Do male zucchini flowers need to be removed? This question is not unfounded because the number of male flowers affects the crop yield. All information about this can be found in this article.
Male zucchini flowers
The main function of male flowers is to pollinate female flowers. Since Cucurbita pepo subsp. pepo convar. giromontiina is a monoecious plant, it uses self-pollination extensively. Pollinators, mainly bees, fly to the flowers and distribute the pollen necessary for fertilization. The pollen is produced exclusively by them. The following are the properties of the flowers:
- 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 supply and adjust accordingly.
Female zucchini flowers
The female flowers look very similar to the male ones. They have the same color, size and shape, making it difficult to tell them apart at first glance. However, there is one crucialdifference: the ovary. The fruit cluster is formed directly below the flowers and is clearly visible as a thickening. The fruit develops from this, which is the function of the female flower. Due to the fruit head, the stem is significantly shorter than that of the male flower.
Remove male flowers
Whether you should remove male flowers from your zucchini plant depends heavily on the success of fertilization. As soon as you notice thickened fruit clusters on the female flowers in June or early July, you should remove the majority of the male ones. They just rob the plant of energy. However, always leave a few male flowers if not all of the female flowers have been pollinated. In addition, the pollination of female flowers is highly dependent on the weather conditions. Rainy and cool summers complicate the process. In this case, it makes sense if you pollinate the plant by hand. In this way you enable a higher crop yield:
- clip off male flower
- Removing petals
- Touch the flower on the stem
- guide 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 cooking. There are numerous dishes, including fried or baked zucchini flowers, which provide a special taste experience.
