Courgettes and summer squash...why?

[Newbiegrower1970]

Have I picked dozens from some plants, 1 or 2 from others but some are massive, bushy plants, with loads of leaves and flowers but not one single fruit?

[Penellype]

Quite a few people seem to be having problems with courgettes and squash plants this year - mine are producing small fruit, which don't seem to get any bigger if left on the plant. On my green bush plants a fruit that is 3 inches long with the flower starting to die back would be expected to be a foot long after another 3-4 days, but they are not really growing at all. I think the only explanation must be that the weather has not been ideal. These plants have big leaves and like plenty of moisture, and it has been (until recently) hot, dry and windy at times, perfect conditions for evaporation. The bigger the leaf the faster this will happen.

Maybe now it is cooler and wetter the courgettes will start to grow. Plants that are stressed tend to produce all male flowers and this may be why some of yours are producing flowers but no fruit. Maybe the ones that are producing are getting more water.

[Jimmy]

I always start mine in pots in the GH.
Then move out to a covered frame, 3 plants.
When they get too big for the frame covers I remove these but leave the frame body to provide shelter.
Eventually I lift the frame body to leave the plants standing free.

I find courgettes seem to burn out and thus I always have a successional planting scheme.
Jimmy

[Forage420]

Try to shelter the developing buds from direct sunlight by manipulating the foliage.

Edited due to family forum.

[sparrow100]

I find some varieties are better than others. Both Genovese and Atena F1 are producing a regular stream of courgettes, while the stripey one is sulking.