[Growing4mykids]

Morning all, i have 2 harlequin squashes growing but they seem to be taking over all of the bed they are in, and i havn't the biggest space for growing at home as it is, is there anyway of holding them back a bit or is that it, also, they've not long been showing their flowers out, am i realistically going to get something from them, thanks 

[JayG]

You can't really "stop" the vines until they have set fruit, unless you also have side shoots which are flowering too.

I suspect that being so far from the main roots doesn't help fruit development either - the plant will be starting to run out of oomph now and having not set fruit yet I doubt you will get much worth eating.

I'd be more than happy for someone to come along and contradict me! 

[Godhelm]

My Sunburst squash are still going strong!

[compostqueen]

I love Sunburst and I grow it every year. It makes lovely cakes 

[strider84]

My Squashes are taking over the world let alone the bed they are in.

I often wonder what they are planning after world domination 

[Growing4mykids]

Cool, thanks people 

[compostqueen]

I love to see them charging around the plot, sticking their noses into everything    I hope the abundant foliage is hiding a bumper crop. I can't get in there to have a proper look 

[surbie100]

Going on from what JayG says, is there any technique to getting squash plants to set fruit a bit closer to the root? Most of mine (bar the mystery squash) are running for about 2 metres before the first fruit, and fruits further along are just falling off.

[strider84]

As far as I know a couple of fruits falling off is no train crash just like the first courgette or two on courgette plants die on the plant when they are small.

As for the fruit being away from the plant this also does not make much of a difference because the stems root as they go along drawing up moisture closer to the fruits.

[surbie100]

It's fruits after the first fruit that are falling off, not the first. So each vine has 1 fruit set this year. No massive deal, but it would be nice to have more than one. 

[mumofstig]

It's fruits after the first fruit that are falling off, not the first. So each vine has 1 fruit set this year. No massive deal, but it would be nice to have more than one. 

It's probably a pollination problem then, try some hand pollinating (courgette flowers will work if you have no male squash flowers ready at the same time)

advice here
http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/pollinate-squash-by-hand.htm

[Auntiemogs]

It's fruits after the first fruit that are falling off, not the first. So each vine has 1 fruit set this year. No massive deal, but it would be nice to have more than one. 

It's probably a pollination problem then, try some hand pollinating (courgette flowers will work if you have no male squash flowers ready at the same time)
advice here
http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/pollinate-squash-by-hand.htm

Thanks Mum.    I've had the same problem as Surbie this year but this will be very useful for next year.