zucchini/courgette

[MrWiggle]

Anybody know if Zucchinis grow on the ground or a vine like beans etc ??

[loong]

Anybody know if Zucchinis grow on the ground or a vine like beans etc ??

I think zucchinis are the same as we call courgettes in the Uk - immature marrows.

I don't know of any that grow on a vine, they grow out from a central stalk.

I have grown them and found it best to harvest when small. Do not allow the fruit to hang onto the soil, it's another that suffers from rot.

[Pond Life]

I grew Zuchini/Courgettes here, the plant looks very similar to a Pumpkin but did not produce any runners.

I only got a few fruit before rot set in.

I'll try again with a heavy straw mulch under.

[loong]

I grew Zuchini/Courgettes here, the plant looks very similar to a Pumpkin but did not produce any runners.

I only got a few fruit before rot set in.

I'll try again with a heavy straw mulch under.

If the fruit grows and appears to dry out before rotting, this could be lack of pollination. You may have to hand pollinate. This time of year I have to hand pollinate to get pumpkins or they won't grow.

Mind you, that's if I get the chance - the Father-in-law pinches the flowers more often that not. If you didn't know, pumpkin, courgettes and i think most squashes have edible flowers. Ask an old Thai how to cook! Some people grow squashes just for the flowers.

[Pond Life]

Yes, I hand pollinate most stuff from the pumpkin family.

Mine initially rotted when I was trying to let 2 mature for seeds & then they started rotting earlier.

[DannyS1951]

Ok I'll bite How do you hand pollinate and does it need two plants? I have musk melon, courgettes and cucumbers growing. The cucumbers have given some fruit, the musk melon are in flower and the courgettes are doing nothing.

[MrWiggle]

Yeah....how do you do it ?

I think you can just use something like a cotton bud and stick it where the sun dont shine in a flower and then repeat process in all the flowers of all the plants.

[Pond Life]

Hand Pollination.

This is how I do it, but I think there are several methods.

First off, it seems the small cucumbers my wife grows dont need it.

They always produce lots of fruit without interference from me.

All the pumpkins + zuchinni produce male & female flowers.

The female has a perfect minature fruit at the base of the flower.

The male is just an ordinary looking flower.

Early in the morning (sunrise is good) take a tour of your pumpkin patch.

If you see a female with the flower open, go & find an open male.

Break the male off the stem & gently tear away the flower leaving the pollen covered thing in the center.

Gently rub the male pollen thing on the finger shaped things in the center of the female flower.

Sorry dont know the technical terms.

Thats it, easy.

I've also heard of using a small soft paintbrush to transfer pollen from male to female.

But never tried it.

Alternatively get a bee colony for your garden.

I havnt tried that yet either.

If the female doesnt get fertilised the baby fruit will stay small & rot within a few days.

Good luck.

[DannyS1951]

Thanks, I will try this later on the musk melons. Hope I can see the difference

[jandtaa]

Anybody know if Zucchinis grow on the ground or a vine like beans etc ??

Hi MrWiggle

Zucchini/courgette (Italian/French)

Members of the curcubita pepo family as are squash,pumkin,and gourds. Available as either bush or trailing varieties.Can be left to mature to become marrows. Although both marrow and courgette seed is offered by seed companies it is because some varieties (sold as courgette) have been specifically bred to produce a larger number of small fruits but they are the same plant .

cheers for now J