Here’s what to do when you’ve got zucchini flowers but no fruit.
Why Won’t My Zucchini Develop Fruit?
To answer this question, it helps to know a few botanical details about zucchini.
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This makes pollination a little bit more difficult.
Normally, a zucchini plant will produce only male flowers for the first week or two of flowering.
Then it begins to produce both male and female flowers.
The ovaries look like miniature zucchini.
Only the female flowers produce fruit.
Your plant should begetting everything it needs to thrivein terms of sun, soil, and water.
There are also a few common ailments to watch out for like stem rot andpowdery mildew.
The pollen is located on the stamen, which is the part in the center of the male flower.
Dab the pollen on the tip of the stigma in the center of the female flower.
This technique should be done in the morning when the flowers are first open.
Each flower only lasts for about six hours.
That increases the odds of pollination.
Othersummer squashesandpumpkinswill also pollinate zucchini.
Keep in mind that zucchini are self-fertile, so you don’t need multiple plants for pollination.
But having more than one can improve fruit set.
You could even tryplanting your zucchiniamong ornamental flowers.
If youplant at least some native flowers,you may attract even more pollinators over time.
Plant Zucchini Varieties That Don’t Require Pollination
This is arguably the best secret weapon option.
But you may have to plan ahead of the growing season to get your seeds.
In technical terms, these are referred to asparthenocarpic zucchini.
Some people prefer them for kitchen use because their seeds don’t develop unless they’re pollinated.
The nearly seedless interior gives them a smoother texture.
A few popular options include ‘Partenon’, ‘Cavali’, and the aptly named ‘Sure Thing’.
If all else fails,zucchini flowers are edible delicaciesby themselves.
And you might eat the leaves, too.
Then, you may want to participate in National Sneak Zucchini onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day.
