Dropping Squash & Marrow Fruits

[thruster]

Please help, new to this growing lark!!
My squash fruits and marrow fruits seem to be dropping of the stems! can anybody tell me what I am doing wrong?
Thanks

[rustylady]

How big are they when they drop? If they are still really small then they haven't been pollinated. If they are bigger then maybe the plants don't have enough water to support all the fruit.

[thruster]

Hi rustylady
They are about 1-2" both squash and marrows.

[rustylady]

Probably not been pollinated then. You need male and female flowers open at the same time. You can do the business yourself with a paintbrush, transferring pollen from a male flower to a female.

[thruster]

Many thanks rustylady I'll start painting!!!!!

[smallblueplanet]

Are you sure its not just the male flowers falling off?

[thruster]

Hi smallblueplanet
Its definately the whole fruits with the wilted flowers

[gojiberry]

Squash and marrow will often drop the first few fruits till they get themselves sorted out. Any that start to discolour remove straight away as they have not been pollinated. I have never had to resort to the paint brush just be patient. I am already giving courgettes away.

Ian