Courgette pollination

[MissPoldark]

Hi all, I have a courgette plant in the garden but it only has female flowers on it so far.
do I just keep my fingers crossed that it will get pollinated by chance, or should I try and hunt out a male flower somewhere??

I think I can see a tiny male flower coming through , but don’t know whether the big female flower will have died by the time it’s ready?

lessen learned for next year- I will plant two!

yes, this is the main reason for having two or even three plants.The courgette itself wants cross pollination, so tends not to produce male and female flowers at the same time.

You could also try parthenogenetic plants. Then you don’t have to worry about male flowers.

Thanks, they just take up so much room, I’ll have to see where I can fit another one in!

Are you sure they are female flowers?

Female flowers usually have a courgette growing behind them. I pick them before the flower drops, usually.

Yes that’s how I identified them as female- they have a tiny courgette at the base.

I usually get loads of male flowers first and despair of getting any courgettes. Do you know anyone with plants that can give you a spare flower?

If all fails, courgette flowers are a delicacy, deep fried in a tempura batter or raw in a salad

Ooh yes I’ve had them before but I’ve never seen them on restaurant menus in the U.K. (I don’t do deep frying at home!)
unfortunately it’s not an option anyway as a bloody great slug has eaten the biggest flower!