If The Blossom Falls Off, Will The Zucchini Still Grow?

Zucchini flowers play a crucial role in the growth and development of zucchini plants, and their loss can be frustrating. The most common reasons for flowers falling off a zucchini plant are poor pollination and stress. When a female flower is poorly pollinated, it will display signs of stress, such as petals appearing. Once male blossoms have opened to release their pollen, they simply fall off the plant. Many times, a zucchini plant will produce only male blossoms when first in bloom to ensure that pollen is available. Each flower lasts for a couple of days, and after a couple of days of blooming, the male flowers wither and fall off the vine. Female flowers also wither and fall off, but if successfully pollinated, they will form a uterus.

If the flower falls off, the edible zucchini will stop growing and eventually die. However, if you remove the flowers yourself, the plant will continue to grow zucchini. It is important to note that removing the flowers will not make the zucchini any bigger; it will only extend the life of the zucchini. The flower captures the pollen and there is a small structure inside the flower that is the equivalent of a uterus. The pollen is the substance that forms the seeds and the fruit.

Zucchini blossoms falling off the plant may look alarming, but it is perfectly natural and not an indicator of any problems with the plant itself. Even if you’ve lost a handful of blooms with no fruits in sight, your plants are probably fine. If your fruit turns yellow and drops off, this is due to ineffective fertilization. Zucchini plants will continue to grow up to about 18 inches long, with the best quality being picked at 4-8 inches.