My squashes are confused.

[beac]

So, because I was gifted them AND b/c I thought a super-early-planting experiment would be interesting, I planted by yellow squashes out way back in mid-April. I've covered them on a few of the cold nights and they are growing along nicely.

HOWEVER, these little fellows seem to be a tad befuddled about how they are supposed to do their job. Instead of making lots of male flowers (yummy to look at AND to cook with) before putting forth the first flowered fruit, these wackos have BOTH made a teeny-tiny squash with nary a male bloom in sight yet. Today, one of them BLOOMED and it makes me sad to know that the little green fruit is going to wither and die b/c there is no way to get it pollinated. :( There are tiny male buds starting to appear but it will be a long time until they are actual flowers.

Has anyone else ever seen an out-of-order squash?

[Sabriel]

1. No, but this gets the prize for best thread title

I like the image of perplexed gourds.

[Denninmi]

2. They may be a parthenocarpic variety.

These are capable of setting fruit without pollination, and don't produce many male blooms. There aren't a lot of these on the market, but there are some - a few which come to mind are 'Sure Thing' 'Parthenon' 'Perfect Pick' 'Whitaker' and 'Cavali'.

[beac]

3. Wow-- I've never heard of "parthenocarpic" squash.

Another new bit of garden info to add to my knowledge base. :)

I'll have to ask my friend if he remembers the name.

Thanks, Dennimi! :hi:

[beac]

4. My friend couldn't remember the name of the squashes but, so far, the little

fruits seems to be growing along fine. Some male flowers bloomed today and I wish I had time to make some stuffed Fiore di Zucca but we leave early on Sunday and I'm trying to clear out the fridge, so buying new ingredients is right out.

Also, I think they are actually zucchini and not yellow squash as my friend had described them when he gifted them. Free and mysterious is not a bad combination in a plant, right?

[Denninmi]

5. Free and mysterious?

Free is always good. Mysterious is fun. What's not to like?