For the first time ever I have a problem with courgettes- I thought they were foolproof! They are sort of light-bulb shaped with the thin end (the flower end) dying off. Is this a pollination problem or something else?
That has happened to me before, but I don't really know the cause. Just remove the od ones and others usually come quickly to take their place. I find that the first courgettes are always a little strange as if they are still "practising"!!!
I've always put it down to irregular watering and was probably the case when it's happened on mine before.
I've seen this happen with courgettes before and I've always put it down to poor fertilization although it could also be the plants way of aborting the first fruits while it grows stronger.
The problem usually corrects itself as more flowers open and the plants gets bigger. Then the fun really begins keeping up with the courgette harvest. :happy7:
That's a relief- sounds as if I don't need to worry, Thanks for the reassurance!
It's usually the courgette trying to grow when it hasn't been pollinated. Sometimes the bees seem to go on strike:-) You can do it yourself. The female flowers have a baby courgette at the back. Take a male flower and remove the petals. You can then fertilise your own:-)
I've seen it with both courgettes adn outdoor cukes.... I always thought fertilisation, prolly too hot to set properly...
I also think it is due to lack of pollination. Courgettes are normally pollinated by little pollen beetles. I have not seen very many about the place yet this year, presume the cold start to the season has delayed them. I suggest you play at being a pollinator. Just get a little pollen from a male flower on your finger and take it to a female flower on another plant. You only need one grain.
Varieties such as Cavili do not need it so are good early in the season, or if you only grow one plant.
Courgette 'Cavali' has a parthenocarpic habit, meaning it has the ability to set fruit without pollination, there are others eg Partenon.