0
points
Squash not producing

Squash    Houston, Texas, USA

I have a beautiful squash plant that sets blooms but doesn't fruit. A have a bee hive nearby so wouldn't think pollination would be a problem. Any ideas??


Posted by: Kay Harnden (4 points) Kay Harnden
Posted: May 25, 2014


Kay Harnden commented,
So, while looking for female flowers I discovered several baby squashes. Also discovered some immature stink bugs that I'll have to introduce my chickens to!
almost 10 years ago.

Lindsay McMenemy commented,
great!!!
almost 10 years ago.



Answers

2
points
Perhaps you could try hand pollinating some of the blossoms to see if they then produce fruit. That would at least rule out a pollination issue. Are you seeing both male and female blossoms? Female flowers possess a swollen ovary at their base which will eventually produce the fruit, male flowers do not. If you simply wish to give the flowers a helping hand then you can use the paintbrush technique to transfer pollen from a male flower to a female or you can pick a male flower and remove its petals to expose the pollen-containing anthers before rubbing the pollen onto the stigma of the female flower.


Posted by: Lindsay McMenemy (4 points) Lindsay McMenemy
Posted: May 25, 2014




1
point
I agree that the likely culprit is no pollination. I've found that if I just have 1 squash plant, the chances if having a male & female flower open at the same time (necessary for pollination) is low. The hand-pollination method is a good suggestion, even if it requires picking a male flower one day & keeping it (maybe in a plastic bag in a refrigerator) for a day or two until a female flower opens. Can also be helpful to tape the male flower closed in the interim so pollen doesn't fall out, and pollination is more likely if >1 male flower pollinates a female.

Good luck!


Posted by: Ruth Nissly (6 points) Ruth Nissly
Posted: April 30, 2015




0
points
The male flowers are usually present before the female flowers. Keep an eye out for the female flowers with the little miniature squash at the base. Hopefully you get some squash before the humidity does in the plants. :)


Posted by: hammock farm (1 point) hammock farm
Posted: May 25, 2014


Roger Gray commented,
Honey bees are not necessarily the best squash pollinators ... Big black bumble bees do most of the squash work in So Cal , and if there's not enough open area there might not be enough of theses prime pollinators.

Also, male flowers often dry and drop ....

almost 10 years ago.

Kay Harnden commented,
Thanks! I actually found baby squash when I was inspecting the plant for female flowers.
almost 10 years ago.



0
points
Get your soil tested. You may be lacking phosphorous and potassium which are needed for fruit development. Also, once flowering begins don't add any more nitrogen fertilizer. Nitrogen encourages leaf growth over fruit production.


Posted by: Karen Cox (2 points) Karen Cox
Posted: May 27, 2014




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