Troubleshooting: Squash Plant Only Producing Male Flowers! Why & What Can You Do?

Is your plant only producing male flowers? Squash, pumpkin, cucumber, melon, and zucchini, all produce male and female flowers. Many times we are frustrated by the lack of female flowers or the abundance rather of male flowers. We will discuss in this episode why this is the case and what you can do about it.
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[@sylviacarlson3561]

I was talking to my cucumber plants saying, "When are you going to be giving me a cucumber?" Lo and behold.....I found two of them. I was so excited. I've gotten 5 or 6 and I'm sure there's more to come. Thanks for your video.....I have a real problem with getting even a single squash. Last year my zucchini had glorious leaves and huge blossoms all of which eventually fell off....nada.......I even manually pollinated the male and female and still nothing. Why is this so complicated? My squash has a bunch of growths on the bottom of the plants. I will pluck away some of the males as they advance and see what happens. Keep these videos coming. They are helpful.

[@iwannajob1]

I've started saving the pollen from the male flowers on a Q-tip, then when I see a female flower I dab the Q-tip on the anthers. So far, I've gotten better results than last year (lots of failed fruit). I don't grow very many squash (4 plants), so I have to help nature along.

[@annusabharwal780]

Do you keep it in the fridge or just outside till you see a female flower

[@weilima5369]

Do you keep it in a zip lock in it fridge or how do you keep it?

[@rockymountainkitchen7834]

I want to know how your store your Q-tips, too!

[@Emiliapocalypse]

Ah, thank you for your comment. I was having the only male flower issue and was wondering if pollen would “keep” on some kind of swab or paintbrush so that I could visit any females that do happen to blossom. Like the others, would love to know how you store your q-tips. Thanks again!

[@FunFacts5005]

that flower on a male squash are edible, here in the Philippines we eat that and add it in soup sometimes so don't waste your flowers just sharing

[@boboscurse4130]

Plants are so amazing. If I could start over I would do something in horticulture.

[@jashortez]

No need to start over. Start today!

[@FeliciaCravens]

Squash must have really good PR guys - I have always heard that if you plant squash you'll be giving it away all season. I only planted a couple of them at the end of March, and I haven't got anything to show for it yet.

[@sirengita3535]

Oh no its definitely true. Every year SOMEBODY i know though the grape vine will grow squash, usually zucc or cuc, and then be giving everyone huge baskets lol Based on how my first attempts, from seed, eaaarly season are going...if they get pollinated I'm going to have a zillion! The hard part can be feeding them enough, they are voracious. Ours are in containers though so maintaining the microenvironment is easier than a bed maybe?

[@blackoak4978]

I can attest to cucumbers being like that. Had a veggie garden as a kid with cucumbers in good soil and full sun, and my brother, sister and I started eating them like apples because no matter how many we ate there were still some coming off the vine. Just started gardening again this summer, and started late, with poor soil and not a lot of sun, so they've been slow going. I have been fertilizing them and they look healthy, but I don't think they'll be as productive as the ones when I was a kid

[@glendoki]

Your timing is impeccable! I needed to prune my summer squash when your pruning video came out, my tomatoes needed attention when your tall tomato video came out, and this week I suddenly went from abundant to sparse fruit in my squash because I forgot a two-week fertilizer cycle. Plus your positive energy and enthusiasm is contagious. You've quickly become my favorite KZbin gardening tutor!

[@christyhernandez8625]

After I prune the leaves I always get more zucchini. They need more air flow and sun, so they can be pollinated. To many leaves block air, sun and the pollinators.

[@ssgundes1]

Omg I have been hearing about male vs female flowers on squash but I never understood it until you explained it sooo well!

[@lulasalem1250]

Lol, I'm impatient, too. I sit and stare at my plants 3 or more times a day!

[@Annastasia666]

Lula Salem same here! 🤣

[@lulasalem1250]

@@Annastasia666 Finding a flower or veggie growing never gets old

[@annusabharwal780]

Same here. I go and look at them 4 times a day

[@dreamcatcher6545]

Me three.. I have to look at them first thing in the morning and last thing in the evening.. have to force myself not to go in between

[@Emiliapocalypse]

Haha so I’m not a nutcase then? (Well, not for this reason anyway 😅) I love going out to poke around my plants and seeing what they’re up to 🌱

[@helenbeks5374]

I love how excited you are about gardening. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[@tanyagray9097]

I love how when I Google a gardening question it will always direct me to you and you always have an answer on here. Thank you Luke!

[@danjohnson7399]

I never learned the difference between a Male and female flower. A video on that with different but common gardening varieties would be super awesome.

[@barbarabeckley8732]

He did show that at the start of this video.

[@gabrielavega2633]

“Ripen. TODAY!!” Me to my tomatoes just barely beginning to blossom

[@flippitydooda7996]

Gabriela Vega that’s how I feel too!😂😍

[@Minnesota_Mama_Bear]

Thank you for the great information. I needed this knowledge!

[@pagelivingbeautifully8252]

Love how you explain a bit of the plant science. Really makes sense when you understand how the plants function. Thank you Luke!

[@christyjohnson6967]

Thanks so much for the clarification on this one, Luke! Really appreciate it.

[@robertyoung5010]

104 here on Saturday. Heat index of 116. So LOTS of late night watering. This year 90% of our plants are from your company. Doing great! Thanks

[@LauraBeeDannon]

Northern California? We hit the 100's already too.

[@KonjikiKonjiki]

I am constantly blown away by the helpful, specific information provided on this channel!! I started gardening a few years ago and have a lot to learn. V grateful for MIgardener's great resources here.

[@dahliayee9689]

I was just starting to look for answers why I have 6 male flowers and 1 female flower on my zucchini plant. 😂This video is in the nick of time to answer my question. Thanks!

[@E_R_I_K]

My garden is young yet as I plant memorial day weekend every year in NY. I had this exact issue last year. Thanks for the info and advice 👍

[@missshean9538]

I like how you explain everything so direct to the point. Thank you so much ! keep it up!

[@katiewright4425]

This video couldn’t have come at a better time. I have been perplexed as to why my squash and zucchini were only producing flowers that fall off and leave stems. Thank you so much for this video!

[@shannonvass3761]

Thanks!! You are the best!! I always look for you on KZbin with any of my gardening questions. I learn so much!

[@renaeselix5648]

Thank you so much for these!!! I bought seeds and fertilizer from you this year.... so happy to have found you !

[@sammijoywilson1068]

Thank you, I asked this question. I am really glad to get this info.

[@SarahSarah-nu8ce]

Love your information! Your garden is just incredible, and something to shoot for! Keep the vids coming please.

[@lizdietrich6801]

You’re such a nice guy with great personality which makes your videos so enjoyable! 🌱

[@mooretimeinthekitchen7635]

Brilliant explanations. I'm trying to grow squash for the first time this year and didn't even know this was an issue!

[@blackoak4978]

I only knew the difference because of a different video he did on manual pollinating. When I went to pollinate a few I realized they were all male and did a little freak-out, lol

[@Myrtle2911]

Cool video! I'm veggie gardening for the first time. I had no idea squash had male and female flowers. Currently, my potted zucchini has several female flowers, so I'm hopeful. I have a ton of bumblebees in my location!

[@bettys7726]

Perfect timing. I just thought about this today! Loads of flowers and only 2 female. Another great video!

[@MasterovD.Skies42_411]

Perfect timing. The sun down here in AZ is almost burning my butternut squash and cucumbers. All of your videos are incredibly informative. Gonna get some shade cloth and start plucking some male flowers.

[@tammiedudley829]

Thanks for your squash knowledge Luke - I was just getting ready to YANK UP all of my squash plants and give up on them. After watching this video and you describing everything that goes on with squash it was like you were watching mine grow (or not) lol. Now I know - patience is key - so I won't yank them! As usuall - Luke to the Rescue! Please keep trhe vids coming, we learn so much! Hugs to you and Mrs. MI Gardener from a TN beginner Gardener.

[@sirengita3535]

I relearned this year with a pink brandywine tomato to NEVER give up on a plant if you want it...we got it at a nursery, it was in bad shape and i honestly thought after the first 2 months it was going to die. I really hoped it would live and we babied it and just this month its EXPLODED and i didn't even realize until this week it was the same plant!! I assumed my fiance had pulled it out and rearranged with a healthy plant 🤣

[@TyGreen726]

Great information. My cucumbers are flowering and on a few plants I observed mostly males. Thanks again 😊

[@blackoak4978]

Very helpful (I hope, lol). Pretty sure my cucumbers are just immature. They are a nice healthy green, not wilting, and growing reasonably quickly. I was concerned that it might be nutrition (because the soil is horrible), but I fertilize weekly, and the tomatoes are doing fine. Then I thought it was not enough sun, but they have pretty dark green leaves. But since these are the first flowers produced, I'm going to assume it's just immaturity because I started them from seed pretty late. Picked a few of the male flowers, so hopefully that will help

[@tinamarieb49]

Love your enthusiam! You make me happy and excited about my own garden. Thanks!

[@babyroot3479]

This explains a lot for me thank you! My young Zucchini plant was producing fruit but shortly thereafter they would yellow and wrinkle up. Now I know why. They're not getting properly pollinated.

[@pattyclarkson3]

Thank you Luke, great information. I was just asking around about this.

[@anashomestead5919]

I have never had this problem in gardens I have had over the years in my lifetime, but I have heard a lot of people in videos over the past few years talk about it often. So, I stopped in to give this a listen. Thanks for the video, it was pleasant!

[@ryanchampney2637]

Same here, my squash zucchini and cucumber plants are always big producers

[@Miss449686]

Great video--thanks for sharing. I never knew why my squash produced so many male flowers. My mom always picked a few for fried blossoms.

[@sirengita3535]

This year we are gardening along with you (kinda) and its crazy! I seriously used to watch gardening videos like yours with these MONSTEROUSLY huge plants that look prehistoric and thinking i had to live somewhere crazy to get this result...we tried cauliflower and zucchini this year and thanks to your amazing gardening advice i see these every day! Nothing could have prepared me for how gigantic these plant leaves get, my rabbits love it too :)

[@185Diannah]

I'm a first timer in growing a garden and have all these beautiful squash flowers but no fruit. This video was very helpful.

[@lyndabrunk2277]

Great video! You explained a lot of my problems and how to deal with them. Thanks!

[@kellyy4525]

Super helpful. My blossoms keep falling off and I had no idea what was wrong. Great information! Thank you.

[@suwansiricroce8395]

Love your t shirt, Luke! And this video is a good stuff! Thank you. :)

[@robynmize4713]

TY... you were the first person that addressed sun. My partially shaded plant has produced zero squash in 3 months.... now i know why. I will restart in a new location now. Thank You Again.

[@patriciamccrea8236]

Love your knowledge and humble sharing. So great to watch and learn!

[@satoshiketchump]

This was incredibly educational. Thank you!

[@gailwallace3695]

Wonderful information! Thanks for describing male and female blossoms!

[@MBrusaZappellini]

Thank you! I always,learn a lot from all of your information and I really appreciate your enthusiasm for gardening! I’m excited to try a few things to help my zucchini (definitely stressed from our Arizona heat ). I’m using a new section of our yard for my veggies this year, and I now know that I’ll have to amend the soil more specifically next winter plus prune our nurse tree . Once the quarantine is done and it’s safer to be with people again I’m planning to take some gardening classes at our local ag. School at the University. Something to look forward to!

[@paulmc9203]

Excellent - and very encouraging! - Presentation! Many thanks Luke.

[@AndrewG2.0]

As always, answered all my questions. Thank you!

[@kellymiller6585]

I’ve been stumped! Thank you!

[@sirwilliamofpennylot]

Thanks for the info, temps here have been around 100 to 114 degrees for days in a row. Then because of the high temps I think I am over watering. great vid, keep up the good work.

[@suminba642]

Timely information! Thanks for doing this video to help new gardener like me!

[@marcianoarguelles3299]

A big thank you from Kansas. I truly appreciate all the knowledge you freely share.

[@ninav9795]

Enjoyed very much! Knowing the differences of male and female flowers! and so much other stuff.

[@stoverboo]

Thank you! My partner and I have discussed this many times.

[@Undercoverbooks]

Thanks, this answered a lot of questions for me.

[@tammyrusso4340]

Very good. Must be reading my mind on this subject

[@MarcellHobbs]

I truly appreciate the knowledge and guidance you share with us!

[@marilynbook4211]

Thank you for explaining my problems last year with my zucchinis. I have moved them to a sunnier spot this year. Still a little too early for flowers but we will see.

[@SharonONE1]

Thanks, this video came at perfect timing for me here in Tennessee.

[@Pondandgardensanctuary]

I can always count on learning something new. And I got a whole patch of squash this year id like to yield, so thanks!

[@MIgardener]

Always a pleasure to hear!

[@1870s]

Thanks for this video, I had this problem last year

[@MIgardener]

hoping the best for you this year. Love everything you guys are doing.

[@parrishn5945]

Great advice Luke!!! Thank you! I would be concerned with pollination if I covered with shade cloth.... i guess just in the hotest part of the day might be the trick

[@colleenepage]

Great information! Just what I needed to know as I watch for female blossoms on my pumpkin patch.

[@Bigenemies]

Thank you for this! Just watched and learned so much as always!! Also recieved many of your MIGardener seeds in a seed swap here in San Diego, California!! They are thriving here!!! 😁

[@andrewkeegan3008]

Right on time....I've had like a gazillion male flowers and only ONE zucchini - after two months!

[@gina9171]

Me too

[@heresthething....4685]

Make fried squash flowers! Really delicious.

[@donnatravis3826]

I was also getting discouraged because my zucchini (indoor aero/hydroponic) has so far only produced male flowers. This was a perfect video for me because I was considering removing them (2) in favor of leafy greens. I will now try to apply more patience - and the flowers taste good too.

[@deepadevaiah1911]

I love the way you explain everything in a detailed way... Just the right video for me. Have dozens of male flowers and no female flowers at all.

[@pongjainamsomboon4531]

I've had tried to cut many male flowers, then I realised when I had a female flower I didn't have male flower.

[@biffjohnson7107]

This is my first time gardening, and my squash look amazing (as far as I can tell, lol). I wish I could share pics.

[@Emiliapocalypse]

That’s one of the several downsides of KZbin. There are so many comments that would really benefit from being able to share photos. I’d love to see your squash plants 🌱

[@virginiareid5336]

Thank you so much. This is very information to have.

[@aileenefields337]

I Was Wondering about this Today!-Thank you for The Information!!🌷🐾🌼

[@djwarrior1421]

Guilty of little to no patience. This is my first attempt at gardening. I figured I start with only one type of veggie as a way to learn. I picked squash. Boy, I am learning. This is a great channel.

[@kittiesher7978]

Thanks. Had this problem last year. Hopefully now I can fix it this year.

[@Denisewithonei]

I am new to gardening and this was very helpful.

[@MegaMackproductions]

This is good. Ive got a whole patch of squash this year id like to yield, so thanks!

[@bjb0808]

Very informative! Thank you! 💕

[@MakingLemonadeFromLemons]

Thanks again for an informative video. I can always count on learning something new.

[@LittleCountryCabin]

Info just in time😊. Thanks and God bless!

[@opencoop4268]

Extremely helpful! Thank you.

[@randidean7424]

This helps me a lot. Thanks!

[@Nocturnal_Rites]

Good information and well presented. Thank you!

[@arios8121]

This was so interesting, fascinating,...thank you.

[@lindakrieger6667]

All my squash did this this year. Beautiful plants, pollinators.

[@idahohoosier8989]

Thank y'all. Blessings, julie

[@WestTexasTumbleweeds]

Very timely. Thank you!

[@BeverleyW]

Thank you so much for this very useful advice - very informative.

[@diyvibes6326]

This is so informative!! Lots to think about, mainly nutrition and sunlight. The tree by our garden has grown over the years so less sunlight, maybe time to prune!

[@kmcpickl]

Thank you for the information. It's been driving me nuts about the flowers but no fruit. Our first time, well second time and the same results, but now there's hope. Thanks again.

[@keribradberry8292]

Thank you. This has always been a mystery to me. I planted a new to me Cucuzzi squash this year and I'd really like to see the fruit. Now I have some ideas to try to help this along.

[@music19691000]

You are awesome!! Thank you I got a lot of good information! I was starting to get sad, not swing any fruit!🌻🐝

[@jujubelooga]

Buddy you are very informative! Thnx so much.

[@Palmuru5]

Amazing information. I suspected few of the factors such as watering and nutrition and heat. I have more than ten squash plants this season i tried the variations. Definitely looks working will update in a month to confirm. Already it stated showing difference i n some of the plants i implemented the changes.

[@riotarbo1762]

Excellent timing for this video! The few plants that survived the constant rain here near St. Louis are only giving me male flowers. It's our first year gardening and this threw me off. I don't remember this happening in my parents gardens when I was growing up.

[@jessicafloresalba5582]

Me either! I moved down to FL and gardening is a much different challenge than the good ol Midwest.

[@amynguyen7]

Yay. I feel better now after watching this video. Patience is definitely not a virtue I've mastered. LOL. Thanks for sharing.

[@JodBronson]

Male Flowers always come out first. Once the female come, it only have one day to get pollinated. So the Male have more chance to pollinate the Female.

[@anthonyellis5517]

Fantastic great advice! And well explained, thanks 😊

[@heatherk8931]

Great info, I learned a few pointers! Thanks Luke

[@crochetgottaloveit]

I am having this problem with my cushaw squash not producing female flowers. I went ahead and fertilized them and watered them . But I never thought to pluck off some of the male flowers. Will do that this evening. Thanks much for making this video and the info!

[@fizzypop1858]

Thanks, Luke! We have made fried squash blossoms with those male flowers. Yum!

[@charlestessier7843]

I grew up a farmer’s grandson, not on a farm. Your video gave me the real score on what these flowers really are. Among French Canadians , starting with my mother and her parents, I was hearing the term “ fausse fleur”(literally meaning false flower) when it came to male flowers and had the reflex of removing them all for fear of not getting any fruit. Lets me know that this is a completely normal and natural thing that’s going on. Thanks.

[@Letsgocamping143]

Just had a yellow squash no male flowers and 7 females flowers. Finally I got one today.

[@poolman8676]

Awesome video and most importantly no music! You're a very knowledgeable. I think my problem is they're just too young still and I planted way too late in the season. It's been over a hundred degrees here in the Mojave desert of California everyday but I do have a lattice over them and drip system twice a day. Ripen today! Lol