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growing squash #803272

Asked July 27, 2022, 10:49 AM EDT

Hi, I love squash and find it easy to grow in past. This year I planted to starts, purchase at a farmer's market for yellow squash-hook neck and standard. They went in the ground a little later than I had hoped because of the rainy weather but I did keep them outside on my deck. In addition I used dried seeds from squash I ate during the winter to plant spaghetti, acorn and butternut squash. All sprouted and have growth. But no flowers. I worked a potting soil mix into the soil where I planted and applied mulch on top to conserve water. They also seem to be needing water. I find washed out yellowing leaves on the bottoms of the plants. The yellow squash has made several flowers, but they never fruit. I looked to see if they are male/female flowers, and they seem mostly male. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I water with a drip system and was watering every day for about 50 minutes but then cut it back to MWF for a time to see if that helped, because my strawberries were also lots of green but very few strawberies. I wondered if I was overwatering but they are on the same watering station. In this heat of course I am watering either by hand or by drip. Anyway, I'm not having good luck this year at all. Previously I had roses where the squash are but after years of tyring to control black spot and disease, I pulled them all out. Is there any possibility that the soil might still have the spores in it that could be affecting my squash. My lettuce is growing well, my broccoli not so much, but I think it's more of a cold weather crop. Any suggesions might help. thanks in advance. Margie

Benton County Oregon

Expert Response

Margie thanks for your question.  With the exception of leaf color you appear to have some healthy squash plant. Perhaps they could use a boost of Nitrogen. Try a weak foliar feeding with a liquid fertilizer every 10 or so days to help them along. You may want to hold off on this until our temperatures moderate so the leaves are not burned or do it early morning before the sun is hot.  If you did not work in a fertilizer around the root area when you planted them try sprinkling a good veggie fertilizer on top of the soil (not the mulch).  It will take a bit of time to break down and be available to your plants so continue the foliar feeding until the plants start to bloom.  Most squash plants start blooming with male flowers first and as the plant matures then also start to produce female flowers.  I suspect that our long and cold spring is the main culprit.  Squash plants love heat.  Ensure that they get all the water they need during this hot spell, and I bet that they will come around quickly.  I think that you are on the right track, and they will come around soon.
Happy Gardening.
D.Lauer Benton County Master Gardener Replied July 28, 2022, 7:29 PM EDT

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