Bloom drop early in the spring is one of the most common concerns about squash. To begin with, squash plants have male blooms and female blooms. Female blooms can be identified by a small squash fruit attached. All male blooms, which bloom profusely at first, dry up or fall off. When male and female blooms are both present and female blooms with small fruit attached continue to fall off, a pollination problem exists.
Pollination means the transfer of male pollen to the female's stigma.
This task usually is accomplished by bees or insects visiting the flowers. If a gardener lacks a source of pollinating insects or continually kills them by spraying insecticides during flight periods, inadequate pollination and fruit drop occur. If insects are a problem during bloom, spray insecticides late in the evening when pollinating insects are less active. Harvest squash when fruit are small. Always harvest the fruit which is ready so plants will continue producing.