Zucchini Blossoms Fall Off: Causes & Tips

Anyone who cultivates zucchini plants in the garden can usually always look forward to fresh fruit in late summer. But what to do if zucchini flowers fall off the plant before they have had a chance to develop? Here you will find causes and tips on the subject.

natural process

If the zucchini blossoms fall off, this can have natural causes, even if it may be frightening at first:

• male flowers have opened
• are no longer needed
• fall off
• female flowers were fertilized
• the fruit body grows
• the petals are shed

Inadequate pollination

If the female zucchini flowers are not pollinated enough or at all, they cannot produce fruit and the plant then also sheds the flowers. There are several reasons for this insufficient pollination:

• Humidity too high
• too muggy, wet or cold
• few male flowers present
• Insects for pollination are absent
• female flowering is limited
• Female flower pollen stuck together due to heat

Tip: Also the flowers of the zucchini are edible and are often served filled in the kitchen. However, you should only use the male flowers for this, as they do not produce any fruit.

Pollinate zucchini blossoms by hand

If the summer is particularly cold and wet or muggy and warm, you can prevent the plant from shedding them beforehand by manually pollinating the female zucchini flowers. Even if the plants are in a greenhouse, you can help out like this:

• wrapping young female green blossom with masking tape
• cannot open during growth
• wait until male flowers open
• pluck the leaves from a fully opened male flower
• until only pollen strands can be seen
• Carefully remove masking tape from female flowers
• pollinate the females with male pollen
• then close the female flower again with masking tape

However, when pollinating by hand, some gardening experts point out that it is advisable to pollinate two different zucchini plants together. On the other hand, using only one plant prevents unwanted varieties from being crossed.

A notice: A regular supply of nutrients and water is also important for zucchini plants. Plants produce more male flowers than female flowers under stress.

Create an insect friendly garden

If zucchini flowers fall off, the lack of pollinators is often to blame. It is therefore advisable to make the garden as natural as possible. This is not only good for pollinating the flowers, but also pleases many insects. This is how you create for bees, butterflies and beetles many retreats:

• Leave wall niches open
• Stack logs
• insect hotel invest
• many insect-friendly flowering plants cultivate
• do not use chemical fertilizers
• avoid using insecticides

Find the ideal location

Is correct the location of the zucchini If not, the flowers often fall off without fruiting. The culture in the greenhouse should protect the plants from the prevailing climate outside. However, this is not always the right way for pollination:

• Greenhouse must have large openings
• Insects must be able to get in and out easily
• ensure good air circulation
• cultivate other flowering plants with
• possibly. Location near bee nest choose
• choose a sunny to shady spot outdoors
• avoid too much heat in summer
• protected against too much moisture on a house wall

A place in the tub on a covered, sunny terrace or balcony is also a well-suited location for the zucchini plants.

A notice: Outdoors, the climate is not always suitable for the sun and heat-loving zucchini plants, whose female flowers do not like it too hot either.

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