• Rusty Raven M
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    18 days ago

    They always start with a few boys, just in case there is already another plant around with the resources to produce fruit. They tend to do the same when they start dying off - as far as zucchini are concerned men are cheap!

    I found with only a couple of plants that having a male and female flower at the same time could be difficult You can put the stamen of a male flower into a plastic bag in the fridge for a day or two and use it to pollinate a female flower later. If you don’t have enough bee action around you might need to hand pollinate even when you can get the flowers synchronised.

    I haven’t planted zucchini this year as I’m winding the garden down in anticipation of the place being sold next year, but I did pick up a bunch of zucchini at the food cupboard this morning. I can probably count it as a return on the zucchini I donated last year when my plants were producing.

    • melbaboutownOP
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      18 days ago

      I have four plants and some male and female flowers seem to be budding up at the same time 🤞

      I plan to use a cotton bud or a cheap paintbrush to ensure pollination

      • Rusty Raven M
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        18 days ago

        I just pulled the male flower off and applied the stamen directly. Works well & less fuss.

        • StudSpud The Starchy
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          18 days ago

          Like those male anglerfish that attach themselves to a female and just turn into gonads lol! That’s all males are good for, their gonads 😂 Jk jk

          • Rusty Raven M
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            18 days ago

            We’re all just a reproduction tool for our DNA. Some of use get to live interesting and meaningful lives whilst engaged in that reproduction, others are just gonads.