5 Reasons Your Squash Plants Are Only Producing Male Flowers

[@SOLtoo]

FYI concerning pollination: I check my yellow crookneck squash / zucchini 1st thing every morning. If there are any female flowers open I tear off a male flower (of the same type if available) from a different plant mid-stem, strip away the petals leaving only the stamen. I then use it like a paint brush and gently swab all over the pistil. my pollination success is off the charts.

[@JRileyStewart]

My cukes are producing 5 male to every 1 female flower. These are pretty young plants, so not surprising. But I did hand-pollinate the first few females, and they seem to have 'taken.' (Course, that could have happened without my intervention, but hey). I'll keep doing that just to ensure lots of cukes.

[@mairzydotes3548]

I do this as well. Pour a cup of coffee and head out to see what I can pollinate. I have a balcony garden and will get Bess but now for several weeks.

[@fawnrosenberg1997]

I do the same. But if female flowers are still closed when the males are open, I gently open the female flowers and swab with the males

[@SOLtoo]

@@fawnrosenberg1997 really? I have 20-to1 male to female flowers. I've never had to do that yet. I also have success using different types of squashes to pollinate.

[@rubyriddell8406]

This is the way tobacco seed farms we worked at in Kentucky , we had boxes of male blooms, tore them open and took the little antlers and dusted it on the flowers of big tobacco plants, we rode on big wagons that had us up high to the tobacco flowers. Very interesting

[@skinnyWHITEgoyim]

My biggest takeaway from gardening is dont get discouraged by mistakes. Its a learning experience.

[@ealenacallender9858]

This is soooooooo hard

[@HeyJudeDistributing]

Luke, you're great! I'm gardening now a good 50 years. Last year I used a walker due to a broken sacrum. This year I'm on 2 legs but fighting mantle cell lymphoma cancer. I can do it!

[@thefrugivoreanimal]

Juice fast, grape fast, dry brush massage, hot and cold showers, enemas and colon irrigation, hope this tips helps!

[@heatherk8931]

Wishing you the best recovery. I was graced by God with surviving stage 3 pancreatic and common bile duct cancer. Now 9 years. Hugs and fresh, clean foods, positive thoughts and prayers. 🤗👑❣

[@gracebe235]

Look into the dog dewormer, Panacur C. I know, it sounds funky, but look into it….it is not only anti parasitic, but also antifungal. Cancer is a fungus.

[@snoopybeagle7304]

Check out Truth about Cancer! With Ty and his wife.

[@jamjar5716]

Dowells homestead, yes you can! You are a warrior! Roarrrr!

[@Solarbeez]

Last year my Butternut squashes put out only female blossoms. I couldn’t stand all those females going to waste so I decided to try pumpkin male blossoms. I took a little artist’s paint brush and ‘rolled’ up the pollen grains off the male pumpkin blossoms and tapped them onto the female butternut blossoms. It worked VERY well. I had a bumper crop of butternut squash.

[@carsonrush3352]

They are the same genus (Cucurbita), and so they can mate. I'm pretty sure they just don't have viable offspring.

[@jordanff87]

@@carsonrush3352 this is super useful info! Do you think I could fertilize pumpkins with pollen from watermelon vines?

[@Solarbeez]

@@jordanff87 You can try it out…I’ve tried zucchini pollen with no success, but pumpkin pollen works great.

[@warriormamma8098]

Bless I for that tip. I am 1st time gardener in Orlando.

[@puregameplay7916]

I had to go to a local community garden where luckily they had some random squash variety growing that had male flowers open.

[@DreidMusicalX]

I have taken a plastic baggy and a Q tip. Take the Q tip and wipe in the inside of the male flower. Put it in the bag and wait for the female to come out and then once the females do bloom, insert it into the female lightly. If it takes it will close up by the end of the day and the bulb will stay. I have about a 50% success rate doing that.

[@Betty-qd8st]

I’m gonna try this. Thank you, what a great idea. 🌸

[@CathyCulpepper]

Great idea! Thanks :)

[@nunyabiznes33]

How long does their pollen remain viable?

[@DreidMusicalX]

@@nunyabiznes33 I am not sure, but I know if it gets wet it doesn't work so well if at all. I also never had to go more than 4 or 5 days between seeing male and female flowers from one plant to another.

[@leeannosaurus]

@Amanda This is what the 4H competition pumpkin growers recommend as well, to guarantee pollination.

[@AlmostHomeChannel]

Planted zucchini for the first time this year. Never realized how much space each plant takes! It gets massive! Thankfully, it looks like we will be able to harvest a good amount from each plant..but that is an absolute miracle, because I had no idea what I was doing when I planted the seeds. All praise to God!

[@sandramertenslogalbo5502]

Check out the videos about staking zucchini to grow vertically. I was unsuccessful at keeping up with it last year but I will try again. It helps save space.

[@triciac1019]

That's how you learn. By the end of this season, you will feel like a pro.

[@PineGeri]

You can prune them .. that makes for more room in garden

[@outinthesticks1035]

Never leave the door unlocked in zucchini season , you will come home and find your kitchen fill with zucchini by the mad zucchini burgler ( the next door neighbor who is trying to get rid of excess)

[@lavenderloco]

Lol I'm telling you! Hahaha but i am loving it. I planted mine with the busy green beans. I do get fruit but I never thought of male and female flowers definitely gona look for this and see what does mine produce cause it only started fruit last month.

[@LaceyLace_]

My squash plants always produce male flowers first. Right now in my garden I'm barely getting female flowers and it's so exciting to see the bees buzz in them.

[@barbaralevasseur2384]

I really like how you get right into the talks. great clear info and just a touch of humor. Good job and thanks.

[@debbieparker3691]

Agreed

[@ginaharrison5560]

Luke, I bought your Trifecta & worm castings to regenerate my last Summer's soil (I have my garden in pots since I live in a condo with a large deck) rather that throw out my used soil & have to buy all new soil. Luke, my garden went off like gang-busters !! I have never had such lush, huge plants like this before in the beginning of June !! The neighbors were gushing with complements regarding how beautiful & huge my plants & flowers are so early in the Season ! My neighbors' flowers & vegetables look like 90 pound weaklings on the beach compared to my huge, vigorous & colorful plants. I am not bragging - I am thanking you for your fine inventory in your store !! I have learned so very much from you & the products I bought from your store are bringing forth the dividends !! Thank you ! I'm growing big this year for the 1st time in all my gardening decades b/c of your lectures & your products in your store !! Thank you !😃😀😃

[@cputrbug]

My squash plants are putting out a lot of male flowers. I don't want them to go to waste so, since the female flowers aren't ready yet, I pick the male flowers, wash them, stuff them with cream cheese and parsley, batter them and fry them in olive oil. Yum!

[@Rob--]

Do you take out the pistil and filament or do you eat the whole thing?

[@cputrbug]

@@Rob-- I take out the pistil.

[@rubyoro0]

I did that one year and the plants went downhill after that.

[@cputrbug]

@@rubyoro0 Interesting. Once my female flowers start blooming, then I no longer pick male flowers. My plants still seem to be thriving.

[@1SaltyGirl]

Hope L Bourne - I stuff and fry also. Thx for the new stuffing

[@cyndimanuel5473]

Fantastic video! I’ve struggled with this issue with squash and cucumbers for 2 years. Currently have 4 large Armenian cukes with only male flowers - now I know it is a water/heat issue. Thank you!!

[@dustyflats3832]

Must be, I just noticed cukes have a ton of male flowers. Much more than ever b4.

[@amandafrederick8308]

Glad I caught this before bed! Try not to miss an episode.

[@truthtriumphant5503]

Luke...because of your Trifecta fertilizer along with "super soil" we got that was used to grow organic mushrooms...we have the earliest/prettiest zucchini this year...ever. Thank you for helping make gardening fun again : )

[@kareno6222]

So happy to see this! I’m in AZ and I’ve had nothing but male flowers on my zucchini and I’ve had no idea why. The 100 degree temps must be it….thanks for the info 👍

[@carolvenable8229]

Karen, I'm in Phoenix and this year was the first time I attempted container zucchinis and I got all males and now the plants are drying up. I water them sometimes twice a day. I think the heat was too much for them.

[@kareno6222]

@@carolvenable8229 thank you! I ended up pulling mine. I think I planted too late. Better luck next year 👍

[@Elementaldomain]

You can also try parthenocarpic seeds. These are plants that self-pollinate. Johnny's Seeds online carries a lot of varieties. These are known as greenhouse varieties. Be sure and grow them in the shade and try air-pruning pots.

[@lillypod1337]

"Plants are very selfish!" LOL Thanks for this info... I'm heading outside now to have a talk with my plants!

[@marthakratz7877]

😅😂🤣🌱

[@Sunshine_AK]

I do that every day 🤣

[@Yarlinvlogs]

Today I’ve been watching some of your oldest videos about this topic! Thanks for posting a new one with new information ❤️🙏

[@purplekimi1]

Very appreciative of this information. I've been struggling for a while with my zucchini plants.

[@amnicola89]

Lol!!! 🤣 "Quick little pea break. Not that kind of pee....don't be weird." Great video to start this beautiful day! Lol

[@chelseahartweg2938]

I grew cucurbits for 4 years with only male flowers and I could NOT figure it out. This year they're doing great. The difference? I learned about plants loving more deep watering instead of frequent shallow watering. I had sprinklers on my plants in the past so I assumed that meant that they couldn't be dry. I was wrong. Now I do a DEEP soak by hand instead and my plants are doing great. Learn from my mistakes, friends. Don't waste 4 gardening years like I did lol.

[@triciac1019]

My plants like it when I water at night. The water soaks in before heat sets in. But I live in a very dry area. Last year I put down shredded leaves and could go twice as long between watering. Wood chips help also.

[@MSMAXIALE]

Thanks! You just saved me 9 minutes and twelve seconds.

[@AU9377]

I appreciate the fact that you don't profess to know exactly what the problem is when it could literally be several things. You provide in depth answers and give information that allows people to apply that information to their particular set of circumstances. Good Job.

[@debbriggs5811]

I didn't plant any this year. The past couple years this happened here attempting to grow squash in buckets. I never had problems b4. Thank you for this video.

[@W1RMD]

Cucumber beetles are my biggest problem here in Maine! I use a Q- tip covered in Vaseline and they stick to it. A lot of work to be organic, but other than spraying this has been the next best thing.

[@HealthyFocus365]

Thanks for the tip!

[@seshadrisrinath]

My plants are about the same size as yours. I have many male but a few female as well, but they are staggered by 1-2 days. I have been collecting from male flowers in a Q tip then fertilizing the female when it open. I also have a fertilized fruit that is very small and not seemingly growing.

[@shawnahubble1220]

i been hand pollinating early in the mornings all my squashes for 7 yrs due to lack of 🐝 s. i cross pollinate between the dif varieties/kinds when needed.. I will take a male flower from what ever variety i can find and pollinate up to 6 or 7 females with the one male flower. This year i have used yellow summer squashe males to cross pollinate my dk green zucchini and my green zucchini to pollinate my gold zucchini and vice versa whenever needed and it works PERFECT..

[@shineyrocks390]

Phosphorus : triggers reproduction in flowering plants. Potassium: grows the flowers and produce fruits. After 43 years of gardening, I learned this from a 16 year old young man. You really can teach an old dog new tricks. You don't need much nitrogen with flowering plants after the growth cycle is good and plants are strong enough to flower and produce fruits.

[@bevpirt9930]

What is a good fertilizer for this that has both?

[@shineyrocks390]

@@bevpirt9930 I use banana peels but if not then if I have to I'll use Foxfarms Big Bloom organic liquid fertilizer.

[@abmrose]

He’s not 16, he’s a grown married man with a family… lol

[@donhorak9417]

Bone meal!

[@marciharrison8494]

This is all good information, however I've watched 2 of your zucchini videos now where you've talked about male and female blossoms without showing what they look like. As a first time squash/vine grower, it would be EXTREMELY helpful to see examples of each in the videos to know the difference. Your video popped up in my feed and I am enjoying your content. Keep up the good work and thanks for the information!

[@jude7321]

Hi Marci🏡🌿🐦❣️ The male plant is just a stem with a blossom at the top and the female has a stem with a blossom with a little bump under the blossom. That little bump is the baby squash. When you look at them you can really see the difference, the male is just a stem with a blossom. But the female is a stem with the blossom and a bump. It looks swollen under the blossom. I hope that made some kind of sense to you. God bless you Jude, from Kentucky ✝️🥀🐴🇺🇲💚

[@marshamorrell2769]

I don’t have a picture but the name flower has just a stem, a long stem and the female have a bulge at their base of the stem

[@pitabury]

@MIgardener Very helpful video, thank you! May I ask what onion that is next to you? We have some of those in our planter on our new property. Also, thank you for making such helpful videos. I absolutely love

[@CaroleHaddon]

I was at the fence with the neighbor today, she said her zukes are doing good! Can't wait to trade! I'll have enough ripe strawberries in a day or two to make jam!! Happy Gardening, Y'all!!

[@therealrobbdee672]

Thats my jam

[@CuriousinNY]

Congrats on the strawberries. How do you keep the strawberries from being eaten by the birds and chipmunks? I had about 14 strawberries ripen and went to get them and something else had the same idea. Out of those very first fruits I only had 4 that weren’t eaten into. 😞. They, like me, were waiting for that right moment as the day before they were all whole berries.

[@mneraasen224]

@@CuriousinNY I used bird netting and laid it on top of put some skinny stakes to keep it from blowing away and wind chimes. Got it fir $9.99 at Tractor supply. Anything reflective can help too.

[@therealrobbdee672]

@@CuriousinNY I've heard u can tie cd's on strings and that keeps birds at bay. Also, James Prigrino (sp) says he paints rocks red and mixes the. In w his strawberry patch. It mite not work all the time. But, it can't hurt

[@CuriousinNY]

@@mneraasen224 Thanks Denise. I just bought and placed some netting yesterday. I’m glad I am on the right path. The only thing I was wondering was how do the rest of the strawberry flowers get pollinated if I have them covered? Are strawberries self pollinating?

[@rebeccazody1278]

Off topic- I did your blueberry seed planting process in winter sowing jugs. Newsflash- I have seedlings about 1.5 inches tall. I am going to transplant later in the week. Great results! Thx

[@maryland9987]

Omg and wow! You are the only Yt creator that I can go to and immediately get the facts that answer any questions/concerns I have regarding my veggie garden. You’re full of invaluable info. Many, many thanks. :)

[@CB-sr8ee]

I had this issue last year and I’m pretty sure it’s because my squash wasn’t getting enough sun. Planted it in a sunnier spot this year and I’ve got both male and female flowers right of the bat.

[@tdesanchez]

Hi from Kansas City KS. I am thankful for the amount of rain we are getting at the moment. I will be patient with my squash etc. This is my second year of veggie gardening and last year I made mistakes. This year I'm learning. This video is valuable info and encouraging. Thank you.

[@peaceatferngully8369]

Thank you so much I just noticed in the garden this morning before I saw this video that I have flowers on a few squash plants and they're all male now I know why they are young plants but they're doing great so I'll just keep watching and waiting. Thanks for the info right on time😉

[@kims1234]

Thank you so much for doing this video! This is the 2nd year that my zucchini haven't been producing female flowers. Thank you for explaining why!

[@sweetpeasbackyardgarden1236]

Awesome info. The heat has been brutal here in California. So, I have observed that the male flowers on my butternut squash appear first. Then, approximately 6-7 days later the female blossoms. Now that I understand the timing, I go out and hand pollinate as soon as possible. I do not wait for the pollinators anymore.

[@joykelly440]

You're the pollinators. Duh! I'm sure you're just as sweet as the bee...without the sting😇

[@ABenjamiteSis]

Luke, can you talk about the scallions or onions behind you?? What do you do with the seed bulbs and the stalk? What’s growing in the ground? Thanks for all you do. Great content always.

[@oreogiri]

Thank you for the detailed explanation. I live in Bangalore, India with a small home garden which I have managed to keep fully organic for last nearly 14 years. My pumpkin plant has been giving lots of Male flowers for the last 3 weeks or so with no sign of females yet. I was getting concerned but listening to you I think I will just wait. Summer has been quite hot and the monsoon is just beginning. With rains the temperatures should dip a little. I will wait and see. Have you grown bitter gourd? I have a big problem of fruit flies on this plant. They just attack very young fruits and bore into them. The fruits yellow prematurely and I am losing almost all fruits with few stray exceptions. I don’t know what to do. I have tried spraying Neem oil emulsion, and keeping vinegar mixed water in several places but not deterring fruit flies. I won’t spray chemical pesticides. If you know any remedy for this I would appreciate your advice. Thank you.

[@carolinemccann2404]

Also, we can eat the male flowers. Stuffed or lightly batter fried like a tempura

[@SheepAmongG.O.A.T]

I mean really you can eat anything if you want lol.

[@nunyabiznes33]

@@SheepAmongG.O.A.T we can eat anything at least once!

[@chickenmama5051]

Very helpful! I’ve been frustrated by my lack of squash so far this year.

[@ciscokidable]

Great information. Thanks. Living in Texas, the heat of summer is a huge factor we must account for.

[@genebeckley5189]

One point you could add to your gardening videos is I cultivate or loosen the dirt around my veggies to help water or moisture get to the roots of my plants carefully , soil can get hard packed not allowing water to get down deep to the roots and it seems my plants respond to that looking better !

[@cynthiaannblaha5127]

My male and female flowers are not opening at the same time. It has been either very hot or very cool. I have tried to pollinate my female flowers but it hasn’t worked. The one plant I have is a pumpkin and it started from seeds I buried last fall. Because of the heat, it is now showing signs of powdery mildew. I pruned the leaves I noticed that on and used a milk/water solution on it yesterday. I have watered when it hasn’t rained. I have also set up a sun shade in the hot afternoons.

[@sandraneary8414]

this is my first year of container squash plants in a greenhouse. Central OR is suffering a very hot and dry summer. I see the buds of the squash flowers about to open. This video pre-relieved any anxiety I might have about no fruits. Excellent, thank you.

[@philcoppa]

if they're only producing one type of flower remember to pick, dip in batter and fry them

[@jkling1717]

Our plants were huge, dark green and healthy, with tons of male flowers but no female flowers. We mistakenly thought it was high temps but they were actually lacking essential nutrients. So, we gave them Foliar Feeding every 3-5 days with Miracle-Gro Water Soluble Plant Food Vegetables & Herbs, and VOILA - LOTS of fruit. It's easy to do and is a great way to ensure the plants get nutrients almost immediately.

[@littleredhen2894]

Thanks! I'll try that if I don't get any female flowers soon!

[@heidimisfeldt5685]

😎❤ Glad I saw this video. Every year I try to grow some squashes, and all I ever get is flowers.🌸🌺🌼☘🌻☘

[@deonnadaniels3461]

Thank you this was so informative! ❤🎉🎉

[@carolv437]

Last year I put in a raised garden bed with other plants. Produced but not a lot. This year I put my zucchini in 15 gallon containers. And they are massive! Producing both male and female. I had dial back on fertilizer a bit. I’m so happy for this channel! Got my seeds and I get advice from him!

[@13thCP]

That’s why they’re not doing anything in my home garden. There have been ZERO bees in my yard or within 2 miles this year. Really freaks me out. Guess I have to manually do it. Thanks for the video!

[@hollynelson543]

You have more followers than any other garden channel I watch. I'm in Grand Rapids MI, go Luke!

[@peterconway6584]

I'm in Arizona in a totally different climate regime, and I still watch MIGardener.

[@tessie652001]

I’m over by Fremont cool

[@Corey87]

I'm in Cadillac, Michigan .. I love watching Luke's material. Biggest reason, is that he is one of the VERY few sources of good gardening information for our particular states' climate, albeit I'm in the North-Western part of the lower peninsula hovering the very line between zones 4b and 5a. It's hard to find good info.. especially when my 'micro-climate' happens to hover between a zone 2-ish, and a zone-8ish lol. One night it's a low of 33, two days later were in the upper 80's, then getting ready to drop back down to 41 at the very next night 😔 our growing season is strait up Coookey 🥴🌱🤷‍♂️

[@tessie652001]

Dustin Willis I totally agree same here lol. , n yes I love Luke as well . He has help me so much . Happy gardening dear GODBLESS

[@Corey87]

@@tessie652001 bless your heart That's very kind of you, thank you ☕

[@humera121]

I find your videos very helpful for me as a novice in gardening. I was wondering if you have made any video on all about the plant foods? Like what's the role of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and how much to gives when to give and how to give? That would be really helpful.

[@kenbellchambers4577]

Humera, Make properly prepared compost, it has everything in abundance necessary for plants to prosper. The compost goes through many degrees of microbial life as it decomposes and each of the succeeding species will gather or produce different elements such as phosphorous, or potassium, etc. When building a compost pile, use lots of carbon based material for every bit of nitrogen. The carbon is the habitat which contains the fluids from green vegetation, food scraps, urine, animal manure etc. If you always cover the nitrogen with four times more carbon, you will be on the right track. Collect the carbon and keep plenty of dry stuff at hand out of the weather, that way you can be sure of capturing all the benefits of the green and stinky stuff when you are adding them to the heap, and not have flies or vermin. If you have problems with animals or birds, cover the heap with shade cloth, bins are not necessary, they are a nuiscence.

[@humera121]

@@kenbellchambers4577 thank you. Very helpful.

[@cynthiagentilini4212]

In over 30 years this is the first time I have had this problem. I just moved back to Michigan, and I was in a hurry to get them in the ground and ended up using miracle grow dirt mixed in. I am wondering if this is the problem.

[@MFaver]

I’m in arizona at zone 9b, this explains why I’m no longer getting squashes. We currently are anywhere from 100-110F on any given day right now.

[@melissasullivan1658]

9b in NorCal, was just 105 last week. And now it’s 48F overnight here. It feels like I’m never going to be able to grow squash and cukes here, I swear!

[@triciac1019]

You can put down shredded leaves or wood chips and it will help cool your soil down some and also reduce the amount you have to water. I did the shredded leaves last year here in Northern Utah where we are very dry. I didn't have to water every day. I watered only every other day. I also water at night so the soil and the plants have a chance to absorb the water. I found watering even in early morning was not as good for my plants as watering at night. The night time temps are almost or as important as the day time temps.

[@FloridaGirl-]

FL here get some shade cloth. It works!

[@carolinekinney2364]

I’m so glad to find this video. I wasn’t sure why they were doing this. I even have one plant that has two female so when the females flower opened I got a q-tip and tried to pollinate the female but I don’t think it worked. The tiny fruit looks half dead. I have hope. Ty

[@PopeyeModesto]

Thank you! Very informative. I'm having issues with my cucumbers and squash plants.

[@anapaulacrawford5837]

Makes since. Thank you for the info! God bless!

[@lilgil333]

Starting gardener , I’m hard on myself. So thank you for this reassuring video

[@margaretlebs6346]

My cukes are doing both flowers right off the start. I haven't ever had this before. I am thrilled. I didn't plant until middle of June due to weather. Now water everyday because of heat here in Missouri. Going to be lots of pickles soon.

[@lisawilson7889]

I manually pollinate all the time and have excellent success using zucchini to pollinate yellow squash, and visa versa. Also, I will pluck off and freeze some male flowers for later manual pollination. Seems to work great.

[@larkshere]

Great timing on this video as I am dealing with this very issue now. (Kalamazoo county)

[@journeytravelers5420]

Thank you Luke , bless you and family and everyone's gardens

[@rpastore5429]

While my zucchini are producing mostly male flower early on, I take advantage of it. I get up for work around sunrise, go out in the garden and clip the male flowers just as they open but before bugs get in them. Then I gently pack them into a small bowl of water stem-side down, and put them into the refrigerator. When I get home in the evening, the blooms are still open and fresh, which allows me to stuff, egg & breadcrumb, or batter dip them (or even chop them into a salad).

[@gerardinecizmar]

I live in Brooklyn and last year this plant with lovely orange flowers appeared in my yard. It took up a bit of space. This year its leaves are massive and it's taking up a lot of space and growing everywhere. I just realized it squash. I never planted any seeds for squash. How did this happen lol? I don't even fertilize and it's taken over. We found a squash and my son cut it open and after some research, I finally found out what it was.

[@kiwikatt12]

The young fruit and flowers are edible even when not pollinated. Flowers can be sauteed like greens or stuffed like a pepper. Great way to use early fruit or if you maybe have too many coming in to harvest large.

[@christopherhoffman2002]

Perfect timing on this video, I've been scratching my head wondering why I've got all male flowers... I think it's just too early in the season. Do you have issues with squash vine borers? I lost all my squash & zucchini to them last year and I don't want to use pesticides. Any suggestions?

[@shirleyk623]

I don't like pesticides either because I raise butterflies and BT will kill my caterpillars. I've lost all but one zucchini plant this year. All of a sudden one morning there they are. The dreaded vine borer😳😳😳 I covered the plant I have left with tulle to keep the vine borer out. (In case you don't know what tulle is, it's a very fine mesh cloth.) Robbie @ Robbie and Gary Gardening Made Easy uses tulle all the time. It's really cheap. I got mine at WalMart. Now I'll have to watch for the female flower to open up. Then I can hand pollinate. Good luck!!!!!🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋

[@lesliewhitworth9693]

It might be coincidence or placebo effect but I swear mint kept vine borers (sp?) Away last year. Trying again this year, so far so good. Wish I had better luck with squash bugs and rabbits!

[@christopherhoffman2002]

Unfortunately, I don't have the time to manually pollinate. I've watched videos about wrapping the stem in tin foil and setting out a yellow Frisbee filled with beer (supposed to handle slugs & vine borers) but both of those techniques seem kind of hokey. Just curious if there is some better.

[@shirleyk623]

@@christopherhoffman2002 Sorry, I've got nothing.

[@pamelafeury5894]

I guess I'm doing pretty well. My cucumbers have been planted in a container this year. I'm growing vertical. They are a little over a month planted, and I have 3 or 4 female, about 10 male, and I'm using a soft bristle artist brush to pollinate them.

[@Michellemybelle1996]

Great tips- love all the gardening knowledge everyone shares! I’m in MI also and noticing a lot of ant hills in my raised beds….should I be concerned? How to safely get rid of them? Any ideas are welcome!!

[@christinedewing4577]

Sugar mixed with borax, or cornmeal.

[@triciac1019]

I sprinkle cinnamon around the plants. The ants leave.

[@Michellemybelle1996]

Thank you so much for the tips- I will try these ideas!!

[@cet765]

Thank you for this video! I was so upset with my cucumbers only producing male flowers in one area and in another area, I only had female flowers. They were too far apart to cross pollinate easily because I had very few flying pollinators.

[@davidgagnon2849]

Thank you. I had just posted on Facebook that all I've had is male blossoms for the past two+ weeks and a friend directed me here. It may be the heat, too healthy of plants (too much N2), or they're stressed. I mau not see any fruit this year. I'll start earlier next year. Thank you for this video!

[@lilywang2949]

I am in Houston and having been in triple digits for more than one month. My butternut squash plants are growing beautifully. Every morning for the past week, I see about half a dozen female flowers, NO male flowers! 😢😢

[@peterconway6584]

"... Don't be weird." That's the most risqué thing I've ever heard you say.

[@SimonHaestoe]

Yes, I wonder if we can expect scandalous headlines now.

[@leslief5129]

Lol!! I know I was a little surprised!! Lol!!!

[@peterconway6584]

@@leslief5129 Next thing you know, Luke is going to go shirtless on one of those hot, humid Michigan days.

[@nardanarvaez]

🙈🙉🙊🌿👀🤣

[@bridgetlynn6953]

Awesome video! It’s been crazy hot here in Oregon so I think that’s one of the reasons my plants are struggling. Thanks

[@annieb7919]

Nothing like apologizing to an onion! Such compassion! Maybe that's one of the reasons we love MIgardener!?!!

[@christineclemmer7310]

LOVE the humor! Keep it up!

[@trishthehomesteader9873]

This video reminded me of the last squash blossom video you did. 😁😆😂🤣 I'm happy this one wasn't as uncomfortable for you. (It was still your best episode EVER!😉) Blessings and hugs!💜🤗

[@danschram4052]

Thank you, that answered my concerns .

[@TexasRob28]

What's the best why to deal with powdery mildew?

[@barbaracole4314]

Your video hit the nail on the head... this exactly what's going on in my garden, was just about to gove em up... we r having one of the hottest and driest summer's on record, but thx to u I'm going to hang on there and take ur advice

[@melvani1917]

Superb video.. Thank you.. I just planted squash.. And i needed the advice.. Thk u

[@rosebw1077]

Thank you I was wondering why my squash plant hasn’t gotten any fruit on it I didn’t realize they were only maleflowers that I was seeing thank you for answering my question

[@AnneGoggansQHHT]

My pattipan plants are almost 5 feet across. It would be nice if they were that size

[@SuperWhatapain]

Late I'll have to review this tomorrow. Thank you and Good night😊

[@chuckknight2994]

I found your video and it was very timely. I have several zucchini plants and they are producing well, however I have several pumpkin plants and they have lots of male flowers. I was glad to hear your advise on the male/female flower issue that applies to the pumpkins.

[@floridastitcher1]

Thanks so much that really helps

[@tinacarney5052]

Your quickly becoming a favorite for me.

[@1stAmbientGrl]

Yes! Thank you! I haven't seen anyone else talk about this. Now a question about strawberries. My brother's strawberry plants bloomed but produced no fruit. They are plants I gave him from an order I got. My plants are doing great and have a lot of fruit growing. Mine are in grow bags and I'm in zone 6b. I didn't ask him if he put his in the ground, but he had said he has a spot to plant them. He's in zone 7b. Why did his bloom but not produce fruit?

[@MisterDoctorBaconman]

If it's an ever bearing variety then flowers need to be pruned until around July before fruit production starts. For a June bearing variety the first round of flowers on a new plant typically don't produce any fruit, but if you prune them all carefully as they pop up the next year they should fruit. In general though it's common for strawberry plants to produce little or no fruit in their first year.

[@christymartin9404]

My squash started out producing both male & female flowers. I've staked them & they have grown beautifully. But... I noticed yesterday that they are now only producing female flowers. I generally check them every day & use the males to pollinate the females. I got a little confused in this video. How can I get them to go back to producing both? Great video. Thanks

[@ellentang8330]

Same thing happens to mine too. Can you do a video of why it only produces female flowers? Thanks.

[@len452000]

Migardener: “Quick little pee break” Me: 🤔 that was odd… but ok Migardener: “Not THAT kind of pee” he say while grabbing/eating a PEA. Me: 😂 ok…. That makes more sense. 😆

[@deborahbeattie9103]

Thanks I have been wondering about this.

[@mothersgauri4137]

You answered all the very questions I was having...THANK YOU !!! Great video !

[@deniseview4253]

Now I’ll know what is going on when I grow squash. Thank you.

[@ginaharrison5560]

Thank you. Now I know why my cucumber plants only produced male flowers all the month of June, 2020. My deck was just too hot for the pots they were, plus they never had any shade. They were watered every day though. Finally, in late July, I began to get female flowers too. The fruit looked awful, though: They were mis-shaped & the fruit turned Yellow ! I finally just yanked them out of the pots & threw them away & transplanted an herb in the pots instead, which did fine.

[@LillyR539]

Great video I agree about the watering and to much nitrogen 🦋🦋🦋

[@loriy7532]

Hey there , I heard that the squash and zucchini plants need to produce about eight flowers before it is mature enough to get it on so to speak...What do you think?...

[@MTCali70]

Just subbed. I love your garden...thank you. I am growing zucchini and summer squash right now. They are beginning to flower..and I have to water them 2x a day. I live in a hot part of California.. God Bless..

[@debbiegreen7051]

I hardly had any pollination, I didn't place any flowers around in my backyard this year, I noticed I didn't see ang bees or butterflies. So I went to Lowes and bought some pretty flowers with lots of blooms and placed them out back. And wouldn't you know, here comes the bees/butterflies. Thus my squash just started producing Yippie!

[@aikiuke]

1. Too early in the season 2. Too hot/cold 3. Nutrients. surplus nitrogen>big leaves --pee break 6:03 4.Too dry 5. Pests

[@sushmakhajuria3135]

Thanks

[@lunabeta3516]

Thank you!

[@mailywong9612]

Thank you , you are so nice

[@nardanarvaez]

Appreciation 🌈♥...🌿pea not🙊🙉🙈🤣

[@Rob--]

Dont know what's going on this year but all my squash varieties are exploding. Taking over everything even with pruning and vertical growth.

[@SteveFrenchWoodNStuff]

Thank you for the great information!

[@jameswaterhouse-brown6646]

Glad I found this guy. Great info