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Simi valley, ca

Just wanted to get opinions on weather or not to leave females on secondarys or lust keep pinched off ?? For a while or pinch off emeadiatly ??

6/23/2005 1:54:41 PM

Montoursville, PA

Very early ones pinch off both the secondary and the main.

As soon as you have two on the main, in your time period, of choice, pinch off all that show on the secondaries.

6/23/2005 5:56:46 PM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

I've got two females really close together at about 10 feet out on the main vine. Should I pollinate both in case one of them doesn't take? I've never hand pollinated before. So, I want to make sure I don't screw it up. I figure I have twice the chance of success if I do both. But, will that sap too much of the plant's energy?

6/23/2005 8:24:41 PM

Montoursville, PA

Do both and a third one too if you should be so lucky. Make your choice decision in about a week when they are approaching basketball.

At this point I like to start thinking position, on the vine. Choose one that will grow, on the outside, of a curve as close, to ninety degrees off the vine as you can from what choices you have. Then free the vine by cutting the roots. Move the vine, in a curve, away from the shoulders, of the pumpkin. You can move the pumpkin too but moving the vine is a whole bunch safer. Don't move either much per day. A half inch is enough if you do that daily, to curve that vine away, from the pumpkin. The vine roots need to be cut free so that it can rise as your pumpkin grows. Think at least two feet, on each side, of the fruit. That vine has, to rise, freely as the pumpkin grows.

And...surely get two inches, of sand, in position, for the fruit, to lay on. You may wish, to place a synthetic block, on top of the sand. The least expensive is a synthetic material feed bag cut open.

6/23/2005 9:47:26 PM

Ohio

I have five females on my 1097 right now and the way it looks they might all open the same day. I have three females right in a row at the end of the main vine out about 17 feet (est) and two right together on the first secondary out about 10 feet off the main. Im waiting till I know i have one going before I cut any of em.Then ill keep one extra one on the vine awhile so the one off the main dont grow to fast and blow. I dont think I would do this on any other plant but I think its the right thing to do with this aggressive seed.

Brooks

6/23/2005 10:16:24 PM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

Five females on the same day? Would you even have enough pollen for all of them? How long does the pollen in a male flower stay viable?

6/23/2005 11:51:21 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

Cut males about to open the night before and keep them in a glass of water to pollinate the next morning. This keeps the pollen dry and the bugs won't get it before you do.

6/24/2005 2:39:05 AM

Ohio

Crammed I have 10 plants going,I think I could round up some pollen somewhere around here,lol. The longest i have stored pollen in the frig and it still worked for me was 3 days at most,and Id say that would be pushing it a little.


Anyone eles ever have this many females open up in one day?
Brooks

6/24/2005 4:54:37 AM