logo

Newtown, CT

A LIGHT WORD FROM THE VICTORY GARDEN: Sex and the Single Squash and how to cook it!

Sex and the Single Squash
 
There are the birds and the bees, and then there is zucchini. The teachable moment typically arises when someone complains about his/her zucchini plants not yielding much fruit despite the appearance of numerous flowers on those plants. What that person does not realize is that the majority of blossoms are male flowers, and as such do not produce fruit . Male and female flowers can be distinguished by examining their sex organs - pistils and stamens.  Female flowers can be recognized by the miniature squash fruit just below the flower. Male blossoms lack this structure. This is true for all squash, gourds, pumpkins, melons, and cucumbers.
 
It is not unusual for summer squash to produce far more male than female blossoms. The ratio is about four male to one female blossom. Furthermore, male flowers are much more common than female flowers early in the season, with a ratio of males to females as high as 15 to 1.
 
Add to this the fact that each male and female squash flower is open for 1 day only, and if pollination of the female flower does not occur (for example, if the weather is rainy for a long stretch and the bees aren't around), no fruit will develop. So, until the opening of male and female flowers is in sync, there'll be no hanky-panky in the squash patch and no wee little squash fruit.
 
Harvey Pessin
 
 
 

PAN-FRIED  ZUCCHINI  FLOWERS

From Lynne Rossetto Kasper’s Splendid Table at 

http://www.publicradio.org/columns/splendid-table/recipes/vegetable_flowers.html

Serves 4 to 6

Eat these like candy; they are that good. Fry up a batch, enjoy them fresh, then do more. You want male flowers which have stems. Females are attached to the squash. Harvest flowers once they have just opened and use them as soon as possible. Ask for flowers at farmers' markets and in specialty food shops. Do be sure the blossoms are from zucchini as other squash flowers often have strong, unpleasant flavors.

If you wash the flowers, do it very gently and dry them suspended upside down. Both the coatings below are excellent. The first is fly-away crisp and a more batter-like finish. The second is my grandmother's and is barely noticed on the flowers. Use a cold-pressed vegetable oil (peanut or grape seed oil are best), if possible. If the flowers are organic, life is truly good.

Ingredients

24 male zucchini flowers (with stems)

about 4 cups cold-pressed peanut or grape seed oil

2 large eggs, beaten

2 cups flour seasoned with salt and pepper

salt

Instructions

Gently remove the pistel from each flower. Cut stems to about 1 inch. Make sure blossoms are dry.

Heat 1 inch of oil in a 12-inch saute pan over medium high until oil is hot but not smoking. It should be about 365 degrees on a candy thermometer. Have eggs and flour in 2 shallow soup dishes.

Dip several blossoms in the egg, let most of it drain away, then roll in flour, shaking off excess. Fry a few minutes until crisp and golden brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels, season with salt and serve

N
Submitted by Newtown, CT

Become a Local Voice in Your Community!

HamletHub invites you to contribute stories, events, and more to keep your neighbors informed and connected.

Read Next