I planted yellow summer squash. Some of them are soft yellow, as they are suppose to be. But about half of them are turning bright orange and getting very tough. The orange ones are also very small.
I do not have pumpkins or other squash varieties planted. This year they are near sunflowers and about 8 feet from eggplant. They are planted in a container, are fed every other week and watered regularly. This happens every year.
Any suggestions?
- Just Whisper
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It sounds as tho' the fruit is maturing and developing seed without having made much growth. I would cut them off and toss them in the compost and hope that the plant will produce later fruit that is more useful.
You seem a little concerned about pumpkins or other squash and maybe the issue of cross-pollination. That should not be an issue. It is the seed of the plant that is offspring, not the fruit. The seed may be a result of a crossing but the fruit is a part of the mother plant.
Now, it is possible that you have contaminated seed. By that I mean that not all the seed is what it is supposed to be. But, you say this happens each year so if you are purchasing new seed, that doesn't seem likely.
It really sounds like something is interfering with the development of the fruit and it has gone too many days on the vine - small size or not. The proximity to other plants may be a problem especially if they are robbing the squash plant of water.
. . . just my 2¢.
Steve
You seem a little concerned about pumpkins or other squash and maybe the issue of cross-pollination. That should not be an issue. It is the seed of the plant that is offspring, not the fruit. The seed may be a result of a crossing but the fruit is a part of the mother plant.
Now, it is possible that you have contaminated seed. By that I mean that not all the seed is what it is supposed to be. But, you say this happens each year so if you are purchasing new seed, that doesn't seem likely.
It really sounds like something is interfering with the development of the fruit and it has gone too many days on the vine - small size or not. The proximity to other plants may be a problem especially if they are robbing the squash plant of water.
. . . just my 2¢.
Steve
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- Location: Southern Ca
- Just Whisper
- Full Member
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2009 10:34 am
- Location: Pensacola FL
Well, these are some interesting points. But they are in a container. Not in the ground at all. They do not share water or nutrients with any other plants. Plus, some are doing great on the same vine. A lack of water should affect all of them. No, I do not plant in the same place each year. I plant in containers which get moved throughout the growing season. I was just at my daughter's house and her roommates squash are doing the same thing. His are in the ground.
The reason I mentioned the pumpkins is because I wanted to clarify before someone suggested cross pollination as a possible cause. I am not concerned about it being a cause. I can't remember if I got these as seedlings from my daughter's horticulture class or from the local nursery, also as a seedling.
These squash are turning orange-ish fairly quickly, not having been on the vine very long at all. I wonder if it is possible for a type of bug to have sucked the nutrients out of the individual squash as it was first developing? I know that can happen to tomatoes. Anyone have any ideas about that?
Thank you for your suggestions. I hope I can figure this out. It is depressing to see your fruits go in the trash.
The reason I mentioned the pumpkins is because I wanted to clarify before someone suggested cross pollination as a possible cause. I am not concerned about it being a cause. I can't remember if I got these as seedlings from my daughter's horticulture class or from the local nursery, also as a seedling.
These squash are turning orange-ish fairly quickly, not having been on the vine very long at all. I wonder if it is possible for a type of bug to have sucked the nutrients out of the individual squash as it was first developing? I know that can happen to tomatoes. Anyone have any ideas about that?
Thank you for your suggestions. I hope I can figure this out. It is depressing to see your fruits go in the trash.