Courgettes

motherkitty

I have two courgette plants, both with 3 or 4 flowers on them but none of them seem to have little courgettes growing behind any of the flowers.
Is there anything I need to do with them, will the courgettes grow at all or am I not going to get any? Help please!!

MRSMCAWBER

Hi there

Don't worry the first few flowers are usually male ones -mine has loads (they just drop off)..and it's now showing its first female one with a courgette behind.
They will usually polinate via the insects so I wouldn't bother doing anything to them yet

peter_the_piper

Our have fruit on but a lot are bulbous at one end. Watering is ok so is it down to pollination (or lack of)

jockster211

Agree with Mrs McAwber, if these are the first flowers on the plant.

Male flowers, usually first 6 or so. The stem up to the male flower is a wee bit longer & thinner than the female fruiting flower. You'll notice the difference once some female ones come on the scene. If you're not sure wait a few days & if they are not swelling up at all then they'll most likely be the male flowers. I usually just gently snap the male ones off.

Jockster

PS don't think any of my male flowers have ever opened, whereas the femal ones seem to open & die very quickly.

motherkitty

Thanks everyone. I will just have to be patient then and wait for the female flowers to appear. Does it make sense to snap off the male flowers sooner rather than later so the plant doesn't waste energy growing them if they are not going to produce a courgette?

gingerbeer

motherkitty wrote: »

Thanks everyone. I will just have to be patient then and wait for the female flowers to appear. Does it make sense to snap off the male flowers sooner rather than later so the plant doesn't waste energy growing them if they are not going to produce a courgette?

I've decided to keep them all on just for the bees. It is the 1st time i've grown them though. I've not done a thing to them and they are well away producing courgettes :T

MORPH3US

I too have lots of bulbous and / or stunted growth courgettes....

I try to water them every day / every other day....

Any idea why they might not be doing so well?

moneywouldbegood

My courgette plants are pretty huge and still no flowers!
Any ideas why? Or when I will get some fleurs?!

jabba4

motherkitty wrote: »

Thanks everyone. I will just have to be patient then and wait for the female flowers to appear. Does it make sense to snap off the male flowers sooner rather than later so the plant doesn't waste energy growing them if they are not going to produce a courgette?

The female flowers need to be pollinated by the male flowers, otherwise you'll not get any fruits growing. Think mummy and daddy.

Generally, once they get going you'll end up with more than you want. Just keep picking them while they're not too big, and they'll keep producing. If you let them get too large the plant will think it's done it's job and stop trying to produce seed (in the courgettes). Try to pick them regularly even if you aren't going to be able to eat them. It'll prolong the cropping.

milann

I've got 2 courgettes on my plants - very proud as it is my 1st lat of veg grown but the leaves are covered in a white mildewy supstance any idea what it is or what I need to do about it.
Thanks
Milann

cannylass_2

i don't think you need to do anything milann, i think a lot of them go like that, doesn't seem to affect crop (although this is in my limited experience so if anyone knows better.........)