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Vegetable Gardening

Remember my Zuke plant that had only male flowers?

laceyvail 6A, WV

8 years ago

Well, I've gotten 5 or 6 fruits, but both plants are STILL mostly male and after a close inspection today, I see only one fruit coming. The 2 butternut plants, only a few beds away, must have over 15 fruit--all quite good sized, and that's after trimming back the vines to keep it on the small side. I've got two fall zuke plants coming, and I do hope they produce better.

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Comments (6)

Peter (6b SE NY)
8 years ago
My zukes are producing like crazy, but I am in a similar boat with my pumpkins. Still haven't set a single fruit and they are running out of time.... Maybe I should try some low N MG, it worked for me last Fall to get zukes.
laceyvail 6A, WV
Original Author
8 years ago
Not sure what low N MG is, but if the MG stands for Magnesium, that's the last thing my garden needs. It's acid sand, and the Magnesium is high enough that I can't use dolomitic limestone. Must use high calcium lime, a product that is not available locally.
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Female zuke flowers won't open!
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I have the same problem with my zucchinis -- the female flowers come on first with tiny zucchinis attached, but they never open and there are no male flowers. The plants are healthy (planted from seed from a local reputable seed company) and have no powdery mildew or insect damage that I can see. My question: Should I pinch off at least a few of the too many female flowers to lessen that stress on the plant to see if it might help more male flowers catch up? Also, I read somewhere that pinching out some of the outside stems that have no flowers, to sort of force new growth of stems that supposedly will tend to have the opposite gender of flowers. Any truth to this?
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Why only male flowers on Butternut Squash?
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I'm having the almost the same issue with zucchini. I only got 4 zucchinis. Down at the base of the plants, there appear to be a few female flowers, contrasted with many male flowers. Tomorrow I plan to try to pollinate the females(using a little brush or even one of the male flowers, stripped back). I've got many bees, but they're more interested in the many tomato flowers nearby, and I'm guessing that once a bee goes to the male zucchini flower that he's not going to the female zucchini flower afterwards. Anyone else have ideas on the subject? Good luck if you can try this, by the way.
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Can I re-open a female zuke flower?
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I've been opening the males (who would open on their own in about a day) and opening the females (which are developed and will open within a day) and pollinating all summer...and my zucchini's have been producing fine (as a matter of fact, I need to shred a bunch right now for zucchini bread because we will never eat them all!) But once the female opens, it's uusally too late, although I have saved a zucchini or two this year by doing just that. The mosquitos have been really bad here this year, so I do not go out each day into the garden...I only take my life in my hands with the bugs about 2x a week, so if any flowers LOOK like they are going to open, I force it. I hope this helps...it definitely is not a science written in stone, it just worked for me this summer (and...my kids are sick of me hiding zucchini in everything they eat) Pam
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Only male flowers on pumpkin, why? (pics)
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I went this morning and performed an operation on the plant. I got so many worms out of the poor thing, i hope it survives. I just couldnt bury the sections where i had to cut into since the plant is lying on a pile of sticks and rocks.
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Peter (6b SE NY)
8 years ago
Sorry - MG = Miracle Gro - Low N = Low Nitrogen. I used Rose Food on my fading Zukes in October last year and they started producing well again, right until frost from Spring plantings. I don't use Miracle Gro in my garden unless I need a quick boost, generally I stick to organic fertilizers that benefit the soil.
laceyvail 6A, WV
Original Author
8 years ago
Oh, Miracle Grow. I'm organic. Don't use the stuff.
Peter (6b SE NY)
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
There are fast acting fertilizer organic options too. The big box stores carry them and even Scotts makes them now due to popular demand. Not that I am saying your plants need them....
laceyvail 6A, WV
Original Author
8 years ago
They don't. And I use quality organics when I need it.

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