zucchni & tomatos

[dave d]

i have two plants that wont produce fruit i get flowers and then they fall off the zucchini flowers on inspection look as if it started to grow the fruit ? but i find all the flowers on the ground and the same goes for the tomato its a big boy type if that helps now my roma is doing great same for my peppers if anyone has some tips or advise that would be great

[Newt]

Hi Dave,

What you describe with your zucchini sounds like lack of pollination due to no bees or other pollinating insects. If you are spraying for pests you will need to stop. You can hand pollinate.
http://pollinator.com/squash.htm
http://www.pollinator.com/hand_pollination.htm

Tomatoes are usually wind pollinated, but over watering or over fertilizing can cause flower drop. High temps over 75*F or lower then 55*F can also cause blossom or flower drop. High winds can also cause these problems.
http://www.kdcomm.net/~tomato/Tomato/blossom.htm
http://www.ag.arizona.edu/hydroponic...s/pollinat.htm
http://www.pollinator.com/tomato.htm

Newt

[dave d]

thank you newt i think the answer for the zucchini may just be hand pollinating as for the tomatos still not sure but i will research the links and come up with something tank you

[Newt]

Dave, you are very welcome. I'd love to know what you figure out for the tomatoes.

Newt

[backyardgardener]

Hand pollination can be preformed by using a camel hair paint brush. This task has be done in the morning when the male flower just opens to collect the pollen. All you have to do is find the female plant. The female plant has a fruit below the flower. Roll the pollen around the female stamen. Did I say that correctly?

You could also pick the male flower and pull off the flower leafs carefully. Try not to lose the pollen. This is why I use a camel hair paint brush.

I would also recommend a mason bee hive near your vegetable garden.

[dave d]

OK i tried the whole hand pollination on the zucchini and got no where as for the tomatos we found that a gentle thumping on the blossom works great so the tips on that were great as for the zucchini are their male\female plants or what ? or does the temp have something to do with what blossom you get ?

[Newt]

Dave, good to know the site was helpful for the tomatoes. For your zucchini, these plants tend to produce more male then female flowers when they first start to flower. Both male and female flowers are on each plant and the early male flowers tend to self abort. You may have to be patient. The female flowers have a swelling behind the flower where it attaches to the stem. That's the immature fruit. This link I gave you shows the difference in male and female flowers and their stems. It's the first pic on the left.
http://pollinator.com/squash.htm

Newt