From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Cologne / Germany

I read that some people cut off flowers until pollinating. Any effect on growing or bad for the plant? My plants have lots of males right now.

6/5/2002 9:46:23 AM

Western Pa.

floh,
Over here the cuke beetle is enemy #1. They love to hide in the flowers, so many of us remove all flowers after pollinating, so as not to attract them. Removing the flowers should have no adverse affects.

6/5/2002 10:48:00 AM

syracuse, ny

another thing--you know how people say that once you shave
something, the hair will grow in thicker and more than before---research this perhaps---they might grow more
plentifully than before to make up for the loss...like the tertiary vines (suckers) and if you don't have a cuke beetle problem, you might be better
off burying some vines....and the cuke beetles like foliage, as well! f'rinstance, my plants of two years ago,
mostly Show King squash, didn't even have flowers yet, and the beetles were all over them...)i think pumpkin plants emit a pheremone or similar called cucurbitacin (sp?)) then i found out about Admire 2 from Bayer Corp...,,well that's another story....
hope i helped...if you've got the time, experiment!
good luck>>>>>onward to 1000+!

6/6/2002 5:07:44 PM

syracuse, ny

by the way, very valid point from kilrpumpkins...i've never really though about this facet of growing before--the more ideas we all get from each other, the better at it we become!

6/6/2002 5:15:58 PM

Long Island,New York

Eric...I think we're up for another story...please tell us about your experiences with Admire...what you do, how it works etc......thanks...Glenn

6/6/2002 5:40:05 PM

syracuse, ny

ohhh...all right......the good news, and lots of it, is that it works on cucumber beetles! it gets into their nervous system and...no need for graphic depictions......but it kills them... bad news is it also works on other insects, including bees, so it must be out of the plant's system by pollination time, and it is in the plant for about 2 weeks from the time of application.....so plan and apply accordingly, 'cause we don't wanna hurt our precious bees!!!
enuff with the good/bad news theme...takes too long...
soooo...it has been approved for cucurbit crops---cucumbers,
pumpkins, squash, etc., and i use the rate of 1 tablespoon per gallon of water, and use it the same as anything else,...in the planting hole, around the main stem when setting out, anytime, anywhere...even along with 10-50-10 Peters...i think it's even okay as a foliar spritzer if an infestation is evident, as well! and THE REAL GOOD NEWS IS-----it has a shelf life of several years at normal cellarway temp. like 65 or so F.
so it's worth the 85 bucks or so a pint! isn't your piece of mind worth that little??
err,,,i mean....,,errr...well, you know...get it at your local, SERIOUS farm supply--i don't think they'll have it at
a Kmart, though you could try..it is SYSTEMIC, good stuff!please read all fine print--punch in Admire 2F on MSN--- wear rubber gloves, don't drink it, keep out of reach of children,etc...

6/6/2002 6:14:45 PM

I have heard from some heavy hitters that letting male flowers grow when not needed is just a waste of energy that is being robbed from rest of plant. Judge for yourself.???

6/6/2002 6:49:18 PM

Long Island,New York

Thanks for the info Eric..I bought a 20oz size a month ago and plan on using it for aphids and most importantly...white flies. Seems to do the job so far....thanks...G

6/6/2002 7:27:57 PM

Midway City, California

Male flowers make a nice Boquet for your wife or girlfriend. Check to make sure all the bugs are out of it before you give it to her

6/6/2002 7:59:01 PM