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Stanwood, Washington

I have plant that has had only one normal female. This plant had one hermaphrodite and the rest of the females have all had varying degrees of seeds in the blossoms with a decent amount of deformation on the lobes. Obviously its something systemic and not just a freak occurance. Does anyone know if this is a genetic thing or could there be something nutrient wise that is causing the abnormal blossoms?

7/26/2012 5:32:51 PM

Colorado

Could be either.I think if a plant has many females with messed up lobes its likely genetics.

7/26/2012 5:53:05 PM

Nottingham, UK

On my AG this year all my earlier females were fine but all the latest ones have been deformed with seeds in the flower. Environmental?

With my squash for eating I have seen many mutations.

Check this diary entry and the few before it for an example

7/27/2012 6:06:31 AM

Nottingham, UK

Sorry: http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=185359

7/27/2012 6:07:23 AM

Nova Scotia

its gentic damage from enviroment such as pesdicides

7/27/2012 6:39:22 AM

Springfield, VT

I believe the seeds in the flower are an environmental condition. If you look back 2 weeks at the weather when the fruit blossom was developing the weather probably was hot or colder that normal.

7/27/2012 8:54:24 AM

Western NY

Exactly Wilbur. That has also been my experience.

7/27/2012 9:42:42 AM

Stanwood, Washington

I believe in my case it is genetic. I have been contacted by another grower who is growing the same plant and is having similar issues. Our weather has been pretty consistent for the last two months. 65-75 every day. My other plants haven't had any seeds just this one. or it could be a combination of both. Maybe this particular plants genetics like it hot. Who knows.

7/27/2012 11:44:35 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Almost every year I get all plants with some degree of seeds in the blossom...never had a plant that threw perfect females everytime.

Some have them...some do not...that is why I pollinate a few and decide which to keep later.

7/27/2012 3:57:00 PM

Rhode Island

probably genetic for the same reason we have so many other freaky things happening over the past ten plus years.
it not natural fo a piece of fruit to be so big. soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-the more we press the genetic buttons, the more freaky things will happen.
just my opinion from watching the hobby evolve over the past 23 years.
most of the problems associated with our hobby today, were unheard of back then. some disease yes, but not the other freaky things we have witnessed.
if we could really see the family history of some of todays best seeds? we would probably be amazed.
pap

7/27/2012 6:09:43 PM

Stanwood, Washington

While burying vines today I pulled off about 20 small females. Opened them up to see what they looked all but one of them had seeds inside.

7/28/2012 6:41:20 PM