Lack of male flowers courgettes not pollinating

[alrklein]

Thought I had plenty of insects in my garden but so far only had 1 courgette thought about hand pollinating but havent seen a male flower for a couple of weeks. Any useful thoughts? thanks

Might try self pollinating next year

Plant is "All Green Bush"

[muddled]

I've only had one summer squash so far and I have lots of male and female flowers and lots of bees too, I think things might just be getting off to a slow start this year because of the horribly cold spring.

Having said that, if/when you do get a male flower, I think you can use it to pollinate more than one female one and I also think that you can use a male flower from any of the curcubit family.
Of course, someone cleverer than me might come in and tell us that's not right. I am by no means certain; but I do remember using pumpkin flowers in 2012 (when everything went horrbly wrong) and I got a courgette mountain in the end!

[muddled]

Oh! just seen its your first post!
Hello and welcome to the vine

[alrklein]

Thank you for your reply - I am just taking an interest in gardening again as I approach retirement. I learnt a lot as a kid at my grandfathers knee, but I have a lot to learn still

[Bren In Pots]

First I'll say hello and welcome to the vine alrklein

Every year I have the same thing happen to my courgettes it just takes time for both male and female flowers to produce in sync but once it happens you'll have enough courgettes to eat every day.

[Alexandriaweb]

I'm having the exact opposite, quintillions of male flowers but only one female so far and she's not quite open yet.

[Jay-ell]

I also think that you can use a male flower from any of the curcubit family.

Courgettes are Cucurbita pepo so any other pepo can be used to pollinate. I think this includes most summer squash (but not Trombone which is moschata) and most but not all, of the pumpkins
(some belong to moschata or maxima). Other courgettes and marrows are also pepo of course