baby squashes

 
 
I think my fertilizing may have helped to encourage female squash flowers. There are MANY of them budded now (though I haven’t seem any blooms yet). At least half of all the youngest flower buds are female (have fruits). The plants still look pretty good – no sign of squash stem borers yet. Its probably a good time to spray the stems and fertilize again (the last time I did was July 27).
 
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summer squash

 
 
Finally, I have lots of little squashes on the way. This variety is Yellow Crookneck. Described as a warted, heavy producer.
 
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yellow summer squash problem

 
 
Well, I’m starting to be concerned about my squash. They are very pretty, but no squash. They started blooming July 2. That’s 3 1/2 weeks ago! It seems like along time to wait with no sign of fruits. I did Google the delay and it seems unusual. The female flowers should show up 3-7 days after the males. A delay means the plants are stressed. Oh well. I’m not sure why. One site said low fruiting could be due to nutrient wash-out from excessive rain. We certainly have had excessive…
 
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squash flowers

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My squash (crookneck yellow summer squash) are flowering well, but still only male flowers. No sign of the females.
 
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pumpkin blossom

 
 
My pumpkin blossoms open early in the morning and close by about 8 am. The past couple days, I have tried to take their picture, but didn’t get up in time. Here’s a 7 am photo. A lovely deep orange color. Pumpkin — Cucurbita spp.
 
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pumpkins in a pot

 
 
            I found a large pot I hadn’t filled yet this year in the back of the garage, so I got a 6-pack of pumpkins and an unlabeled (mystery!) 6-pack and planted them in it. I used three bamboo poles as a support and found a patch of unoccupied sun in the driveway. All I have to do is remember to water it and try not to back the car into it.
 
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squash vine borers

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I have a continual battle during the summer to defend my squash, pumpkin and cuce stems from squash vine borers. AArrghh. I have been spraying weekly with Sevin for the past three weeks now. Still yesterday I found a hole in a yellow summer squash vine. I’ll see if I can remove the larvea from the stem today. I guess I’ll buy some malathion and see if this works better. Also, I just read that wrapping the stems with strips of nylon stockings prevents egg-laying (http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2153.html). I’ll try this after…
 
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Kathy Martin
This is a journal of my vegetable gardens. Skippy thinks the garden is his, even though I do all the work. We're located near Boston, in USDA zone 6. I have bees, chickens, fruit trees and berry bushes, too. I use all sustainable organic methods and strive to grow all of my family's vegetables myself. -Kathy


weeks and counting until my last spring frost

What I planted recently

Jan 21
thyme, lettuce, escarole

Feb 21
celery, celeriac, parsley, leeks

March 11
cabbage, kale, arugula



What I'm planting soon

April 1
peppers, eggplants, marigolds, beets

April 12
tomatoes, basil, sunflowers

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My garden this week

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17 years of archives!

Check out the food pantry farm I helped to start up:

Aurelia's Garden

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Skippy’s vegetable of the month – Egyptian walking onions!

“I envision a day when every city and town has front and back yards, community gardens and growing spaces, nurtured into life by neighbors who are no longer strangers, but friends who delight in the edible rewards offered from a garden they discovered together.” – Greg Peterson

"What can happen to a seed is a miracle."

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