From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Buckingham, Canada

Just wondering, what's everyone's thoughts on removing all male and females after you have decided on and chosen your fruit? I have been cutting them off.

David K

7/29/2006 8:40:13 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Well, pretty risky untill you have a proven fruit set (or 2) My buddy Larry took off all male and female flowers in an attempt to "push all the energy" to that one still un-opened female flower. Well, his vine snapped at the fruit and nearly ended his season....then he had to run around like a madman collecting male flowers so he could pollinate when it was ready.

After fruit is set and growing, sure cut em off but not before.

7/29/2006 1:11:05 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

And...10 days and growing like crazy (after pollination) is no guarantee!!!! Make sure you have a keeper b-4 culling all other flowers, male and female!!!!!!! Peace, Wayne
PS....Day 13 45"...Day 14 45"...etc, etc, etc....

7/29/2006 9:29:10 PM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

Even though I don't have a guaranteed set yet, I've been pinching off some female flowers. I have limited space and the spot that some flowers are in is too small to fit a pumpkin (like right beside the tomatoes or on the trellis that I am using to let the vine crawl over the rhubarb). No sense in leaving them on if I won't be able to grow them anyway.

7/29/2006 11:12:48 PM

Buckingham, Canada

Ya I've thrown caution to the wind and pretty much terminated all females and cut off all males.....i'm at 72 inches cir right now with my only one. If something happens to it now, and I lose it, it's pretty late to start another, in my opinion. Man I hope nothing happens to it!

7/30/2006 9:05:54 PM

Mocksville, NC

I'm doing it right now om one,i did the same on Another, Plant it made the leaves bigger, and vines thicker tall leafstalks, and the fruit really took off, also i removed 3 stage growth as it appeared on secondarys. Did it help i think it did energy had no place to go , but to the fruit we'll see could be just genetics?? Rog

7/31/2006 5:26:40 PM

Colorado Springs, Colorado

I wouldn't cull any females off until you have 4-7 set females.
one: There is a high risk of nutrient surge into one pumpkin all at one time, and that leads to splitting pumpkins and stem splits. Like what these guys are saying, you don't know for sure yet whether or not this female is set yet. I would have atleast 3-4 pumpkins that are definetely set before I choose one, especially this early in the season.
Once one gets to basketball size, and depending on it's time of Pollination, you can start culling. Never cull off any male flowers due to the fact that they attract beneficial insects like lady bugs, and bees which they eat other pests. This will save you alot of money on pesticides. Hopefully this will help.
behemoth27

7/31/2006 9:28:33 PM

Ham Lake, Minnesota

After my fruit is set and well on its way and figure its the point of no return, I dump all male and female. Afterall when the Memphis Belle Bomber was heading home in WW II after her mission she dumped her guns and ammo into the drink to save on fuel.

8/6/2006 4:37:59 AM