Zucchini Flowers

[Vicky]

I am growing about 6 zucchini plants. My neighbor asked me to give her the flowers (In exchange she will make me a special Mexican zicchini flower treat). I would love to, but I am afraid that plucking the flowers will reduce production. Thoughts?

[rainbowgardener]

Zucchinis produce male and female flowers. You can tell the difference because the female ones have little zucchini embryos behind them. The male ones are not going to become zucchinis any way and the plant generally produces way more of them than are needed to pollinate the females. So you can pull some of the male flowers to give your neighbor without in the slightest changing the number of zucchinis you will get. But pluck them in the morning when they are freshest, when she is there waiting to get and use them. They wilt quickly.