From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Pleasant Grove, UT

I am having a very difficult time pollinating my pumkings. It seams that my male flowers are not maturing. They bloom, but don't become powdery. No pollen falls off. They just wither and die. I have had many female blossoms, but none are taking because of this. Does anyone know what may be causing this?

7/10/2003 11:22:33 AM

Central Missouri

I am of no help b/c I have the opposite problem. I have a ton of male flowers but only a few females. I hope someone can help you out.

Lindsay

7/10/2003 11:52:14 AM

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Maybe you should get to your patch earlier in the day

7/10/2003 2:22:08 PM

Utah

I had the same thing happen earlier this week to flowers that I cut and removed the outside pedal before they opened. The little "tubes" on the anther never split apart. I waited a while and used other flowers from the patch that had opened.
what time of day are you trying to pollinate? If you use males early in the morning the flower may be open but the pollen is not out yet (powedery). I don't know what triggers that to happen... heat, sunlight, time ... combination of all three?
I know people cut males the night before and then use them the next day after they open. and it works fine ...
The only thing I can think of is that I cut the pedal off the flower before it opened on its own. would this cause the "tubes" not to open ???

7/10/2003 2:49:10 PM

Pleasant Grove, UT

I usually try to pollinate in the late afternoon after I get home from work. However, even if the bees pollinate, I would be happy. My plant looks tremendous with two main vines each at about 12 to 14 feet long. This is my first year and I would be estatic to get anything over 300 pounds. My father is quite the amature horticultorist and he believes that the big pumpkin genes are often undepenable for reproduction because their genetics are pushed so hard. Is this possibly why my male flowers are not maturing?

The thing that confuses me the most is that my male flowers don't seem to have any mature pollen in them.

7/10/2003 3:27:19 PM

Utah

I bet you are getting pollen but don't know it. and it is gone or dried up by the time you get home.
by late afternoon in this dry heat the male flowers are probably past being useable.
I also think maybe the bee's are pollinating but it is to hot and the females aren't taking.
I'd try pollinating in the morning - like 7-8 am. if you can. then cooling the ones you pollinated with ice in a stryofoam box around them. a one or two liter pop bottle makes a good ice container- only fill them about 2/3 to 3/4 full. if you can't take off work then is there anyone else you can train to do the pollinating for you?

7/10/2003 4:02:41 PM

[email protected]

If we didn't live so far apart I'd suggest introdcuing our "confused" pumpkins. -Steve

7/10/2003 6:28:54 PM

Pleasant Grove, UT

I will try that GLT. Urban Jungle hinted that direction as well. I hope you're right. Thank you.

7/10/2003 6:58:11 PM