I planted cucumbers in late June. The plants are growing and flowering but not producing any veggies.?

Question

The same with squash plants.

Any ideas or suggestions?

Answer 1

Same here, my tomatoes and peppers have finished growing and are ripening as we speak.  But sadly none of the three planted squash plants are fruiting this year.  They've been extending their vines and flowers have popped up but no fruit.  Last year they grew for me.

I can make a few guesses on what's going on.  Fertilizer either you haven't fertilized this year (I didn't).  Or the weather has been out of wack.  The growing summer season has been strange for me this year. One month with nothing but rain, down pour, hail, scorching days and the next a cold one like an early fall.  

You could trim back some of the longer vines so the plant will focus on what it's extended out already.  For the flowers it is possible that they are not getting pollinated (as there has been a decline in bees lately)  So try self pollinate them using a soft paint brush or small cluster of feathers(had to pollen ate tomato plants herself).  You can do the pollinating on two ways brush (like dusting) the flower all itself as 'self pollination' or you can cut a few flowers let them dry out and collect the pollen then dip and pollinate the flowers that are open that are on the vine.

---update---

I went out into my garden today to look around my squash plants today.  Out of my three I actually do have squash growing, I counted only two though.  They are about an inch long right now.  I've decided to do a little experiment since I noticed this on the blooms I've been getting.  Most of my flowers aren't opening wide as they usually do.  I picked one of my plants where the flowers are white and large but curled up (they should be open but they're not since they've been closed like that for a while)  I gently spreaded out the petals to expose the center as most flowers should when they open.  Now I wait and see if that'll attract some pollenators.

Answer 2

The first yellow flowers that appear on the plant are male flowers that provide pollen. These usually fall off after blooming. The small cucumber is evident at the base of the female flower ,even before it opens and should develop into fruit if properly pollinated.Anything that interferes with the pollination of the female flower reduces fruit set and yield..like..cold temps.,,rainy weather that hampers bee activity or improper use of insecticides that kill bees

Answer 3

they are not/have not been pollenated

Answer 4

Er, Maggie,

I am not much of a horticulturalist, but my squashes, toms, cucs, etc only do well with loads of water, as that is what they want during the growing period.

Might be a bit late now, so have another go next year.

Answer 5

Has something happened to your pollinators, like bees?   Have you been offing the good insects accidentally by spraying the  plants with insecticides?   That is the usual cause but there are others.   If you have both male and female flowers, (the females have a tiny baby veggie behind it, get a soft paint brush and dab the center of the male flower then dab the  center of the female flower.   That may help.