect this?

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Re: Why Are My Flowers Falling Off?

#4

Post: # 22461Unread post bower
Sun Jun 14, 2020 6:37 am

IDK about moisture level, but cool nights is likely the problem. Peppers favor a rather small day/night difference according to what I have read, with the optimum iirc 20 C by day and 18 C by night (surprisingly close to house 'room temperatures'). I'm sure that varies by variety as well to some extent, as I have certainly seen them tolerate and set in more extreme conditions. Perhaps they are most finicky when they haven't yet set any fruit, but put their boots to it once they get started.
The degree of maturity of the plant might have an effect too. The plant might not feel big enough to support peppers, even if it's flowering. It's certainly common in my experience, that they shed some blooms before they set.
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Setec Astronomy
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Re: Why Are My Flowers Falling Off?

#5

Post: # 22498Unread post Setec Astronomy
Sun Jun 14, 2020 2:51 pm

Bower wrote: Sun Jun 14, 2020 6:37 amThe degree of maturity of the plant might have an effect too. The plant might not feel big enough to support peppers, even if it's flowering. It's certainly common in my experience, that they shed some blooms before they set.
I don't know, it seems pretty mature, but I don't have much luck with peppers, or maybe I just don't know what I'm doing with them. You can see the one shriveling flower at about midway between the first and second ladder rungs, its companion at that height is the one that fell off yesterday. And then two newer flowers at just below the top of the railing.
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Re: Why Are My Flowers Falling Off?

#6

Post: # 23454Unread post Setec Astronomy
Thu Jun 25, 2020 10:22 am

Well, I finally got some peppers:
IMG_2459.JPG

But now the flowers are falling off my patty pan squash plant:
IMG_2461.JPG
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Re: Why Are My Flowers Falling Off?

#7

Post: # 23457Unread post EdieJ
Thu Jun 25, 2020 11:02 am

I know it's disquieting when plants such as squash, cucumbers, melons lose their blossoms because the males and females like to party separately. Your patty pans are still small, when the time is right they should put out both at the same time and then the females will get the pollen they need to set fruit.
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Re: Why Are My Flowers Falling Off?

#8

Post: # 23462Unread post Setec Astronomy
Thu Jun 25, 2020 12:31 pm

EdieJ wrote: Thu Jun 25, 2020 11:02 am I know it's disquieting when plants such as squash, cucumbers, melons lose their blossoms because the males and females like to party separately. Your patty pans are still small, when the time is right they should put out both at the same time and then the females will get the pollen they need to set fruit.
Oh, I didn't realize there was some "enchantment under the sea dance" mating ritual (sorry, I was just watching Back to the Future)! I'll just have to be patient then.

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Re: Why Are My Flowers Falling Off?

#9

Post: # 24683Unread post Setec Astronomy
Tue Jul 07, 2020 10:53 am

EdieJ wrote: Thu Jun 25, 2020 11:02 am I know it's disquieting when plants such as squash, cucumbers, melons lose their blossoms because the males and females like to party separately. Your patty pans are still small, when the time is right they should put out both at the same time and then the females will get the pollen they need to set fruit.
Ok I got some squash...how do I know when it's time to pick these?
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Re: Why Are My Flowers Falling Off?

#10

Post: # 24685Unread post EdieJ
Tue Jul 07, 2020 11:59 am

Pattypans can be picked any time now, judging by the picture. Yellow pattypans normally are cooked when rather small, usually 3" or so across. White ones get left until about 4"-6" across. We generally grow the white ones as I like to cut them in 1" or so slices from the top down, slather them with olive oil & cook them on the grill. Meatless steak!!
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Re: Why Are My Flowers Falling Off?

#11

Post: # 24693Unread post worth1
Tue Jul 07, 2020 12:52 pm

The more you pick the more you get.
Letting them get too big slows production down.
Plus the seeds get to big and the flavor goes away.
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Re: Why Are My Flowers Falling Off?

#12

Post: # 24729Unread post Setec Astronomy
Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:43 pm

EdieJ wrote: Tue Jul 07, 2020 11:59 am Pattypans can be picked any time now, judging by the picture. Yellow pattypans normally are cooked when rather small, usually 3" or so across. White ones get left until about 4"-6" across. We generally grow the white ones as I like to cut them in 1" or so slices from the top down, slather them with olive oil & cook them on the grill. Meatless steak!!
It's supposed to be an Early White Bush Scallop, and the one in the foreground is about 5" across, so I guess I'll cut that one pretty soon. The one in the back is much smaller. And the only other one so far fell off when it was about an inch...it's lying in state on the counter.

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Re: Why Are My Flowers Falling Off?

#13

Post: # 24753Unread post EdieJ
Tue Jul 07, 2020 6:26 pm

Yeah 5" is plenty big enough. Enjoy!
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Re: Why Are My Flowers Falling Off?

#14

Post: # 24761Unread post worth1
Tue Jul 07, 2020 6:55 pm

Pretty soon means now, these summer squash things grow fast and get nasty in my opinion when they get too big.
Worth
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You might as well be arguing with a cat.

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Re: Why Are My Flowers Falling Off?

#15

Post: # 24768Unread post Setec Astronomy
Tue Jul 07, 2020 7:20 pm

I cut it...as I said it was supposed to be an Early White Bush Scallop...but it sure looks like the place I bought it from mixed it up with the Golden Bush Scallop, which they also sell. So I"m supposed to cut these, right, not break them off?

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Re: Why Are My Flowers Falling Off?

#16

Post: # 24771Unread post worth1
Tue Jul 07, 2020 7:48 pm

Yes just cut them off its the best way.
Worth
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Re: Why Are My Flowers Falling Off?

#17

Post: # 24778Unread post MissS
Tue Jul 07, 2020 9:40 pm

I like to pick these while they are small. No more than 2" or they can get tough. This means that you have to check your plants often because they are harvested a day or two after pollination. So sorry that you ended up with a wrong variety.
~ Patti ~

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