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Highland, Ca

Plant keeps aborting fruit after eight or so days and its been hot, I just pollinated yesterday and had frozen bottles of water by the female I'm wondering if I should be doing that to keep it cool for the next week or even more, it's going to be 100+ for awhile I think

7/14/2009 9:13:21 AM

Ct

Are you sure they were pollinated?

7/14/2009 10:50:12 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Plant a resin lawnchair over the female at least three days before pollenating and keep it shaded until well after (until you build pumpkin shade)

That will help a lot on hot weather aborting problems.

When you do the frozen bottles of water use a cooler over it but make sure the bottles do not touch vine or fruit.

7/14/2009 11:35:58 AM

Highland, Ca

Thanks for the info,now you ask if I'm sure they were pollinated, will they continue to get larger even if they aren't? The last one was 17" diameter and then just quit. OkieGal,you are saying to put a cooler over the pollination with water bottles inside?

7/15/2009 10:27:43 AM

Ct

Usually an unsuccsesfull pollination will result in a quick abort within days, the fruit gets soft and dies off.At least that is my experience. I missed many females opening up lately { opening after I leave for work } and the small fruits are soft and spent within two days or so.

7/15/2009 10:57:59 AM

Fredericksburg, Virginia

I have had a number of mine grow for about a week, then wither away. I am not sure of the reason, but it has been consistant the last few years in July.

7/15/2009 5:39:52 PM

Alabama

lisfisher

If you are missing your females opening, take a small piece of twine and gently tie them shut to keep the bees out until you can pollinate.

7/16/2009 7:36:06 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Yes Nascar, the idea is to keep the pollenation in a cooler area for it to do the magic.

Shade Tom, shade them, and make sure to control afternoon heat with misters on the vines (keep fruit dry).

7/16/2009 11:03:46 PM

Highland, Ca

Thanks for all your help i am using all your suggestions and so thankful that i am getting this kind of help (not this way in the real world ) hopefully I can return the favor in the future.

7/17/2009 12:34:11 AM