The plants look healthy. Blossoms form, as does the zucchini. When about 3 inches in length, the zucchini turns brown. How can this be prevented?
This sounds like it could be either Botrytis blight or Bacterial wilt.
These links have more information.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/zucchini/solutions-for-common-problems-growing-zucchini.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/signs-and-treatments-of-squash-wilt.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/disease/treating-botrytis-blight.htm
For the life of me I cannot figure out or find an answer to what is wrong with this plant. Haven't been able to find anything to help me identify it so I can treat it. I'm including front and back photos of a leaf. My female blossoms are shriveling up before they even are recognizable as flowers. Any help appreciated. :( Cher
We did not receive any images.
This article may help to refresh you on the care requirements.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/zucchini/growing-zucchini.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/zucchini/controlling-zucchini-insects.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/zucchini/zucchini-squash-diseases.htm
I have a yellow zucchini plant and at least half of the squash are very orange in color and very hard in comparison to the yellow ones. They are also more triangular or conical in shape. Are these ones still ok to eat or should I just toss them.
Zucchini can be dark or light green. A related hybrid, the golden zucchini, is a deep yellow or orange color. Check the seeds that you planted.
I am getting very few flowers on my zucchini; therefore, no zucchini. What do I need to add to the soil, or what is wrong?
You can add some bone meal to the soil to help encourage additional flowering. Here is more information: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/bone-meal-fertilizer.htm
Also, if you are getting mostly male flowers right now, this is normal. Given a little time and patience the plant should eventually begin forming female blooms, which produce fruit.
WE HAVE TWO ZUCCHINI PLANTS IN OUR GARDEN. BOTH HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF MALE FLOWERS BUT NO FEMALE FLOWERS. WHAT CAN WE DO, OR ARE WE DOING WRONG??
This typical behavior for a squash plant. They will produce mostly male (non-fruiting) blossoms early in the season and will gradually start to produce more female blossoms as the season progresses. The male blossoms typically drop from the plant and seemingly disappear. Give it some time and you will see it start fruiting.
If you continue getting flowers (including females) but no fruit, the issue is pollination. You may need to hand pollinate to make up for it. This article will help with hand pollination: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/pollinate-squash-by-hand.htm
My yield this year was very low. The leaves looked as if they had powder on them, and then the stems started to rot.
Yes, it seems you had a bad fungal infection. This could be due to excessive water in the area. Fortunately I have a treatment that is safe, and Extremely effective. There are two parts to this method. Please don't skip the soil priming, as this will bring your pH back to normal, and kill off anything lurking in your soil. If you do not have all of the ingredients to the spray, then that is alright, but the more you have the better. My method is as follows:
First, you will want to prime the soil with dolomitic lime, then spread wettable sulfur to Kill off any infection in the soil. I Also like to spray the plant itself. Mix a few drops of one or more of these ingredients into warm water with a spoonful of coconut oil: Rosemary oil, lavender oil, neem oil, garlic oil, cinnamon extract/oil and for really bad cases, also add clove oil.
Here is an article for more information:https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/disease/get-the-cure-for-powdery-mildew.htm
I have to check out how are you supposed to pick ball zucchini
They can be picked when they've reached a diameter of about 3 inches and when they've developed a dark green color (if it is a green variety). They can also be picked after they've grown larger, but when they're very large they won't taste as good.