Butternut Squash babies not getting polinated - Ask Extension
Greetings from the St. Cloud area,
I usually get about 17 large butternut squash each year but have only a couple that are growing toward full size. ...
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Butternut Squash babies not getting polinated #881078
Asked August 11, 2024, 7:53 PM EDT
Greetings from the St. Cloud area,
I usually get about 17 large butternut squash each year but have only a couple that are growing toward full size. I noticed that despite all the flowering sources for pollinators I have right next to the squash trellis, few female squash buds have been pollinated. There now are hundreds of bumble and honey bees in or near the garden, though they've been late to arrive this year. When I try to hand pollinate I find that the few baby squash I find have tightly closed petals on the end making it hard to insert a Q-Tip with pollen. Is all the water from rainfall related to this?
I've attached a photo of the trellis in my garden. Any tips would be welcome.
Stearns County Minnesota
Expert Response
It could be the rain. It could be the heat. It could be timing. For instance, pollinators have to be there at the right time, but pollinators are not active when the weather is too hot or too rainy:
https://extension.umn.edu/vegetables/pumpkins-and-winter-squash#common-problems-236362
You may still get some squash, but just remember that every year is different.
https://extension.umn.edu/vegetables/pumpkins-and-winter-squash#common-problems-236362
You may still get some squash, but just remember that every year is different.