My Zucchini Blossoms Are Falling Off
Freshly baked zucchini bread and sautéed zucchini are just a couple of the fresh dishes available when zucchini is growing in your yard. Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) fruits on average in July and August and grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 to 11. Zucchini plants can be heavy producers, but they require nutrient-rich soil, fertilization and pollination to produce fruit. Lack of fruit developing from blossoms can be caused by water issues or lack of pollination.
Zucchini should be grown in full sun. They do best if planted in rich soil, so mix compost into the soil before planting, advises The Old Farmer's Almanac. On average, zucchini plants grow 2 to 3 feet in spread, so plant seeds or transplants 2 to 3 feet apart. The plants are low-growing and have shallow roots that are best protected with a layer of mulch. Zucchini take 60 days on average to mature.
If, before falling off, the blossoms of your squash rot and turn black, the squash may have blossom-end rot, says the Missouri Botanical Garden. Blossom-end rot is caused by water issues – most commonly wide fluctuations between wet and dry soil. Spread a thick layer of mulch over the soil to retain moisture. On average, zucchini plants should be watered once a week during cooler weather, increasing to two or three times a week in the summer. Water deeply – about 2 to 3 feet. Weather, climate and drainage can affect the amount of water needed, so check the soil often. Soil should be as moist as a wrung-out sponge. It shouldn't ever get either water-logged or bone-dry.
Zucchini flowers need to be pollinated to fruit. Most zucchini plants have male and female flowers on the same plant. Female flowers typically open soon after male flowers. Male flowers can be identified by their long slender stem and stamen, while a female flower can be found on longer stems and have a miniature fruit at the base of the flower. If your flowers are falling off without fruiting early in the season, check to see if the plant's female flowers opened. If both male and female flowers are open and the plant is not developing fruit, the zucchini blossoms may be having issues getting pollinated by insects and will require manual pollination.
To manually pollinate, you can use either a male stamen or a Q-tip. To pollinate with a male stamen, cut a male flower and, taking care to leave the stamen intact, remove its petals and dab the stamen in the center of the female flower. To use a Q-tip, dab the Q-tip on the stamen of the male flower to gather pollen, then dab the center of the female flower. After pollination, fruit should ripen within one week.
Zucchini flowers are actually just as edible as the fruit. Toss flowers in egg batter and lightly fry them for a tasty appetizer or side dish. Zucchini blossoms can also be stuffed, sautéed, and used in soups and salads.