Am I expecting too much too early from my Zucchini?
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
United States
June 14, 2010 7:26pm CST
We have a short growing season here in WI. And we planted our garden in the middle of may so you figure our garden has been planted for a month. Now our Zucchini has had probably close to a dozen flowers on it and no sign of any fruit being produced. I'm curious if it's because we had a warm start to the season but it has been tapering off here and been anywhere between say the 60's to 80's and an abundance of rain. I know they thrive in heat and humdity BUT if the plant has blossoms now wouldn't it atleast try to fruit?
And I'm very curious on this one as our plants last yeard had a very low yield and I wasn't sure if it was because my hubby planted them in the back and they didn't get enough water or ??
5 responses
@sallyj (1225)
• United States
15 Jun 10
I am in MI. They should still set squash. I think with the extra rain they seem to set still. I have heard of people putting sugar water on the blossoms to attract more bees. I have not tried all these things, but they should not hurt the plant.
2 people like this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
15 Jun 10
Hello fellow gardener from across the pond! I have not heard of putting sugar water on the blossoms. But I have noticed that the bees don't seem to be out as much when it's chilly as apposed to when it's hot and humid. It's been chilly to just right in low 70's.
@GardenGerty (160949)
• United States
15 Jun 10
They need pollinators to grow fruit. I am not sure what kind of bug or insect does this, or if it is the wind. You can experiment when there are blooms by moving the pollen from one flower to another with a paint brush or cotton swab.
2 people like this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
15 Jun 10
I was thinking I may have to do some work since mother nature doesn't seem to be doing it. Though I see plenty of bee's by my purple salvia but nothing in the garden 
@finicky21 (18)
• United States
15 Jun 10
I live in Texas and we planted our garden on April 7th. We have had several
zucchini come up and quite large. They grow really fast before we find them among the leaves, and before you know it they are huge! They are still good eating! We haven't had any luck with our summer squash. It is growing alot slower.
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
15 Jun 10
Though here in WI we only get summer heat spuratically until closer to July and August and that's what they love. As another responder said perhaps the bees are not interested in pollenating them for some reason & to try it by hand.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
15 Jun 10
hi 3snugglebunnies they are blooming and need pollination so if you do not see a lot of bees coming around you could hire a bee keepers
hive of bees for a few days and get the blossoms pollinared. They also
need sun and a bit more water. They need bees or butterflies pollinating the blooms to set the squashes.
1 person likes this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
15 Jun 10
I don't know that it's that serious that I could not handle it on my own. It's only one zucchini plant as that's what hubby limited me too 
; despite his liking of chocolate chip zucchini bread. 
We've gotten plenty of rain, we've had rain nearly every other day.
; despite his liking of chocolate chip zucchini bread.
We've gotten plenty of rain, we've had rain nearly every other day.
@savypat (20216)
• United States
15 Jun 10
The trouble may be the Bees. Hve you noticed them? There have been very few in our garden this Spring, I hope it's just the weather not the illness that has affected so many hives. You can tell if it's a water problem, the leaves with get dry and start to die.
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
15 Jun 10
Yeah no water problem here, it rains like every other day lately. I swear we must have moved to Seattle! But we have wet Junes here..... can't wait til all the rain is gone. I haven't watered my garden in a good week!
But like I mentioned above I have a salvia that's always buzz'n w/ bees but not much activity in my garden.
