What is taking my squash flowers? How do I stop it?

Question

I live in Zone 7b in a subdivision and I have squash plants both in my front yard and in a fenced in back yard. They have been producing a lot of flowers recently but everymorning the flowers that were open the previos day are gone. Not gone as in wilted but got as in nowhere on or around the plant. We have some ferrel cats and some bunnies in the neighborhood but we have a dog I thought would scare those away. We haven't had any flowers that have born fruit yet so it's pretty frustrating. I tried cayanne pepper around it to deter mammals but it hasn't worked. Any organic ideas?

Answer 1

You might consider getting a cheap security camera with night vision (I saw one yesterday at radio shack for under $30) to catch whatever is taking the flowers.

The other thing you can do is get some remay/row covers and hoops and cover the plants so nothing can get at them easily.

Maybe it's a neighbor with a love for stuffed squash blossoms. They are best harvested around 2am.

Answer 2

Rabbits are very fond of mine.They eat the pumpkin flowers also.I had to put rabbit wire around the garden and the problem is solved.

Answer 3

You can buy netting to place over the plants.  I get mine at Ace Hardware.  We have groundhogs that try to eat our blossoms.  The net usually works, though it takes a bit of a knack to get used to putting up.  Once it's up, it's nearly invisible.