Zucchini and other soft-skinned summer squashes are usually pretty easy to grow. But, gardeners do sometimes face struggles with these productive crops. Perhaps your vines stopped producing in mid summer? Or the fruits were small or deformed? Or maybe your plants simply died before producing any fruits? If you found yourself asking why zucchini growing problems struck your garden, this solution guide is for you.
Top 10 zucchini growing problems
Here are ten reasons why you may have faced zucchini growing problems in the past, and tips for making sure these issues don’t happen again.
Zucchini problem 1: Improper variety selection.
Not all zucchini varieties perform the same. Some are more productive than others, and some are more disease- and pest-resistant. First and foremost, when selecting zucchini varieties for your garden, be sure to seek out disease and pest resistance whenever possible. Varieties with a high level of natural resistance often perform better and produce longer. ‘Tigress’, ‘Green Machine’, ‘Burpee Golden Glory’, and ‘Yellow Fin’ are great choices.
Zucchini problem 2: Squash vine borers.
One of the biggest zucchini growing problems is a pest known as the squash vine borer. Adult vine borers are day-flying moths that are black and red with dark wings. They’re fast flyers, so gardeners don’t often spot them. The damage caused by their larvae, however, is difficult to miss. Squash vine borer larvae feed inside the main stem of the plant, hollowing it out and eventually causing plant death. You’ll see crumbly, sawdust-like waste collected below a small hole at the base of the plant. To prevent squash vine borers, protect the lower portion of the stem with a wrap of aluminum foil (more on this technique here), or cover the plants with floating row cover until they come into bloom to keep the female moths away from egg-laying sites.
Zucchini problem 3: Poor pollination.
Zucchini and other squash are insect pollinated, meaning a bee, beetle, or other pollinator is needed to move the pollen from a separate male flower over to a female flower. If there aren’t enough pollinators present, puny or deformed fruits are the result. If your zucchini are mal-formed and stubby on the blossom end, poor pollination is the most pressing of your zucchini growing problems. To improve pollination rates, plant lots of flowering herbs and annuals in and around your zucchini patch. You can also hand-pollinate the vines by using a paintbrush or your fingertip to transfer pollen from the male flowers to the females (more on how to hand pollinate here). Another option is to plant a parthenocarpic variety that doesn’t require pollination to set fruit, such as ‘Easypick Gold’, ‘Partenon’, or ‘Cavili’.
Zucchini problem 4: Powdery mildew.
Powdery mildew is among the most pervasive fungal diseases when it comes to vine crops like zucchini. This pathogen makes the leaves appear to be covered in a talcum powder-like coating. Though it’s primarily an aesthetic issue, severe cases can lead to reduced photosynthesis and reduced production. To overcome powdery mildew, space plants properly – give each one plenty of room so air can circulate and dry off wet foliage. Plant only resistant varieties, such as ‘Anton’, ‘Dunja’, ‘Astia’, and ‘Emerald Delight’, to help combat powdery mildew which is one of the most tenacious zucchini growing problems. Organic fungicides based on potassium bicarbonate (such as GreenCure and BiCarb) are effective as preventatives, as are those based on Bacillus subtilis (such as Serenade).
Zucchini problem 5: Squash bugs.
When it comes to insects that attack squash, none are more difficult to control than squash bugs. These shield-shaped, brown insects suck out plant juices with their needle-like mouthpart, causing stippling, yellowing, and browning of the leaves.
The best way to manage squash bugs is to head to the garden every day and inspect the top and bottom of your zucchini leaves for clusters of bronze-colored, football-shaped eggs. Squash bugs are resistant to most pesticides, but very young nymphs can be controlled with applications of insecticidal soap or horticultural oil. You can read more about how to get rid of squash bugs in this article. Our Guide to Vegetable Garden Pests also has more info on this troublesome insect.
Zucchini problem 6: Poor soil.
Zucchini doesn’t require excessively nutrient-rich soil, but it does perform best in soils that are high in organic matter with a soil pH around 6.5. If your pH is too far off that target mark, the plants may fail to produce quality fruit because the soil pH affects the availability of many different nutrients (more on soil pH here). You can also prevent many zucchini growing problems related to the soil by limiting the amount of nitrogen you add to your garden. Excessive nitrogen produces a lot of green leaves, often at the expense of good fruit production. Use only balanced, organic fertilizers on your zucchini patch and test your soil every few years to ensure it’s healthy and well-balanced.
Zucchini problem 7: Lack of water.
Zucchini growing problems can also stem from irregular soil moisture levels. If plants are allowed to dry out between waterings, fruit production can be negatively impacted. Drought stress is never good for vegetable crops, and zucchinis require consistent, even soil moisture throughout the growing season. If Mother Nature doesn’t supply your garden with at least one inch of water per week, it’s your job to add supplemental irrigation to prevent any possible issues. A 2-3 inch thick layer of mulch helps stabilize soil moisture levels and can reduce the need to irrigate during the hot summer months. You’ll find more information on proper mulching techniques here.
Zucchini problem 8: Blossom end rot.
Zucchini can also be affected by blossom end rot, just like tomatoes and peppers. This physiological disorder causes the blossom end of the fruit to rot into a dark, sunken canker. It’s caused by a calcium deficiency, but it’s the result of inconsistent watering. Calcium can only come into a plant as it absorbs water in through its roots. When there’s no water in the soil to absorb, the plant can’t access calcium either and blossom end rot is the result. To prevent blossom end rot from striking your zucchini, make sure the plants receive ample, consistent applications of water throughout the growing season. Adding more calcium will not solve the problem.
Zucchini problem 9: Bacterial wilt.
Though this pathogen tends to be more problematic on cucumbers, it sometimes strikes zucchini as well. Sadly, this is one of those zucchini growing problems that’s the kiss-of-death when it strikes. Spread by the cucumber beetle, bacterial wilt causes otherwise healthy plants to wilt and die without prior warning. To combat potential problems, keep cucumber beetles in check by trapping them on yellow sticky cards fastened to stakes just above the tops of the plants.
Zucchini problem 10: Not enough sun.
Though it isn’t the worst of the zucchini growing problems you might face, lack of sun can definitely affect plant health and production. Zucchini plants need a minimum of six to eight hours of full sun per day. Lower light levels can result in long, lanky plants with pale green foliage and reduced yields. Poor pollination can also be a side effect of light levels that are too low because pollinators tend to prefer foraging in sunnier areas, particularly on cooler days. Select a full-sun site when planting your zucchinis.
Here’s a quick video sharing more about these common zucchini issues:
Zucchini growing problems don’t have to decimate your crop
Though zucchini growing problems may strike your garden from time to time, with these management tips, you can manage the issues organically and enjoy bushels of delicious zucchini all season long.
For more on growing healthy zucchini, check out these related posts:
Cucumber plant problems
Guide to Vegetable Garden Pests
A Handy Guide to Harvesting Vegetables
Types of Landscape Mulch
A Compost Guide
What challenges have you faced with your zucchini crops and how did you overcome them?
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Hi ?I enjoyed reading about the three new vegetable plants, IE: Tomato Valentine; Tempest Summer Squash; and American dream Corn.
My question could I purchase a small quantity of these seeds to grow in my small back yard garden.
my garden measures 4 feet wide x 35 feet long.
I’ve been growing tomatoes on my patio, and zucchini and Swiss chard long with small finger potatoes in my garden. I’d enjoy trying my hand at growing some new plants, f seeds were available and reasonably priced. I’m 78-years-old and currently in the process of recovering from a stroke, hoping to have ability to work in my garden this coming spring and always enjoy eating fresh vegetables., I’m looking forward to receiving your valued reply and comments.
Sincerely,
Albert
Albert, I hope this finds you well. The Dollar Tree sells seeds of all varieties for 50 cents each seed pack. I purchased my zucchini seeds there. I hope your garden is coming along nicely this year! —Lindsey
found this very interesting
Our zucchini is growing oddly, they are growing into a narrow finger like instead of the same size if the normal size. I’m sending you a picture. Thank you for any help you can offer. Laura
This appears to be poor pollination. Please visit this page on our site to learn how to hand-pollinate your zucchini for better fruit set: https://savvygardening.com/pollinating-squash-cucumbers-pumpkins/
Small grey patches appearing on the leaves of my young golden zucchini plants are growing
but don’t look sturdy and strong! How can i treat this condition?
It sounds like you have powdery mildew. Follow the control suggestions featured in the article.
Hello Jessica,
My dad grew zucchinis for a living for a while and was good at it. Unfortunately he has since passed and I cant ask him why my zucchinis don’t grow in size. they look perfect, but don’t get much bigger than my index finger Any thoughts?
That sounds very much like a pollination issue. Be sure to add lots of flowering annual plants and herbs to the vegetable garden to increase the number of pollinators. And, you may want to try your hand at hand-pollinating. Here’s a post on how to hand pollinate squash. https://savvygardening.com/pollinating-squash-cucumbers-pumpkins/
I loved your videos, unfortunately lowes add kept taking me to their patio section. And once there I could not get back to your Pinterest page. I wanted to watch all of your videos but after the third time fighting Lowes ad, coming back and having to start over, I know by heart the duck tape video. I almost saw you talking about rasberry/blackbery, geeze that would have been a good one.
Hi Mona – Sorry you were having trouble watching our videos. You can always head over to our YouTube channel to watch our videos ad-free! If you subscribe, you’ll get an email every time we upload a new video. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkp3AH1nhgDgf0-u74zZMoQ
Brilliant article, thank you!
I’m having problems with my seedlings as the true leaves are beginning to buckle and crinkle at the end, and the veins and surrounding areas are a whitish/brown colour. Any ideas on what this might be? Thank you!
Hmmmm. Sounds like it’s an issue related to the soil. Perhaps a nutrient deficiency or overload. I suggest starting with a soil test to determine if any nutrient levels are out of wack.
I use diluted milk and water in a spray bottle for zucchini fungus. It works almost instantly to correct the issue!
Is this for powdery mildew or something else?
I do the same. 1 milk to 5 water ratio in a spray bottle and spray the leaves back and front on a sunny day. Works like a charm.
I do the same for powdery mildew, and it works like a charm. 1:3 ratio of whole milk to water, spray generously, and presto!
Hi I have a flower bed with larger rocks maybe 2-3″ all around and then pots dug in. They did more of a container garden with rocks on ground level. Will the surrounding rocks cause any problems for the zucchini plants as they grow and vine out? Thank you
The rocks should not affect the zucchini plants.
We are in Southeast TX and started our zucchini plants pretty early (March). They are huge, with leaves the size of a platter. Most of them, however, have all male blossoms with very few females. The female stems we do get are narrow and might be 1-2 inches long and just fall off before we even get to pollinate by hand. We tried pruning the largest leaves to let sun get down to the lower parts, but that only seemed to make it worse. We have little to no female blossoms on 12 plants. It’s a sunny location, well-drained soil. Water lightly once a day. It’s starting to get hot here (90’s highs, 70-75 for lows), so now I fear we may not see any fruit at all. Any suggestions? Is it too late to start all new plants in the ground from seed?
Hi Renee – Zucchini are heat-loving crops, so I would suggest starting more plants from seed within the next few weeks. But for the plants you already have, rather than watering shallowly on a daily basis, only water your plants once or twice a week, but aim for a deeper, more penetrating form of irrigation. Shallow irrigation like you’re doing, does not promote a healthy, deep root system which could be stressing the plants and causing the female flowers to abort. Deep watering and a few inches of straw or shredded leaves around the plants will stabilize soil temperatures and moisture levels, and hopefully lead to fruit production.
My male zucchini flowers bloomed early, then shriveled and dried out before the female flowers bloomed. Is there anything I can do? Will more male flowers bloom so that the females can be pollinated?
You’ll get more males as the plant matures. That’s all very normal. I always lose the first one or 2 to pollination also. I guess the pollinators need a little while to sniff them down since we only have 2 squash and 2 zuke.
Are both male and female flowers on the same plant? So far all I’m seeing on mine are male.
Yes, both male and female flowers are produced on each plant, but the male flowers appear a week or two before the females. Give it some time; the female blooms will be there soon.
why are my zucchini rotting on the ends
It’s likely that the flowers were not effectively pollinated, leaving the undeveloped zucchini to rot instead of form full-sized fruits. A fungal pathogen is another possibility, especially if you live in a region that’s had a lot of rain this spring.
My zucchini starts to shrivel after it gets about 3” long. What could cause that?
Most likely poor pollination. Check out the tips in the article for ways to overcome poor pollination.
My oarents are growing zucchini in pots and they flower and then the flower falls off. No zucchini so far. Any suggestions?
Sounds like a pollination issue. You might want to try hand pollinating the flowers.
Hi! I planted my plants too close together in a raised bed. The plants are large and the stems are all intertwined now. After a recent storm they have been kind of beaten over the edge of the garden bed which is about a foot high. Is it ok to let them continue along the ground? Should I try to support them somehow or is it too late for that?
You can definitely let them trail down the side of the bed. They’ll do fine. Just make sure you support the fruits if you plan on letting them grow pretty large. Otherwise, they may snap the vine with their weight.
The flowers on 2 of my zucchinis fell off when the zucchinis were about 3 inches long during a storm. Will they continue to grow without the flower?
Yes. The flowers eventually fall off the ends of the developing fruit. Then the fruit continues to grow until you’re ready for harvest.
This is the second year that I planted zucchini. The zucchini plant is small and flowers. Once the flower dies off the only thing left is a stalk. I am assuming that it is a pollination problem. Is there anything that I can do to help?
Sounds like a pollination issue, as long as you’re looking at the female flowers (which are swollen at the base). The male flowers, which only provide the pollen to the female blooms and do not themselves turn into zucchini, will simply drop off, leaving only a stalk behind.
I was going for a few days and came back to wilted plants. They perked up after watering but the next day completely wilted looking. Leaves are green but wilted. The main vine looks mushy, would that be a vine borer?
Definitely sounds like squash vine borers. You can slice the stem open lengthwise and squish them, then wrap the stem back closed again with a piece of old pantyhose or fabric.
very informative article and easy to follow steps as well, i just started doing gardening and i have no knowledge prior, i planted the Zucchini and i water every three days or two i check by sticking my finger in the soil if moist i don’t water if dry i water. but i was watering everyday when the plants were just small seedlings
after almost two months the plants are doing good in my opinion considering my first try, i get one zucchini per plant i think every week more is that normal ?
i also did a test half was planted in a sand soil it’s growth was the best. the second half was planted in muddy soil the growth was bad but i read it prefer the muddy soil am i missing something.
live in a climate where the lowest is degree of winter is 6C° (42.8 F) and the hottest of summer is 37 C°(98.6 F) i figured i could plant the zucchini almost all year am i wrong?
hope i didn’t throw too much questions
Thank you
One zucchini per plant each week sounds about right, though it is somewhat dependent on the variety. Production may decrease if you let the zucchinis grow too large. It’s no surprise that the plants in sandier soil did a little better, especially if you’re growing them in containers. They like well-draining soil (which sandier soils are), though they also tolerate clay-based soils quite well, as long as you add plenty of compost or other organic matter to help improve it.
It looks like something is cutting stems clean off. I’m not sure if its birds or bugs but i do know its it’s frustrating.
That sounds more like groundhogs, rabbits, or deer. Are they a possibility in your garden?
Hi there. My plants seems pretty healthy except for a few that are producing fruit that looks like it’s bubbling from the inside out. Some of the leaves are now doing the same thing. Like a weird case of warts :$
Sounds like your seeds didn’t come true and you have a natural hybrid of a zucchini and a bumpy crookneck squash. Sometimes this happens. Always buy new seeds from a reputable seed source who isolates varieties to prevent accidental cross pollination. Don’t save your own seeds unless you control the pollination very carefully. Warty zucchini often have tougher skin but still taste okay.
Hello, for the second year in a row im getting all male and no female flowers. The females grow a few inches (the blossoms never even get close to opening) and then wither and die off. I know I don’t have full sun and only a few hours of direct sunlight a day…but otherwise the plants look dark green and healthy. What do you think my problems are? Not enough sun?
My guess would be not enough sun, but it may be a varietal issue too. Always grow 2 or 3 different varieties, if possible, to ensure at least some of them will be good fruiters.
Hello, I planted two zucchini plants two months ago in large containers in potting soil for flowers and vegetables. The plants have barely grown! They have lots of sun and I keep the soil moist, never had a problem growing zucchini before, any ideas?
Zucchini are notoriously tough to grow in containers. Make sure each plant has its own pot and the container holds at least 5 gallons of high-quality potting soil. Fertilize with a liquid organic fertilizer every two weeks.
My zucchini are like small football’s. 6″ long & 5″ wide. How come ?
Sounds like they might have been grown from seed that accidentally cross pollinated. This is why purchasing seed from reputable seed companies is key. Saving your own seeds is tough when it comes to members of the squash family because they cross-pollinate so readily.
One of my zucchini plants is producing large eggplant shaped zucchini. They start out round and just get bigger, growing into giant oval shape. In the past I’ve had regular looking ones that if left get big, but this start out as round. In addition, when I cut into one I’ve picked the the inside does not seem ripe. What could be going on?
Sounds like they might have come from seed that accidentally cross pollinated with another variety in the farmer’s fields. Squash are very prone to cross pollinating and you don’t know it until you grow out the seeds. I’d recommend purchasing new seed next year from a reputable source. If you saved your own seeds, its likely your new plants are a natural hybrid.
I seem to have had the opposite problem; my squash grew ENORMOUS! The plant and the squash are out of control. I do have a beehive, so I guess that “helped” – will they normally just keep growing if I don’t pick them soon enough? And I’m not sure when is “soon enough”.
Squash grow very quickly so you have to pick them almost every day. I like my zucchini best when they’re about 8 to 10 inches long. But, if I’m making zucchini bread, I let them get much bigger than that. Just don’t let them get too big or they’ll be seedy and the skin will be tough.
I’m new at growing squash and have been successful so far as to growing from seed in a large container. My squash are still pretty young and I just noticed recently that there are a ton of little bugs flying and sitting on my squash when I move them. The squash is also starting to wilt. What is going on?
If you’re growing them in a container, the little flies could be fungus gnats which are just a nuisance, but won’t harm the plant. Their presence often means the potting soil is too wet. Make sure you aren’t leaving water sit in a saucer beneath the plant. Overwatering would also cause the plant to wilt.
Hi! I find your site to be very helpful, I planted one zucchini sapling (yellow) And it loves to push out a lot of zucchinis and leaves. Some of the zucchinis come out a deeper shade of yellow, and seem more hard than the lighter yellow which you might more commonly see you in the store, and seem to be more soft. I’m curious why some of my zucchinis might be growing a deeper shade of yellow and what this might mean. I have assessed For calcium and water deficiencies but I add ground up eggshells and water early on in the season and this has seemed to help with production. What could be the cause of a darker yellow zucchini?
This could be a varietal issue, or it could be due to the age of the fruits. Sometimes, as they mature, the fruits get darker and thicker skinned. This is especially true of yellow crook-neck squash.
Hi
I have had my zucchini in for about 5 months and it’s been great but I found something eating all the outer green off the zucchini leaving the white only. What could’ve doing this and how do I fix it.
Lesley
Could be a chipmunk, squirrel, or groundhog. Even a rat would do that. I would surround the plants with a cage or fencing of some sort.
I am glad I found this article. My zuzzchini leaves have small yellow or white dots. Small like pin pricks. NOt all over. Is some discoloration normal? They do not wipe away.
Yes. Some zucchini varieties do naturally have white or creamy white markings and patterns on the leaves. If this is a varietal trait, it’s nothing to worry about.
Hi! Loved this article! I am a first year gardener and made the misstep of planting all 3 of the seedlings from the tiny pot into the same space. I didn’t realize I should have thinned or separated them. Now they all look pretty healthy with lots of new growth but my reading tells me I’m going to run out of room soon.
My questions: should I dig up the plants and try to separate the roots and transplant or cut back one or two of the three plants that are on top of each other? Or better yet, leave them alone!
I know better now for my next planting. Btw, I’m in zone 10a in San Diego and they are planted in a raised bed in full sun.
I would use a scissors to trim off one or two of the plants at their base, leaving only one. Unless you just planted them a few days ago – in which case I would say to dig them up and try to separate them. If they are too close, they’ll compete for nutrients, water, and sunlight and they won’t perform their best.
Hello! Thank you for this article! I am new to growing veggies and I have crispy edges and powdery mildew on my zucchini plant leaves. They are about a month old (from seed) and seem to be struggling to grow. I live in Montreal and we have a cool climate so they have been inside with a grow light and I have been slowly hardening them off on nicer days. Is there anyway to save my plants? Should I start over?
Thank you so much!
Liz
Hi Liz –
You sowed your seeds a little too early. It sounds like they are stressed. I would suggest sowing new plants by directly seeding them out into the garden soil after the danger of frost has passed. Zucchini almost always do better when planted by seed outdoors, rather than from seeds started indoors under grow lights. They resent being transplanted.
Hi,
My newly planted zucchini plants are turning brown around the edges of the leaves. They were planted a few weeks ago as small plants. Why are the edges brown?
Hi Elaine – Sounds like the plants could have a little transplant stress, which they will grow out of as they settle into their new home. This also happens sometimes when the plants were not properly hardened off prior to planting them.
My two container zucchini plants are producing zuchini although two have rotted on the plant. But almost overnight the leaves are turning yellow and dying. Help! I see no bugs or pests
For zucchini to perform well in containers, they need a lot of soil. Ideally, the pot should hold at least 5 gallons of soil per plant. If the containers are smaller than that, I suggest repotting them into larger containers so they have plenty of room to grow. Be sure to fertilize every week with an organic liquid fertilizer as they are heavy feeders.
Help, my daughter planted a whole pack of zucchini in one pot, they are starting what seems to blossom everywhere but the zucchini is growing from the roots and becoming entangled due to too many being planted, can I separate?
Separating the plants when they’re much older than the seedling stage would destroy too much of the root system and probably kill them. I suggest choosing the sturdiest 1 or 2 plants in the pot, and cutting the rest of the plants off at their base, flush with the soil level. This allows just the 1 or 2 plants to thrive without disturbing their roots.
My zucchini is dwarfed. Plat looks healthy and have many yellow flowers, but the fruit is only 3” long. What can I do
Sounds like it may be poor pollination, especially if the zucchini is stunted on the end. Here’s an article we wrote on how to hand-pollinate: https://savvygardening.com/pollinating-squash-cucumbers-pumpkins/
I made the mistake of container planting delicata squash plant starts into garden soil instead of potting soil. So far they’re growing, but will they be okay in the long-run?
They might do okay, depending on how dense your soil is. Not much you can do about it now unless you transplant them into a larger pot of potting soil.
I have planted zucchini for the last couple of years and this is the first time I am seeing clusters of black spots under the leaves and several ants. Are these aphids and eggs? If so what is the best organic treatment if there is one?
Sounds like it could be aphids. They are sometimes “farmed” by ants who harvest their sweet excrement. I would look closely at them with a hand lens or magnifying glass (or take a photo with your cell phone and zoom in) to confirm the identification. If you let them go for a week or two, ladybugs and other predatory insects will likely show up and eat them. I don’t worry about small infestations. If they begin to reproduce so fast that you have more than 30 or 40 per leaf, squirt them off with a sharp stream of water from the hose. It dislodges them and easily takes care of the problem.
The tip of my zucchini leaf is yellow and mushy looking. What’s happening? Are there organic cures for any of the problems? I heard something about baking soda, another something about epsom salt.
Sounds like a possible fungal issue. I recommend removing the infected leaf and tossing it in the garbage. Keep a close eye on the plant and if it starts to affect the other leaves, use an organic fungicide. Avoid homemade pesticides and fungicides as they often cause more harm than good. Commercial products are always best since they are tested and properly labeled.
I live in TX and the Zucchini plants almost always start nice and healthy, but get severely affected by vine borers/squash borers. I tried two times now, second time was better than the first one, but not very good.The daily maintenance for borers is too time consuming. Zucchini itself is a relatively low maintenance (but delicate) plant, but the borers make it extremely hard.
I am now wondering whether I would use a net for the entire lifetime for the zucchini. This means first place a net with all sides connected to ground, and start from the seeds. Is this going to be safe or is there some fungal infection that can happen inside the nets. I am pretty certain that it’ll keep the borers away. Please comment.
Netting will definitely keep the adult borers away, but it will also keep pollinators away. You’ll have to remove the net when the plants come into flower or hand pollinate all your squash flowers. Otherwise you won’t get any zucchini.
I have a raised aware foot garden bed w zucchini. This is my first time planting. I’m in zone 6 (Ontario). I planted 3 plants and although they r growing tall the bottom 2 leaves are starting to turn yellow slightly and the flowers bud, flower and then die (some flowers dienbefore opening up too).
Should I cut off the bottom yellow leaves and should I pick off the dead flowers? What causes the flowers to die? Is that from no pollination?
When lower/oldest leaves turn yellow, that’s often indicative of a nitrogen deficiency in the soil. I suggest fertilizing the plants with an organic granular fertilizer every few weeks. Zucchini flowers only last for one day. If they don’t get pollinated in that single day, they die unfertilized. Hand pollinate in the morning to ensure pollen makes it onto the female blooms.
Do you pinch off some of the male blossoms?
No. You want to make sure there’s ample pollen around to fertilize the female flowers when they open.
I have several zucchini plants in my garden. They appear to be quite healthy, huge leaves/plants with tons of blossoms. But so far, I’ve only found one zucchini and many blossoms are falling off right at the stem. I’m guessing pollinator issue but not sure.
Thanks for any insight.
Probably poor pollination. Try hand pollinating and see if that helps.
Love these tips, thank you! Some of our plants stamps are turning black close to the soil. I’m assuming a fungus but didn’t see anything listed here describing that. Any thought?
Stems… not stamps.
Be sure not to have the mulch up against the stems of the plants or you could encourage stem rot. That could be part of the problem.
I am having issues with my cucurbits (always do). I always have issues with cucumber beetles, I’ve been battling them by hand. I now also seem to have some type of a chipmunk/groundhog issue (arrgghh), but also there are a TON of little ants inside the squash flowers. More than I have ever seen before. Is this an issue that I need to address?
Ants are great pollinators, so no need to worry about them. Give them a little thank you and let them do their stuff.
Hi, my zucchini plants are overtaking my raised bed. While I do get some good-sized zucchini, a few die on the vine at about 4” and are thin.
May I cut back some leaves to free up space to increase production?
Thanks in advance.
Yes, you can cut off some of the leaves at their base. It sounds like poor pollination or stress could be the culprit.
This is my first year growing zucchini. Some of them are doing well and others start growing nicely, get about 4” inches and then I notice they start rotting from the blossom end and have holes going directly in that end. Is that still blossom rot?
Cut one of the fruits open and see if you find a grub-like caterpillar inside. Sometimes tomato fruit worms attack zucchini plants, too. If there are no caterpillars and the end is just mushy, it could be poor pollination or blossom end rot. Be sure the plants are properly pollinated (do it by hand if you have to) and water deeply.
Why are the stamens on my male zucchini flowers all stunted and completely without any mature pollen? This year, the carpels on the female flowers also look stunted, but I have yet to find a pollen grain to attempt pollination with so I don’t know whether or not they will accept pollen.
The stamens naturally look very “stumpy” and distorted. Their pollen is very sticky, not fluffy like the pollen of some other plants. You can’t see the individual grains, so there is likely lots of pollen there. Peel the petals off the male flowers and use just the bare stamen as a “paintbrush” and roll it around inside the female flowers in the morning.
Hello. A ‘field pumpkin’ as identified by the Picture This App has seeded itself in our garden. It has grown huge. The fruit look like short fat zucchini (courgettes to us in the UK) more like a short marrow (sorry not sure if you use the same term – but a large mature fruit) however the fruit has only been there for a few weeks. It certainly looks too fat to be zucchini. I’m wondering if they will be safe to eat – are there varieties that you shouldn’t eat? Thank you.
It will be safe to eat but will likely not taste very good. The squash family is prone to making natural hybrids if their pollination isn’t controlled. It will likely be woody and probably bitter.
What are the causes of Zucchini fruits with many holes in them, looks like things have been feeding on my zucchinis especially the ones that are almost matured? How to prevent pests?
Sounds like it could be tomato fruit worms. They bore into the fruits and leave little holes and a sticky excrement behind. To deter them, you can cover the young developing fruits with a nylon stocking or spray them with Bt.
Love this article and learning lots. I planted cucumbers, zucchini and butternut squash. I never paid attention to growing squash before…just planted the seeds and hoped for the best. Now that I’m retired, I’m paying more attention and getting a real eye opening. I have zucchini planted in both the ground and containers. I’ve been battling the striped cucumber beetle for the last few weeks and have been using neem oil and soapy water and hand picking to control them. I worry what else they are doing to my plants. Today i noticed that the tips of new leaf growth is brownish. Not sure what this is from or how to treat it. Any idea what it is? Is this from the beetles.?
Cucumber beetle chewing around the leaf margins can cause browning like that but so can stress due to lack of water or heat. Be sure to water the plants deeply once or twice a week. Keep them well mulched (I like to use shredded leaves). Flip the leaves over and make sure there are no tiny squash bug nymphs there as they can cause similar browning.
I had planted 3 zucchini plants, each time I picked the zucchini the plant wilted by the end of the day and then died. It happened again today with my last plant. It is not a borer, the plant was huge, beautiful green this a.m., now wilting. Help!
Be sure to cut the zucchini off the plant carefully so you don’t tear into the stem tissue. Never rip the fruits off the plant. If the stem tears, the plant will shrivel pretty quickly. Otherwise, I would suspect a vine borer.
For the second year in a row, my zucchini plants have just yellowed and died in a about a two day period. Before yellowing, the plants were nice and health. We harvested about 2 zucchini’s off of each plant and they both had plenty of new blossoms. Everything else in the garden is healthy, so I don’t think it is a problem with too much or too little water. Any ideas?
That sounds very typical of a squash vine borer. The plants are lovely one day and then quickly wilt and die. Next time it happens, slice the stem open and I bet you’ll find some wriggly vine borer larvae inside.
I have a beautiful hill of zucchini, it has the biggest blooms I’ve ever seen and gorgeous. My problem is I haven’t gotten any zucchini. They get about 4-5 inches and then disappear. Some rot but most are just gone. I planted the plants in mid May. My yellow squash i planted seeds 2 weeks later and have been getting squash. Why will my zucchini not make
Are you sure there’s nothing eating them? A groundhog perhaps or another animal? The rot may be due to blossom end rot or it could be poor pollination.
I planted two zucchini plants (about 2-3 weeks apart) both are in containers since I have no yard to plant them in. Both plants had female flowers at first then the males came about 2 days later, so I knew those females would not make it. About 5 zucchinis didn’t make it so far. They started to shrivel up after 3-4 inches in length. Since I don’t have bees where I live, I tried to manually pollinate them. I finally saw one that started to grow, then noticed it stopped growing about a week or so after pollinating it. The end where it connects to the plant looked normal and felt sturdy, but the other end (where the flower was) had a little yellowish spot with wrinkles. It grew about 5-6 inches in length. I water my plants everyday, I even do the soil check for moisture, and give it food every 7 or 10 days. What am I doing wrong? Should I start over?
It sounds like inconsistent soil moisture may be to blame. You said you water the plants every day, so my guess is that you’re just applying a small amount of water each time. It’s much better to give a thorough, deep soaking once every three or four days than to water a little bit every day. Depending on how large your pots are (they should be a minimum of 5 gallons for each zucchini plant), that means adding 3 to 4 gallons of water each time you water, letting the excess drain out the bottom of the pot. Soak them very good, but do it less frequently.
Hey, i have a question about flowers and productivity. I have my zucs and squash growing right under a trellis. After I transplanted it, the plant shot out flowers after it only grew about an inch. I cut the flowers off thinking that it would stop plant growth. Was i wrong for doing this? Should I just let the plant produce flowers? Will it continue to grow?
Thanks for all your help.
P. S. I live right along the equator so there are never any cold temperatures (below 70* F).
Hi Ryler. I never remove flowers from my zucchini or cucumber plants, especially since the first flowers are usually male flowers to ensure there is ample pollen around to fertilize the female flowers that appear a few days later. Yes, it will continue to grow, but do not trim off any of the flowers.