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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: aquilegia on May 16, 2005, 09:16:57

Title: courgettes - in flower?
Post by: aquilegia on May 16, 2005, 09:16:57
My courgettes have flower buds on them.

The plants are still quite little and in pots (4-5in).

Should I pinch the flowers off?

I am only just starting to harden them off.
Title: Re: courgettes - in flower?
Post by: Multiveg on May 16, 2005, 11:15:16
Mine have been flowering for quite a while - though only the one female flower to many male ones!
Title: Re: courgettes - in flower?
Post by: discovery on May 16, 2005, 12:59:52
The flowers are lovely deep fried in batter,Give it a try.
Title: Re: courgettes - in flower?
Post by: aquilegia on May 16, 2005, 13:05:14
Oh that's ok then. I was worried the plants were flowering in desperation or something! (although the plants are still rather small??)

Discovery - I'd love to try it, but I have a very silly fear of deep fat frying! (too many educational fire safety videos as a kid!)
Title: Re: courgettes - in flower?
Post by: ina on May 16, 2005, 15:22:43
Hi Aqui.
The same thing happened to mine, it was way too early and also in pots.  I was told that it does mean the plant is stressed. It's like a swan song, a quick flower before dying. The advice was to pinch the flowers off and plant out a.s.a.p. It was a bit early so I planted them out with protection, the recent night frost (and not hardened off, which I never do) did not harm them.

Funny thing, I also have fear of deep fat frying, even with those thermostat controlled things. We're probably missing out on some tasty stuff hehehe.
Title: Re: courgettes - in flower?
Post by: aquilegia on May 16, 2005, 15:30:43
Thanks Ina. That's what I was thinking. Will go pinch them off this evening and plant them out on wednesday (don't think I'll have time before then!) I just hope the ones for mum will be ok.

deep-fat-fryer fear just keeps us slimmer!