How do courgettes work?

Tibbie's_mum

Call me stupid, but I'm a bit confused how courgettes grow. I had one baby courgette growing on a plant, it's flower opened but there was no other flowers open at the same time, now my little baby courgette has rotted off. Does this mean it didn't get pollinated? I now have loads of flowers on other courgettes plants but they all seem to be male ones!! I'm desperate to have one of these courgette gluts that everybody talks about, where am I going wrong?

smk77

Tibbie's_mum wrote: »

Call me stupid, but I'm a bit confused how courgettes grow. I had one baby courgette growing on a plant, it's flower opened but there was no other flowers open at the same time, now my little baby courgette has rotted off. Does this mean it didn't get pollinated? I now have loads of flowers on other courgettes plants but they all seem to be male ones!! I'm desperate to have one of these courgette gluts that everybody talks about, where am I going wrong?

This may help:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2591659

mcgrow

The reason you get only male flowers is plants are just like animals, they don't want to inbreed otherwise you get mutations down the line. One tactic by some varieties is to start off with only one type of flower.

lizzyb1812

You're not doing anything wrong I don't think. My courgettes - admittedly planted a bit late - had just male flowers for quite a while and the one female died off. Now it's 2 weeks later and there are several female flowers as well as the male ones and several small courgettes growing behind the female flowers.

I assume that because the female flowers need male flowers to pollinate them, the male flowers grow first so the female flowers don't go to waste for want of a male pollinator. Just give your plants time - I bet in 2 weeks you'll be on here saying you've got several tiny courgettes forming.

Those lucky people who have got a glut happening already either started earlier than us or had better conditions or both. It's an adventure not a competition

Lizzyb

Rosebud24

You're not alone Tibbie's mum, I haven't had one female flower yet! I am trying very hard to be patient but am secretly very envious of all the people with gluts. There was a posting on my local freecycle group yesterday from someone who had so many she was looking for a homeless shelter to give them to. I'm hoping I'll get enough to eventually do that too, but it doesn't look likely at the moment!