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canal winchester ohio

I think I have a problem I have pollinated 10-12 pumpkins on the same plant in the last 6 days. The first 2 I pollinated grew to 9-10" around in 4 days but have stopped the last 2 they have 7" stems & fruit is very firm. Now my plant is growing very fast & beside the 12 I pollinated I have also pulled off 4 others in bad spots ( all were good shape just bad spots). Do you think they are aborts or just slow starters due to plant growth & the number of other fruits coming on. I have 6 more blooming in the next 3 days. the fruit looks healthy just little growth. has anyone had this problem before. In the past 2 years if my fruit didnot take you could tell 3 days out.........Paul

7/2/2001 7:51:48 AM

Long Island,New York

That sounds normal Paul...normal for an abort anyway. Same situation here...some just don't do anything right off, some will develope a few days and then stop...only to dull-up. It may be that each plant is a bit different or it may be that the 3rd day was a real hot one that stopped the process. I've heard that pollination can actually take 6 days or so...(webster video of PNW Growers Lecture)..it takes time for the pollen tube to grow down into the ovary of the female. I would postulate that anything wrong in these 6 days and your done-for...My Lyon's seem to die right away, the 502 looks like its stopped for a day now and its in its 6th day. So far no definite sets here...and the 6 that went this past weekend were during some nasty heat and storms....I'm out of room and cutting existing side vines to make room for the mains as the wrap around the patch trying to set fruit ! We need bigger gardens Paul..........G

7/2/2001 8:41:45 AM

canal winchester ohio

Glen it was very warm the last 4 days 85-94 degrees. pollinated 2 on the main today ,temp. all week 75-80 degrees hope this helps. I do have a 2ndary main I can wrap & get 12-14 more feet out of it. Here is one that has me stumped I have a pollinating plant that is 10 ft. one way & 10 ft. the other I have set a fruit on one of the vines 6 days out 15" in circ. What do you think are the chances of getting 300-400 lbs off this small plant. If none I will take it out to make a little more room for the other plant.........Paul

7/2/2001 9:32:56 AM

Long Island,New York

Paul...my experience in this situation is no....not 300-400. Yes for 200...My experience is that, at least here on Long Island, the "dieback" gets to the plantbefore the fruit gets big. With a small single or double main/vine plant here, ozone pollution accellerates the normal dieback at the crown. Since your likely set on the earliest or oldest vine, the dieback will hit that first.Bigger plants have the advantage of having newer growth fuel the pumpkin growth. People who dont have small patches in hotter areas have a hard time understanding that we have a full grown and terminated plant around July 15th.No room for more growth.
Last year instaed of culling a plant entirely, I kept the first side vine at 10 feet with a fruit at the very end and a secondary on the other side that went 10 feet, made a 90* turn down the alley between houses...out to the front yard and across the front yard to the sidewalk on the street. Very little sun from the alleyway to the front.I ended up with a 124lber that was done Aug15, and a 100lber that was still growing until frost.Perhaps you'll do better (I hope) or you wont experience the dieback we have here. Good luck !......G

7/2/2001 10:00:18 AM

canal winchester ohio

Going to let it go Glen. The plant is a holland 945,I crossed it with a mombert 934 ( both are mombert 567.5X lloyd 935). If nothing else it might make a good cross.....Paul

7/2/2001 10:12:48 AM