I have a garden. I am not doing well with the squash. Any tips?
They need full sun all day..they do need alot of water , but too much watering will give you blossom end rot…They are real susctable to Powdery Mildew Blight as well..always water squash from underneath..no overhead watering..they need watered early morning and not late afternoon..if that surface water stays on the leaves and top of the ground all night..You will get a fungi on them….Squash first blooms it males flowers up to 3 weeks before the females bloom….this is common…To tell the difference..the first flowers will all be attached to a long stem which are all males..up to 3 weeks later then the female flowers bloom and they pollinate… the females will be at the bottom of the plant and underneath each flower will be a very tiny squash attached…You did not say why you were not doing well..but if they are flowering..and you see no squash..this is normal….they are males on stems..also once squash starts to have little buds before the blooms appear..do not fertilize with anything high in nitrogen such as all purpose miracle grow…You will get all leaves and no fruit..when you see these buds..You want to fertilize with a high phospherous and phospate fertilzer with no nitrogen…Once the female flowers start showing up..simply take a q tip and roll around inside a male flower with it..and then rub inside the female flower for hand pollination if you dont have many bees around…heres pictures of my squash and other veggies..I garden 12 months out of the year with my raised beds etc.
notice no splotchy look on leaves? This is because i water from underneath..these flowers are all males..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pcbeachrat/2470112573/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pcbeachrat/2470935158/
Squash are heavy feeder, also need plenty of sun and water. If you do not have pollinating insects. You will have to put the male flowers into the female (the ones with the small squash behind the flower) to pollinate them. Good luck
References :
Make sure it’s getting enough sun and water. If you are only having a problem with the squash it’s one thing, but if you’re having problems growing most things in the garden it could be a soil problem. Here are two really common squash problems I’ve had.
For bug problems (like white flies under the leaves): fill a spray bottle with water. Put in a couple drops of dish soap and a couple drops of cooking oil. Doesn’t have to be exact. Spray the underside of the leaves for a few days. It should wash the bugs off and prevent them from coming back.
For mildew problems: fill a spray bottle with this recipe. Spray in the mornings but try to avoid getting it on the soil.
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 quart water
A few drops of liquid soap
References :
http://www.eartheasy.com/grow_nat_pest_cntrl.htm
They need full sun all day..they do need alot of water , but too much watering will give you blossom end rot…They are real susctable to Powdery Mildew Blight as well..always water squash from underneath..no overhead watering..they need watered early morning and not late afternoon..if that surface water stays on the leaves and top of the ground all night..You will get a fungi on them….Squash first blooms it males flowers up to 3 weeks before the females bloom….this is common…To tell the difference..the first flowers will all be attached to a long stem which are all males..up to 3 weeks later then the female flowers bloom and they pollinate… the females will be at the bottom of the plant and underneath each flower will be a very tiny squash attached…You did not say why you were not doing well..but if they are flowering..and you see no squash..this is normal….they are males on stems..also once squash starts to have little buds before the blooms appear..do not fertilize with anything high in nitrogen such as all purpose miracle grow…You will get all leaves and no fruit..when you see these buds..You want to fertilize with a high phospherous and phospate fertilzer with no nitrogen…Once the female flowers start showing up..simply take a q tip and roll around inside a male flower with it..and then rub inside the female flower for hand pollination if you dont have many bees around…heres pictures of my squash and other veggies..I garden 12 months out of the year with my raised beds etc.
notice no splotchy look on leaves? This is because i water from underneath..these flowers are all males..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pcbeachrat/2470112573/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pcbeachrat/2470935158/
References :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pcbeachrat/2470935158/
Raised on a farm..veggies were a way oflife for our food
To plant them, make a little mound and plant the seeds in a circle on the mound. Then the vines will grow, first the flowers, then the squash. Use plenty of fertilizer in the soil before planting, and weed and water often. Let me know how it goes.
References :