Squash & Zucchini

Not being able to see the fruit, we can not identify it, and therefore would advise not eating it. We haven't heard of yellow squash turning purple later in the season (although we suppose it is possible if it had a cultural or pest/disease problem). It might be that you have an heirloom type that exhibits this trait, although a particular cultivar doesn't come to mind at the moment. Could it be possible that the original plant has died back and a volunteer is now growing in its place? It could be an edible vegetable, such as eggplant, but it may also be an inedible weed. To be safe--don't eat it! You might want to bring a sample to your local Cooperative Extension (if in the USA) for identification. To find your Extension, go to:
http://www.almanac.com/content/cooperative-extension-services

Hope this helps!

It is probably a zucchini. Sometimes a plant grows a mutation and the color and texture can be different. See link below.
www.garden.org/boards/index.php?q=view&id=19514&board=20&top=19514

There are SO many types of squash. For example, the "banana squash" is orange and oblong. Also, you'll find that squash will cross-pollinate with other nearby squash varieties, creating some interesting results! However, cucumbers belong to different species and will not cross with each other or squash. Here's a web site with photo IDs of different squash varieties. Hope this helps!
http://www.thenibble.com/reviews/main/vegetables/squash-glossary3.asp

We're not sure what variety you have, but most squash varieties taste best when small and tender. The larger squash may be a bit bitter, but pick it and see how it tastes for yourself!

If you saved your seeds to replant and new squash grew, you can eat it! Congrats!

You need to remove or destroy the infected vines, but I suppose if you had fruit that formed before the virus (which kills the plant), then you could pick it off, wash, and eat it.

My plants look healthy and are producing flowers like crazy, but no squash. What can I do?

In general, all of the early flowers are males. Female flowers often develop many days later once the climate is ready for them. The females can be identified by the miniature fruit at the flower base. Both females and males will need to be blooming for pollination and keep your fingers crossed that the pollinators (bees) aren't deterred by fluky weather as timing is important; otherwise, you can hand pollinate.

Ants are generally harmless, but they are often a sign that your plant has other sucking insects that are NOT harmless. We suggest spraying in the early morning with an insecticidal soap.

Are you interested in large flowers because you wish to cook them? If so, perhaps select a variety known for large blossoms such as "Butter Blossom."

If you wish to cook the blossoms, harvest only the male blossoms, but leave some on the vine for pollination. (The male blossoms have a thin stem; the female blossoms have a thick stem with a bulb at the base which develops into the squash.)

A good indicator of when to harvest your squash is when the color turns a nice, golden yellow. Eat them when they're small; they're more tender.

The most common reason for this problem is lack of pollination. There are female and male flowers. Sometimes the females bloom before any male flowers have bloomed and so the female flowers do not get pollinated. Usually, if you wait, you'll find that the males start blooming and you're getting TONS of squash! If not, there's a lack of pollinators in your garden and you can do it yourself with a Q-tip.

It sounds like they're not getting pollinated. You could try hand pollinating them. Use a q-tip to transfer some pollen from a male flower to a female. The male flower will have narrow stems and pollen-bearing stamens in the flower, and the female flower has a fattened stem and a nubby-looking pistil in the center.

Breaking some of the leaves may cause root damage to the plant. We don't recommend doing this.

However, you could use small garden posts to help reposition the leaves away from the other plants. No damage done!

Thank you for your interest in the Old Farmer's Almanac and our Web site.

When ripe, the rind of butternut squash will change color from light beige to deep tan or what some people call a deep flesh color. Then the skin will be hardened. Be sure to harvest before frost. When you harvest, use pruning shears and cut 1/2 inch above the fruit. Do not break off the stem. Happy harvest!

If your plant is wilting, the common reason is the squash vine borer. Slit open a stem lengthwise and look inside for grubs. If a plant wilts but there is no evidence of borers, it may be bacterial wilt infection or root feeding by larval cucumber beetles. See our pest library for more information: www.almanac.com/topics/gardening/pests-and-problems

Great question. Once you know, it's easy to tell the difference. Female flowers look as if they have a miniature fruit right under the petals. Male flowers have a slender stalk below the petals and that's it. It's normal for the male flowers to fall off, especially at the beginning when there may not be females yet. If the females start to fall off, then there may be a pollination issue.

It's hard to say why they are dying. Do you have any frass? It's possible that it's the squash vine borer pest, especially if the soil's been too wet. Take a knife and slit the stem lengthwise and look for those grubs. If they're there, you need to quickly pull those plants as it is too late for treatment. In the future, row covers may help.

If the squash fruit gets an inch or two long and then dies, it is probably related to pollination. Female and male flowers need to blossom at the same time. So, it may just be a question of waiting until both are blossoming. Tips: To attract bees, avoid spraying pesticides as well as covering the squash during morning pollination. Avoid overhead sprinklers. If the weather's been too rainy or overly hot, you may also need to wait for conditions improve. Finally, you can always attract more bees with nearby plants (example: plant bee balm).

Hmmm... Hard to say without a picture, but eggplants have deep purple blooms. You could always bring a sample to your local garden center.