squash flowrs

[wheatleys wheels]

I have 6 gem squash plants that germinated early. Because they did this I obviously had to plant them. I kept them in doors to give them a chance and they have already started flowering. each plant has given me at least 2 female flowers. Now I'm a little confused as I do not know why i'm only getting one sex flower. any ideas how i get the other sex to come out so that i can hand pollenate the flowers or at least give them a chance to bear fruit?

[Peter]

Theyre bisexual.

[wheatleys wheels]

There only seems to be one sex stem in the middle of it and no male strands anywhere. Does this still mean they are bisexual?

Many thanks

[rustylady]

Male flowers and female flowers are completely different and separate. The female flowers have a mini-fruit behind the petals, the male flowers are just on a normal thin stalk. I wouldn't worry too much about pollination at this time of year, it's very early for squash plants, just keep them growing. Where are they, in a greenhouse or outside?

[Flummery]

I usually find that they produce one sex first (male I think in my garden) and the females come later. Eventually they are both there in abundance and Bob's your Uncle!

[yoanbob]

no hes my OH

[wheatleys wheels]

Many thanks flummery & rustylady....

mmmm.... I'm confused now... I thought the males where many thin sticks inside the flower and the female was the one stalk. I'm getting the one stalk and only the one stalk inside each flower with pollen on top. Can someone confirm I'm looking at a male or a female?

So if it's the male then I think they are ok and working correctly because I was expecting the male flowers to come first. Normally they grow in the garden much later and I leave the bees to do the work and dont worry about looking inside for sexes... This is the first time I've had them germinate early and because of that I've had to keep them indoors.

My greenhouse is a cold greenhouse so I've kept them indoors and will acclimitise them in May before planting them out. But obviously was thinking of hand pollinating them while they were indoors and found I've only got one sex so got confused.

I find I'm not that patient when plants start to flower (I think I get excited at the prospect of fruit)... unfortunately somehting I've learned over the years is that no matter how impatient I am I can't rush these things. I just wondered if I was doing something wrong. Hope I'm not. But if I am any advice is appreciated.

[Flummery]

It's not what's inside the flowers you're looking for WW - it's the stalk behind the flower. If it's thin and straight it's male. If it's a little swollen and rounded it's female and will produce your crop. You need to wait till both are present though. Patience is harder to come by than perfect weather!

[Alison]

Think my squashes etc always produce a few male flowers before the female ones, think it's nature's way of ensuring that the female one gets fertilised.

[wheatleys wheels]

Thank you flummery... that clears it up a bit as I thought I had to look inside the flower for the sex. I still have only one sex present but I will wait until the next lot appears (hope it doesn't take too long as these flowers dont last long (24hours at most). I'm really looking forward to getting the fruit.

[Flummery]

It doesn't matter that the flowers don't last. You will get a succession and eventually both will be around at once. I love these huge blowsey flowers. Sometimes it looks from the bedroom window as if a big yellow hanky has fallen from the washing line into the veg bed!

[wheatleys wheels]

I look forward to that day. I dont see any proper lumps behind the flower head only the base of the flower heads all seem slightly bulbous but that is the flower itself and not behind. I just have thin sticks behind. so I gather I have a whole load of males. I am looking forward to having the gem squash this year.

thanks for the advice all.

[Flummery]

Don't worry WW. As long as the predicted frost doesn't get them, you'll be snowed under with gem squash. They are very generous plants as long as you're generous with the water.

[wheatleys wheels]

well they are kept in my house therefore the forcasted frost will be kept at bay from them. They are kept well watered. I'm making sure of that. Anyone have any idea when this impending frost is actually meant to hit? I've got to keep a lot of my plants indoors when it happens. anyhow... many thanks to all your help again.