# Zucchini growing to 20cm then stops growing **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 5, 2013, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zucchini-growing-to-20cm-then-stops-growing/646134 "2013-01-05T03:58:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zucchini-growing-to-20cm-then-stops-growing/646134/1 "2013-01-05T03:58:59Z")
As per title. They are producing fruit just fine but they grow to 20cm and stop growing - we want enourmous marrow not delicate little nubbins ---
**Author:** ![ExcitedIdiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ea5d25/32.png) [@ExcitedIdiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExcitedIdiot)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zucchini-growing-to-20cm-then-stops-growing/646134/2 "2013-01-05T20:15:03Z")
It could be a pollination problem, zucchini will stop growing early and fall off if the flower is not pollinated. Do your “nubbins” have seeds? ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zucchini-growing-to-20cm-then-stops-growing/646134/3 "2013-01-05T20:19:56Z")
I’m no zucchini expert, but did you fertilize/enrich the soil before this planting season? If there are fewer flowers than you expect, this would also indicate the plant is low on nutrition. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zucchini-growing-to-20cm-then-stops-growing/646134/4 "2013-01-05T20:22:46Z")
Yes - most likely pollination failure. You can hand-pollinate by picking off a male flower (one of the flowers without a little fruit behind it, pulling off the petals to expose the pollen-bearing stamens, then thrust this gently into the female flowers and rub it against the stigma inside. Also, make sure the plants get plenty of water. Cucurbits are thirsty plants. ---
**Author:** ![ExcitedIdiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ea5d25/32.png) [@ExcitedIdiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExcitedIdiot)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zucchini-growing-to-20cm-then-stops-growing/646134/5 "2013-01-05T20:38:35Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > You can hand-pollinate by picking off a male flower (one of the flowers without a little fruit behind it, pulling off the petals to expose the pollen-bearing stamens, then thrust this gently into the female flowers and rub it against the stigma inside. Is it strange that I’m aroused right now? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zucchini-growing-to-20cm-then-stops-growing/646134/6 "2013-01-05T20:49:43Z")
Do they make little teeny tiny zucchini cigarettes? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zucchini-growing-to-20cm-then-stops-growing/646134/7 "2013-01-05T21:17:50Z")
Sounds like what you really want is more girth. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zucchini-growing-to-20cm-then-stops-growing/646134/8 "2013-01-05T21:57:42Z")
> [@madrabbitwoman](#): > > As per title. They are producing fruit just fine but they grow to 20cm and stop growing - we want enourmous marrow not delicate little nubbins you do know that most people complain of the reverse problem - zucchini that quickly grow to enormous sizes, at which they taste like mush and can only be gotten rid of by sneaking them into the break room to leave for unwary cow-orkers? 20 cm (is that like, 8 inches in real measurement?) is plenty long for zucchini, or vegetable marrows, or whatever you foreign types call them. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zucchini-growing-to-20cm-then-stops-growing/646134/9 "2013-01-05T22:15:26Z")
damn dingos. ---
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2013, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zucchini-growing-to-20cm-then-stops-growing/646134/10 "2013-01-06T00:57:35Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > I’m no zucchini expert, but did you fertilize/enrich the soil before this planting season? If there are fewer flowers than you expect, this would also indicate the plant is low on nutrition. They are in a no dig garden with lots of cow poo. ---
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2013, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zucchini-growing-to-20cm-then-stops-growing/646134/11 "2013-01-06T00:59:22Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Yes - most likely pollination failure. You can hand-pollinate by picking off a male flower (one of the flowers without a little fruit behind it, pulling off the petals to expose the pollen-bearing stamens, then thrust this gently into the female flowers and rub it against the stigma inside. > > Also, make sure the plants get plenty of water. Cucurbits are thirsty plants. Hand pollinating has been going on. There are haps of flowers and lots of fruit is being formed but they are stunted. They are very well watered. ---
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2013, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zucchini-growing-to-20cm-then-stops-growing/646134/12 "2013-01-06T01:00:46Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Do they make little teeny tiny zucchini cigarettes? Took me a while…:D:D:D ---
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2013, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zucchini-growing-to-20cm-then-stops-growing/646134/13 "2013-01-06T01:03:19Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > you do know that most people complain of the reverse problem - zucchini that quickly grow to enormous sizes, at which they taste like mush and can only be gotten rid of by sneaking them into the break room to leave for unwary cow-orkers? > > 20 cm (is that like, 8 inches in real measurement?) is plenty long for zucchini, or vegetable marrows, or whatever you foreign types call them. We call them zucchinis here in the middle of bumfuck nowhere. I am going with the small is quite adequate for a zucchini - however the other party wanted enormous marrows. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2013, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zucchini-growing-to-20cm-then-stops-growing/646134/14 "2013-01-06T01:27:51Z")
> [@madrabbitwoman](#): > > Hand pollinating has been going on. There are haps of flowers and lots of fruit is being formed but they are stunted. > They are very well watered. It is easy to over-water them. Deep watering once a week works for me. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2013, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zucchini-growing-to-20cm-then-stops-growing/646134/15 "2013-01-06T06:05:10Z")
Different varieties produce different sizes. Is 20cm unusual for that specific variety? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2013, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zucchini-growing-to-20cm-then-stops-growing/646134/16 "2013-01-06T10:12:11Z")
> [@madrabbitwoman](#): > > Hand pollinating has been going on. There are haps of flowers and lots of fruit is being formed but they are stunted. > They are very well watered. Hmmm… Could be a bunch of other things then, including: \*\*Inadequate feeding \*\*- they prefer a well-drained, well-manured soil, - if you didn’t get enough compost into the soil before planting, you can feed with tomato fertiliser once they start flowering. **Poor conditions** - planting in partial shade or an exposed, windy location can stunt their development. **Bad start** - if you plant out too early and the young plants get a bit too cold, they often seem to struggle for the whole growing season. **Root disturbance** - cucurbits are particularly sensitive to this - if the wind causes them to rock in place, or if you damage the roots when planting out, they just never quite recover.