Proper timing for squash blossoms?

last year

I planted a few summer squashes from seedlings on 6/15. The seedlings were not stressed before or after the transplant, the best I could tell. These are very tiny plants but by next day I am seeing buds.

I cant remember if buds appear this early on these plants or this is a sign of stress?

If you expand the picture with your fingers you might see better.

Is this the normal course of things?

These are ok? or are they putting on buds to soon?

Thanks!

Comments (5)

CA Kate z9
last year
Those appear to be males and usually are first to show up on a squash or pumpkin. They are OK.
katyajini thanked CA Kate z9
katyajini
Original Author
last year
Hi Kate! Thank you!
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daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
last year
last modified: last year
The reason squash usually put out male flowers first is because (1) energetically, they're cheaper to produce than female flowers and (2) because they attract pollinators. That is, once the plant takes the extra trouble to make female flowers, it really wants the pollinators to be cued in and ready to work.

That being said, budding may be happening prematurely because of stress, and maybe because of simple confusion. You won't hurt anything by snipping some off. You'd rather have the immature plant making foliage than flowers.
katyajini thanked daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
Laura at Rather Square
last year
Also, I could be wrong but I think I see an SVB egg on the last photo on one of the stems.
katyajini thanked Laura at Rather Square
katyajini
Original Author
last year
@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.

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Proper timing for squash blossoms?

Comments (5)

CA Kate z9

katyajini
Original Author

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daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)

Laura at Rather Square

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Proper timing for squash blossoms?

Comments (5)

CA Kate z9

katyajiniOriginal Author

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daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)

Laura at Rather Square

katyajiniOriginal Author

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katyajini
Original Author

katyajini
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