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PJMcK

(22,886 posts)
Sun Jun 21, 2020, 08:56 AM Jun 2020

A question for home gardeners

My wife is trying to grow zucchini in her green house. She's grown this fertile plant many times before but this year is the first time she's tried growing them in a green house.

The plants are Jurassic! However, they haven't spouted any flowers which indicate the beginnings of the vegetables. In the past, there'd have been numerous squashes by now.

Does anyone have any idea what's going on?

Thanks, in advance.

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A question for home gardeners (Original Post) PJMcK Jun 2020 OP
Sounds like too much nitrogen (N)..lay off the fertilizer and give it some time. walkingman Jun 2020 #1
Good point PJMcK Jun 2020 #3
Summer Squash need lots of sun. Also, are they getting too much NRaleighLiberal Jun 2020 #2
The greenhouse gets lots of sunlight PJMcK Jun 2020 #4
the other big concern once flowers arise is the need for bees NRaleighLiberal Jun 2020 #6
Excellent point PJMcK Jun 2020 #8
I had the same problem with tomatoes last year. Mr.Bill Jun 2020 #9
Epsom salt will help alittlelark Jun 2020 #5
Mg is just a micronutrient, good to color up the leaves, NRaleighLiberal Jun 2020 #7
agreed. mopinko Jun 2020 #10

NRaleighLiberal

(60,499 posts)
2. Summer Squash need lots of sun. Also, are they getting too much
Sun Jun 21, 2020, 09:04 AM
Jun 2020

nitrogen? Be sure they are getting enough Pand K as well.

PJMcK

(22,886 posts)
4. The greenhouse gets lots of sunlight
Sun Jun 21, 2020, 09:07 AM
Jun 2020

But your points about the nitrogen and fertilizer are very good.

Thank you, NRaleighLiberal.

NRaleighLiberal

(60,499 posts)
6. the other big concern once flowers arise is the need for bees
Sun Jun 21, 2020, 09:09 AM
Jun 2020

unlike tomatoes, beans. eggplants and peppers, squash have female and male flowers...bees need to bring pollen from the male to the female blossoms

PJMcK

(22,886 posts)
8. Excellent point
Sun Jun 21, 2020, 09:11 AM
Jun 2020

We're not sure if bees are going into the greenhouse. Another poster suggested that she'll have to hand-pollinate the plants.

Thanks again for your help!

Mr.Bill

(24,790 posts)
9. I had the same problem with tomatoes last year.
Sun Jun 21, 2020, 01:31 PM
Jun 2020

This year, on the advice of a neighbor, I have been shaking the plants every day to pollinate them. My plants are full of tomatoes this year.

NRaleighLiberal

(60,499 posts)
7. Mg is just a micronutrient, good to color up the leaves,
Sun Jun 21, 2020, 09:10 AM
Jun 2020

but probably not a big factor in fruit production

mopinko

(71,802 posts)
10. agreed.
Sun Jun 21, 2020, 10:35 PM
Jun 2020

i just recently learned about pruning and trellising for squashes.
long story short, any leaves below fruit at not doing anything and you should cut them at the stems. this keeps the mildew out.

a good pruning should get it to get down to business, and take back the greenhouse. hack it back to size, trellis it up.
if those leaves aint working, i would feed them to my chickens.

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