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One of my Butternuts has a good sized female flower which will open tomorrow - unfortunately all the male flowers are still tight closed. Do all squash types, courgettes, pumpkins etc., cross-pollinate. If so - no problem as there are several male courgette flowers which will open tomorrow and I could hand pollinate.

The butternut squash plants have a large number of male buds, but only a few female ones - is it advisable to remove some of them so that the strength of the plant is not wasted? (My first year growing squashes :-\).

Tricia

Yes, squash family will inter-pollinate. The seed inside the female isn't likely to come true if you do, but if you plan to buy seed next year, not a problem.

I don't think the male flowers sap the plant's energy at all, but I sometimes snip them off (after flowering) to be Tidy ;D

Hi
Whenever i try to hand pollinate, i am always unsuccessful, the fruit always falls off several days later.  I use a soft brush and gently brush inside the male flower, then inside the female flower...... what am i doing wrong?...... I am asking because i notice i have a small butternut squash femle flower coming.

Paula

Well it sounds right paula ??? The only think I can think its that the brush might not be picking up enough pollen.
You could try this method - remove the male flower with stalk, tear off the petals to leave the pollen-ey head showing, then wipe it directly over the sticky receptors in the female flower.
Good luck :)

Blimey, it never said on my seed packet that I'd have to do all this malarky, can't they just get on with it without me being intrusive ???

LOL Roy, normally the bees do the bizz ;)
I think that's a good reason for leaving the male flowers blossom, so the bees get into the habit of visiting the plant
I can't resist hand-pollinating in the early months :-[ - later in the season I'll leave them to make their own introductions in the privacy of the squash patch ;D

Perhaps, then, an argument for companion planting of foxgloves and squashes? ;D  May try it next year - could save a lot of work...

And it would look lovely too. I'm gonna strew lots of foxglove seed as soon as we get a little rain, for next year and hopefully every year after that.

Hi all,  :D
               If you want to attract bees, grow borage, they love the flowers, plus they are attractive  ;D plus plus you can put the flowers into a glass of pimms  :o.
Once you have grown it you never have to sow it again , it self seeds prolificly (lots )

                                                                          Adriab.

I went out in the drizzle this morning and hand pollinated the squash - don't know if it will take in the wet though.

Planting borage sounds a lovely idea. Anyone have a few seeds to spare please?

Tricia

Another squash question, I'm growing mine vertically and it has reach 6 foot, do you think it would be alright to pinch out the growing tip?

I'm growing one vertically too and will have to pinch out when it reaches the top of the frame, which is about 6ft at a guess.

Odd though, although there are several runners there is not one single female to be seen. One of the butternuts in a large pot already has 3 small butternuts. I fertilized the second this morning from a 'Gold Rush' courgette - the only male flower in bloom to fertilize 3 courgettes, a pumpkin and the butternut. Hope they all take ;D

Tricia

Quote from: MikeB on July 09, 2006, 15:30:24
Another squash question, I'm growing mine vertically and it has reach 6 foot, do you think it would be alright to pinch out the growing tip?

Yes, that's what I had to do in the greenhouse - now I have a jungle of sideshoots :-[ ;)

I shall probably have borage seed later, but it's a bit early yet.

Oh sounds SO complicated. Do I have to pinch never have done before. Only really got on top of tomato pinching this year with confidence. I am so pleased when they grow. Have put in lots of squashes this year.

I don't believe you HAVE to pinch squash at all maggie, it's just an option for trained-upwards ones :)