tried to grow squash this yr, the palnts grew, flowers bloomed, then started to close up and though "great, veggies on the way" but nothing more, not a single squash!
this and with good watering, soil an more then usual rain for summer......
.......
Did you pollinate the flowers?
me personally, no-any tips?
I had red about the bee depopulation issues and wondered if this was linked, likely....
aain, anyone know how to manually pollinate?
I can tell you how.
You have to pollinate a female flower with one of the male flowers which grow on long stems.
The female flowers are on a little baby squash attached to a short stem on the plant. So your squash is already there - it just needs pollination to grow.
When the blossoms are open, pick a male flower and peel off the petals, in thirds, like a banana, so that the pollen covered stamen is totally exposed. Since they just get in the way, peel off the thin little leaves on the base of the flower also.
Now pinch off or peel open the female blossom just enough to allow you to pollinate the stigma inside (that's the top yellow piece in the flower's center).
Take the male flower's stamen and thoroughly rub the pollen onto the stigma, and the pollination will be complete.
Do this before 11am while the females are receptive, and pollinate with 2 male flowers when you can.