Dear Helen: Last year, and again this year, my butternut squash plants produced only male flowers. I grow the plants in sunny beds enriched lasagna-style with manure, leaves and other organic materials laid over a poor soil that is sandy and rocky. I use a natural-source fertilizer.
The plants still did not grow well and by mid-August I had yet to see any female blooms. I鈥檇 appreciate some ideas on how to achieve better results next year.
J.V.
It is usual, especially in open-pollinated (non-hybrid) varieties, for squash plants to produce only male flowers at first, sometimes for over a period of several weeks, before female flowers appear. This is Nature鈥檚 way of ensuring that plenty of pollen is around when the females arrive; however, in poor soil or in other conditions of stress, the plants might never produce female flowers. Those are the ones with a miniature squash-to-be at the flower鈥檚 base.
The poor growth of your plants suggests that they are stressed in some way. It could be that the depth of or balance in the organic materials laid over poor, rocky soil was insufficient for creating a deep, fertile, humus-rich mass to nurture the plants.
If you compost in open heaps, consider transplanting squash next spring atop piles created this year. Before planting, mix the heap up a bit, water it well, let it settle, and place a layer of finished compost or planting mix on top. Squash and pumpkin plants have always done well for me with this method.
For squash plants growing in garden beds, another way to supply them with an energy boost is to spread a generous layer of a nourishing compost under and around the plants as the first flowers appear. Water the soil well first.
Other stressors that can prevent squash plants from thriving and flowering well include inadequate or inconsistent soil moisture levels and extreme weather conditions. This summer鈥檚 heat and scorching sunlight was hard on many plants.
You might want to try more than one variety next year. This is the best and simplest method of determining which one(s) adapt most successfully to an individual garden鈥檚 conditions. Each year, make repeat plantings of only the best performers and at the same time try new varieties for comparison.
The issue you have raised has come up several times this summer in my mail and in conversations with gardening friends.
I鈥檝e heard and read of some people removing some (not all) of the male blooms in hopes of encouraging the production of female flowers, but I鈥檝e not been able to verify the efficacy of this proposed solution.
Weekend column. I鈥檒l be taking time off from writing a column for Saturday of the upcoming Labour Day weekend. Enjoy the holiday.
Garden events
Garden picnic. The Horticulture Centre of the Pacific, 505 Quayle Rd. in Saanich, is hosting a Picnic in the Gardens event this evening (Wednesday, Aug. 29) from 5 to 8 p.m. Bring along a picnic and enjoy your meal in a beautiful setting while listening to live local music. Admission is by donation. Details at hcp.ca.
Government House nursery. Tomorrow (Thursday, Aug. 30) will be the last day of sales at the Government House plant nursery, 1401 Rockland Ave. in Victoria. The nursery is located opposite the Tea Room, and will be open from 9 a.m. to noon. Plants for sale include perennials and grasses at great prices.
VRS meeting. The Victoria Rhododendron Society will meet on Monday, Sept. 3, at 7:30 p.m. at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific. Ken Webb will present 鈥淐reating New Rhododendrons through propagation.鈥� Learn how to root cuttings and nurture the growing plants. The public is welcome at no charge.
VHS meeting. The Victoria Horticultural Society will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 4, at 7:30 p.m. in the Garth Homer Centre, 813 Darwin Ave. Landscape designer Louise Boutin will speak about Fall Bulbs 鈥� combination plantings, naturalizing and more. The pre-meeting workshop will feature Sue Hara, volunteer coordinator of floral design at Government House, who will demonstrate simple and creative ways to make home grown flowers look their best in arrangements. Free admission for guests鈥� first visit.
Invitation to exhibit. Non-members are welcome to exhibit seasonal flowers, vegetables and fruits at the View Royal Garden Club鈥檚 Fall Garden Show on Sept. 8. Information at 250-658-9495 or ViewRoyalGardenClub.wordpress.com.
