Q Why do courgettes and squash sometimes fail to produce fruit?

A Courgettes, squash and their relatives are all thirsty plants and if they are to perform well they need a fair amount of feeding, too. During dry conditions the plant conserves energy by changing the proportion of male to female flowers. If the soil is too dry they produce more male flowers and, as a result, the crop levels can be dramatically reduced.

Caption: Good watering will encourage courgettes to produce fruit

Q What can I do to encourage my courgettes and squash to fruit?

A Good soil improvement before planting, plenty of water, and the use of a deep mulch to conserve soil moisture during the growing season will all help to reduce the problem.