Re: Female zucchini flowers won't fully open

audrey.jeanne.roberts 11/22/2013, 11:39 pm

I ran into some female flowers that did likewise, I simply gently opened up the petals and pollinated them and more often than not I was rewarded with a fruit.

But I'd love to hear any answer on why in case there's something I can do differently next year.

**sanderson** 11/23/2013, 1:23 am

Audrey, I did the same on some of the winter squash female flowers!

edwinlgk 11/23/2013, 11:36 am

audrey.jeanne.roberts wrote:I ran into some female flowers that did likewise, I simply gently opened up the petals and pollinated them and more often than not I was rewarded with a fruit.

But I'd love to hear any answer on why in case there's something I can do differently next year.

Hey audrey! I should try out your method =D Thx! Very Happy

Sanderson,
Thank you so much for your advices, it was very helpful!! Female zucchini flowers won't fully open - Page 2 3170584802

Pollinator 11/23/2013, 12:37 pm

audrey.jeanne.roberts wrote:I ran into some female flowers that did likewise, I simply gently opened up the petals and pollinated them and more often than not I was rewarded with a fruit.

But I'd love to hear any answer on why in case there's something I can do differently next year.

I've never had female flowers that would not open. But I would concur with your advice, Audrey. And it would be good to do it early, before the pistil dries and is unreceptive to the pollen. Even when they open, squash flowers tend to be open only for a few hours, and early morning is the best time to get that pollen into them.

The photo is an excellent one to show the abortion in progress - from inadequate pollination.

edwinlgk 11/24/2013, 12:58 am

Pollinator wrote:
audrey.jeanne.roberts wrote:I ran into some female flowers that did likewise, I simply gently opened up the petals and pollinated them and more often than not I was rewarded with a fruit.

But I'd love to hear any answer on why in case there's something I can do differently next year.
I've never had female flowers that would not open. But I would concur with your advice, Audrey. And it would be good to do it early, before the pistil dries and is unreceptive to the pollen. Even when they open, squash flowers tend to be open only for a few hours, and early morning is the best time to get that pollen into them.

The photo is an excellent one to show the abortion in progress - from inadequate pollination.

Would amount of sun light they get per day play a part?

**sanderson** 11/24/2013, 1:54 am

It seems like your November would be our May, and May is beautiful here in California with enough sun hours to grow anything. Others may have better input than this Newbie, though.

**walshevak** 11/25/2013, 3:12 am

Being on the equator, Malaysia has sunrise at about 6 am and is dark by 6 pm. That's the hours here on Palawan. FYI, at low tide it is sometimes possible to walk from Palawan to Malaysia. Anyway, there is plenty of sunshine and heat. In fact, the most successful gardening project here actually grows most things under shade cloth.

Kay

edwinlgk 11/25/2013, 7:59 am

walshevak wrote:Being on the equator, Malaysia has sunrise at about 6 am and is dark by 6 pm. That's the hours here on Palawan. FYI, at low tide it is sometimes possible to walk from Palawan to Malaysia. Anyway, there is plenty of sunshine and heat. In fact, the most successful gardening project here actually grows most things under shade cloth.

Kay

Hi Kay, I am planning to cover up the place already. I felt that the sun can be a bit too strong at times. Have u planted Zucchinis before?

The weather here can be a bit crazy, it rains a lot here. Like today it started raining around 4.30pm and it is still raining (albeit) light rain right now. It is a very wet city. Wonder did the rain do the damage too...

**walshevak** 11/25/2013, 5:28 pm

edwinlgk wrote:
walshevak wrote:Being on the equator, Malaysia has sunrise at about 6 am and is dark by 6 pm. That's the hours here on Palawan. FYI, at low tide it is sometimes possible to walk from Palawan to Malaysia. Anyway, there is plenty of sunshine and heat. In fact, the most successful gardening project here actually grows most things under shade cloth.

Kay
Hi Kay, I am planning to cover up the place already. I felt that the sun can be a bit too strong at times. Have u planted Zucchinis before?

The weather here can be a bit crazy, it rains a lot here. Like today it started raining around 4.30pm and it is still raining (albeit) light rain right now. It is a very wet city. Wonder did the rain do the damage too...

This is my first time spending more than 3 weeks in PI. Staying 6 months this trip as an experiment to see if this will be my winter home. All my daughters-in-law are Filipina so I have extended family ties.

So far I've only planted Hanover Mustard, Red Russian Kale, chard, thai basil, black seeded simpson lettuce, collards, and sungold cherry tomatoes. I don't know what will grow and I'm limited to buckets right now. But I brought a large variety of seed with me.

I had to move the seedling out from under the shade cloth right now. They were getting too leggy. I think being under a tree and the shade cloth was too much. And they did get beat down in some down pours earlier.

Kay

edwinlgk 11/26/2013, 7:02 am

Yea sometimes They get kinda leggy under the shade. I plan to make a plastic covering to protect it from the monsoon rain and hopefully control the water intake a bit.

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