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- Q.Female Squash Blossom - My zucchini female blossoms will not open. I check them at all hours of morning. The male blossoms open just ...
- Q.Healthy Squash Plants But No Flowers Or Vegetables - What should I do? I have healthy plants and no flowers on plants. Will I get any vegetables?
- Q.Harvesting Squash - How do you know when squash are ready to be harvested? The leaves on the vines of our buttercup squash ...
- Q.Squash Blossom End Rot - I tested the pH. It is between 7. 0 and 7. 5.
- Q.Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Cucumbers - My plants were all doing well and then we had a long weekend away, so they didn't get much water. ...
- Q.Do The Flower Buds Need Shade Or Sun To Bloom On A Squash Plant - The flower buds on my squash plants are shaded by the leaves, and I thought I should prune the leaves ...
- Q.Cucumber Squash - Your article says it's a wives' tale to cross pollinate a cucumber with a squash. Today I went to Salem, ...
Asked by
Anonymous on
August 7, 2011Q.Female Squash Blossom
My zucchini female blossoms will not open. I check them at all hours of morning. The male blossoms open just fine. I have tried coffee grounds and eggshells (tea). I have also put the grounds and eggshells around plants. This makes the male blossoms bloom even more, but the squash get about 4 inches long. The blossoms won't open and the fruit shrivels and rots. They are planted in a waist high planter that is screened to keep out insects. What may be causing this? No insecticdes are used.
Answered by
Nikki on
August 8, 2011
Certified ExpertA.The humidity may be the cause of this. You can gently tear the female blossoms open (when they look to be a size they should open) and hand pollinate them. This article will help with hand pollinating them:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/pollinate-squash-by-hand.htmWas this answer useful?00
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- Asked by
Anonymous on
August 8, 2011Q.Healthy Squash Plants but No Flowers or Vegetables
What should I do? I have healthy plants and no flowers on plants. Will I get any vegetables?
- Answered by
Nikki on
August 9, 2011
Certified ExpertA.You may have too much nitrogen in the soil. Add some bone meal to the soil. This will add phosphorus, which will balance out the nitrogen.
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
August 19, 2011Q.Harvesting Squash
How do you know when squash are ready to be harvested? The leaves on the vines of our buttercup squash are starting to wilt. Should we cut the squash off yet?
- Answered by
Nikki on
August 19, 2011
Certified ExpertA.Here is an article about harvesting squash: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/when-to-harvest-squash-best-time-to-pick-winter-or-summer-squash.htm
You may have a vine borer on the buttercup squash: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/squash-pests-identifying-and-preventing-squash-vine-borer.htm
If you think this may be the case, you can leave the fruit on until they are ripe or right before the vine dies. The vine borer will not hurt the fruit and they will ripen better on the vine than off. But just in case you must harvest before they are fully ripe, this article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/ripening-green-unripe-squash.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
August 21, 2011Q.Squash Blossom End Rot
I tested the pH. It is between 7. 0 and 7. 5.
- Answered by
Nikki on
August 21, 2011
Certified ExpertA.The pH level should be between 6.0 and 6.5.
The following articles should be of some help to you: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/squash-blossom-end-rot-causes-and-treatment.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/lower-acid-soil.htmWas this answer useful?00 - Asked by
pattisaugstad on
August 25, 2011Q.Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Cucumbers
My plants were all doing well and then we had a long weekend away, so they didn't get much water. Now the leaves are turning yellow and the plants are all laying down. I am watering every day. I am new to gardening, so I am at a loss. Any help would be great. Thanks.
- Answered by
Heather on
August 26, 2011
Certified ExpertA.It may be they need water, but all of these plants are also susceptible to vine borers. This pest makes a plant look as though it needs water, but is actually killing it. This article has more information:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/squash-pests-identifying-and-preventing-squash-vine-borer.htmIf it truly is just a watering issue, water them with a little sugar water. This can perk plants back up that may have been stressed some.
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
ardynne on
August 27, 2011Q.Do the Flower Buds Need Shade or Sun to Bloom on a Squash Plant
The flower buds on my squash plants are shaded by the leaves, and I thought I should prune the leaves for the buds to get sun, but wonder if they are shaded for a reason. Also, when I prune the leaves, do I leave the stem on or cut to the body of the plant? Thank you. Ardynne
- Answered by
Nikki on
August 28, 2011
Certified ExpertA.This article should help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/should-you-remove-squash-leaves.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
August 31, 2011Q.Cucumber Squash
Your article says it's a wives' tale to cross pollinate a cucumber with a squash. Today I went to Salem, New York where one of my customers gave me a foot and a half long cucumber mixed with a squash. I and many others have never seen it before. It's light green and ribbed but slightly weird looking, like a cactus, but it has one side slightly whitish. Maybe you can give me some imput.
- Answered by
Nikki on
September 1, 2011
Certified ExpertA.That sounds like a bitter melon. Here are some images: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mississippi_snopes/2081636298/
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