I'm growing costata romanesca zucchini for the first time this year, and I am having a huge problem with fruit abortion. (Sorry if anyone doesn't like that term but I don't know what else to call it.) Anyway, the aborted fruits far outnumber the fully formed ones, by probably 3 to 1. I am hand pollinating many of them (with q-tips) so I really don't understand what the problem is. I'm hand pollinating their neighbors, butterbush squash, and they are doing great. There are also cucumbers which the bees are pollinating. Plenty of fruit there. So, I'm wondering if this is a quirk with the variety. Anyone else had this happen?

Thanks,
Anne

I'd also suggest doing your hand pollination with the male blossom directly rather than a Q-tip. Much more effective without the middle-man effects.

Dave

Aborted fruit are tiny, perhaps 1-2" max. Fruit with BER are larger (3-4"+) and often appear to be growing normally on first inspection and then they die.

Dave

The make flowers will have no baby on the stem under the flower! Here's some pics though:

https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=A0LEVzYhiq1TfkgAlZFXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTB0OGxtNWtwBHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2JmMQR2dGlkA1NNRTQyMV8x?_adv_prop=image&fr=yfp-t-901&va=Pictures+of+male+squash+flower

Remember that 1 male flower can pollinate tons of female flowers. You don't need to rip out all the male buds!!

Lori

Dave