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Minnesota([email protected])

I have a pumpkin plant where the males seem to just sit at a certain size, and not mature. Even at the stump, they are only like 3" tall. I have a backup plant on the other end of the patch(started at the same time, and about the same size) that has had 4 or 5 male flowers open already. Has anyone had a similar issue? If so, did the later males develop fully? At around 13'on the main, the first female looks like it will be ready to open in about a week. Hopefully it matures fully. Any comments or suggestions?

6/28/2016 10:17:04 PM

Zurich Ont Canada

Overdose of nitrogen??? Not sure what signs to look for on leaves if this is the case. Maybe someone else can pipe in.

6/28/2016 10:35:20 PM

Nampa

My patch is super hot on nitrogen and the male flowers have been fine. Maybe it's something else. Do you have any fertility deficiencies in the soil?

6/29/2016 1:01:45 AM

Minnesota([email protected])

Thanks for the replies. I haven't done a soil test. The only fertilizers I've used are alfalfa meal, and a brand of mixed organic granular fertilizer. Both of these were broadcast and tilled in. Only 2 or 3 applications of these so far.
Hopefully the males are just slow, and will mature. The plant is growing well otherwise. I'll keep the back up, in case I need males from it.

6/29/2016 3:02:16 AM

Upa Creek, MO

As a last resort, I've had this happen a couple years back and was told to hit it with heavy phosphorous like a MG Bloom Booster as a 1 time thing. Different plants can respond to the exact same soil in opposite ways, so I always read them on a plant by plant basis on how they get fertilized during the growing process.

6/29/2016 7:55:04 AM

South of Buffalo

Is there a flower that you can open up? If so see if there is a stamen in it, if not it might be sterile.

6/29/2016 9:49:23 AM

Massillon, Ohio

Doug,
Does the plant happen to be grown from a selfed seed?
Over the years, I have had 5 sterile plants. All were from selfed seeds. The male flowers didn't mature (no stamen, as Jeff said) - female flowers matured and seemed to be normal - plant was large and healthy. Females seemed to have good pollinations - grew to beachball size, then aborted.

6/29/2016 12:22:34 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Glenna,
Yes it's two generations selfed. 603.5 Muller 03 X self. Now I'm a little worried. I'm hoping it's not a sterile plant. With a plant with sterile males, do the females ever produce normally?
Thanks for the other suggestions given. For now I'm going to wait and see how this plays out. I'm looking at about a week until the first female should be ready. Still time for the males to mature.

6/30/2016 12:01:53 AM

Oak Grove, Mn

Doug, I am growing the 552 Minor which is selfed 2 generations 603 also. The males on it look fine. Are you going to be needing some pollination flowers? If so, what are you looking for.

6/30/2016 7:04:48 AM

Cincinnati,OH

The only sterile plant I grew was a self as well although I have grown many selfs and sibs. The males had no pollen and I never could set a kin.

6/30/2016 10:24:23 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Some of the early males seem to be getting bigger, so hopefully they are just slower than usual and will be fine.

Bob,
I've got a backup plant going(same genetics) that will hopefully have males ready when I need them, if my main plant isn't an option. If I find myself with out males on pollination day, I'll be making a post here looking for donors.

7/1/2016 12:02:53 AM

Massillon, Ohio

"With a plant with sterile males, do the females ever produce normally?".......just my opinion....I think the entire reproductive system is messed up!

If it's not sterile, maybe the phosphorus will help. Good luck. Keep us posted.

7/1/2016 9:37:08 AM

Lebanon, Oregon

For the first time I had two plants with stunted male flowers. Had to use a male frome somewhere else for an eventual failed pollination. Threw in some 0-45-28. Ten days later mature males everywhere and pollinating with my own plants. Huge leaves. Think I was over zealous in N amendments in my Spring till.

7/1/2016 5:31:15 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Good news. Yesterday my first male on the plant opened up. It looked normal. Today two more opened. Thanks again for the replies.

7/3/2016 9:59:01 PM