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Location

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Date Posted

Sophia WV

How do you get the blossom end off of pumpkin.Do you cut it or let it fall off?

6/19/2005 7:29:23 AM

Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, Germany

let it fall off or remove it with hands when completely withered

6/19/2005 7:50:29 AM

Leicester, NY

If it's been humid or generally damp, you may want to peel the blossom off after a couple days or so. Sometimes, moiture can get trapped in there and cause abort type problems.

6/19/2005 9:39:22 AM

Joliet, IL

great point joe,
i had a nice set female that aborted on day 6 or 7. it was extremely hot last week and i was misting every day and watering more often and my female petals were soaked and not drying out due to hot humid days and nights. i thought it was the heat that got it, but as wet as those petals were i am know thinking that might have been what pushed it over the edge along with the heat. i thought it was not a good idea to remove those petals and to just leave it alone. but my buddy Timmer said "I would remove those wet soggy petals because that doesn't look to good and might start some rot." i should have listened to him. thanks for the advice because my pollination on 2 other plants at prime spots on the main will be opening up in 2 days, 3 days, and in 5 or 6 days, all of which will be in 90 degree plus temps. i will be using the ice jug methods for pollinations under styrofome coolers to get them set and repeat the process for the first 3 days on all set blossums. then i will cover them after that with a mini tarp connected to stakes to avoid the water from hitting them directly, and if they take, then the big shade tarp will go over them. i am going to build some mini tarps today to place over my prime blossums to avoid them from cooking in the 90+ degree sun even before they open. it might be a little over kill, but i would rather shade them than cooking them even if the mister will help cool the plants down 4 times a day. aborts suck the life out of you especially when at prime spots on the main between 11' to 18'.

6/19/2005 11:53:44 AM

C N Y

you mean, the remains of the actual blossom itself?
oh, the little kids will take care of that for you at the weighoff, lol! heck, probably some adults as well!

it is not necessary to remove the blossom's remains,
unless it is going to be a problem for some reason.
if i were to do it, i would just cut it off flush with
the pumpkin and make certain that it is done when it is dry
outside and will be that way for awhile----just like a cut on yer hand, the more air it gets the sooner it will scab-over.....but i would not cover the blossom-removal site....and, yes, the FLOWER's remains need to be removed from the young fruit as soon as you can tell that the pollination has "taken" (baseball-sized) to prevent rot. eric

6/21/2005 5:39:18 PM