Q&A – On my squash when the flower falls off the squash dies. Why?
Question:
My squash has large leaves and yellow flowers. On my plants when the squash flower falls off, the squash dies. What did I do wrong?
Answer:
Garden expert Tonya Ashworth says squash have male and female flowers and the male flowers tend to start opening several days before the female flowers. When the male flowers are done they just fall off the plant. Because they are male they leave no fruit behind. The female flowers when they open - if they are pollinated - will die but leave a fruit behind. You can tell a male flower from a female flower because the area directly behind the female flower will be swollen and will look like a small squash. If the flower is pollinated the fruit will mature.
Related Resources:
Summer Squash
Squash
Summer Squash
My squash has large leaves and yellow flowers. On my plants when the squash flower falls off, the squash dies. What did I do wrong?
Answer:
Garden expert Tonya Ashworth says squash have male and female flowers and the male flowers tend to start opening several days before the female flowers. When the male flowers are done they just fall off the plant. Because they are male they leave no fruit behind. The female flowers when they open - if they are pollinated - will die but leave a fruit behind. You can tell a male flower from a female flower because the area directly behind the female flower will be swollen and will look like a small squash. If the flower is pollinated the fruit will mature.
Related Resources:
Summer Squash
Squash
Summer Squash