Squash harlequin

[cazsudz]

I am growing squashes for the first time and have two huge plants of the above variety. They were sown early May and planted out 1st week of June. They have had lots of flowers and are currently covered in flower buds - but these are all male. There were two female ones but they rotted away. Is it too late to get any fruit this year? Should I pull them up and use the space for something else?

Caz

[Alison]

Probably is getting a bit late but in my oppinion, Harlequin is one of the most yummy winter squashes you can grow. I never get many per plant but it's still worth it so I'd leave it in and see, just in case.

[cazsudz]

Thanks Alison. I'll leave them in but do you know why I'm not getting any feamles??

[gojiberry]

It may be that it is happy to just get bigger and try to take over the world. You could try cutting it back a bit and see if it triggers it into producing females. Have you been feeding it, if so stop feeding till you get some fruits formed.

Ian

[cazsudz]

No haven't fed it - apart from compost dug in before planting and some chicken manure pellets at the same time have given it no attention whatever. I'll cut it back a bit as it is threatening to take over.
Cheers

caz