Question
Hi Mike

Have grown my squash from seed and they have done very well.  My problem is that when the squashes get to about 3 - 4" they drop off.   Please tell me what I am doing wrong.

Thanks

Answer
Marilyn, when young fruit shrivel or fall off prematurely, it is usually an indication of one of two problems. Either your plants are not being fully pollinated, or they are receiving too much water. This condition is called blossom drop.

If pollination is the problem due to not having enough bees in the area, you can hand-pollinate the flowers by taking a Q-tip or small paint brush and transferring the pollen from the stamen of the male flower to the female (the female always has a small fruit on the end). This must be done within one day of the female flower blossoming. To attract more bees, grow sunflowers, marigolds, cosmos, or some other bright annuals in the immediate area.  

Be sure that you are not overwatering the plants. This tends to saturate the roots, which in turn makes it difficult to absorb nutrients. Also be sure to mulch generously around the plants with straw or dried grass clippings to hold in the moisture. Finally, only supplement enough watering to ensure 1"-1.5" of water per week.

The second problem can be the soil. Soils heavy in clay tend to drain poorly. This will result in the same problem as overwatering. Amend the soil this fall and again next spring with organic matter, including peat moss, aged manure, and compost.

Finally, be sure to feed the plants every 10-14 days with a fertilizer high in phosphorus and low in nitrogen. Nitrogen promotes lush foliage at the expense of blooms. Phosphorus, on the other hand, stimulates prolific blooming and strong stems.

I hope this answered your question. Good luck, and please write again if I can ever be of assistance.

Regards,

Mike