I think my zucchini plant is gay

[rkold]

After losing another 2 flowers (making something like 10 total) I decided to email my sister-in-law for any advice she might have on zucchini/squash plants. She explained to me that unlike tomatoes and peas and such, squash actually has a male flower and a female flower. Unless there are lots of bees or insects to help with pollination, you don't get zucchini. A bit confused by the male and female flower thing, I asked my sister in law to send me pictures and.. and... and... I am 99% sure all of my flowers have been male.

At least this means the flowers dropping is not a problem.

Comments

[bramblyhedge.livejournal.com]

Broken links! *sad-face*

Meanwhile the subjectline = FTW. *rofl*

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Fixed!

[bramblyhedge.livejournal.com]

Yay! :) The big yellow flowers are so pretty.

...*can't think of any gay zucchini jokes at the moment, woe*

[rkold.livejournal.com]

They are pretty, I might have to figure out how to stuff them XD;;;

My plant is still only producing male flowers, at least I feel better about it dropping them now.

just some ideas

[konnyakusama.livejournal.com]

You may need to plant another zucchini plant with female flower (some plants do have different "gender" and only produce one kind of flower. Not sure about zucchini). I have also heard that some plants do not like pollens from themselves and want pollen from another plant. After doing that, if you want to make sure it pollinate, you may want to hand-pollinate the flowers. I am not sure how they do it for zucchinis, but usually you do it with a small brush,

(btw I am Tina in Tanabe)

Re: just some ideas

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Hi Tina! I actually have a second zucchini planted as well and so far the first few blossoms on that one are male too. >>;

I think zucchinis are supposed to eventually produce a few female flowers, I'm just not sure when it will happen and I'm worried because it is nearly September. ~.~ You do need to sometimes hand pollinate and once I get a female flower I'm going to try that.

Are you going to Kansai Comic City this week end?

Re: just some ideas

[ginarolo.livejournal.com]

I heard Zucchini does male flowers first.
Pick the male ones off. Good to eat. Don't pick the females when they start.

Re: just some ideas

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Yes, but when is it going to stop doing male only! I've had about 12-15 male flowers. ;;_;; They all seem to come off after opening a few times so it's not been an issue. I hear one has to pick them in the morning, maybe when Kennis gets back I will try that if we don't have any females yet.