I was beginning to despair of seeing any zucchini again this year, even though I put in several plants. I was all prepared to do the hand-pollination that Cindy suggested last year, too. My problem was, none of the female blossoms seemed to be opening. At least not when I was looking --- and I was looking all day. Maybe they opened in the dead of night!
I started thinking I should just beg the lady flowers to please just give it up, already! Then the other morning, I saw one open. Went to work right away with my little Q-Tip. Lo and behold, this morning I found a zucchini about as big as my index finger. So, hand-pollination definitely works, I just wish I knew why more female blossoms aren't opening.
Like most of the rest of the U.S., we're in the middle of a heat wave, maybe the longest string of 90-degree days that the Detroit area has seen in many years. Watering a lot and bracing for the shock of the water bill.
Happy gardening to all!
yay for you and yay for the ladies ! i used to go out about 5 or 5:30 am with the q tip. i wanted to tell you that i found a service berry bush outside of manistique at a great little nursery. do you have yours in the sun or part sun/shade ?
Posted by: cindy | July 29, 2011 at 12:53 AM