GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post

24-08-2005, 11:03 AM

said:

Does a squash plant support more than one squash at a time? For example,
it seems that while a big zucchini is growing, several incipient ones grow
poorly or even rot. If I remove the big zucchini, another one starts to
grow.

It depends on the variety of squash. Some won't mature more than one
or two squash to maturity (and abort the rest) and others will set more.

As a general rule, the larger the mature squash, the smaller the number
the vine will set. And as fully grown zucchini are rather large, having one
or two maturing on the plant very likely *would* inhibit setting any more
fruit.

Johnny's Selected Seeds gives average yield per plant for winter squash
and pumpkin varieties in their catalog. (A commendable practice.)
Yields range from 8-10 squash per plant for a 'Sweet Dumpling' squash
(4" diameter) to 1-2 per plant for a Hubbard squash (12-15 pounds).

Summer squash are normally picked immature, so the plant keeps
producing more squash. But let one of those zucchinis escape and the
plant's happy, and puts its energy into maturing that one squash rather
than growing more.

--
Pat in Plymouth MI ('someplace.net' is comcast)

Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
(attributed to Don Marti)