Pollinating zucchini by hand is ideal if you want to use wrangle covers , preserve seeds , or harvest blossom themselves . The first step is identifying distaff flower , as they ’re the one which will eventually produce fruit .
What do female flowers look like?
Zucchini industrial plant produce two type of bloom . Female blossoms are slightly modest ; at the base , you ’ll see what looks like a miniature courgette . If the bloom is pollinated , this will acquire into a full - sized zucchini . Within the petals , distaff flower have a multi - cauline brand , which does not grow pollen . Male flowers have a single pollen - cover stamen .
Though each plant produces both male and distaff flush , they ’re typically site on unlike part of the plant . Male blossom are far more copious and are usually launch on the close of vines , further from the foundation of the plant . The distaff prime be given to clump nearer to the roots , often hide beneath theleaves .
How do I hand-pollinate my zucchini?
Pollinating courgette is well-fixed . Start early in the day , just after the flowers open . Use a cotton swab to collect pollen from male flowers and put on it to the stigma of female flowers . If you grow other type of courgette or other squash and want to be trusted your distaff flowers are n’t ill-tempered - pollinate , pollinate each by hand and remove any remaining male flower .
Why bother?
courgette are typically prolific producer if exit to their own twist , so why bother identifying female efflorescence and pollinate by hand ? It ’s a necessary step if you need to collect germ , since courgette can cross - pollinate with a number of other squash racquets . Though the fruit produced from cross - pollination are o.k. , the seeds in spite of appearance might grow into hybrid with unexpected characteristic .
Another estimable reason to turn over pollinate is to protect your courgette frominsect pests . Row cover is a great defense against hemipterous insect , but of course it also keeps out the pollinators your flora need to set fruit . deal - pollinating lets you keep the bugs away and still produce a bumper harvest of squash .
Using zucchini flowers
If you opt to remove manly flower , or even some of the distaff flower , there ’s no need to toss them straight on the compost heap . They ’re perfectly edible , and are even considered a delicacy . Some people choose to withdraw the stamen or stigma , but it ’s a thing of personal predilection . examine courgette bloom :
Flowers are best eaten in brief after they ’re picked . rinse off them clean with nerveless pee after harvesting , pat them dry , and store them in the fridge until you ’re quick to use them .
