Zucchini plants not producing fruit

Elliot · July 18, 2012

I planted ten zuccini plants and most are flowering but ony two produced fruit. For some reason they are not setting. Any idea?

JerryL · July 18, 2012

I’m not sure what the bee/insect population is in your area but I have to hand pollinate a lot of my Zucchini. It’s really not that hard. I use a small paint brush it gather pollen from the male flower, then deposit it on the female.

Father'sDaughter · July 18, 2012

Mine are still at the stage where they are pumping out only male flowers. It was just the other day that I finally saw some female flower buds show up, but they are taking their time developing to the point of blooming! I'm guessing the weather is playing a factor as last year I'm pretty sure I had already picked quite a few by this time.

tjg911 · July 18, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Father'sDaughter

Mine are still at the stage where they are pumping out only male flowers. It was just the other day that I finally saw some female flower buds show up, but they are taking their time developing to the point of blooming! I'm guessing the weather is playing a factor as last year I'm pretty sure I had already picked quite a few by this time.

correct, initially you'll get a lot of male flowers (on long stems) but then the females arrive and the fun begins. TEN plants!

what are you feeding the entire population of long island?

tom

Cole_Robbie · July 19, 2012

Maybe it's pollen dessication due to the hot and dry weather? Or less bees? Or something else that relates to our unusual weather this year?

Save$ · July 19, 2012

We picked 10 yellow zucchini this evening, and 4 yesterday, 2 the day before. As you can see, production is well on it's way. Only a few blind fruit to fall off. But now we are seeing powdery mildew, so tonight I started spraying. Never sprayed before, but this forum has convinced me that it is a safe practice. I try to make sure the plant are open enough so the bees can see the flowers. If your plants are crowded, the just don't seem to produce. Also the fertilizer shoul be low nitrogen so not to encourage big leafy plants. I use 5-10-10 with good results. First time mixed in the soil. Then side dress mid season. Keep the weeds away. They might hide the blossoms.

July 18, 2012	#1
Elliot Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Hicksville, New York Posts: 503	Zucchini plants not producing fruit I planted ten zuccini plants and most are flowering but ony two produced fruit. For some reason they are not setting. Any idea?

July 18, 2012	#2
JerryL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: S.W. Ohio z6a Posts: 736	I’m not sure what the bee/insect population is in your area but I have to hand pollinate a lot of my Zucchini. It’s really not that hard. I use a small paint brush it gather pollen from the male flower, then deposit it on the female. __________________ Jerry

July 19, 2012	#6
Save$ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Maine Posts: 46	We picked 10 yellow zucchini this evening, and 4 yesterday, 2 the day before. As you can see, production is well on it's way. Only a few blind fruit to fall off. But now we are seeing powdery mildew, so tonight I started spraying. Never sprayed before, but this forum has convinced me that it is a safe practice. I try to make sure the plant are open enough so the bees can see the flowers. If your plants are crowded, the just don't seem to produce. Also the fertilizer shoul be low nitrogen so not to encourage big leafy plants. I use 5-10-10 with good results. First time mixed in the soil. Then side dress mid season. Keep the weeds away. They might hide the blossoms. __________________ Love to Garden, Burn Pellets, Have a solar space, cloche and do vertical growing. Will do a lot of canning if I can keep LB away.

July 18, 2012	#3
Father'sDaughter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MA/NH Border Posts: 4,919	Mine are still at the stage where they are pumping out only male flowers. It was just the other day that I finally saw some female flower buds show up, but they are taking their time developing to the point of blooming! I'm guessing the weather is playing a factor as last year I'm pretty sure I had already picked quite a few by this time.

July 19, 2012	#5
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	Maybe it's pollen dessication due to the hot and dry weather? Or less bees? Or something else that relates to our unusual weather this year?