| LAST YEAR, I PLANTED ZUCCHINI. THE PLANT WENT WILD, BUT ONLY PRODUCED TWO SQUASH. AFTER EXAMINING THE PLANT I NOTICED THE VINES WERE LITTERALY EATEN OUT, HOLLOWED. AFTER THAT THE PLANT ITSELF KEPT GROWING BUT IT DID NOT PRODUCE ZUCCHINI. I NEED YOUR ADVICE AS I JUST PURCHASE SOME MORE PLANTS AND DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP! HELP!! |
| Based on your description I am not certain what happened to your zucchini, but here are some possibilities. If a vine borer had attacked it, you would have seen bits of frass almost like sawdust on the ground under the vine. The vine also have wilted dramatically and stopped growing. Since the vine continued to grow, I suspect what you noticed may have been the normal interior structure. In order to maintain zucchini production the plant needs to flower and pollination must occur. Zucchini grow and flower best in a rich soil that is moist yet well drained, and need full sun all day long. They will usually produce a number of male flowers first followed by the female flowers that yield fruit. You might want to make sure the plants are provided with ample nutrients and moisture this year, but also take care not to provide an overabundance of nitorgen, as this can reduce flowering. |
