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Ontario

Has anybody else experenced a lack of Male flowers in the North East? On all 5 of my plants I had a female flower bloom first and there was nothing for pollinating availible. I've never had that happen with one plant , let alone 5. Do you think that the cool wet spring going to the very hot dry summer may have something to do with it?

7/4/2003 8:10:44 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Pappy went a long time without a male flower two years back! I can't remember if he ever got one. I got plenty of males this year not enogh females with the same weather. So not sure if its the weather conditions.

7/4/2003 9:02:15 AM

Leicester, NY

Phil,
I seem to have less males open and available too. I've had two mornings with open females and no males available on any of my 6 plants. What a downer. It does appear that there a bunch coming on and all looks well for the upcoming week..Joe P.

7/4/2003 9:52:57 AM

Southeast

I also notice decreased mails. I also noticed that more than one female on different plants had the blossom stuck in between the lobes that either caused the flower to break open or not allow it to open. Interesting what cool weathe

7/4/2003 11:02:14 AM

Key West, FL

Not just the east, I had to bum some males today from another local grower.

7/4/2003 11:29:19 AM

Montoursville, PA

Some males have opened and some females have been picked off. The ratio here has been about six or eight males to one female. Presently I have nine males per main vine and oddles on the secondaries. I did not count my take offs.

We are now letting a few females come on to open. I have no previous year to compare.

7/4/2003 12:22:33 PM

Grants Pass, Oregon

Here for me I have had the females on the 805 Pukos show up first before the males. Before I had a chance to pollinate I had to remove 3 females . So far the females and males are coming at about the same time now. There are females on every seconadry getting ready to open.

7/4/2003 1:14:13 PM

Coventry RI USA

Joe,

if you are still plucking off smaller male flowers, it has been said, that this will change the plants cycle and thus will not produce as many male flowers and lack of pollen in them... Grass hopper leave on all male flowers till you are done setting fruit.

7/4/2003 6:51:59 PM

Leicester, NY

Ron,
Grasshopper has never plucked off a male flower in his life, although I have been known to inadvertently cover a few while burying vines. Sometimes I get a little out of control:-)Joe P.

7/4/2003 8:34:17 PM

Central Connecticut

I have also had several males blossom before the females. It looks like there will be more females on the secondaries than on the primary...so what do you do? Do you pollinate the secondaries until you can confirm a succesful pollination on the primary? What is the feeling out there...Chris

7/4/2003 9:14:40 PM

ontario

Phil......just a phone call away....have males and if you need some just phone....yes and I just had two 723 males that had no home....:0).......wayne

7/4/2003 9:23:52 PM

New Brunswick

We, too, had a very cold spring...frost the 16th of June just 4 miles away....then it turned hotter than blazes. So far I have had two females open on a total of 4 plants. Lots of males. After I fertilized, I covered the female with a baggy.....was that ok?

7/4/2003 10:10:03 PM