Hi all,
Yet one more question. Our squash and zucchini plants are looking very hearty, very green with lots of blossoming. However, a lot of the blossoms are falling off and an empty, unfruited stem is left. Are we doing something wrong? There are some fruits growing but we thought that all blossoms produce a fruit. Any help is appreciated.
D from W
-
- Full Member
- Posts: 33
- Joined: Sun Jun 19, 2011 9:32 pm
- Location: Hastings on Hudson, NY
Not necessarily... a blossom has to be pollinated in order to produce a fruit. And, as I've found with mine, sometimes a plant will abort a pollinated fruit for another fruit that it feels will be stronger...davefromwestchester wrote:Hi all,
Yet one more question. Our squash and zucchini plants are looking very hearty, very green with lots of blossoming. However, a lot of the blossoms are falling off and an empty, unfruited stem is left. Are we doing something wrong? There are some fruits growing but we thought that all blossoms produce a fruit. Any help is appreciated.
D from W
-
- Full Member
- Posts: 33
- Joined: Sun Jun 19, 2011 9:32 pm
- Location: Hastings on Hudson, NY
Thanks, got it. A sort of a DUH! moment for me, of course, that makes total sense. My wife said, well let's get some bees, and I said, I don't think it works like that. She was kidding (I think). We never see many bees at all in our area. So this could be a big problem, if I understand you correctly. No bees = no pollination = no fruits. Bummer.SPierce wrote:Not necessarily... a blossom has to be pollinated in order to produce a fruit. And, as I've found with mine, sometimes a plant will abort a pollinated fruit for another fruit that it feels will be stronger...davefromwestchester wrote:Hi all,
Yet one more question. Our squash and zucchini plants are looking very hearty, very green with lots of blossoming. However, a lot of the blossoms are falling off and an empty, unfruited stem is left. Are we doing something wrong? There are some fruits growing but we thought that all blossoms produce a fruit. Any help is appreciated.
D from W
Thanks for educating me!
Dave
- gixxerific
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 5889
- Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2009 5:42 pm
- Location: Wentzville, MO (Just West oF St. Louis) Zone 5B
- jal_ut
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 7447
- Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2009 10:20 pm
- Location: Northern Utah Zone 5
Squash plants have both male and female flowers. Only the female flowers produce a fruit. The males do not produce fruit. They make pollen which must be carried to the female blossom somehow. Usually by a bee or other insect.but we thought that all blossoms produce a fruit.
The male blossoms are on a long stem and often come up above the canopy of leaves. The female blossoms are on short stems and are close the vine. They have what looks like a miniature fruit at the base of the pedals.
If you are getting some fruit it sounds like you have some pollinators at work. Looks normal to me. Have a great harvest!