Why Aren't My Squash Blossoms Producing Fruit? 5 Reasons your male squash flowers are falling off!
Why are my squash flowers falling off, producing no fruit?
5 reasons why your male squash blossoms aren't turning into fruit and 5 things you can do to answer the question "why no female squash blossoms?"
#1 Short Code Action you can take right now to hack results is to feed with this specific organic squash blooming feed:
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Why are my squash blossoms dropping off? Why aren't my squash flowers fruiting? If you have squash blossoms no squash or squash blossom end rot, you're in the right place!
5 Reasons Why Your
1. Maturity of plants: squash produce test flowers to start attracting pollinators: "Coming Attraction! Really Big Show! Come back later for more!"
2. Sun stress: Afternoon intensity can cause temporarily drooping leaves, squash flower blossoms close.
3. Temperature stress: the heat of Summer into Fall can cause plant stress. Why aren't my squash flowers opening? It could very well be the heat!
4. Water stress: lack of water and irregular water cause plant stress!
5. Nutrients: poor soil yields poor results, low nutrients makes more male squash flower blossoms because they are easier for the plant to produce.
Anatomy botany flower parts lesson: the stem of male and female is called a peduncle or pedicle/pedicel.
Male squash flowers vs female:
Male squash flowers have anthers and stamens.
Female squash blossoms have pistils and stigmas inside the petals, between the squash flower blossom and the stem ("pedicle") is the ovary or "ovule" that becomes the vine's fruit!
Squash blossom flowers enlarge the ovaries to become fruits in anticipation of attracting pollinators. If the female flowers don't receive male flower pollens they don't develop into fruits, they abort mission, the flower dies and the end rots, called "squash blossom end rot".
In the curcurbit/curcurbitaceae family there are thousands of varieties of cucumbers, melons, squash, pumpkins, zucchini and more! Luffa/Loofah sponges, birdsnest/birdhouse gourds, and many unique heirloom squash!
What can you do about squash flowers dropping off? Squash blossom end rot?
5 Hot Garden Tips for growing squash flowers that produce fruit:
Here are five Garden tips to get your squash blossoms fruiting abundantly:
1. Pluck male blossoms and stuff with goat cheese! Recipe on how to cook squash flower: Fry in oiled skillet or roast 5 minutes in 400 degree preheated oven. Trim browning leaves to encourage squash plants to focus energy toward female squash blossoms.
2. Feed the soil with Compost for soil health,
mulch for water retention, organic fertilizer:
Dr. Earth Flower Girl Bloom & Bud Booster direct link:
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3. Water, turn up your irrigation time and frequency! Recommendation is (depending on distribution tubing gpm and number of emitters) more than 15 minutes per day, in the extreme heat of Summer over 30 minutes a day, possibly multiple times a day, can bump the manual button for extra extra hot heat spells.
4. Qtip cotton swab, paint brush, or make-up brush for self-pollinating squash blossoms, gather from the male stamen anthers and brush pollens into the female pistil stigmata.
5. Finally, sun and temperature stress mitigated with shade structures, placement of squash plants near afternoon shade trees, proper soil management with compost, mulch, and irrigation timing.
I keep thinking about "squash hacking" but that's what's for dinner! Yummm
