Squash plants dropping blooms....Help !!!!!

[57ChevyChick]

I noticed this week that all my squash plants are blooming but then the bloom dries up and falls off....what is causing this??? thanks for your help

[opabinia51]

I've heard of this before, it may be a fungal infection. Try spraying your foliage with an aerated compost tea to bring up the beneficial flora.

Also, keep an eye on your squash, it could be that the flowers are being pollinated and are moving onto maturation

Yes another possibility could be that you have some critter munching on your flowers... fence would work

Good luck in figuring things out.

Anyone else have any other ideas? Yes, no?

[Roger]

Another possibility, especially if there is no signs of obvious damage to the plant, is that squash produces both male and female blossoms. The male flowers that produce pollen are normally the first to bloom. The female flowers that bear fruit usually bloom a little later, sometimes a week and sometimes even longer. Once they release their pollen, the male flowers will wither and drop within a few days. It could be that your plant just hasn't produced any female flowers yet.

[57ChevyChick]

I'm thinking it might be the male/female blooms....yesterday I was checking a squash plant and the blooms had all closed up, it was in the evening, and I touched one of the blooms lightly and it just fell off....one of my plants had 8 blooms on the ground around it...they are blooming like crazy...I remember having the same problem last year and didn't get hardly any squash...plants were beautiful but blooms all fell off......I hope they are just the male blooms so far...will keep an eye on them and hope for the best.....the plants looks very healthy....thanks guys....will keep ya posted in case anyone else is having the same problem.......

[koonaone]

This sounds similar to a problem I had here in bc last year.

Fast blossom loss, and sparse fruiting in my summer sqwuatshes

In retrospect I realised I had not seen a single honeybee all summer. This summer they aren't blooming yet but I will be sure to keep my eyes peeled for pollinators when they do.

I have some fine paintbrushes and am prepared to do artificial insemination myself if necessary. Can anyone differentiate the sexual organs of the varied flowers for me?

Also, can male pollen be kept for any timespan, and how? Cold, or dry?

Thanks, douglas

"Passionate opinion and great faith can give meaning and purpose to an otherwise empty mind." - A Einstein

[cynthia_h]

Squash plants bear both male and female flowers.

The male flowers have a straight stem that gives directly onto a flower.

The female flowers have a bulge (ovary) between the stem and the flower. This bulge, if the flower is pollinated, will develop into the squash vegetable.

My squash plants' male flowers bloomed somewhat earlier than the female flowers did, but what with the honeybees and bumblebees--and probably even a few ants--I now have squash veggies developing.

As long as you have even a few male plants, you'll be able to pollinate the female flowers yourself, from what I've read. So far, I haven't had to pollinate my plants, but you never know...

I've seen paintbrushes, cotton swabs, and toothbrushes recommended as instruments of pollination, so I don't think the plants are too picky. Touch the brush to the male flower(s) and then to female(s).

I hope your natural pollinators show up soon, though!

Cynthia H.
USDA Zone 9, Sunset Zone 17

[57ChevyChick]

I am happy to report that my squash plants are doing great ! You guys were right...the first blooms were the male blooms....I have been harvesting squash now for about a wk or so....have picked 8-10 so far ! My garden is doing great but it sure is a daily job.....I picked my first "mess" of green beans this afternoon...can't wait to cook them ! I wish I knew how to post pictures on here...got some of my garden...I'll see if I can figure it out after the holiday.....Have a safe and fun 4th !!! 57ChevyChick

[pete28]

I have had a similar problem this year and have yet to see a squash. It is hard I am getting hungry. : (

[koonaone]

Thanks for the replies.

First week in july, yard full of 4 types of clover in bloom, and not 1 honeybee. I have seen a few native bumbles but thats all.

The skwatches are about to bloom so it looks like hand work for them, and maybe cucumbers as well.

douglas