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- Location: South US
Squash - lack of fruit
Why would our squash plants produce 95% male flowers? I planted the first of May and we only picked 6-7 so far. I check them each morning and all I'm seeing are male flowers...lots of them but only 1-2 females. That's it for all six plants, not each plant. I fertilized, keep watered, but it is hot weather (mid 90's and humid). They wilt down in middle of day as squash usually do and they perk back up overnight.
- applestar
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- Location: Zone 6, NJ (3/M)4/E ~ 10/M(11/B)
So, speaking of varieties, which variety are you growing @Brown Thumbs?
I had a thought that there are hybrid varieties of cucurbits that are bred to be mostly female, and they are sold with a few seeds of all-male variety. I can't remember what this is called. I've never bought them, but I understand this type will come either pre-mixed in a packet that are intended to be planted all at once, or come with a smaller packet inside containing the all-male seeds.
Hoever, I agree temperature is supposed to influence male vs. female blossom development in some plants. I posted about some details of this particular phenomenon that I came across while looking into avocado male/female blossoms just recently -- winter?
I had a thought that there are hybrid varieties of cucurbits that are bred to be mostly female, and they are sold with a few seeds of all-male variety. I can't remember what this is called. I've never bought them, but I understand this type will come either pre-mixed in a packet that are intended to be planted all at once, or come with a smaller packet inside containing the all-male seeds.
Hoever, I agree temperature is supposed to influence male vs. female blossom development in some plants. I posted about some details of this particular phenomenon that I came across while looking into avocado male/female blossoms just recently -- winter?