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[email protected]

This is strange but I have 3 of my pumpkins throwing females and their just starting to vine, and in 2 of the situations, and only 3 feet away, I've got another plant that has no females, Any suggestions, I thought of stress, but it should be happening to them all.
1 plant is my 792, the second is my 535, and the last is an 1101 Northrup
any ideas

6/1/2007 12:47:19 AM

Netherlands

I had a selfed 1101 Northrup last year that threw an enormous amount of females, often two at a time. They started very early as well (a few feet out). I don't know if anyone else experienced this with the 1101.

6/1/2007 2:10:41 AM

Berlin,mi.([email protected])

Eddy: my experience with the 1101 is that they start to throw females very early and often. could be a good sign. good luck.

6/1/2007 5:54:55 AM

Ohio

Eddy, Back in our younger years females all over the place was a good thing, but now that we are a little older and losing a few things in some places and gaining in others, females all over the place doesnt happen hardly at all.

Oh, Oh, your talking about pumpkins, sorry Eddy.

6/1/2007 7:22:36 AM

Midwest

Could it be stress? I don't think so. A stressed plant doesn't usually resort to reproduction. A few years ago I had a stressed plant that produced only males. This is normal because it wasn't healthy. So, the question is, "What's causing these plants to throw females so early?". Is it an imbalance in the soil? Or, are these plants throwing females early because of genetics? How about your fertilizing program? Is it something you're putting on them? Is it a good sign anyway? I'd say 'yes' it's a good sign for it's a healthy plant.

6/1/2007 8:28:27 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Sudden changes of light throw plants into blooming cycles....Happens every year to my pepper plants, from inside to outside throws the plant into blooming, then in calms down.....IMHO Good Luck Eddy.

6/1/2007 9:10:52 AM

Grandfield Oklahoma

I have the same thing here. We have lots of rain this year, and cooler temps. Daytime temps in the mid 80's.

Lots of thunder storms, clouds etc.

Last 2 years not one pumpkin and no females. If I grow one it will be my first.

For me it is a good thing to see all the females, I think it is a sign that the plant wants to reproduce, and I hope it does.

6/1/2007 10:48:06 AM

Minnesota

Eddy - did you germ all 3 of your plants on the same day?
This has me very curious also.

6/1/2007 4:43:05 PM

North Smithfield, RI USA

Have had that happen in the past, plants throw females before the males ! Happened with good seed and it happened way back back with generic seed. Never found the answer to that one.

6/1/2007 4:49:03 PM

eddy i had this happen to me 3 years ago i learned i had roots way out that hit cold dirt.

6/1/2007 5:40:45 PM

[email protected]

Thanks you bunch of great pumpkin growers,
Dean, Started 22 seeds, all the same day, also checked the tip of the vine, and full of females, so we'll keep track of it.
don, could be these plants are sending deeper roots or out past the cables. as the soil temp around the cables is 15 degrees warmer than the unheated stuff.
Also, has been an unusual spring with crazy weather, Also will get a soils test done,
Only thing different from other years, is humic acid, but who knows.
Brooks, all I do now is coyote style, with all them females, I just sit and howl, lol

6/1/2007 6:08:34 PM

Ohio

haaaaa!!!!

6/1/2007 7:18:43 PM

Minnesota

I was talking to edmund and he told me of your cold growing area. To me an abnormal spurt of females like that would be an indication of plant stress. When a plant gets stressed the first thing it wants to do is make a seed so i think Don hit the nail on the head.

Good news is the plants should grow out of it and i personally would move forward with them like normal.

Good Luck to you.

6/2/2007 3:50:20 PM

Napa Valley, CA

Eddy, in 2000 my 991 Hunt plant threw early females and an amazing abundance of females thru out the growing season.
In 2002 my 922.5 Emmons did the opposite...... hardly any females at all and a ton of males.
Everything else was normal on both these years.
I have assumed that both of these abnormalities were some sort of gentic thing.

6/3/2007 2:46:04 AM