What's Happening w/My Pumpkins

[OldFart]

I know this is in a way a Colorado Q, but many of you may have experience with pumpkins. I have about 10 beautiful big blooms right now on one of my vines. This has happened 3 times. I only harvested 1 pumpkin this year, a good sized pie pumpkin. I also have several tiny litle pumpkins on this same vine. I usually get 7 or so pumpkins but not last year or this year. It has been exceptionally dry and hot (record seting # of 90 deg days) but they got plenty of water. I planted them from seeds the first p/o May, earlier than usual but no frost after they came up. There have been no frosts this fall yet. Tomatoes and chard were OK, string beans not very well. I'm listening for your experience talking. Thanks Ray

 

[catman529]

not enough pollination? an insect needs to transfer pollen from a male flower to a female flower... the female flowers already have the baby pumpkin at the base of the flower so you can tell the difference. You can also hand-pollinate by removing the petals from a male flower and sticking it in the female flower - mid morning is usually the best time to do so. Other than pollination, I'm not sure what your problem would be. Tomatoes are self-pollinating so they wouldn't have that issue.

 

[pressfit]

I would say the same.. not getting pollinated.. I have grown them for years.. here is one that is almost as big as my gator..lol

 

[OldFart]

I had a few bees and wasps but not very many. It was mentioned that pollination could be done by hand. Please elaborate, I'd love to try that next year. Thanks Ray

 

[OldFart]

Someone mentioned this could be done by hand but would like more details. Thanks Ray

 

[catman529]

pick a male flower and remove the petals but leave in the anthers covered in pollen which are in the center of the flower. Stick that into an open female flower (they have the baby fruit at the base of the flower) and rub the pollen around in there to ensure pollination. Best done in mid morning when flowers are fresh open and ready.

 

[DaveB]

Okay, if you ever follow the monster pumkin growers and get a few of their seeds($7.00 apiece!!!) or just read the Burpee package, you take a male pistol and hand pollenate the female flowers. After you have fruit, you pinch off the ones farthest from the root so you have no more than two or three on a given vine, pick the best to keep of course. You have to do this for monsters, but works really well for regular punkins, Catman has the process down pat. Can't remember something involving sawdust... The rules for monsters can translate right down to regular pumpkins. I used a LOT of liquid fertilizer soon as I saw buds start. My plot prep started in February with 120 pounds of 13-13-13. When they start to vine, I sprayed liquid GRASS fertilizer three-four time in about 2 weeks. Then I would wait for buds.


Okay, when hand pollinating, use male flowers from a different plant. You can do it more than once, use different plants every time if you can. You should never let your punkins sit directly on the ground. I use to use upside down plastic milk crates for regular punkins. nothing that allows water to stay in contact with the fruit.