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Garden Gate:  squash question  |
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jclambert
True Blue Farmgirl
149 Posts
Judy
Stringtown
Oklahoma
USA
149 Posts |
 Posted - May 30 2010 : 06:15:02 AM
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I have beautiful yellow squash plants that are loaded with blooms and small squash. The problem is that some of the squash are dying when they are only about 1 1/2 inches long. Anybody know what causes this? Am I needing something added to my soil? HELP!
Judy
"Speak your mind and ride a fast horse" |
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Bear5
True Blue Farmgirl
13055 Posts
Louisiana/Texas
USA
13055 Posts |
Posted - May 30 2010 : 1:52:23 PM
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Judy:
Our squash seem to be doing the same thing. My hubby thinks the squash is not getting enough sun. I have no idea. Good luck with your garden.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - May 30 2010 : 4:33:06 PM
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I grow lots and lots of squash every year and I always loose some when they are still little, but the end result is always the same, way to many.lol.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - May 30 2010 : 4:44:50 PM
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Most plants will produce what they call "male flowers" which will produce tiny squash and then die. These are usually the first few of the season. Then the plants will produce good squash. However with squash, poor production often indicates the presence of the dreaded Squash bugs. Look around, especially on the underside of leaves, for bugs or tiny "dots" which are actually eggs. If you have squash bugs you need to do somehting QUICK or they will take over!
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.eggsandherbs.com
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jclambert
True Blue Farmgirl
149 Posts
Judy
Stringtown
Oklahoma
USA
149 Posts |
Posted - May 31 2010 : 07:25:54 AM
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Thanks for the info. I haven't seen any bugs yet. I think maybe the male flowers may be what I have. Some of them are growing and doing great.
Judy
"Speak your mind and ride a fast horse" |
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msdoolittle
True Blue Farmgirl
1152 Posts
Amanda
East Texas
USA
1152 Posts |
Posted - Jun 01 2010 : 05:14:41 AM
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Judy,
This happened to me last year...they would get about 2-3 inches long, then mold. I did notice that it was my 'straightneck' variety ONLY and not my crooknecks. I am not sure why but needless to say I won't be planting any more straightnecks! :0)
FarmGirl #1390
www.mylittlecountry.wordpress.com |
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knead2garden
True Blue Farmgirl
359 Posts
Ashley
Spring City
TN
USA
359 Posts |
Posted - Jun 02 2010 : 1:48:49 PM
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Is the foliage and stem ok? Is it just the blooms?
~Ashley
"In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we have been taught." -Baba Dioum |
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jclambert
True Blue Farmgirl
149 Posts
Judy
Stringtown
Oklahoma
USA
149 Posts |
Posted - Jun 03 2010 : 3:12:14 PM
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The plants look great. It's just the small squash. I've picked a couple that have gotten big enough to eat but am still finding some small ones that are dead and withered looking.
Judy
"Speak your mind and ride a fast horse" |
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TJinMT
True Blue Farmgirl
211 Posts
TJ
Billings
MT
USA
211 Posts |
Posted - Jun 04 2010 : 10:15:55 AM
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I did a little research on this as I had a similar problem off and on last year. From what I am finding out, it sounds like a pollination issue. Interestingly, a particular plant will tend to be either all-male or all-female flowers on any given day, as the plants are trying to keep from cross-pollinating themselves (for vigor). Here's a copy of a post:
"You can easily pollinate the female flowers by taking a freshly opened male flower, turning it inside out and running it around inside a freshly opened female flower. Do this in the early morning right after the blossoms open. You can also use a soft artist brush to move the pollen from the male flower onto the female flower." Early in the growing season, all squash vines produce male flowers first, and female flowers will come on a bit later, so it may be a case of just waiting it out, if you aren't finding enough female flowers. Definitely do remove the withered ones, and toss them into your compost pile! That will help the plants stay healthier...
Also, when do you water? If you're watering in early morning, you may be interrupting the pollination process. ?? Maybe?! You might try keeping the water flow/spray low and off the flowers, so no pollen is washed away. Do you have honeybees? Actually those ants are probably pollinating, as well! Maybe you could plant some "bee friendly" plants around, like bee balm? Cheap and grows quickly...
That's my Two Cents anyway! Hope it improves!!!
"You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me." -CS Lewis |
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jclambert
True Blue Farmgirl
149 Posts
Judy
Stringtown
Oklahoma
USA
149 Posts |
Posted - Jun 06 2010 : 06:39:02 AM
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TJ,
Thanks for the article. I water late in the day and we have tons of honey bees around. The plants do seem to be producing better now. I think I may have started to worry a little to soon. I'm not finding as many of the small dead squash now.
Judy
"Speak your mind and ride a fast horse" |
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Garden Gate: squash question |
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squash question
