Melon flowers fall

[Scrappy Coco]

The melon's flowers open, close as if they were pollinated, and a day afterwards rip off as if somebody snipped them off using a pair of scissors. Ideas?

[Scrappy Coco]

Anybody? I'm pretty sure it's cantaloupe but I really can't tell. As I said, the flowers open, close as if they were pollinated, and fall off as if somebody snipped them off using a pair of scissors.

[applestar]

Melons have male and female flowers. Female flowers are readily recognizable because there is a tiny melon-shaped bump at the base of the flower. The ones with straight stem are male flowers and will drop off. If the female flowers are successfully pollinated by pollen from the male flowers, then the flower will close and shrivel but the baby melon will continue to grow.

...suspecting these are male flowers. Cucurbits (cucumbers, melons, squash, pumpkins, and gourds) typically start blooming with male flowers and female flowers join in about a week later.

[Scrappy Coco]

So, basically, there is no way for me to distinguish between the male and female flowers, but most of them are probably male flowers, right?

[applestar]

It's easy to tell them apart -- there is a baby pre-fruit attached to the back of the female flower between the blossom and the stem. It will be in recognizable shape of marble-sized round melon in this case.

[imafan26]

Another way to tell is that most male flowers have longer stems and as apple said no baby fruit behind the flower. There are usually more male flowers than female flowers on the vine. the males do drop off cleanly. Squash blossom are tasty. Early in the morning after the bees have visited and pollinated the flowers, pick the male flowers off. Take out the stamens and pinch off the base of the flower if you are going to separate the petals. Otherwise stuff the squash blossom after it is cleaned with your favorite melting cheese. Nuke it until the cheeese melts. Yummy. I have only tried this with squash blossoms. Has anybody tasted blossoms of any other cucurbit?