I have too much nitrogen in my garden soil. how do I lower this so that my squash plants will produce squash.?

Question

my squash plants have lots of flowers but are not producing squash. once the flowers die and fall off there is just a stem, no squash.

Answer 1

Klu is correct. You have a pollination problem. Need more bees buzzing around. Or pollinate by hand. Bet you'll have the prettiest squash in the county!

Answer 2

Your plants will only take the nitrogen they need from soil...any extra will just sit there until it breaks down.


It may be that temperatures in your area are too high right now. Some flower drop is normal, but to get them pollinated and producing, use a Q-tip & go from flower to flower in the early morning. This is also a good time to look for possible pests. You only need to do this once and don't worry if you can't do every single flower. Try feeding with some natural kelp fertilizer and keep watering deeply--but only every other day or every third day. Sometimes a regular watering schedule will act against production, rather than for it.

Mason bees are harmless, solitary bees who pollinate for you. They don't build hives so having a place for them nearby will bring them to your garden.

Here is a site for some very inexpensive mason bee houses--try these next year:

http://www.tristateb2b.com/masonbees.html
or
You can make your own mason bee house and they will come to it. Just take a block of wood that's at least 8" thick & drill evenly spaced holes 6" deep & 1/4" wide into it.

Here's a site that shows how:

http://www.backyardgardener.com/organic/dec99.htm

Good luck!
gg

Answer 3

Too Much Nitrogen In Soil

Answer 4

Why do you think the soil is too high in nitrogen? Have you had the soil tested? Have you been adding a high N chemical fertilizer?

If you have added too much N fertilizer you are pretty much screwed till at least next year.

If you are just concerned because of the non-fruiting, klu is probably correct - the flowers aren't being fertilized & you need some pollinators. You can always use a small paint brush to manually transfer the pollen from the male flower to the female flower.

Answer 5

I never heard of nitrogen keeping your plants from produceing. It is what they feed of to grow and need the most. the more nitrogen the better but like some have said it can also burn your plants so do not use any more fertilizer or plant feeds for your soil is rich enough just sit and watch and wait. Maybe your problem is not what you are thinking maybe it is not too much nitrogen but to much water or something else or the lack of...?

Answer 6

Only problem with nitrogen is when it is added directly to plants. It will burn them.always till it in 2 weeks before planting for chemical nitrogen.. Another idea is plant legumes at the end of gardening season. When it's time to plant; once again till the legumes in 2 weeks before planting.This will add plenty of nitrogen to the soil organically without risk of chemical burn. Even use fresh grass clippings. as far as too much?....plants thrive on nitrogen especially leafy veggies like spinach.The nitrogen in the soil will deplete as time goes by. You can do a test anyway with a soil test kit found at stores like Walmart. It may be high but like I said if the plants are growing like crazy? and no burn?.....leave it be.
Your problem could be as simple as non pollination of the flowers.....check for bees around garden. It is something I knew but here is a link to show you.
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/vegetables/squash.html

Answer 7

I have not heard of nitrogen being too high and still getting flower production. It is far more likely a lack of pollinators. Cucurbits are monecious and require insect pollination.

Hand pollination is possible but impractical. Consider taking up beekeeping.

If siol fertility is a concern then have a soil test run at the local extension agent's office.

Answer 8

I have the same problem. My uncle told me to halt on the watering, and that did help produce very small squash, but once the rain came, all the nutrients became more readily available. Next year, you and me will have to make sure and put in some ground limestone, wood ash, and less manure in the spot where we want our squash.

Answer 9

the only way I know of is to add common soil which will be low in nitrogen and mix it in with the high nitrogen soil.