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This maybe a very stupid question to ask :-[ but here goes..............
My butternut squash has one female flower on the plant and no male flowers but my pumpkins plants have lots male flowers.

Stupid question (are you ready) can I use a male pumpkin to pollinate
my female butternut squash ?

As you can tell I am totally new to veg growing! :-[

TGF  :D

Hi growingfamily, yes, you can inter-pollinate all the squash family :o
Just don't expect the seed to come true :P

Yes, Cucurbits are a bunch of tarts and will happily fertilise each other.

Does this include melons, or are they completely different?  ???

I have 5 beautiful melon plants, after having a lovely crop off just two last year. This year, so far, I only have 2 fruit!!!!   

I just don't seem to be getting any female flowers, just loads of males - is there anything I should be doing to change this?  :-\

Anybody got any idea on how many squash you should allow to grow on any one plant?

(waves arms vaguely) up to eight? ::)

Thanks for the replies!

Female butternut squash has been unfaithful with a male pumpkin flower! ;)

TGF  :D

Mine obviously possess either an immense guilt complex or are very faithful indeed: they've all closed up... :(

has anyone got any photos of butternut squash plants???

I planted loads of seeds of butternuts and other pumpkins, cucs, corgettes and so far only my corgettes are bearing fruit.... all the others have been mixed up due to the bloody chickens pulling off labels etc so i have no idea what is what! Or even if i have any butternuts!

Only my courgette and Spaghetti marrow have set so far, and a butternut squash plant looks much the same as the rest, I got one mixed up with a Crystal Apple Cuc.
;D

 ::)

Olive...will nip up in the morning and snap mine for you.Don't know if it will help, not so much as a sniff of a squash yet, but you are welcome to see if it's like yours.

;)

Just nipped out and taken a couple of photos for you!
Hope this helps but remember I only have female flowers ::)

sorry about the size.
How do I reduce the size?

WOW !!!! :o

This is a first........ I've never seen anyone hoping for SMALLER veg on the forums before. ;D

Just a newbie so maybe others can correct me, but has this ever happened before ???

Quote from: OliveOil on July 22, 2006, 16:15:19
has anyone got any photos of butternut squash plants???

I planted loads of seeds of butternuts and other pumpkins, cucs, corgettes and so far only my corgettes are bearing fruit.... all the others have been mixed up due to the bloody chickens pulling off labels etc so i have no idea what is what! Or even if i have any butternuts!

Courgette



Melon



Squash





Hope this helps

I've just realised ALL my squashes, pumpkins and cucs are quite small plants but starting to flower already!!!!! I fear this is bad news!

Ha ha ;D
I was on about the size of photos. lol!
My butternut squash can go a large as they want :D

TGF  :D

Brilliant pics everyone, really enjoying this thread, thank you :-*

Quote from: OliveOil on July 22, 2006, 22:29:44
I've just realised ALL my squashes, pumpkins and cucs are quite small plants but starting to flower already!!!!! I fear this is bad news!

OO i was worried about this especially with my courgettes but they have turned it around and started growing properly now. So fingers crossed

Mine are mostly small plants, which are starting to grow away now. The exception is some pumpkins which I had in the mini greenhouse rather than under cloches with open ends. I think the moral is, keep them closed up in spring, so they're warm and moist.