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Sacramento, CA

So some female flowers are starting to develop on the plants (finally). How long does it take from seeing them about the size of a pea to being ready to pollinate?

Thanks all!

7/14/2006 11:17:30 AM

ENGLAND

Just get Brooks to take a walk through your Patch and those females will be racing along. Brooks has some kind of Pumpkin Fertility ritual that is to this day unexplained. LOL Just kidding Brooks ;-)

7/14/2006 12:59:50 PM

Mount Prospect,illinois

Hey Matt,
Sounds like you and me are right along side each other on the learning curve!! I have pollinated 2 females. the first i think i messed up using "old" males. I just pollinated the second and if it aborts, it wont be due to a lack of pollen. We have a major heat wave in progress (95+ temps for a few days). I have noticed it seems females from pea sized to pollinateable (is that a word?) is about 5-7 days. of course it depends on a ton of things. Could be faster or slower. And please dont use me as any kind of barometer/becnhmark. 1. I have no experience 2. I am in the Chicago area so my climate is different. Heres hoping you get one growing big very soon. One of us needs to!!!!! My boys are sure hoping i get one going soon. Oh well, at least they see the cucumbers and tomatoes growing.

7/14/2006 9:20:34 PM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

Matt, I think the most common answer to your question is 7 to 10 days...give or take.

7/14/2006 9:20:52 PM

Sacramento, CA

longest 5 to 7 to 10 days of this whole process is this waiting.

I will keep you all informed. I am of to do the Escape from Alcatraz swim this weekend. Maybe when i get back, they will be ready.

7/15/2006 3:50:24 AM

Montoursville, PA

Watch them every evening. They...both males and females turn a distinctive yellow hue the night before opening. I use baggies, to protect the females and cut the males, to be finished indoors, in water. Use some sort of tying method to keep the bees off the females. Do this and you are good, to go not worrying about bees.

7/15/2006 5:51:22 PM

Beach Park, IL.

Sometimes the evening before the morning they are ready to open, you will notice they are slightly opened already as well, with lightish orange showing on the tips/edges. It is like the flower just can't get any bigger, and it is going to explode!! -just kidding!

7/16/2006 1:03:28 AM