07 Dec 10 gurinder (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My plants are giving fruit at age of 7 weeks. Should I remove the first fruit? The sizes are very uneven too. What fertilizers I need to use for 3000 plants?
11 Dec 10 John BEE (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Gurinder, that’s a lot of zucchinis you have…3000 plants. Based on about 10,000 plants per hectare, this is a sizable area. I do think you should seriously consider seeking serious professional advice.
You may have just gone thru a period of extreme weather - heat wise or rain wise, which could have adversely affected fruit setting. Some varieties are more susceptible to this depending on whether they are open pollinated or parthenocarpic hybrids (you didn’t mention the variety so I’m only assuming this stage). So, my suggestion is just to hang in there at this stage and just harvest what you can from the plants.
Re fertilizing, this is not an easy question. Ideally you would have had a soil analysis to establish a pre-plant fertilizer (NP&K) and a side-dressing fertilizing (N&K only) program, confirmed by a couple (at least one) leaf tissue analysis about first flowering and maybe half way thru the fruiting season. In lieu of all this you could have given a basal pre-plant dressing of 800-1200 kg/ha of low analysis 5:5:5 or 300-400 kg/ha of high analysis 14:14:14 fertlizer, (or something close to this NPK ratio); followed up by side dressings from first flowering with fertilizers containing only nitrogen and potash (no phosphate). Some growers alternate light dressings (30-40 kg/ha) potassium and calcium nitrate every few weeks from fist flowering. Too much nitrogen early encourages excessive foliage growth and an over-abundance of non-productive male flowers.
If you did not give a good pre-plant basal dressing then I would suggest light side dressings every couple of weeks (followed by good watering) with a high analysis fertilizer, something approx to a 14:14:14 fertilizer.
I hope this helps a bit. John
Does anyone know where to get parthenocarpic ("self pollinating") zucchini / summer squash seeds in Australia?
Thanks for your suggestions in advance!!!
13 Dec 13 Eileen (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Many Thanks John.I have been searching fruitlessly (forgive the pun) for a reason or rhyme for my problem - all male flowers. While my cue all female. Overdosing on nitrogen (cow poo) earlier my just be my problem. Now how to tackle it...try no more poo juice just a little potash.
Eileen
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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.