Zucchini: flowers but no fruits!?

Question

I tried growing zucchinis in our garden here in suburban Washington DC. It was an experiment (one plant only). It grew very quickly, looking very healthy, received a generic plant/vegetable fertilizer, and plenty of water, even during the hot, sunny days of this summer. It flowered prolifically, to this day, but not a single fruit has developed. It got about two hours of sun per day. Any ideas what might be wrong? I'm disappointed with this first experiment!

Answer 1

They need more than two hours of sun per day!!!

Not enough light causes poor fruit set. Most fruiting vegetables do best in full sun all day --- they need at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight.
Also extremely hot temperatures during flowering above 85 degrees can reduce fruit set.

The most common is a mid summer heat wave. High day and night time temperatures will cause plant stress. The tiny pollinated fruit may abort as a result. A heat wave can also deter bees from their job, making hand pollination more important.. which is what you've done. Pollination will be more successful if several male flowers are used to pollinate one female flower. Pollination needs to be made to all segments of the female flower. Do this before 10 a.m. because pollination carried out at the end of the morning during warm weather has very little chance of success because the pollen will have heated up and fermented and will no longer be viable. At the bottom of the blossom of a female is a tiny vegetable or fruit (ovary). If the blossom is male there is nothing there. Here's a picture & instructions:
http://www.pumpkinnook.com/howto/pollen.htm

Make sure you don't water overhead early in the morning so the male flowers can have a chance to pollinate the female flowers.
Male flowers are short lived. They will open up before dawn and will close completely by mid-morning.The male flowers possess both pollen and nectar, the female flowers only nectar. If the plants are watered from overhead early in the day, that may prevent all further pollination for that day. Everything gets washed off of the short-lived male flowers. Replacement flowers do not open then until the following morning.

Good luck! Hope this helps.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Zucchini: flowers but no fruits!?
I tried growing zucchinis in our garden here in suburban Washington DC. It was an experiment (one plant only). It grew very quickly, looking very healthy, received a generic plant/vegetable fertilizer, and plenty of water, even during the hot, sunny days of this summer. It flowered prolifically,...

Answer 3

Well, you really need MORE than two hours of SUN a day!
But you also need some one or some thing to pollinate the female flowers. If you do not have both male and female flowers on ONE plant then you need a second plant near by, Maybe a close neighbor to help with reproduction.
these plants really are like humans in that effect!
They MUST have a male and a female to reproduce.

Answer 4

No pollination. You might have to do it by hand.

From:
http://ag.arizona.edu/maricopa/garden/html/pubs/0403/zucchini.html

"When planted in compost-rich soil where nutrients are released slowly, additional fertilizers may not be required. An organic liquid fertilizer such as liquid seaweed may be applied at 2- to 3-week intervals where soil isn't as fertile. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers; they will only encourage more leaves and stems.

For best fruit production pollinate the zucchini flowers yourself early in the morning before the flowers close. The easiest way I've found is to cut a male flower from the plant, carefully remove the petals leaving the stamen intact, and then dab the stamen directly into the center of a female flower. Of course if you have plenty of bees or other beneficial insects around the garden, they will take care of pollination for you! Don't be discouraged at first if all you find are male flowers. Many times squash plants produce more males early in the season. It won't take long before you begin to see female flowers and can begin to anticipate the first fruits of your labor! "

Answer 5

Zuchini want full sun all day. The same plant will produce male and female flowers. They are easily distinguishable. Male flowers simply grow on a stem. Female flowers have a stem, miniature zuchini, then the flower. Mine were delicious and abundant.

Answer 6

Well. You need pollination to get fruit. (sex) Bees, flies, a small brush Get a small painters brush and get inside a flower and wiggle it around gently, transfer some of the pollen to another flower in the same manner untill all are pollinated.
It may be too late in the season, but good luck

Answer 7

they have male and female blossoms the female ones make the fruit they have thicker stems with a little bump at the base of the flower ( this becomes the fruit) if you want to fry some blossoms pick the male flowers, they have skinny stems with no bump.

Answer 8

Maybe your flowers are falling off?? There is a spray you can buy to set your flowers. Could be they are not getting adequate sun light during the afternoon.

Answer 9

pollinate the flower by hand get ur pinky finger and wiggle the main stemm inside the flower do all of themlol it will work they having babies(fruit)

Answer 10

be patient, thin out the flowers <
use miracle grow and more than 2 hours of sun!
the growing season isnt over!