Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Zucchini...Squash...Zucchini...Squash?

I seem to have a devil of a time growing squash! Zucchini produces 40+ pounds, but squash is beyond my reach. Why? I've planted three different types of squash and each and every one of them is far behind the zucchini which was planted at the same time. Look:

Zucchini
Squash....You have to "squash" your eyes to see it.
Zucchini - replete with flowering female

Emasculated squash
It just dumbfounds me. It really does. Everything is in the same soil with the same sun conditions and the differences are astounding.
Don't get me wrong, I love my zucchini, but I'd like some squash to accompany it.
Any ideas?
The morning comes early. Sweet gardening dreams.

15 comments:

  1. Maybe the squash need some more heat to get going. They look healthy, I bet in a month or so they will be huge.

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  2. I know what you mean. Some plants just dumbfound me....like beans. I have a hell of a time growing beans. It's probably not a good sign that the seeds (which were presprouted) planted a week ago have yet to show their face.

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  3. My squash experience is the exact opposite.Lol. Oh well, it'll be alright in a few weeks...

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  4. what kind of squash?
    This is the first year that I am planting zucchini and other squash so it will be interesting for me to compare. Write now, they look the same but that is on the small side.

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  5. I'd try planting some in a hill of straight compost. My volunteers from the compost pile are the healthiest looking yet. I threw one big yellow crookneck away, and now it's like I have squash "weeds" everywhere! I protected three, and I'm pulling up all the rest of them.

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  6. the best squashes i've grown have always been close to a good compost heap, or even on top of an older one... i don't think the zucchini is as heavy a feeder as the larger more vigorous squashes... good luck on your babies.. am jealous of your zucchini.. my transplants aren't even in the garden yet!!

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  7. First time commenter. :)

    My zucchini plants are also much bigger than my squash plants, right now, if that makes you feel any better. I think zucchini is just more of a monster that grows like gangbusters.

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  8. Zucchini is like a junkyard dog. They'll grow almost anywhere (until the dreaded powdery mildew gets them). Just baby everything else and try not to get in the way of the rampaging zucchs.

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  9. Maybe they are like peppers and go gangbusters once the heat wave starts? I'm new to squash so I don't know, LOL! Last year was my first year and I had to rip it out the squash bugs were so bad

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  10. Silly isn't it? Zucchini seems to grow out of nowhere, but not so with the squash (at least that is my experience with winter varieties).

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  11. I also have the exact opposite issue, but I think it's because my squash is in the more "fertile" side of my garden. I've got female flowers (not bloomed) showing up on my squash, and nothing distinguishable on the the zucchini!

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  12. I had the same problem last year on my new property. Zucchini's like crazy and my squash did absolutely nothing, a few leaves and then they just stayed there for the rest of the summer. I'm moving them this year in hopes of better luck. I like the compost idea though, maybe that's all they need.
    Tina

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  13. I didn't grow squash last year, but I'm growing it this year and it's growing slowly. Last year, my zucchini plants just TOOK off.

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  14. Wow! Seems like we're all in the same boat. It doesn't make me feel so bad after all. Hopefully they'll take off during the summer months. I just direct seeded some more two days ago and I'm curious to see if planting later give you stronger plants.

    All of you first time commenters, thank you so much! Hope you come back soon.

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  15. My squash take about 100 days to harvest but my zuchinni is only like 50 days...so I'd say they're probably OK.

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