Search
Latest topics
» Thai Basilby markqz Today at 1:40 pm
» Preserving A Bumper Tomato Harvest with Freezing vs Canning
by plantoid Today at 11:36 am
» How best to keep a fallow SFG bed
by plantoid Today at 11:10 am
» New SFG gardener in Auckland
by sanderson Today at 12:14 am
» Mark's first SFG
by sanderson Yesterday at 11:51 pm
» Need Garden Layout Feedback
by sanderson 11/5/2024, 2:33 pm
» What Have You Picked From Your Garden Today
by OhioGardener 11/5/2024, 2:29 pm
» Greetings from Southeastern Wisconsin
by sanderson 11/5/2024, 2:01 pm
» N & C Midwest: Nov. Dec. 2024
by Scorpio Rising 11/3/2024, 3:51 pm
» Spinning Compost Bin-need some ideas
by rtfm 11/2/2024, 7:49 pm
» Kiwi's SFG Adventure
by KiwiSFGnewbie 10/31/2024, 9:55 pm
» Growing fruit trees in Auckland
by OhioGardener 10/31/2024, 4:23 pm
» Vermiculite -- shipping sale through 10/31/2024
by markqz 10/30/2024, 2:27 pm
» N & C Midwest: October 2024
by Scorpio Rising 10/30/2024, 10:38 am
» What are you eating from your garden today?
by Scorpio Rising 10/27/2024, 10:27 pm
» Old Mulch and Closing Beds for Winter
by sanderson 10/26/2024, 11:00 pm
» Ohio Gardener's Greenhouse
by OhioGardener 10/25/2024, 7:17 pm
» Hello from Land of Umpqua, Oregon Zone 8b
by sanderson 10/25/2024, 3:14 pm
» Hello everyone!
by SFGHQSTAFF 10/24/2024, 3:22 pm
» Senior Gardeners
by sanderson 10/23/2024, 6:09 pm
» Hello from South Florida
by markqz 10/23/2024, 10:30 am
» Happy Birthday!!
by sanderson 10/18/2024, 3:09 am
» Confirm what this is
by sanderson 10/11/2024, 2:51 pm
» Harlequin Beetles?
by sanderson 10/7/2024, 3:08 pm
» N & C Midwest: September 2024
by OhioGardener 9/30/2024, 4:13 pm
» The SFG Journey-Biowash
by OhioGardener 9/29/2024, 8:33 am
» Fall is For Garlic Planting
by Scorpio Rising 9/28/2024, 12:19 am
» source for chemical-free lanscape fabric
by Woodsong 9/19/2024, 10:51 am
» Hurricane
by sanderson 9/14/2024, 5:42 pm
» Pest Damage
by WBIowa 9/8/2024, 2:48 pm
Google
Squash ends shriveling?
+4
camprn
Megan
Patty from Yorktown
newgloves
8 posters
Page 1 of 1
Squash ends shriveling?
Well, I was so excited a week ago since it looked like I would finally get a harvest - my zephyr squash had 2 4" long squash on them. So, now the ends are all shriveling and looking pruney and I'm not sure why. Is it because they're sitting on the dirt? In the future should I raise the squash up off the soil? The other baby squash that are growing are still sticking in the air and doing well. My plants look great - big, green, healthy & growing babies. So, what's up w/ these two squash?
Thanks for suggestions!
Thanks for suggestions!
newgloves- Posts : 30
Join date : 2010-06-29
Location : Northern CA
Re: Squash ends shriveling?
Hi,
I would guess that your squash are not getting pollinated. It usually happens to the first few squash in my neck of the woods, then they will be fine. Squash scaffolding will not be necessary. Enjoy your garden.
Patty from Yorktown
I would guess that your squash are not getting pollinated. It usually happens to the first few squash in my neck of the woods, then they will be fine. Squash scaffolding will not be necessary. Enjoy your garden.
Patty from Yorktown
Patty from Yorktown- Posts : 350
Join date : 2010-03-05
Location : Yorktown, Virginia
Re: Squash ends shriveling?
That happened to mine, too. I think the first few were from not getting pollinated, and then some more were lost to BER (Blossom End Rot.) I recently had another rash of BER, not entirely sure why, but I'm getting enough that it's not the end of the world.
Advice from me the beginner!:
The first few, you probably have no control over.
Look to see if you have both male and female blossoms. The males have a skinny little stem behind the flower and come straight off the main stem. They seem to bloom earlier than the females. The females have a mini fruit shape right behind the flower. You can use a paintbrush, q-tip, blade of grass etc. to help pollinate the females if you think that will help.
I crushed up some Tums (calcium) and scattered them around the square of my squash stem a while back. It did seem to help at the time. My squash has now put down so many secondary roots I'm not sure if it's worth it to try again, but I probably will.
Advice from me the beginner!:
The first few, you probably have no control over.
Look to see if you have both male and female blossoms. The males have a skinny little stem behind the flower and come straight off the main stem. They seem to bloom earlier than the females. The females have a mini fruit shape right behind the flower. You can use a paintbrush, q-tip, blade of grass etc. to help pollinate the females if you think that will help.
I crushed up some Tums (calcium) and scattered them around the square of my squash stem a while back. It did seem to help at the time. My squash has now put down so many secondary roots I'm not sure if it's worth it to try again, but I probably will.
Re: Squash ends shriveling?
This happened to me almost all of the summer. I treated for blossom end rot, tried hand pollinating, watering, not watering, forgetting about them for a week and it continues to happen. I am just chaulking it up to a bad summer for summer squash in my garden. I hope you get some squash soon!
Re: Squash ends shriveling?
Even more easier way to pollinate female squash---is to pick the male flower with nice stem-------pull the flower petals off leaving the anther intact----- then gently rub the male anther on the female stigma.
Another reason for blossom end rot is irregular watering-----too much then not enough.
Irregular watering is a bigger cause of blossom end rot than low calcium.
Irregular watering can cause an irregular nutrient intake to the plant --in return causes
blossom end rot.
Also--- If you know your soil has calcium in it and you still have blossom end rot--- and you are watering regularly--- give your plants a little Epsom Salt. Epsom salt has magnesium in it which is very important in making the nutrients that are in the soil available to the plant.
Another reason for blossom end rot is irregular watering-----too much then not enough.
Irregular watering is a bigger cause of blossom end rot than low calcium.
Irregular watering can cause an irregular nutrient intake to the plant --in return causes
blossom end rot.
Also--- If you know your soil has calcium in it and you still have blossom end rot--- and you are watering regularly--- give your plants a little Epsom Salt. Epsom salt has magnesium in it which is very important in making the nutrients that are in the soil available to the plant.
CarolynPhillips- Posts : 778
Join date : 2010-09-06
Age : 54
Location : Alabama Zone 7a
Re: Squash ends shriveling?
Early unpollinated Squash Idea
When your young squash plants start showing females blooming and you see no
males in sight---wait two days then pick those females before they shrivel at the ends---
cut into long strips and stir fry. nothing lost
When your young squash plants start showing females blooming and you see no
males in sight---wait two days then pick those females before they shrivel at the ends---
cut into long strips and stir fry. nothing lost
CarolynPhillips- Posts : 778
Join date : 2010-09-06
Age : 54
Location : Alabama Zone 7a
Re: Squash ends shriveling?
You can also stuff squash blossoms with cream cheese and fry them. Fattening, but delicious!
Here's a link to some squash blossom recipes: http://www.seasonalchef.com/recipe0805b.htm
Here's a link to some squash blossom recipes: http://www.seasonalchef.com/recipe0805b.htm
Re: Squash ends shriveling?
Well, I've got more squash coming in although another is shriveling at the end. My question is - they're starting to shrivel when they're 4 inches long when they've long since lost their flower on the end. Would this be from not being pollenated? It seems if that were the problem it'd shrivel before getting that big - I was thinking I'd pick them in a couple more days when they started to shrivel. Another one on a plant is starting to shrivel as well.
However, I am also noticing that there are mostly female flowers on all 3 of the plants. Should I use the q-tip idea w/ what male flowers I have on the few female ones that are opening as a preventative measure?
However, I am also noticing that there are mostly female flowers on all 3 of the plants. Should I use the q-tip idea w/ what male flowers I have on the few female ones that are opening as a preventative measure?
newgloves- Posts : 30
Join date : 2010-06-29
Location : Northern CA
Re: Squash ends shriveling?
Newgloves, that happened to me, too. I think it is from not being pollinated but I could be wrong.
The q-tip trick certainly can't hurt. Just be a little cautious when you go poking around in there, as you may find a bee inside!
The q-tip trick certainly can't hurt. Just be a little cautious when you go poking around in there, as you may find a bee inside!
Re: Squash ends shriveling?
I never got a squash to get past that stage without a q-tip. I didn't get too many even so. And people say they are so easy to grow!
elliephant- Posts : 841
Join date : 2010-04-09
Age : 49
Location : southern tip of Texas zone 9
squash ends shrivel
[quote="newgloves"]Well, I've got more squash coming in although another is shriveling at the end. My question is - they're starting to shrivel when they're 4 inches long when they've long since lost their flower on the end. Would this be from not being pollenated? It seems if that were the problem it'd shrivel before getting that big - I was thinking I'd pick them in a couple more days when they started to shrivel. Another one on a plant is starting to shrivel as well.
I'm new to gardening so I won,t guess about your plants, but I was having the same problem with fruit not filling out , I'm growing in pots and I was able to put the squash in a bigger pot with some good ocean forest soil and I started getting nice squash. Three weeks later the small fruit start to shrivel again. I started adding Bloom Grow and Micro every other day to the watering (same used for hydoponics)and the squash was producing like crazy. I went away for ten days, plants were wartered but no feed and the small fruit have started shriveling again. Back feeding last two days and plants are looking better, I know the plants are root bound but as long as I feed no problem!
Hope this helps, I know the SFQ way is compost and not to feed but?
I'm new to gardening so I won,t guess about your plants, but I was having the same problem with fruit not filling out , I'm growing in pots and I was able to put the squash in a bigger pot with some good ocean forest soil and I started getting nice squash. Three weeks later the small fruit start to shrivel again. I started adding Bloom Grow and Micro every other day to the watering (same used for hydoponics)and the squash was producing like crazy. I went away for ten days, plants were wartered but no feed and the small fruit have started shriveling again. Back feeding last two days and plants are looking better, I know the plants are root bound but as long as I feed no problem!
Hope this helps, I know the SFQ way is compost and not to feed but?
garden mark- Posts : 17
Join date : 2010-06-10
Location : san jose, ca.
Re: Squash ends shriveling?
Sorry to hear that, Ellie. I am still losing squash here and there, but enough are getting by that I don't miss the ones I've lost.
I feel no shame about feeding my plants.
I feel no shame about feeding my plants.
Re: Squash ends shriveling?
I feed my plants if they are looking hungry. My Brussels Sprouts and basil are loving the dried blood
Similar topics
» Squash blossoms shriveling BEFORE opening
» Problem with crookneck yellow squash turning brown on end and shriveling up at about 3 inches long
» Shriveling Leaves
» Zucchini Shriveling
» Foiling the Squash Vine Borer; Great Stuff Foam on Squash Vines?
» Problem with crookneck yellow squash turning brown on end and shriveling up at about 3 inches long
» Shriveling Leaves
» Zucchini Shriveling
» Foiling the Squash Vine Borer; Great Stuff Foam on Squash Vines?
Page 1 of 1
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum