<p>I thought that I did everything right this year with the container garden. Compost, more frequent watering, worm casings.</p>
<p>From seed the golden zucchini plants grew well and in about 1 month male flowers and fruit began to appear. The male blossoms are robust and it’s a joy to see them open every morning. Yet, I fear that the female flowers will not become pollinated. They never open. The zucchini fruit are still tiny. The largest is about the size of a pinky finger.</p>
<p>I read that squash can be hand-pollinated. But how can this be done if the female flowers never open? Am I unjustifiably impatient? Will nature run its course? I’ve seen no bees doing their pollinating work near my plants. Help!!!</p>
<p>Hand pollination is easy. Use a watercolor brush. I did this in my pumpkin patch back when I was in grade school.</p>
<p>I’ve noticed that over the years, the weather has to be just right for both M/F to be blooming at the same time. I forget/don’t pay attention, whether if it is too cold, only the males will bloom-females want to stay warm and closed up. I do know that eventually both will open by July in PNW, but this year it may be August.</p>
<p>UCLA, hand pollination will be no problem if and when the female blossoms open!</p>
<p>LongPrime, I’m in the Northeast. So far the spring weather has been consistenly good. It’s been warm and I water my plants frequently. We’re expecting 90-degree weather this weekend so perhaps the female flowers will open so I can pollinate by hand.</p>