Summer squash does not produce female blooms. I love summer squash, and have a small garden in backyard. I have also tried growing pumpkins, watermelon, and cantaloupe - having the same problem. Hope you can help. Saddened by this problem every year. Thanks.
Generally, they will produce mostly male (non-fruiting) blossoms early in the season, which die off, and will gradually start to produce more female blossoms as the season progresses. Give it some time and you will see it start fruiting.
Thank you all for a wonderful site & for the time spent answering & making it all work. I have yellow summer squash that are shriveling up just before maturing (around 6"-8" long). Soil is damp - not soaked, bug free for the most art, ends are not rotting as I've seen w/BER, not sure about pollination. Any ideas of what I'm overlooking or missing? Thanks
This is generally a pollination problem. Short of importing a beehive to your garden, you might want to try pollinating yourself: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/pollinate-squash-by-hand.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/beneficial/insect-pollination-process.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/beneficial/creating-a-pollinator-garden.htm
Our summer squash is not producing! Our zucchini is doing fine. Why is this and can it be rectified this late in the season?
You'll need to do some detective work to learn more about possible reasons for this: do the flowers not grow at all, do they fall off without turning into baby squash, do the little squash fall off before they grow, do the squash have soft spots or bumps or any other kind of mark before they fall off. All of these things are caused by different reasons. Also, discussions that
Here are a couple of articles that might be helpful: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/squash-fruit-falling-off-the-plant.htm
http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/vegetables/crops/
Something is cutting off the flowers and eating baby squash. The flowers are definitely being cut off. What could this be? Thanks.
Nothing is cutting off or eating your blooms or baby squash. This is 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. Here is more information: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/squash-blossoms-falling-off-vine.htm
I planted transplants in my raised bed garden last May. Didn't realize this was crazy late here in AZ. I have summer squash, eggplant, okra, cucumber, cantaloupe, bell pepper, hot pepper and basil. I've also snuck in one mint plant in a buried clay pot. Everything looks great but no veggies yet. Dealing with the blossoms dropping due to the heat. I have struggled getting consistent watering down but a soaker hose has saved me from drought. However, for awhile plants wilted daily even though they were watered twice daily. I'm wondering if even though plants have a lot of new growth and look great if they might still be great producers this fall? What can I do to baby them? They are shaded throughout the day.
Usually if your losing fruit prematurely off the vine it is related to poor pollination. Blossom end rot is possible also. Do you see browning or issues with the ends of the vegetables? You may want to water late am if possible.
Seeing bees is a good sign, but they may not be getting the job done. I would try hand pollinating your plants and see if your result change.
Here are some links to help.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/zucchini/zucchini-fruit-fall-off-the-plant-before-they-are-full-grown.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/pollinate-squash-by-hand.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/pollinate-squash-by-hand.htm
My summer and zucchini squash started out great. Now the young squash are turning black and rotting before reaching maturity. The have had plenty of water and get ample sun.
Here are some articles that will help you that address rot in squash:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/squash-pumpkin-rot-disease.htm
Happy gardening!
I have a white film on the leaves and stems of my summer squash plants. I thought I might be watering too much or maybe too often. Can you help?
The white film is most likely powdery mildew. Here is an article that addresses how to deal with powdery mildew on squash:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/powdery-mildew-in-squash.htm
Happy gardening!