From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Salem, OR

I have a couple females that look like they will be ready for pollination in the next couple days, but no males appear ready to open. Any ideas what could cause this imbalance? I seem to have plenty of males on the vines, but they are all still green and pretty tightly closed. Any way to get those males to open up sooner?

6/27/2007 10:58:52 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Males almost always come 10 days before the females are ready to bloom. This is natures way of steering the Bee's to the pumpkins.

6/27/2007 1:14:21 PM

Salem, OR

Unfortunately, mine didn't. I have females ready to go and no males. I have males on the vine, they definitely appeared before the females, but none seem to be opening. Our weather has been unseasonably cool, could that a factor?

6/27/2007 2:23:10 PM

Somers, CT

When I was in college it was always no females and lots of males. I think we called it a sausage fest. Others called it an engineering school.

6/27/2007 4:20:31 PM

San Jose garysand@pacbell.net

do you have anyone near you growing giants?

6/27/2007 11:34:07 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Road trip to a fellow grower for sure. Pollen patch raids are common around here especially if a buddy is growing something you wanted but couldn't get.

There have got to be some other AG growers near enough.

6/28/2007 1:05:18 AM

Salem, OR

Thank you, that is a great suggestion. I know of one grower in my area, I'll send him an email and see if he is open to sharing. THANKS!! Is there a correct way to store them. Since the flowers need to be pollinated in the AM, I would be looking at picking up the evening before.

6/28/2007 11:21:44 AM

western PA

stick them in a vase with water

6/28/2007 12:55:57 PM

southwest MO

I remember last year our weather was cool and dry at this time... One evening we finnally got a warm soaking rain and I was amazed. The patch was a sea of orange overnight!! I thought I had been watering sufficiently, but I just couldnt duplicate mother nature.

6/28/2007 3:15:25 PM

Salem, OR

Boy genius - THANK YOU!! That may just be my problem. I've been hand watering this whole time and in the back of my mind, wondering if my little guys were getting enough water. This may be my problem. I'll give them a good soaking tonight and hope for a "sea of orange"!!

6/28/2007 3:19:13 PM

Northwest Missouri

SJeffers, did you get any male flowers to start showing up yet?

7/4/2007 12:13:19 PM

Salem, OR

Hound46, Yes, I finally had some males join the party. I did have a local grower that was willing to share his males, so had some to carry me through the dry period - thank you Ben.

As of a couple days ago, I have had plenty of males to keep the females happy. They just seem to be about one week late, kind of wierd since I believe they should start opening up before the females.

Thanks to all for the great advice. I'm only a second year grower, so I can't imagine what I would do without all your helpful folks to give me a hand :)

7/5/2007 1:20:44 PM