#1: zucchini...

Posted on 2006-06-24 04:47:41 by higgledy

I have 2 healthy looking zucchini plants with many little perfeclty
formed zucchini squash. But the problem is they never seem to grow to
maturity. There are about 8 squash between two plants, each squash is
about 1" in diameter and 4" long max. They have been this size for
nearly 2-weeks. The plants keep flowering though. Is this a problem?

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#2: Re: zucchini...

Posted on 2006-06-24 05:38:00 by Antipodean Bucket Farmer

In article
<1151117261.864105.139890@p79g2000cwp.googlegroups.com>,
higgledy@gmail.com says...
> I have 2 healthy looking zucchini plants with many little perfeclty
> formed zucchini squash. But the problem is they never seem to grow to
> maturity. There are about 8 squash between two plants, each squash is
> about 1" in diameter and 4" long max. They have been this size for
> nearly 2-weeks. The plants keep flowering though. Is this a problem?


With just two plants, you may be below the "critical mass" for
natural pollination to work. You need to have at least one male
flower and one female flower open at the same time. And, there
is only a short time-frame when each flower is functional.

I suggest checking them each day, for flowers. And, as soon as
you see a male-and-female pair, pull the male flower off its
stem, peel back the petals, and smoosh it into the female flower.

If the zucchini doesn't grow noticeably within a week, the
pollination didn't work.


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#3: Re: zucchini...

Posted on 2006-06-24 07:30:28 by higgledy

But I have developed fruit already formed on both plants. Once the
female is pollinated the fruit should grow no matter how few plants are
growing. correct?


usenet2006@THE-DOMAIN-IN.SIG wrote:
> In article
> <1151117261.864105.139890@p79g2000cwp.googlegroups.com>,
> higgledy@gmail.com says...
> > I have 2 healthy looking zucchini plants with many little perfeclty
> > formed zucchini squash. But the problem is they never seem to grow to
> > maturity. There are about 8 squash between two plants, each squash is
> > about 1" in diameter and 4" long max. They have been this size for
> > nearly 2-weeks. The plants keep flowering though. Is this a problem?
>
>
> With just two plants, you may be below the "critical mass" for
> natural pollination to work. You need to have at least one male
> flower and one female flower open at the same time. And, there
> is only a short time-frame when each flower is functional.
>
> I suggest checking them each day, for flowers. And, as soon as
> you see a male-and-female pair, pull the male flower off its
> stem, peel back the petals, and smoosh it into the female flower.
>
> If the zucchini doesn't grow noticeably within a week, the
> pollination didn't work.
>
>
> --
> Want Freebies?
> http://www.TheFreeStuffList.com/
> Check The Free Stuff List

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#4: Re: zucchini...

Posted on 2006-06-24 15:51:51 by Mister Gardener

On 23 Jun 2006 19:47:41 -0700, "higgledy" <higgledy@gmail.com> wrote:

>I have 2 healthy looking zucchini plants with many little perfeclty
>formed zucchini squash. But the problem is they never seem to grow to
>maturity. There are about 8 squash between two plants, each squash is
>about 1" in diameter and 4" long max. They have been this size for
>nearly 2-weeks. The plants keep flowering though. Is this a problem?

It's common for many squash varieties to initially produce 3 or 4 inch
fruits, they will not grow any further. A couple of weeks after they
appear, the plant will begin producing full sized fruits. This happens
with the yellow crooknecks that I have been growing for years. I
usually pick them and their flowers to allow the plant to put its
energy into making real fruits. YMMV

-- Mister Gardener
-- Pull the WEED to email me

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#5: Re: zucchini...

Posted on 2006-06-25 00:09:01 by higgledy

Mister Gardener: Thanks for the reply. It is strange how a plant can
pretend to produce a fruit, but I guess the world is a strange place. I
will "harvest" my short zucchinis tonight.

BTW, what does YMMV mean?

Higgledy


Mister Gardener wrote:
> On 23 Jun 2006 19:47:41 -0700, "higgledy" <higgledy@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >I have 2 healthy looking zucchini plants with many little perfeclty
> >formed zucchini squash. But the problem is they never seem to grow to
> >maturity. There are about 8 squash between two plants, each squash is
> >about 1" in diameter and 4" long max. They have been this size for
> >nearly 2-weeks. The plants keep flowering though. Is this a problem?
>
> It's common for many squash varieties to initially produce 3 or 4 inch
> fruits, they will not grow any further. A couple of weeks after they
> appear, the plant will begin producing full sized fruits. This happens
> with the yellow crooknecks that I have been growing for years. I
> usually pick them and their flowers to allow the plant to put its
> energy into making real fruits. YMMV
>
> -- Mister Gardener
> -- Pull the WEED to email me

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