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Kevinstinindians@yahoo.com

Hi all, feel free to laugh at this question. At the end of my plants main vine where the new leaves are still coming on two days ago I noticed a little round thing under a little forming blossom that was about a half inch long. Now two days later there is what looks like a quarter sized pumpking and the blossom is about an inch and a half long, what is this? Is this a pumpkin? If so how did it start with the blossom that small? And what should I do with this?

Thanks for the help.

7/15/2005 7:30:27 PM

Dillsburg, PA

That is a pumpkin, probably will open to pollinate in 10 or so days. We call that a female. You will notice male flowers that don't have a little pumpkin. The two of these get together and have a party either with your help or the bees help. Where at in Pa are you?

7/15/2005 7:40:43 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

If you are very careful and look very closely you can see female flowers at the vine tips with the little pumpkins under them that are incredibly small. Have never tried to measure one but I would guess 1/32" or smaller. Amazing how in less than 90 days something that small can get so huge!!! I would suggest finding a tutorial on pollination...probably one here in the How To section on the main page. Peace Wayne

7/16/2005 7:47:51 AM

Kevinstinindians@yahoo.com

Thanks for the help. I didn't realize it would get that big before being polinated. I now have two of them, the second is still tiny. The first is about 8 feet out from where the plant was started. My plants are way behind most peoples schedule. This is my first year and a learning experience, my earlier plants were killled in a nasty three day stretch of strong wind back in the spring when they were 2 weeks old. Add that to being started two weeks late and they're about a month behind.

Jeff, I'm in central PA, aka the middle of no where. I have family that lives on the eastern shore of Maryland, where are you located?

7/16/2005 8:26:27 AM

Dillsburg, PA

I was born in Pittsburgh and moved to Thurmont, Md about six years ago. About 10 miles south of gettysburg. Looking to move into York Spings, Pa very soon.

7/16/2005 8:39:58 AM

The first one will bloom in the next few days if it is as big as a quarter already. It will get real yellow the night before it blooms. Once you see a few, you will learn to tell when they are going to bloom. Here is a picture of a female that is ready to bloom the next morning. Notice the yellow petals and pointy tip on the bud.
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=10458

7/16/2005 2:24:26 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Hey PA, Brig is right, are you ready to pollinate? Get ready, cause nothin stops mother nature. The top end of the female flower will sort of pucker up the day before it is ready to open. Go thru the How To section and learn all you can about pollination. Learning and improving skills is one of the best parts of the AG game. Have fun, ask ?'s, learn and grow 'em big. Peace Wayne
At this point in time I would def. try and pollinate the one at 8' out. I have heard of several 1000# plus grown at 8' on main vine. GO 4 IT!!!!!

7/16/2005 10:55:34 PM

Montoursville, PA

Hey there.............You have E. You can not be to far from Williamsport. One of us will be glad to help you hands on if at all possible.

7/21/2005 9:38:47 PM

Kevinstinindians@yahoo.com

yep, I pollinated it monday morn and the second opened up today, got the mail doc i'll shoot you a reply a little later

thanks for all the help guys

7/21/2005 10:52:57 PM

Kevinstinindians@yahoo.com

I forgot to mention, I measured and its actually 10 and a half feet out, I didn't think it was that far. Now its between baseball and softball size. :^)

7/21/2005 11:09:25 PM