Squash have male & female blossoms. The ones with the baby squash below the flower are female, the ones on straight stems are male. If the female blossoms aren't pollinated, the baby squash doesn't grow, it falls off. You can hand-pollinate them if you want to, just pluck off one of those males, take off the petals, and swipe it around the center of the female blossom. I'm growing pattypan for the first time this year. Mine finally have some squashes starting but aren't ready yet. I think the garden has been slower this year than last year. Your plants could have powdery mildew, you may want to look that up. I would guess that if you look closely at your broccoli, you may find some green caterpillers hiding there. Be sure to check your broccoli as well before you eat it as they blend in very very well. Here is a link that might be useful: Tales of a Transplanted Gardener

Welcome Twylag; I think Butternut might grow up there, they seem to like our long days. Mine are done producing well before the first frost and I direct sow the seeds. You need a lot of room for the vines I let mine grow over the back yard and just mow around them. They get like 30 foot/10 meters long. Winter squash are better if harvested after the first frost. The frost will do in the plant. Try to store the ones with no green streaks on the neck They will keep the best. I like mine so many ways. add to a vegetable soup medley,peel a young green one cut into strips and dunk into sugar like a strawberry, it will taste like fruit. I like to bake in a 400 degree oven for one hour. I use a large covered pot with a cup of water. the squash is cut into wheels and placed around in layers for steaming. When done, butter and a sprinkle of brown sugar is all it needs. I had this for supper last night and as always I was surprised as to just how good it taste . BTW a cup is only about 88 calories. You might want to look up roasted seeds. I made a batch last night while the squash was baking. OK I will tell you how I make them? Scrape out the seeds lightly so most of the string is left behind .place the seeds in a pan of water with 2 cups of water with salt. I like 1/2 tsp. on stove bring water to boil and with a fork stir the seeds to break remaining strings. Fish out seeds and spread out on cookie sheet. bake at 350 F for 7 minutes. Eat as is or spray with oil and spice of your choice. Curt

I've grown Cornell's Bush Delicata, Cousa zucchini, yellow pattypan squash and they all grow multiple "vines" just shorter internodes between leaves than a full size vine. That's the way they keep flowering and fruiting by new growth. I suppose you could always prune it to one growth tip though. My brother once trained a zucchini to grow vertically up a sturdy stake. I say go for it.

I have always thought that gourds had white flowers that opened at night? The summer squash I have grown are usually a bush type. This thing has crazy tendrils, is very bushy and wants to go straight up. I've been whacking it back out of the walkway from the back porch lol. It has been trying to choke out my potted roses and I have been ripping the tendrils off of it. It has been doing so well so I havent pulled it out. I will probably have to move the roses soon. Then I'm sure it will find its way to the gazebo behind it. I know there are some climbers like Rampicante zucchini but its long, snake-like and light green. There's zucchini Tromboncino that climbs but it is long light green and crooknecked. I did grow Seminole Pumpkins last year but this does not look like them. I didn't grow any summer squash last year because I was too late getting it started and bugs got it. A few yrs ago I grew lots of Bird House gourds and also a Snake gourd. Our chickens and pigs have planted some seeds here and there lol. I cant think of anything I have fed them that looked like this. I didnt buy any decorative squash or pumpkins last Halloween either. I usually do but I didnt last year. I havent tried it yet. Tonight we are eating ribs & potato salad. I will have to think of something to do with the mystery squash tomorrow lol. Hmmmm...