Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

courgette query

Collapse

X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • courgette query

    I am growing courgettes for the first time, using a trough container--2 per container. I am amazed to see a bud open up to a bright yellow flower. There was also a bud dropped off, I have saved it. There are many other buds appearing below the present flower.

    I would like to know what happens next? Do I need to do anything regards pollination and if so --what? The trough is in a plastic mini GH. I am thinking off removing platic cover completely, is this wise?

    I will try to attach pic. but not too good at it

    Cheers
    Attached Files

  • #2
    The only thing you really need to do, is to water and feed it. Cut the fruit off when small and eat them

    I'm not exactly sure, because of the angle of the photo, but that looks like a double flowered male flower. You don't get fruit off these, you get fruit off the females.
    If you haven't got any insects getting in, you can pollinate them yourself, which involves a bit of Barry White and a grinding motion.
    But in all honesty, although fun, it's not needed this time of year, as there should be lots of pollinating insects about.
    Last edited by womble; 19-06-2010, 01:06 PM.
    "Orinoco was a fat lazy Womble"

    Please ignore everything I say, I make it up as I go along, not only do I generally not believe what I write, I never remember it either.

    Comment


    • #3
      As womble says, the male flowers will grow and drop off (your picture is of a male, they are identifiable as they have a long thin stalk), when females grow they are identifiable as having a shorter, fatter stalk; this stalk grows into the fruit.
      Also as womble says, you should need to pollinate this time of year. If you decide you want to, e.g. if there aren't any insects about to do it or you just want to be sure: wait for a female flower and insert the male flower into it to rub the pollen on it. This fertilises it causing the fruit to grow.
      Current Executive Board Members at Ollietopia Inc:
      Snadger - Director of Poetry
      RedThorn - Chief Interrobang Officer
      Pumpkin Becki - Head of Dremel Multi-Tool Sales & Marketing and Management Support
      Jeanied - Olliecentric Eulogy Minister
      piskieinboots - Ambassador of 2-word Media Reviews

      WikiGardener a subsidiary of Ollietopia Inc.

      Comment


      • #4
        As Womble says you shouldn't need to do anything....you often get a flush of male flowers to start and often it helps to pick the first couple of set fruits really young (delicious eat fried with the flower as well) this will encourage fruit production. After that just keep picking; allow any to get too big and it will stop production.

        Have to say that they are not the easiest to grow in containers because they are greedy and thisty plants and if the watering isn't regular the fruit will tend to rot from the tip and often causes the onset of powdery mildew.

        Comment

        Latest Topics

        Collapse

        Recent Blog Posts

        Collapse
        Working...
        X