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New Hampshire

... how did your pollination efforts go the last two weeks? A couple of weeks ago many of us were concern about our seasons due to Females aborting before the open. Ours made a remarkable turn around and have pollinations on all our plants. I took some of yours advice and added a high P water-soluble fertilizer to the plants. I don't know if that did the trick or was it the decent weather we been having. I hope yours all had a turn around also. Jim

7/16/2005 7:46:20 PM

Topsfield, Ma.

Pollinated every day this week here, will take a few more days to feel comfortable about sets, but they're lookin' good so far! First two on each plant never even had a chance! I'd say we're off and running now...LOL

7/16/2005 7:51:09 PM

berkshire M.A.

It has been a tough year getting fruit to take .Slim pickins this year.

7/16/2005 9:27:17 PM

ipswich, ma usa

Jim

1 out of seven plants made it to ploilination in the heat wave. All other 6 plants had 2 aborts apiece that never opened. Earliest pollination was June 30th on the 1301. Most pumpkins are out around 12 to 16 feet this year. My own plant thru a pumpkin just now at 22 feet!!

John (5150)

7/16/2005 11:02:00 PM

Rhode Island

jim
we have a couple real good prospects that are at days 24 and 19 ( got them pollinated just before the heat wave )

have something set on every remaining plant from pollinations of 6-29 to 7-5

dick

7/16/2005 11:35:27 PM

Marshfield, Ma, USA

It has been a rough pollination period in Southeastern Massachusetts, at least for me. My earliest pollination that took was on July 9th. By now it looks like at least five of my six plants have a pumpkn going.Keeping my fingers crossed.

One thing that I have found disturbing is the large number of abnormal looking flowers that have appeared.Not many have had lobes aligned as they should be. One of the four or five would always be out of line or bunched together on one side. What could be causing this?

7/16/2005 11:54:45 PM

Rhode Island

NOW THAT MOST HAVE GOT FRUIT SET WE CAN START TO WONDER WHEN THE OTHER FOOT WILL DROP

THE DIRTY "D" WORD (DISEASE)
OR THAT EYE OPENING "BS" AND I DONT MEAN "BULLSHIT" ITS
(BLOSSOM SPLIT)

IT WOULD BE FUNNY IF IT DID NOT HAPPEN SO MUCH

ONE DAY YOUR RIDING HIGH DREAMING OF HOW MANY LBS YOU HOPE TO GAIN THAT WEEK AND THE NEXT YOUR PILING THE PLANT UP UNDER A TREE IN THE WOODS

LETS HOPE ALL NEW ENGLANDERS CAN BRING HOME A COUPLE OF THERE BEST
ONE FOR TOPSFIELD AND ONE FOR THE SNGPG WEIGH OFF IN RI
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE

DICK

7/17/2005 12:13:10 AM

Rhode Island

NOW THAT MOST HAVE GOT FRUIT SET WE CAN START TO WONDER WHEN THE OTHER FOOT WILL DROP

THE DIRTY "D" WORD (DISEASE)
OR THAT EYE OPENING "BS" AND I DONT MEAN "BULLSHIT" ITS
(BLOSSOM SPLIT)

IT WOULD BE FUNNY IF IT DID NOT HAPPEN SO MUCH

ONE DAY YOUR RIDING HIGH DREAMING OF HOW MANY LBS YOU HOPE TO GAIN THAT WEEK AND THE NEXT YOUR PILING THE PLANT UP UNDER A TREE IN THE WOODS

LETS HOPE ALL NEW ENGLANDERS CAN BRING HOME A COUPLE OF THERE BEST
ONE FOR TOPSFIELD AND ONE FOR THE SNGPG WEIGH OFF IN RI
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE

DICK

7/17/2005 12:13:10 AM

Sheridan . NY

Hello all--we all have had a tuff time with pollination from what i can see and hear--the heat was the factor-- temps from low 90's to over a 100s --the females were getting cooked in side the vine even before we could even see them --the pollen was also dying in morning with temps of 80 by 9.30 in the morin -- things here are in a basket ball to propane tank size and doing great---but with that one eye closed with that first LOOK In the morin for that split that we all pray not to see--good luck to all - please email or call if i can help in any way -grow em big--!! CRAIG

7/17/2005 8:15:24 AM

Selbyville, Delaware

Three plants, over nine pollinations starting June 30, no aborts yet (knock on my cooling clay soil).

7/17/2005 10:19:36 AM

Montoursville, PA

Sure as I write this the dern fool things will flip and get one going good for me. To date my one plant has a three day limit set on abortions or split stems. I've lost count. Saturday AM I goofed and missed one ....yep the Bees got it. How much you want to bet that one will be the one that wants to grow? My neighbor wants to know how many dern pumpkins I am growing this year. It's getting to be a jolk at this house. Eat dinner and head out to collect pollen for the next morning pumpkin sex party. Can this become an addiction?
Pollinated two more this AM. I think the plant is just not up for sex in the garden. I got me a weird-o plant. :)

7/17/2005 2:07:06 PM

[email protected]

ZERO for FOUR. Either rain, humidity, high temps or (most often) all 3 together on the same day have wreaked havoc on pollinations this year. 4 in a row on the 845 have all aborted making this my worst pollination year yet.

7/17/2005 8:25:56 PM

Billerica,Massachusetts

my first attemp was June 29th, that one failed, however since then i have been successful with all attemps and now i havestarted culling them as i have too many.
Glenn

7/18/2005 8:33:18 AM

West Bridgewater /Brockton Ma. USA

Hello All
figured i would log in here ,,,got a few early sets going and in the last week got all kinds of sets now showing on the secondaries ...I am not sure if and when to start to cut these for and to pinch back the runners being this is my first year at the BIG Time .... Now my Prizewinners on the other hand are growing very well got all kins of runners and female buds ,,,males are just now starting to show . Seedlings in june , Runners in July and make'n Pumpkin in August ...is the rule for them ....
Just wondering if I should try more than one to a plant or try to get 2 or 3 to a plant ? Any advise ?
I figured out that I currently have over a mile of soaker hose laid out this year and the kicker is I will loose it all come August in the at least for the first 2 weeks I have to cover shift at work and will not be able to work Wanabe Acres ....not sure how the AG's will fair ..
bill G.

7/18/2005 7:17:59 PM

Montoursville, PA

Eventually I become a grow or blow grower. That means I get down to one per plant for the largest possible grow. More than one, I believe, will take away from both. That having been said two have produced very nice fruit in quite a few instances, of record.

It's up to you. Going for the best you can possibly do get them down, to one per plant, as soon as you think you have one doing good. Keep the one on the main vine if at all possible. It's a craps shoot with a lot of luck involved considering the things you can do nothing about.

7/19/2005 11:34:28 AM