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San Jose garysand@pacbell.net

If a female doesn't get pollinated can/will it still make a pumpkin, or does it just shrivel and die? I have a jack-o-lantern plant and many females have died off (I am letting nature take care of them) is it lack of bees or lack of water?

6/20/2005 11:38:14 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Unpollinated females will wither & die. But other causes can also have this effect such as extremes of temperature, rain on the blossoms (which also eliminates bees), etc.

There is no reason we can't hand pollinate field pumpkins if your local bees aren't getting it done.

6/21/2005 4:59:20 AM

New Hampshire

With the mite infection of bees about 20 years ago, we have essentialy, no natural bees in North America. Bee keepers are the people that keep them going. Bumble Bees are responsible for most of our pollination of wild plants. Yellow jackets will also pollinate. I do get a bit worried when I spray for bugs, that I am also killing of these pollinators

6/28/2005 10:45:45 AM