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Re: nasturtiums

Sqash blossoms will die off if they are not adequately pollinated. If you
use chemicals on your garden it could scare off or kill bees as well as
other beneficial insects. Or, if you simply don't see many bees or other
pollinators, try hand pollinating. All you need is a small unused paint
brush to transfer pollen from a male to a female blossom. Female blossoms
will have a small swelling at the base of the blossom. Male blossoms do not
produce fruit so they will just wilt, however I think you can eat these
after you've collected pollen from them. Also try using the baking
soda/summer oil spray for the mildew. Then try side or top dressing with a
compost/manure mix. We definitely notice a difference with squash when they
are grown in richer soil as opposed to a new bed.

As for nasturtiums, here in Tacoma, WA (zone 7) they seem to bloom from
late June onward until a hard frost kills them. My grandmother, who live on
the southern oregon coast (I think zone 8) has nasturtium growing all of
the time. They almost always have some blooms on them but they definitely
bloom more in the summer (temps in the low 70s). Could your nasturtiums be
too hot? Try shading their feet a little. My grandma's grow under a huge
camelia shrub so their feet never get too warm.

Good luck. I'm envious that you can even grow stuff at this time of year.
We are just now thinking about starting some cool weather crops inside.

--Natalie

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Natalie McNair-Huff
Publisher/Editor Mac Net Journal
http://www.blol.com/web_mnj/
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