Rot in zucchini flowers can ruin an entire zucchini harvest.
Zucchinis are a variety of summer squash that are eaten before they fully mature. Harvest zucchini before it gets so big that the seeds enlarge and create a hollow in the center. One problem suffered by zucchini is blossom end rot; the flowers begin to rot on developing fruit, which soon spreads to the whole zucchini.
Cause
Rot in zucchini flowers is caused by the lack of calcium in the plant, flower and fruit. Occasionally the soil lacks enough calcium for the developing fruit, but most of the time it is the lack of calcium uptake through the roots.
Considerations
Maintaining moisture in the soil around the zucchini plants aids in releasing the calcium locked in the soil around the roots. Water weekly when there is no rainfall.
Warning
Do not overfertilize the zucchini plants. Excess nitrogen, which is one of the main components in fertilizer, in the soil inhibits calcium uptake. Be careful when weeding around the zucchini plants. Damaging the roots will prevent the zucchini plants from pulling enough calcium from the soil.
Tags: zucchini plants, , around zucchini plants, calcium uptake, developing fruit