Pays to read the comments, again

[flemmings]

One of my regular reads has squash growing in his garden-- taking it over, in fact-- and bursting with flowers, but no fruit (?) as yet. Commenters told him how to tell the sex of the flower: the ones with bulbs are female. And here was me thinking that was a pollinated plant. But I have indeed one lone female squash flower, and shall try hand-pollinating it with a q-tip tomorrow.

In the stray happinesses dep't, this morning was grey and washy and coolish, and I was having my coffee and croissant at the local and reading Point of Hopes out on their patio, when mind offered me the forgotten o-Bon vacation of '91. A week off in early August, taking the Shink up to Fukushima on a day exactly like today, and spending the night in my old prof's manshon-- except I think he was away, and how did I get into his apartment if so? Odd corners of the past: but yes, I was using the JR pass that had expired by a week when I went to activate it, only the clerk stamped it anyway. (Largely I think because my response was 'Oh dear, is it expired? Ah well, too bad', and turned to leave without further argument. It sometimes pays to be a Torontonian of the old school.)

Comments

[paleaswater.livejournal.com]

I have a single pumpking growing on the vine - did not know about this either. will try next time - though is it just me or are there many many males to a female flower

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

Apparently it's a common phenomenon. "the proportion of male to female flowers is moderated by weather (mostly heat) and age of the plant." Someone suggested sowing seeds at regular time intervals to up the chances of females.

Here's the link, BTW:

http://forum.earthbox.com/index.php?topic=9801.0 (http://forum.earthbox.com/index.php?topic=9801.0)

[paleaswater.livejournal.com]

My single plant has alradey gone around the deck, where do you find enough place to sow more than a single plant.

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

You must have sun. ^_^ I planted them in the wading pool, where they're finally beginning to spread; by the fence where they spread a little but got cut off by, I assume, squirrels; in three planters on the back deck where they grew a little and got cut off again and then died. They're certainly not taking anything over: that's for the other vines in my garden.

I think you must just be warmer than us.