I love growing in my backyard garden zucchini or summer squash as some people call it. BTW, I seldom spell zucchini and didn’t realized it was spelled that way. I kept typing zuchinni and zuchini. Anyway, I’ve got about a dozen nice zucchini plants going in my garden vegetable bed and each one had about 6 or 8 beautiful flowers on them. I was so proud.
The other morning I went out to my backyard garden to get the morning watering going and bent down to examine my beauties. I was devastasted! Some varmint - and I do mean varmint in the dastardly sense! - snipped off the flowers!. Arrgh!
I’m going to post some pictures here of my poor zucchini flowers.
Oh, well, how does the old garden adage go? Plant enough for both us and the animals…
Tags: Garden pests
Update: Here are the pictures I took of my vegetable bed:
Here is the damage caused by some garden pest. I just want to cry. See the zucchini flowers neatly snipped off and just lying on the ground? What kind of garden pest do you think did this? Insect or mammal? I’ve had this happen with large flower heads also. Last year we lost some daisies and other annual flowers. Big bright flowers attract a squirrel or something and they just come and neatly snip off the flower!
Out of desperation, we found an old set of sea shell chimes and stuck them on a stick near the zucchini plants. Do you think this will work? Arrgh…
Let’s hope so! I’ll keep you up to date with my progress on the zucchini growing and these damn garden pests.
Update: It’s been 2 years since I first posted about insects or animals eating my zucchini blossoms. Last year, I had the same problem and couldn’t pinpoint the source. Then I had the worst case of powdery mildew you’d ever want to see. I had these huge leaves just covered with mildew. Gross!
This year (now it’s July of 2009), I am more determined than ever to stop my zucchini blossoms from getting clipped. Here are some photos from my garden bed showing a possible solution. I saw this on an old Victory Garden show about organic gardening and techniques for pest control.
Here are some shots of nice zucchini blossoms. You can even see some young zucchinis growing!
Zucchini Flowers and Young Zucchini
zucchini blossom
Using Aluminum Foil as Garden Mulch
Foil as a mulch against insect damage
Foil Garden Mulch
When you find out what the culprit is let me know. I have exactly the same problem here in Australia.
I live on the Salt Marsh in SC and something got my Squash. It looks just like yours. Can an animal snip it that clean? I know people can. I’d hate to have to sit on the porch with a shotgun on my lap.
I came across your post as I was searching for images of pests in Google images. I had a question and was wondering what would be the best way to get in contact with you? Thanks!
Hi, Please let me know if you ever found out what was eating your zucchini flowers. We had the same thing happen to us last evening here in NH. Thank you,
I caught a squirrel in the act (actually, my dog did). The squirrel took the flower onto the garage and was eating it. Ugh! They are devastating my crop too. Any ideas of what I could spray on them that is safe for me but discouraging to my little rodent friend?
I had the same thing happen to me this week, and noticed that a black squirrel was the culprit. It chops off my zucchini flowers and eats the middle part (soon-to-be-fruit) and leaves the rest of the flower (petals) on the ground. I heard putting cayenne pepper on your plants might repel them… that’s what I did this morning, I’ll soon see if it works.
yep…same here. Something’s eating out yellow squash…We’ve only harvested one this year, so far, but have found three partially eaten under the plants and several flowers knocked off.
My problem is that the VILLIAN snips off the leaves- two or three at a time, sometime in the night. I have covered the plants with plastic netting and chicken wire - the garden is enclosed on the perimeters with the same- eight feet high!
We do have squirrels, but only a bird could get in!
HELP!
Dan,
In Sydney the biggest culprit for eating buds and flowers are possums. We have regular vists from the local possum families most nights - and they will eat almost any young bud or flower. They’re particularly fond of young rose buds but also go for zucchini, capsicum and tomatoes. And of course they eat as many mandarins as they can find.
To counter them, we cover the larger plants and trees with lightweight nylon netting (this also helps keep the cockatoos out of the mandarins) . For the smaller plants, we hang napthalene (moth balls) on the plants - this seems to be a very effective deterrent (we also put mothballs in the attic to deter the possums from there). You can get little hanging containers for mothballs at Bunnings or Mitre 10 etc
I have same problem in Montreal. My zucchini flowers are taken with a clean clean cut, as if a razor blade.
Some suggested that when they start to flower, I cover them with milk crates. I may try that
This is the most common reason for zucchini flowers falling off the plant. Zucchini plants have male and female flowers. Only female zucchini blossoms can produce zucchini squash. Once male zucchini 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 will be available when the female blossoms open. The male blossoms will all fall off, making it seem as though the zucchini plant is losing all of its flowers. Don’t worry, female blossoms will open soon and you will get zucchini squash.
http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/vegetable/why-zucchini-blossoms-fall-off-the-plant.htm
I went out his morning and something has ate my zucchini flowers as well. I have raised beds (about 2 1/2 feet) and it is only the zucchini that seems to be affected. I have one bed full of lovely lettuce, so I am not thinking it is a rabbit. They were fine last night around 8-9 pm, but gone this morning at 7. Does anyone think that would be a possum?
Why do zucchini blossoms fall off the plant?
There are 2 reasons why zucchini blossoms fall off the plant.
Male zucchini blossoms
This is the most common reason for zucchini flowers falling off the plant. Zucchini plants have male and female flowers. Only female zucchini blossoms can produce zucchini squash. Once male zucchini 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 will be available when the female blossoms open. The male blossoms will all fall off, making it seem as though the zucchini plant is losing all of its flowers. Don’t worry, female blossoms will open soon and you will get zucchini squash.
Poor pollination
Zucchini blossoms will also fall of the plant if the pollination between the male and female blossoms are poor. Basically, the plant will abort the female blossoms if they are not pollinated well enough. Poor pollination can happen due to a lack of pollinators like bees or butterflies, high humidity that causes the pollen to clump, rainy weather or a lack of male blossoms.
While zucchini blossoms falling off the plant may look alarming, it is perfectly naturaland is not an indicator of any problems with the plant itself.
laura
i had a couple of large zucchini eaten, i mean devoured. big ones. from what was left i could see the teeth marks. i suspect squirrels. i’ve put some chicken wire helter-skelter around, but at this time, due to other plants crowding in, i can’t make it really air-tight. i’m going to try the cayenne pepper. they come, i think, mainly at night. also, i have a little greenhouse where i grow succulents. last fall i found a number of planter pots tipped over and the succulents scattered. inside one of the planter pots i found a walnut. - eric
You’ve probably already figured this out but this site:
http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/vegetable/why-zucchini-blossoms-fall-off-the-plant.htm
States that blossom drop is normal. I have the same thing going on right now. It frightened me too.
The flowers are falling off not being snipped by vermin. There are 2 types of flowers on the zucchini plant, one of each sex. You should notice that one flower has what looks like a tiny zucchini at its base. The other flower lacks this. These are the 2 sexes. Both are needed. The flower lacking the immature zucchini at its base pollinates the one with the little zucchini and then falls off (it with never turn into a zucchini).
I had the same exact problem last summer and am finding this thread very helpful.
I think I had cut worms! But when I suggested that to someone, they said that cut worms clip garden plants at ground level?
Any thoughts?
Joseph - I think it may be slugs if not worms. I agree that it’s a bug of some sort.
The explanation of the male zucchini blossoms are interesting, but the cut on the stem is a definite cut - not a shriveling and dropping, but an actual cut.
What do the others think?
More input please! Thanks much and happy gardening!!!!!
Some critter ate all of the leaves from my zucchini plant! The plant was doing quite well and had about two dozen leaves and several blossoms but no fruit yet. The leaves were all eaten down to the stems. We don’t have rabbits or deer in the vicinity, but we do have groundhogs, raccoons, skunks and oppossums. The plant was devastated. I have another plant that actually has several zucchini fruit on it. One or two leaves were eaten on that — mayber the varmint was full! I did not have time to get to the store last night for netting or wire, so, I stacked some odd fencing and boxes around it which should startle if he came back again. I had heard of animals eating blossoms or fruit, but not all of the leaves, especially on a squash family plant where the leaves are a little spiky on the end.
This is my first year with veggies. I had a small eggplant show up. Next day it was gone. My squash had flowers. This morning they were gone - they looked snipped off and no trace of the flowers to be found. The lower leaves of my peppers disappeared too. I know dishsoap and water is an organic solution with bugs, but I have no idea (but like the idea of the pepper) what to do. Makes one feel like crying, doesn’t it??
I’m going to try filling some cups with bleach and water, covering with foil, putting some holes in them and setting them around the garden. I’m in NH and we have been told not to put up bird feeders because of bears - unfortunately, I’d found out the night before. I guess I could be losing a lot more than squash.
The little bugger returned and ate one of my zucchini’s which was about 7 inches long and ready to be picked (I was waiting just one more day before harvesting). It just shoved aside my makeshift fence. Judging by the teeth marks left behind on the zucchini nub, I think that it’s a groundhog.
Hi,
Here in Cobourg, Ontario, I have the same problem!!! In all the years I’ve watched my parents grow fantastic zukes, and so easily,,,,have I ever seen the blossom eaten. So I thought I could easily grow them too. Not so, first the blossoms were eaten, then…I couldn’t believe it, the zukes were being eaten from the flower stem end right up to the plant!!! I happened to save one, and noticed the bite mark. Seemed to be V shaped bites…rats maybe?? I have solar lights right by the plants to scare them, but nothing I have tried has worked yet….if anyone has any further please let me know!! Thanks!
As with everyone else, my flowers look cut right off the stems on my squash. If it is a squirrel, I am trying a pepper spray. Bring one quart of water to a boil, then mix 2tbls of ceyenne pepper and 1/2 ts of hot sauce. Let it cool and spray with a spray bottle. I hope it works. I think if any animal tasted that they would not come back.
I’ve had this same problem…in my case, it’s rabbits. I have the cheap plastic chicken wire around the entire garden. They chew right through the wire and have a feast on squash buds! One thing that seemed to work…it’s gross, but works…buy a couple of cheap packages of raw chicken wings (small wings) and place ‘em around the garden. The rotten pieces seems to keep the pests away…maybe they think something was killed there. Believe it or not, the smell is unnoticeable, unless your stick your face right down near the plant.
I’m so glad to have found these posts. I harvested a beautiful zucchini (here in WI) last week, and saw a few small ones growing. When I checked under the leaves today (after about 24 hours of rain) I saw no mini zucchini remaining, blossoms on the ground, and four or five stems that looked cut off. It’s so disappointing to see your young veggies have disappeared! Guess I will try the cayenne or moth balls as an animal definitely seems to be involved. Not sure I’m willing to try raw chicken as the garden is near my side door (and neighbors).
Same thing in Minnesota. Beautiful blossoms and high hopes one
day, and stems cut, no evidence of blossoms the next. I have seen
voles run through the chicken wire, so they are my prime suspects.
Rabbit and deer repellents have not worked, so will try the cayenne
solution, as today I have blossoms!
same here. checked last week and had tons of flowers. when i looked today it looked like something had been sitting or lying on one whole side of the plant. with all of the flowers i had, there was only one small z there. i went to farm and fleet and got my mice pelletws early and put packages around. my shed is close to the plants and you can see some thing has made holes under the shed to get it. makes me mad.
TRY FOX URINE..U CAN GET IT AT A MENARDS…HOME DEPOT …LOWES…I HANG LITTLE BAGS OF IT FROM A WIRE LIKE STICK…KEEP OFF PLANTS…
I have the same issue with my zucchini, but there is not a trace of the flower left in sight. It is a clean snip so I think it might be a bird that flies away with it, it is in a fenced off area. Could be a possum, but I don’t know if they make a clean snip or not? I do know that I saw magpies (here in AUS) snip off my daffodils every year. They generally avoid the backyard though as i have a dog. Only Indian minahs and pigeons seem to brave our backyard. I just blame it on the minahs as they are pesky birds anyway, but who knows. Has anyone tried rubber snakes or hanging CD disks? I supposed that might work for birds but not if it is a possum.
Great posting! I 100 % agree with you.
@alex i guess you are not fully right because this vid proves the point made http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwnKZ7NpKTc
I came to this site via Google and just wanted to take some time to thank you for writing about these excellent growing tips. I will be sure to bookmark this site. Thanks again!
If the problem isn’t a squirrel then…. possibly a dog might be the culprit. I have have seen a dog eating the leaves of young (2 month old) zucchini plants & then come back for a second serving & so on.
I have the same thing every year. I think it’s a squirrel or opossum or coon. I am thinking of setting up some surveillance to find the culprit but until i am going to go with the aluminum foil, becuase I have had no luck with the pepper mixture, although nothing ever bothers my pepper plants. I’ll be back. Oh yeah, last year it was zuchinis this year same thing with pumpkins.
Tomatoes are always present as garden vegetables because they are easy to grow.:.-
Could it be snails?
Ok I live in a 3rd Floor apartment in NC and I started a patio garden in pots. My zucchini was planted a week before the rest of my veggies. I am trying to grow, green beans, tomato, zucchini, squash, broccoli and peppers. I started my zucchini in the house and it sprouted up to about 5 inches and I repotted the plant and put it outside on the patio. It did fine for a week. Until this morning when I noticed my newest sprout was missing the leave and my bean pot looked like something had been digging in it. I was shocked and nearly cried. I did not know what to do and how something BUT a squirel could get that high to eat my garden. Should I bring them back inside for a few weeks to keep them safe and then cover them once they are back on the patio? Will squirrels eat bean sprouts/plants?
I have the same problem with squash and zucchini plants here in
eastern Virginia.
Nothing is bothering my cucumbers,peppers and tomatoes.
I just put chickenwire all around my garden, dug it
partially into the ground. If it continues to happen
it could be a squirrel or some type of insect/pest.
Pretty frustrating. This is my first garden in a few years.
When I used to garden years ago the zucchini and squash plants
were always the easiest to grow.
After reading this entire thread, I’ve seen quite a few of you are sharing the same problem. I have been a culterist for many years and people often assume their veggie blossoms are being eaten while in fact its just just the natural process of pollination. Male flowers always come first, then fall off to the ground and appear as if something ’snipped’ them right off of the stems. The male flowers do not have young fruits inside of them, so when they fall off, the stem is straight and not jagged so one would easily assume that it had been cut, bitten or snipped off! This is a common concern among beginner gardeners so fret not! After the first (male) flowers fall off, the female buds will sprout and the new fruit will be within it.I have never heard in all my years of gardening to use aluminum as a mulch for it contains both lead and mercury and is known to be harmful if ingested. The metals found in aluminum are extremely absorbable in water, then from your water which you use, and into the roots of the plant! Lead and mercury are also activated by heat and moisture, so imaging what sitting in the sun atop the soil your plants are being raised in is doing! Yikes! I hope you find this information useful. Happy gardening!
I stopped using tin (alluminum) foil years ago after my doctor had told me my lead poisoning had most likely been caused by water that had sat in an untreated alluminum tower for too long. After that I didn’t even like the idea of wrapping my leftover food in foil because it gave me the heeby-jeebies! I found some organic materials that gave been quite effective in keeping unwanted visitors out of my garden:
1. Placing a dead fish at the bottom of the hole when planting. Yes, sounds disgusting but works as both a great pest repellent also fertilizer!
2. Bobcat urine - you can find it at your local hardware or garden supply store…if not that you can ask what’s available to substitute. Spray it around the base of the plant and even the whole garden if you will.
3. If ground rodents are a problem, save your hair trimmings and sprinkling them into their holes and around your garden soil will mess with their scent and they’ll scratch themselves to death. Some people won’t like me for this!
4. Hang cds from the tallest vines, branches and anywhere else that you can find. The reflection frightens animals and I’ve found this to be very effective…especially with my fruit trees!
:::Giggle::: At least I know who is eating the flowers off my zucchini plants… 2 of my five Yorkies developed a taste for it! Since they are spoiled rotten I let them have it and hope they are healthy for them… oh… and we have to many plants anyway and feed half the neighborhood with zucchini squash…
My Zucchini flowers (or courgette as us English call them lol) are being attacked by something. The are being snapped clean off and are not falling off due to it’s gender as many gardeners keep telling us is natural. They are completely disappearing, being eaten 100% by something. This is my 4th year of grouwing courgettes and the first time I have encountered the problem. If anyone has any suggestions it would be greatly appreciated.
Hi, I’ve had the same problem the last two years. Little old ground hog comes and eats my veges at night. I took some lightweight netting from the hardware store and basically “wrapped” my garden with it, staking it every 4 feet or so, all the way around. I used small u-shaped stakes to get it down about an inch or two below the soil line. It’s a pain to get in and out of the garden to harvest, but it really did the trick! Good luck.
Mothballs are no longer being used in the States because they are a poison, definately would not use in the garden. They start out as a solid and vaporize into a gas, disolving away.
In people, oral exposure to naphthalene can cause gas-
trointestinal signs, including vomiting, nausea, abdominal
pain, and diarrhea. Hemolytic anemia and cataract formation
have also been reported.1An association exists between
glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and the
hematologic effects of naphthalene. Inhaling naphthalene can
also cause hemolysis and gastrointestinal effects in people.
In people, paradichlorobenzene ingestion can cause nausea.
REFERENCES
1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Agency
for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Toxicological Pro-
file for Naphthalene, 1-Methylnaphthalene, and 2-Methyl-
naphthalene. Research Triangle Institute, 1995.
and vomiting. Paradichlorobenzene vapors are irri-
tating to the nose and eyes, and central nervous system.
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