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Problems with red pepper plants and scallop squash

ShepherdsBarnShepherdsBarn Posts: 401
in Fruit & veg
This is my first time growing pointed red peppers and patti pan/scallop squash.
I have pepper plants in a grow bag, in a greenhouse border and in a polytunnel. I planted them a bit late so they are only now coming into flower. My problem is that the flowers are falling off after they have fully opened and then closed up. What am I doing wrong? I have been watering them well ... too well, perhaps?
My squash plants seem to have blossom end rot - am I overwatering these too or maybe they just haven't been fertilized?
Any advice welcome!
Thank you

Posts

  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Our pepper plants in the polytunnel this year have been really really slow to get going. They are only now starting to flower but still very small.
    Possibly the polytunnel became too hot for them.
    I have in the past pollinated the flowers when I couldn't see any development happening, same with the aubergines.
    A very strange year weather wise as well.
  • ShepherdsBarnShepherdsBarn Posts: 401
    Thank you for your help! I will have a go at pollinating the flowers.
    Best wishes
  • Kat1989Kat1989 Posts: 51
    Usually peppers and chilli's need more light then what a polytunnel can provide. I would ease of on the watering. 


    I'm also having the same problems with patty pan squash. 
    I did a test and grew some from seed. I put one in a grow bag (has grown, not very strong and only male flowers. No fruits)
    I put three I grew from seed in the ground,(fruits all rotting)and put another three in the ground I bought as seedlings from my local garden center (doing great, multiple fruits) 
  • ShepherdsBarnShepherdsBarn Posts: 401
    That's very interesting.
  • Novice2020Novice2020 Posts: 42
    bertrand-mabel said:
    Our pepper plants in the polytunnel this year have been really really slow to get going. They are only now starting to flower but still very small.
    Possibly the polytunnel became too hot for them.
    I have in the past pollinated the flowers when I couldn't see any development happening, same with the aubergines.
    A very strange year weather wise as well.
    How do you pollinate the flowers? I have marigolds in bloom either end of a raised bed full of healthy looking sweet peppers that are flowering but have no fruit forming. I see bees buzzing around.
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Using a cotton bud and put it into the flower head to move the pollen around and then make sure the tip moves against the female part the stigma. Move onto the other flower doing the same.
    Pollen will be transferred from one flower to the next.
    It does work.
    In years gone by gardners used a rabbit tail to do the same.
  • ShepherdsBarnShepherdsBarn Posts: 401
    Or you could use a small paintbrush?
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