Zucchini--I'm so excited!

[jemsister]

I figured out the plant code from my seed packet. For some reason it didn't turn up in a normal search, but here it is. http://www.lowes.com/cd_Lowes+Plant+Guide_253427968_?url=plant.aspx?code=LB22543

Still googling around trying to find out if it's self pollinating.

[RamonaGS]

I couldn't find a direct answer on that either, but there were a couple of descriptions that talked about it being attractive to bees and insects, so I suspect it might need to be pollinated. But it looks like the variety of zucchini you have are heirloomable plants. I realized I hadn't looked mine up either, and my zucchini are self pollinating, but my cucumbers are not. Glad you all reminded me, LOL!

[jemsister]

Well, I suppose one way or the other, it will make yums! =D

[jal_ut]

I think I would just be patient for a week, if the female flowers get pollinated you will know because they will grow fruit very quickly. Not much use worrying about it unless they don't develop.

[RamonaGS]

Sounds like good advice to me!

[jemsister]

I will try to be patient. Not my strong suit!

Question, though. Will the large leaves that are shading the flowers effect the blooms in any way, or will they make it hard for bees to come to the blossoms? It is a very bushy plant, and you can't see any of the buds unless you part the leaves.

[PunkRotten]

It won't affect it and the bees will find the flowers. You just have to have enough bees active in your yard to begin with.

[jemsister]

Thanks, PR. I do see bees around, so hopefully we have enough. I see a few different kinds. The big black ones, the medium sized yellow striped ones, the itty bitty ones that hover...

[PunkRotten]

I never ever see bumblebees around here. But I got plenty of honey bees. I think those hovering bees you are talking about are actually hoverflies. They are good to have. I occasionally see these tiny green metallic looking bees. But they seem to be attracted to my Pepper flowers. I grow Yarrow, Dill, and sometimes let carrots, cilantro, and parsley flower just to attract different kinds of bees/wasps/flies. I usually will plant a cilantro plant right before Summer so that it bolts right away. I do it simply just to get the flowers because so many beneficial insects like it like Ladybugs.

[RamonaGS]

So cilantro attracts ladybugs? I thought they were just after those gross aphids. I'm going to have to plant some cilantro now!

[rainbowgardener]

Parthenocarpic/ self-pollinating would be very rare and marked as such. The ordinary zucchini is monoecious. While it is more common for them to only make male flowers at first and then start also making females, sometimes it goes the other way around, with females first. Either way you just need to be patient and let Nature and the plant work their magic.

You are very lucky, that I think on the west coast you don't have zucchini vine borers. We are plagued by them to the extent that I and most of the gardeners I know around here, just give up on growing zucchini.

[PunkRotten]

So cilantro attracts ladybugs? I thought they were just after those gross aphids. I'm going to have to plant some cilantro now!

Check out this link -

http://www.farmerfred.com/plants_that_a ... enefi.html

Some of these plants have to flower before they start to attract certain insects.

[jemsister]

No, we don't have squash vine borers. Thank goodness! They sound awful.

So my zuke bloomed a male flower, then two females got ready, and now that they have bloomed the male has closed up. Boo.

[rainbowgardener]

Patience, patience, all in good time.

[jemsister]

Oh crud, that patience word again. I suck at patience. LOL!