Vegetable - Knowledgebase Question

Tehachapi, Ca
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Question by barbara42
June 29, 2009
I planted zuchinni in a big pot, but after the blossom dies so does the zuchnini?


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Answer from NGA
June 29, 2009
Squash plants have separate male and female flowers on the same plant. So, to produce fruit, pollen from male flowers must be transferred to the female flowers. The female blossoms have what looks like a tiny squash behind the flower. The tiny fruit is the ovary, full of eggs not yet fertilized via pollen from male flowers. Male blossoms have long-stalked stamens, each with pollen-filled anthers. Visiting bees and other types of insects provide the transfer of pollen from the male to the female blossoms. Don't worry if the earliest blooms on squash plants fall off before they set any fruit. The male flowers of cucumbers and squash often bloom and wither before the female blossoms start appearing. So be patient with squash plants. Eventually, most will produce both male and female flowers. Once blossoms of both sexes are opening at the same time, you will get zucchini. Lots of it!

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