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Denver, CO

I have a plant whose main vine is about 3 feet out, but yet it already has produced and opened a male flower, with several others about 7 to 10 days out. Is this a sign of stress or just natural. I usally dont see male flowers open on my plants until about the 10 ft main vine stage? Do male flowers come on at a particular stage of plant development or is a time factor from when it was planted?

6/19/2007 10:48:02 PM

Picton,ON ([email protected])

Male frowers will show up a week to 10 days ahead of females. I believe these plants are a little photo-sensitive, that is, they want to flower (Female) starting near the end of June. If the plants are a little late developing, they will seem to produce males early. Flowering is a reproductive triger for the plant, and suggests that earlier planting is important.

Now does this mean we should be removing all flowers until the plant reaches the proper size for pollination. I have never done this, although many old tyme grower belive flower removal is important.

6/20/2007 6:05:49 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Greg,

I have males all over all of my plants too, 10 total. The Pukos was in the ground on May 9th, males right off the bat, female at 2' and every 2' after that, females on the tips of every side vine too at 3'. Im just hoping they continue so I have one at 12. Just a strange year....hope its hot enought for you today.......98?

6/20/2007 8:30:01 AM

Sounds like that plant just had a flower really early this year. However, my plants generally produce males before they are 10 feet long, so I guess it's just when they decide. On a side note, I have never seen data supporting that pumpkins need specific photoperiods. Actually, think of all the guys that grow state fair plants and get fruit set earlier in the season, in a shorter photoperiod.

6/20/2007 8:30:51 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

I should of wrote better, all ten of my plants are covered with males....however only the 805 Pukos has already had 4 females removed....I have removed some of the flowers but since I want to pollinate here in two weeks this has stopped.

6/20/2007 2:23:28 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

I have high Phos. #'s in my patch, and have flowers all over the place, males and females...can go out in the mornin and clip 60 or so males off of 5 plants....trimming and burying vines in the evening, can find and clip 40 or more females off of the same 5 plants. High Phos, makes flowers??? Peace, Wayne

6/20/2007 9:52:05 PM

Delaware, Ohio

So do we need to get rid of them if we don't need them?

6/20/2007 10:08:19 PM

Hudsonville, Michigan ([email protected])

Removal of unneeded flowers helps keep insect levels down, especially cuke beetles.

6/21/2007 7:03:19 AM