Boy-Girl Squash Blossoms?

[align=left]A friend suggested that I cut the blossoms on my summer squash that were just on a stem and didn't have baby fruit behind them. She said that would result in a higher production of*squash since the plants wouldn't be putting energy into flowers that weren't creating fruit. [/align]

[align=left]I tried that, and sauteed the blossoms in butter - which were delicious. [/align]

[align=left]But then, another gardener said, "NO! if you cut those blossoms, there won't be any new fruit because of pollination." [/align]

[align=left]Doh! It never occured to me. [/align]

[align=left]Are*there male-female blossoms on a zucchini? Or what? [/align]

[align=left]Which gardener is giving the advice I should follow?[/align]

[align=left]Can I harvest some of the blossoms for a sauteed treat and still have the usual abundance of squash?[/align]

[align=left]I've quit snipping the stem-only blossoms for now, just to be on the safe side.[/align]

[align=left]- Judith[/align]

[align=left]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~[/align]

[align=left]Judith at A to Z Gardening is Talking Dirt: blogging true confessions of an organic gardener. [/align]

[Newt]

"Are*there male-female blossoms on a zucchini?"

Yup!* :)

"Which gardener is giving the advice I should follow?"

Both.* :shock:* You can remove some of the male flowers and eat them as there are usually more male flowers then needed.* You will need some to fertilize the female flowers.* Now where did I put that site about zucchini flowers?* Ah, this one is cool.
http://www.pumpkinnook.com/howto/pollen.htm

I'll be over for fried flowers soon!* ;)
Newt

[align=left]Sometimes I am so observant, I amaze myself :D. Sometimes, I'm not :?.[/align]
[align=left]I think the case of the squash blossoms illustrates that latter. How could I never have*made the connection with*what was going on with the blossom-to-veg situation? I have wondered why some of the baby squash shrivelled and died (according to the excellent site you offered, that is because the blossom wasn't pollinated); and I have wondered why some of the blossoms never even got to the point of fruit (because they were male, as it turns out). But the whole question of*sex(gender) never occured to me .[/align]
[align=left]Thank you for clearing this matter up for me. I'm having me some (just a few) blossoms in butter tonight. Come on over, Newt![/align]
[align=left]- Judith [/align]
[align=left]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Judith at A to Z Gardening is Talking Dirt: blogging true confessions of an organic gardener. [/align]

[Newt]

LOL* Sometimes it's the simple things!* * Gosh, I'd love some of those flowers.* Next year I'm going to grow some up a trellis (tiny garden) and have some fried flowers too.* I've never eaten them but I've heard they're delicious.

Thanks for the invite.* I really wish I could.
Newt

[backyardgardener]

You can also view http://www.backyardgardener.com/secert.html#Pollinating

[Summer_Bloom]

[align=left]Last year was my first year growing zucchini, and I had the same problem. My blossoms would die without growing zucchini, and I couldn't figure out why until someone pointed out that the plain blossoms were male, and the "pregnant" looking ones were female. I was so thrilled when my female blossoms started growing little zucchini, but, alas, the frost got them before they grew up into eating zucchini.[/align]
[align=left]This year, I'm starting seeds indoors early. I want my squashes![/align]