Do male zucchini flowers need to be removed? This question is not unjustified, because the number of male flowers affects the crop yield. You can find all the information about this in this article.
Male zucchini flowers
The main function of the male flowers is to pollinate the female. Since Cucurbita pepo subsp. pepo convar. giromontiina is a monoecious plant, it makes extensive use of self-pollination. Pollinators, mainly bees, fly to the flowers and distribute the pollen that is necessary for fertilization. The pollen will
formed exclusively by them. The properties of the flowers are as follows:- Color: golden yellow
- Diameter: about 10 cm
- cup-shaped with large petals
- on a long handle
- are formed earlier than female flowers
Note: If your zucchini plants produce significantly more male flowers than female flowers, they are suffering from stress. Check the water and nutrient supplies and adjust accordingly
at.Female zucchini flowers
The female flowers look very similar to the male ones. They are the same color, size, and shape, which makes them difficult to tell apart at first glance. There is one crucial one, however
difference: the ovary. The fruit cluster is formed directly below the flowers and is recognizable as a clearly visible thickening. From this the fruit develops, which is the function of the female flower. Due to the fruitiness, the stem is significantly shorter than that of the male flower.
Remove male flowers
Whether or not you should remove male flowers from your zucchini plant depends to a large extent on the success of the fertilization. As soon as you see thickened fruit clusters on the female flowers in June or early July, you should
remove much of the males. They only rob the plant of energy. But always leave some male flowers if not all of the female flowers are pollinated. In addition, the pollination of the female flowers is heavily dependent on the weather conditions. Rainy and cool summers make the process difficult. In this case, it makes sense to pollinate the plant by hand. In this way you enable a higher crop yield:- Snap off male flower
- Remove the petals
- Hold the flower by the stem
- pass the stamens over the stigma of the female zucchini flower
- don't press too hard
Tip: Both the male and female flowers can be harvested and used in the kitchen. There are numerous dishes, including fried or baked zucchini flowers, which ensure a special taste experience.