[RJR_38]

I have got 4 courgette plants (I sowed 4 for insurance purposes and they all took off) and they have been flowering well for about a week and a half now with lots more flower buds to come. However, with the flowers that are dying off there is no fruit behind them - is this normal and if not what can I do about it? There are lots of insects about so I dont think pollination is the problem..

[Yorkie]

This does often happen with the early courgette & squash flowers.

If there is no fruit behind them, it's a male flower.  The plant sorts itself out eventually!

[Nikkithefoot]

The early flowers are often the males ones so I wouldn't worry just yet. Mine haven't even started flowering yet.

[Stree]

Are they inside or out? How big are the plants? what are they planted in, in open ground or pots, if pots what soil or compost? and are you feeding them?  I have been picking courgettes from plants in  15 litre pots outside for about 2 weeks.....Black Beauty. They get watered every day, fed with tomato food once a weekand growing in half my own compost( heavy on chicken manure) and half  bag compost with water retaining crystals added.
No yellow leaves ( yet) but if I get any I will sprinkle a bit of Epsom salts and see what that does.

[RJR_38]

This does often happen with the early courgette & squash flowers.

If there is no fruit behind them, it's a male flower.  The plant sorts itself out eventually!

This is good to know!

They are planted outside, are about 12 inches round (more of a bush that high) and have been outside for about 3 weeks. They were planted out with BFB and manure and given a top dressing of chicken pellets so shave had plenty of food. I will just keep an eye on them then. There are lots of flower buds in the centre of the plant so I'm not worried, I was just interested

[Rosehip]

Always found it took courgettes ages to get going outside, lots of flowers but no fruits.this year I planted pantheon it needs no pollinator,I planted them in the tunnel and I'm getting 3 a week from each plant for the last 4 weeks or so.Will be on my list for next year.

[RJR_38]

Interesting. I wonder if it is the variety or the tunnel that is making the difference?

[mumofstig]

That variety does not need any pollination to set fruits, there are a couple of varieties that are bred to be that way now. I'm trying both this year to see which is best 

[RJR_38]

Let us know your results as I love courgettes so will be I interested to see!

[Rosehip]

It's the variety because I planted 2 green bush at the same time in the tunnel and this week was the first time I got a courgette from one of the plants.
The seeds cost more but I think it's worth it.

[arugula]

Out of the three varieties I've got, the Parthenon is the only one which produce a complete no-show on germination. I had hoped this variety would do really well for me here, but I still may try it again next year despite the seeds being dear.

No sign of flowers yet here either, but the Cavilli is coming on really strongly and the plants of the round yellow variety whose name escapes me, are lagging behind a bit.

[mumofstig]

Cavili is the other one I'm growing, that doesn't need pollination 
I have babies on the Partenon but not on the Cavili  :blink:

[hamstergbert]

Absolutely normal courgette behavious that appears common to just about all varieties - intial flowering all males loitering optimistically and smelling of Lynx Africa, desperation and Clearasil.... The females show up eventually, fashionably late.

The early male flowers are of course edible anyway and do brighten up the plate a little whether chucked in with your salad as tehy are or dipped and fried.

[simbamara]

Courgette+flowers are of special interest to me.I have grown 6 plants in pots from seed.Few leaves have grown about 6-8 inches long.The leaves are quite green(little tinges of whiteness in few leaves).I had some brown larvae looking things in the centre stem but I wiped them clean.Any more needs done?
Now I am wondering wether to put them al in ground or half in ground and half in larger pots??

Does the 'grow more' feed work with courgettes ?

Thanks

[Yorkie]

They will be happiest in the ground.  How big are the pots?

Growmore is a balanced fertiliser so will do no harm.

Once they start flowering a lot, you could use a liquid tomato feed or sulphate of potash to stimulate more flowers.