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NEPA [email protected] KB3QKV

We have several male flowers that are going to open soon. Should we let them be or should we cut them now and allow more energy to the vine? I just noticed that we also have a very small female flower at about 80" I believe that this is much too close for a female? Should we remove this one also and allow more energy to the vine? Thanks.

6/13/2005 3:30:53 PM

C N Y

may be a bit too early and a little close for a pollination just yet, but....
my biggest pumpkin in '04, the 575 Gerry (950.4 Boyton X
767 Catapano) was a blossom at SEVEN feet from the stump, pollinated on July 1st, and this is just 4 inches further out than your female at 80 inches, or 6' 8", i think.

i had no stem stress problems at all, because of early-on
fruit positioning and the fact that it was """only"""
575 pounds. may have had a little longer stem than usual,
also, always a help! pollinate it for practice and see how it goes, might be your record-breaker! eric g.
if you are a strictly hand-pollination grower, then perhaps the absense (removal) of males right now might help to reduce the
PRESENCE of cuke beetles, but those males show up early in the first place to announce to the bees that there is a new
plant loaded with pollen, and they are swarming to it in plenty of time for the females to also show up and
get pollinated promptly when THEY open....
i can always liken this situation to the average human party...lol......eric...

6/17/2005 12:29:34 PM