Information about plants & gardens for Brisbane & Qld

Flowering and fruiting issues

Sometimes plants won't flower, or flower poorly. In other cases, they produce plenty of flowers but fail to set fruit. This page will collect information that might help you figure out the cause of your problem.

News

How do you know if you're old enough (to flower)?

In the case of Alpine Rock Cress, it appears to be a running down of levels of a regulatory RNA molecule. Once it falls below a critical level, the plant can them respond to the cold stimulus required for flowering. Such a mechanism may prevent premature flowering, which would weaken the plant and jeopardize the chances of this perennial surviving to flower again. A similar mechanism appears to be operational in the relative Arabidopsis, but it can be overridden by favorable weather conditions. As an annual, seed set and not longevity is paramount. These findings could help in the research and breeding of other brassicas by reducing the generational times. Source: Flowering at the right age (June 2013)

Other Information Online

Failure of Trees and Shrubs to Bloom University of Illinois

Why Don't Shrubs Flower (or fruit)? North Carolina State University

Why plants fail to bloom University of Rhode Island

Bulbs That Refuse to Bloom University of Illinois

Why Fruit Trees Fail to Bear New Mexico State University

Why Fruit Trees Fail to Bear University of Illinois Extension

Fruit Set in Fruit Trees An overview of various factors which can affect fruiting. University of Florida

Fruit Tree Chilling Requirements Backyard Gardener column, March 2, 2005. Arizona Cooperative Extension, University of Arizona

What are short day and long day plants? Extension Service Garden Hints, Oregon State University

Light and flowering of bedding plants Michigan State University

Minimize Bedding Plant Production Time to Offset High Fuel Costs Discusses effect of temperature and photoperiod on annual flowers (PDF)

Flowers or no flowers - may depend on the light University of Illinois

The Myth of Night Light Can street lights and other sources of artificial light affect plants other than poinsettias? Washington State University (PDF)

Blooming Out of Sequence Purdue University

Use of Lighting to Accelerate Crop Timing Michigan State University (PDF)

Pollination Home Page Pollination information

"Bee" aware of pollination in the vegetable garden University of Florida (PDF)

Bee pollination benefits for tropical fruit crops Department of Agriculture Western Australia

Honeybee pollination of fruit tree crops Department of Primary Industries, Victoria

Insect Pollination Of Cultivated Crop Plants including some general information on flowering and fruiting of plants United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service

Lack of fruitset (Grapes) Michigan State University

Gibberellic Acid for Fruit Set and Seed Germination California Rare Fruit Growers

Why Water Fruit Trees Department of Primary Industries, Victoria

Deadheading Washington State University Clark County Extension

For additional information on specific plants, check the relevant page.