Squash blossoms dying......
merryheart
16 years ago
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merryheart
16 years agoRelated Discussions
Summer Squash (yellow zucchini) female flowers browning and dying
Comments (8)Hi Gardenerenthusiast, I am glad you asked this question because the same thing has been happening to me, on both my zucchinis and my spaghetti squashes. Along with rotting blossoms that don't open, I've been getting female blossoms where the squash has shrivelled up before the flower even opens. My plants are otherwise healthy, though I have just started to see some yellowing on the leaves. Unfortunately I have no idea what is causing this, though I've narrowed it down to blossom end rot (which would mean a lack of calcium in the soil) or under watering (it's been very dry here and I've been watering shallowly and regularly, instead of deeply), or some kind of virus/fungus etc. I can't see any trace of pests on my plants, save for a few black aphids, and there are no signs of squash vine borers. One of the strange things is that it suddenly affected my zucchini, spaghetti squashes, and now my delicata squashes all around the same time, even though they are in different garden beds. This makes me think it is either the weather or a virus. My current theory is that I haven't watered them deeply enough, and also that they might need more plant food since they are quite close together and fruiting heavily. Sorry I don't have an answer for you, but I would be curious to know if any of that sounds familiar to you. Good luck!...See MoreBest eating squash blossoms?
Comments (6)Done worry, vgkg, the critters will find their way inside squash blossoms even before they open! ;-) My favorite way to eat squash blossoms, especially the smaller ones, is raw! Cut a slit down the flower, rinse it out gently and dry, and stuff with a very soft cheese, salsa, favorite tapenade, or other. They are absolutely wonderful....we don't even like them fried anymore. Use them raw in a salad, too....See MoreStrange squash behavior - more female blossoms than male
Comments (6)beesneeds, I thought of prying open one of the most mature male flowers but I'm concerned that if I do that, I'll use up the one male flower that would be ready to open at the same time as a future female flower(s). I even went to a community garden close to where I live to see if anyone is growing winter squash and borrow a little pollen from a male bloom but there's only one person growing squash. It was just planted two weeks ago so it's not close to having blooms. I don't grow from seed. I buy seedlings at a local agricultural store and transplant into the Earthbox. I've never grown delicata but they had a bush variety which is perfect for a container. I have two delicata going and I counted 20 male flowers, 5 of which have already opened. I can't see any females forming at all. So strange....See MoreProper timing for squash blossoms?
Comments (5)@Laura at Rather Square: OMG! how extraordinary you are!!!! As soon as I saw your post I ran out to take a look, I remembered which plant it was. Sure enough, there was the egg, right there. Thank God they take a few days to hatch. I found another one too. I had looked at that plant before and had not noticed it. I typically was looking at the main stem near the ground. But I will look at the stems and leaves as well from now on. That feels like a daunting task....And while I was there I saw a SVB trying to lay eggs. Those things are fast. I could not swat it. Well I am hoping it gets caught on a sticky trap or goes to my Hubbard squash traps. The main stem does not feel hollow on these young plants. Does it become hollow as the plant matures? Or I just cant tell? Can the larvae destroy an young plant whose stem is not yet hollow? Thank you so much Laura! I might be able to find the eggs better now....See MoreOkiedawn OK Zone 7
16 years agoApache RP
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoOkiedawn OK Zone 7
8 years agoApache RP
8 years agoOkiedawn OK Zone 7
8 years agoApache RP
8 years agolast modified: 8 years ago
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Okiedawn OK Zone 7