[Arid_gardener] Re: Squash & Root Crop Problems

[olin miller]

Squash, Cucumbers, Melons
======================

          When (approximate date) did you plant the squash, cucumbers,
melons?  The Planting Guide at
http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/az1005.pdf
recommends planting squash Feb 15 through Apr 15. , cucumbers through April
30 and melons all summer.  I follow the squash planting schedule for all
three, including melons, because melons planted in the summer have not been
successful for me.  When planted after April, the temps are too high for the
pollen to be viable.

          When did you observe the blossoms?  Were there both male and
female blossoms on the plants at the same time.?  Female blossoms are
identifiable by the small fruit at the base of the blossom that looks the
mature fruit.   Male blossoms appear first and, sometimes depending on
weather and other environmental conditions, may disappear before the female
blossoms develop.  I have been told that it is possible to preserve male
blossoms in a refrigerator, than hand pollinate after the females appear but
I have not tried that because I expect and rely on there being female
blossoms.

          Did the plants receive morning sun?  Did you observe any honey
bees on the blossoms?  Foraging honeybees are the most active in the early
morning right after sunrise, especially in late spring and early summer when
the daytime temps are reaching into the 100s.  I recently experienced a
situation where the bees were all  over the fairy dusters in the morning sun
but the summer squash on the other side of the were in the shade until after
11:00 AM and the bees ignored the squash.

          Did you apply compost or a high phosphorous fertilizer?
Phosphorous is not plentiful in our native desert soil in a for readily
available to plants but it is required for developing healthy blossoms and
fruit.  See
http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/az1020.pdf
for fertilizer recommendations.



Carrots, Radishes, Beets
====================

          Did you add compost and fertilizer to the soil before planting?
Our native desert soils contain very little organic material.  For good root
development it helps initially to work about 4 inches of compost into the
top 12 inches of soil.  After that you can get by with less.
Abundant top growth with poor roots suggest too much nitrogen and not enough
phosphorous.  The NPK ratios on the fertilizer bag or container indicates
the percentage by weight of the nutrients Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and potash
(potassium),  respectively.  Nitrogen is essential for good foliage
development (leaf crops), phosphorous for roots and fruit, and potassium for
general health and strength of the plant.  For healthy vegetables, we need
to add N and P but there is enough K (potassium) in a form that the plants
can absorb so there is seldom a need to add K.  See
http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/az1020.pdf
again.

          When did you plant the root crops.  The root crops are considered
cool weather crops do best when planted in the fall and grown throughout the
winter.    I would not plant after February.  Beets are fussier and need
cool soil.

Anybody else have suggestions for Collin, please post.

Olin
=====================================================

----- Original Message ----- From: <dagmarandcollin at aol.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 21, 2007 11:14 AM
> Collin Kamp> 85260> dagmarandcollin at aol.com
>  For Olin. I sent a question to you about flowers on plants but no fruit.I
> was talking about last summer. My mellions,cukes,squash and tomatoeshave
> alot of blossems but very little fruit, This is in spring and fall.No bees
> on blossoms. What can I do?
>     Also I have no luck with root crops. I have fantastic tops but no
> bottoms. Carrots,radishes,beets.