MyBlueLobsters Posted June 15, 2010 Share Posted June 15, 2010 I am a first year gardener. Most of my plants are doing REALLY well. My zucchini plants are HUGE and already had several small zucchini growing. Most about 3-4 inches long. This past 7 days, we've had over 10 inches of rain. I went out today and most of the little zucchinis are rotten. :confused: Did they get too much rain? Any other suggestions? Do I go ahead and pull them off the plant? What do I do?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tucenbubbi Posted June 15, 2010 Share Posted June 15, 2010 Not sure that I can answer your question of 'why', but I can commiserate! Our plant had a little rotten zucchini on it, too. So disappointed! But, yes, I would take the rotten ones off the plant. Best wishes for your garden! Way to go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amy g. Posted June 15, 2010 Share Posted June 15, 2010 Check the stem and make sure you don't have squash borers. http://www.cooperseeds.com/squashborer.php3?cartid= Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckymama Posted June 15, 2010 Share Posted June 15, 2010 If the problem is not squash borers (darn things, the bane of my existence!) or slugs, then the yuckiness could be due to incomplete fertilization of the squash blossoms. I take a clean paintbrush and share the pollen between the male and female blossoms. The female blossoms have a bulbous area at the base of the flower, btw. For slugs, you can try beer traps or copper strips along the beds or buy something like Escar-Go, which contains iron phosphate along with a slug bait in a pelletized form (looks like white TicTacs) Escar-Go is animal/wildlife safe. I get it at the local Southern States. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted June 15, 2010 Share Posted June 15, 2010 the yuckiness could be due to incomplete fertilization of the squash blossoms. I take a clean paintbrush and share the pollen between the male and female blossoms. The female blossoms have a bulbous area at the base of the flower, btw. . This was my first thought too. did they start to rot when the flower withered? if so than it is a fertilization problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyBlueLobsters Posted June 15, 2010 Author Share Posted June 15, 2010 Could it be blossom end rot? http://vegetablegardens.suite101.com/article.cfm/zucchini_blossom_end_rot I have a friend who lives near me who just told me about this. He said they never have good luck with zucchini because of our soil and lack of calcium. Thanks guys! I'm off to check for slugs and bugs! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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