Growing Single Acorn Squash

Question

You’re going to think I’m nuts! I bought an acorn squash with every intention of eating it. It soon turned into one of my ‘house pets’ and I couldn’t eat it. It lasted (without rotting) for 7 months on my table with my other plants. Finally, it began to rot and I ‘buried’ it in the garden. It is now growing and has flowering buds on it (I live in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada). I am wondering if pollination will occur naturally (it is now early September) or will I need to aid in pollination? How do I know male flowers from female (that could be an obvious answer. . . )? I am quite delighted that ‘Sid’ is alive and well (everyone at the hospital where I work thinks I’m nuts for having a funeral for a squash). Any advice you could give would be helpful.

Answer 1

There is a chance that it might make it to fruit. Female flowers are the ones that have the little tiny fruit under the blossom. Males will just be the blossom on the stem. It should still be able to be pollinated by pollinators, but just in case you want to give it an edge, here are some directions on pollinating squash: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/pollinate-squash-by-hand.htm

Good luck!