question on zukes - Page 2

Worth1 · July 10, 2015

I think your plant is still young let it mature and it will grow out of it.

Worth

encore · July 10, 2015

here's plant, I got one good fruit off each plant so far.

Bipetual · July 11, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by encore

here's one that started to grow, and I just touched it and it fell off! over watering? needs fertilizer? if so what? tom

I think this one just didn't get pollinated. I could be wrong but I think they start to grow without pollination, but if it doesn't happen it will shrivel up and fall off. You have three plants, so wait impatiently until you have a male flower to pollinate with. Sound effects optional!

encore · July 11, 2015

I've only seen one bumble bee out there so far and he's pretty much staying with the tomato and pepper plants, so much pollen on his legs don't know how he can even fly! lol guess i'll have to play a bee when the next female blossoms appear. can I pick a male blossom and keep it somehow and use it when the female blossoms open?

Bipetual · July 12, 2015

I have no idea. I guess it couldn't hurt to try, but I couldn't tell you if it would work or not. Unless you really want to stick with OP zukes, I would really recommend trying a parthenocarpic hybrid next year, like Easypick or Partenon. They sell Easypick at Totally Tomatoes and other places. Partenon is sold at High Mowing Seed. It's expensive but shipping is free. It's magic and it doesn't need pollinating.

As for this year, have fun playing bee.

I hope you get zucchini coming out of your ears, encore!

Father'sDaughter · July 12, 2015

I have no idea how long the pollen will stay viable once you pick the flower, but I do know that my plants eventually do get in synch. Right know they are piling on the male flowers with no sign of any females. The female flowers usually start to appear a good week or two later. I direct sowed this year and got them in a bit later than in past years, so my plants are a bit behind schedule.

July 10, 2015	#16
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	I think your plant is still young let it mature and it will grow out of it. Worth

July 11, 2015	#19
encore Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2015 Location: wisconsin Posts: 536	I've only seen one bumble bee out there so far and he's pretty much staying with the tomato and pepper plants, so much pollen on his legs don't know how he can even fly! lol guess i'll have to play a bee when the next female blossoms appear. can I pick a male blossom and keep it somehow and use it when the female blossoms open?

July 12, 2015	#20
Bipetual Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Illinois, zone 5a Posts: 579	I have no idea. I guess it couldn't hurt to try, but I couldn't tell you if it would work or not. Unless you really want to stick with OP zukes, I would really recommend trying a parthenocarpic hybrid next year, like Easypick or Partenon. They sell Easypick at Totally Tomatoes and other places. Partenon is sold at High Mowing Seed. It's expensive but shipping is free. It's magic and it doesn't need pollinating. As for this year, have fun playing bee. I hope you get zucchini coming out of your ears, encore!

July 12, 2015	#21
Father'sDaughter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MA/NH Border Posts: 4,919	I have no idea how long the pollen will stay viable once you pick the flower, but I do know that my plants eventually do get in synch. Right know they are piling on the male flowers with no sign of any females. The female flowers usually start to appear a good week or two later. I direct sowed this year and got them in a bit later than in past years, so my plants are a bit behind schedule.