all-female butternut squash
 

Hi folks

Just popping in from the UK as I've got a peculiar butternut squash
problem that someone in the US may be able to help me on. I've already
tried googling the archives with not a lot of luck.

Basically, I've got a 4' long butternut squash plant that's growing
indoors (and is now way too big to go outside now we've had the last
frost). It's got lots of half-inch sized buds of male flowers, but
none are growing - just sitting in the leaf axils. The females are
growing and first ones flowered May 25th.

The weirdest bit is that one of the females that flowered then is now
happily and rapidly growing a squash, though the other two have
shrivelled as expected for unpollinated flowers. And there are no
other cucurbits in the greenhouse...

Anyone know what has happened please or seen it before? I am most
curious! Is there anything I can do to get the males to grow? (feeding
them diluted viagra is NOT an option before anyone wisecracks! :-)

I'm currently feeding them tomato food, along with the indoor
cucumbers (all female).

thanks...

--
jane

Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone,
you may still exist but you have ceased to live.
Mark Twain

Please remove onmaps from replies, thanks!