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Strange male courgette flower parts

Sally 18Sally 18 Posts: 8
in Problem solving

Hi,

can anyone help me?

I went to hand pollinate some of my female courgettes but all three of my male courgette flowers have strange looking parts! There is no stigma with pollen on and no sign of pollen, instead the stigma has four prongs with a swirly bit at the end, slightly similar to the female but not the same so I know it isn't female but could it be confused?!

Some of the male stems seem to be conjoined too so I am wondering if it is diseased?

Getting plenty of small courgettes unfertilized but was hoping for some bigger ones.

Thanks

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Posts

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190

    They will grow bigger! its still early.

    there should be some bees about to do the pollination by now.

    Plants are cleverer than us, I dont think they get confused.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Sally 18Sally 18 Posts: 8

    Yes, thanks, but there is literally no pollen in the male flower and it doesn't look normal inside!

  • Sally 18Sally 18 Posts: 8

    ...have just read some other blogs and think my 'male' flowers are actually hermaphrodite- some male features, some female.

    So whether I will get any true male flowers remains to be seen- I'll just go with the flow but I would love anyone else's comments if they have experienced this!

  • Sally 18Sally 18 Posts: 8
    image

     

     Unusual male on left, was open when I picked it. Female on right.

  • Sally 18Sally 18 Posts: 8

    image

     

  • gardening archaeologistgardening archaeologist Posts: 46

    mine are doing this too..some of mine are co-joined too! Not sure if I should cut the co-joined ones off... However yesterday I noticed a normal pollen covered male flower so hopefully the others are just few weird ones! What variety are you growing?

  • Al13Al13 Posts: 4

    Can anyone help with what is happening to my courgettes? Thanks

    image

     

     

  • Al13Al13 Posts: 4

    They sart off looking OK but then yellow from the flower end.

    First time ive grown courgettes so very frustrating image

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,617

    Al13, they are often like that at the beginning of the season. It is caused by inadequate pollination. Pick them off to encourage more flowers.

  • Al13Al13 Posts: 4

    Thanks I dont get why they need pollination then? the courgette must be there in tiny form BEFORE pollination, so what is the purpose of pollination? On humans there is no "tiny baby" before?? LOL

     

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