How are everyones squashes doing

[AdeTheSpade]

Re watering squashes, I put a 7" plantpot in the ground next to all my squashes when I planted them, and then poked a stick through one of the drainage holes at the bottom (just so that I could find where to water when the squash plant had grown a lot), and then I can water into the pot.  This takes the water straight to the roots and seems to work well, and also doesn't seem to use as much water, so making watering a bit quicker.  It's worked pretty well with all mine, so I think I'll use that method again in future years.  I do think squashes seem to do better if they're watered when the weather's very dry.

[AdeTheSpade]

[GrannieAnnie]

Fun reading your post especially that squash are like your pet- my sentiments exactly!
I'm letting mine run "off the leash" and they're climbing over everything-
so much fun going out each day and finding yet another new squash.

[Ninnyscrops.]

Queenslands have now formed two fruits and the plants are treading a trail between the raised beds of aparagus and the old strawberry one and are how heading for the currant plants  ::)

Ninny

[lilyjean]

hahaha!!! its all beginning to sound something like out of 'The Day of the Triffids' or equally, something from a horror movie!! I have to confess, each time I visit my lottie I'm astounded how much more ground they cover....the trails are creeping out of its patch across the path and into the next patch! I have felt tempted to pinch out the top buds but then I see a tiny squash growing! This is, my first ever attempt to growing squashes and so far they've been a huge success. I'm growing butternut and courgettes. I have another squash plant that has mysteriously appeared from nowhere. Unlike the other squashes these stems are different...they've got little spikes on them   :-\

[Jeannine]

Where are the spikes..or are they just prickly XX Jeannine

[lilyjean]

They appear to have tiny tiny spikes on the stems, they feel sharp to the touch. Whereas with the other squashes they feel prickly/rough.....makes my skin itch

[Jeannine]

Look and feel carefully, your butternut should have hairy stems and leaves, but your courgettes should have more prickly stems and leaves'

The only family of squash that have prickly leaves and stems is the pepo family but this does include your courgettes, so there should be some similarity to the mystery one and your courgettes, the butternut would be slightly different as it belongs to the Moschata family.


There are other similarities which are more noticeable when you plant starts to flower.


How long has your mystery one grown to so far  compared to your butternut.
XX Jeannine

[jazzman2]

I'm having mixed results i picked a large marrow had 3 lebanese courgettes a patty pan and the scallops are doing really well, but... some of my courgettes are rotting from the flower growth even though they are 2-3 inches long  I think the flower heads are collecting the damp and causing the fruit to rot, we've had a lot of rain any ideas what else it might be

[Jeannine]

Is the rot at the flower end ?. If so it could be Blossom End Rot,same as in tomatoes and from the same causes.. lack of calcium at flowering time, this could be from too much watering or daft as it seems soil too dry. It is usually only the first fruits that do it at flowering time  same as tomatoes.It generally goes away, you could add a little calcium feed or lime but it probably won't make much difference, later fruits will be OK usually XX Jeannine

[1066]

Anyway, all in all, I'm just thrilled every time I go down to see them.  It's the closest thing to keeping pets I've come across in the plant world  :)  Thank God for this forum where I can babble on because I keep trying to drag friends and relations down to see them, but they're not interested  :'(  can't shift 'em down there at all.

Earlypea - I understand your sentiments exactly!! And you've got me thinking about the Summer Crooknecks, they look gorgeous! And as my courgettes are pnats again this year (don't know what I do wrong?!) I think I might switch to the crrokneck or a pattypan next year

And we must be sychronised - I bought the Compleate Squash this week too  8)

Come on Jeannine, get writing :)

[1066]

Is the rot at the flower end ?. If so it could be Blossom End Rot,same as in tomatoes and from the same causes.. lack of calcium at flowering time, this could be from too much watering or daft as it seems soil too dry. It is usually only the first fruits that do it at flowering time  same as tomatoes.It generally goes away, you could add a little calcium feed or lime but it probably won't make much difference, later fruits will be OK usually XX Jeannine

Thanks Jeannine, this is happening to my courgettes, think I might try some calcium or lime. And the one thing I had been watering were the courgettes !

[shirlton]

Am still trying to keep mine going round in a pinwheel. At the moment all seems well. They haven't started to climb the fruit trees yet but after todays rain who knows where they will be.

[Digeroo]

I get End Rot occasionally here as well and certainly no shortage of calcium.  But as Jeannine says it seems to go away.   Perhaps when the plants are small they cannot absorb/synthesize enough nutrients to support the fruit.  But I think a good feed is never wasted with a courgette.

My courgettes have always done well.  In the garden they get the compost from the lawn clippings.  It ends up as a nasty green slimey smelly mess but they seem to adore it.  On the lottie they have a large bucket full of manure for each plant and another bucket full later.   About 10% of the manure is contaminated so I am currently loosing a few plants. :( >:( 

I am experimenting with recycled compost and so far things are looking good.   But they are not going quite as well as those on manure.

[Jeannine]

It isn't a shortage of calcium as such, I explained that clumsily,it is the plant can't access  it properly it if too wet or too dry when the blossom comes out , this is why I personally don't think adding calcium or lime will make any difference  even though it is the standard answer. It is worse for squash as you can't keep the water even with plants outside as you can with toms in  greenhouse.XX Jeannine

[GrannieAnnie]

http://www.simplyhydro.com/calcium.htm
The above article talks about calcium transport though from a hydroponics standpoint but the principles are the same.
They also mention cold root temps as a problem in transport of calcium which might often be why early crops are more effected and also high humidity which slows the passage of fluids and therefor minerals up from the roots.

[1066]

also high humidity which slows the passage of fluids and therefor minerals up from the roots.

now that might be the key as its been very humid here the last week or so. Thanks both of you for the extra info

1066  :)

[pigeonseed]

This is very interesting! (I don;t really understand it, but it's interesting!)

I'm pleased to see that my experiment squash for this year - galeux d'eysine - has got a fruit on it at last! From the photos I've seen they look amazing, I can't wait to see it fully grown.

[GrannieAnnie]

This is very interesting! (I don;t really understand it, but it's interesting!)

I'm pleased to see that my experiment squash for this year - galeux d'eysine - has got a fruit on it at last! From the photos I've seen they look amazing, I can't wait to see it fully grown.

Isn't it interesting how many different colors and forms squash have. Mine are dull dark green, shiny bright orange, bluish white, light green and tan.

[earlypea]

Earlypea - I understand your sentiments exactly!! And you've got me thinking about the Summer Crooknecks, they look gorgeous! And as my courgettes are pnats again this year (don't know what I do wrong?!) I think I might switch to the crrokneck or a pattypan next year

And we must be sychronised - I bought the Compleate Squash this week too  8)

Come on Jeannine, get writing :)

The Summer crooknecks are so worth it 1066, although this plant I'm growing is definitely a bit of a freak incident; different leaves from the others in the packet, cropping really quickly, but less nobbles and alas, a little less flavour too - otherwise I'd save seed from it.

It's my favourite summer squash so far, but its peak cropping is somewhat later than courgettes which is why I'm looking forward to sampling the Coussa.  Hoping that will fill in early season next year.

I can't for the life of me see any difference between growing courgettes and winter squash?  How could you be pants at one and not the other?  Is there some difference in their requirements?

As for the yellowing fruits - I think in the grand equation of things it's probably the lack of sun and heat now; it's very mild, early 20s and the UV index is 4 at best most days.  Mine were all setting great earlier but now the new ones are doing it.

I spotted a Compleat squash at half price which is why I went for it.  Attractive book, but what I really miss is photos of the actual plants and their growth habits.  All her focus is on the final outcome and as a gardener I love the earlier bit too.  Her field of squash looks so unnatural, like an alien planet; I know she was a show grower but for me that kind of thing is very unappealing.

[1066]

I know I'm a bit puzzled about the courgette / squash thing too. I might give them a feed, and see if that perks them up a bit. We've also had some rain here (AT LAST!!) so maybe that will help too  :-\

As to the Compleate Squash - interesting observations, I got it on the cheap too, and glad I got it at that price, as you say a lovely book - kind of squash porn, with all those glossy photos  :)