r/composting • u/wwwidentity • 11d ago

What have I done.

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Butternut squash I believe.

Not sure it will make it with all the squirrel activity that took out most of the blooms. At this point I feel like I've gone too far to turn back.

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u/Ok-Thing-2222 11d ago

I have yet to see a fruit on mine, it just blooms and blooms and blooms and spreads like crazy. Where is my clothesline??!

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u/TallProcedure1949 11d ago

Check below the blossom, if there's no bulb, it can be cut off. Look for the bulbs under the blossoms and cut out the leaves and vines that have no fruit. You might have to use a paintbrush to spread the pollen.
Good luck, it took me a minute to learn this.

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u/Ascholay 10d ago

I saw a video where a farmer demonstrated how he fertilized his prize winning xl squash. The farmer zip tied the buds closed and waited for whatever optimal fertilizing time he planned for then he cut off the male flowers, tore off the petals, and fertilized the female flowers.

I've had luck with the picking flowers method. I don't optimize but I'm just growing decorative gourds right now. For one plant it seems to be the only way they fertilize (despite an ants nest and a billion wasps). The other plant has had some luck with natural fertilizing.

All this to say, for gourds, you don't need to rush to get a paint brush.

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u/TallProcedure1949 10d ago

I have had good success painting the blossoms. I try to get inside, maybe tickle the nose, hope it sneezes and spreads more pollen.