From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Rm, Tn

What is the importance of counting the lobes? Do bigger pumpkins come from more lobes? Are more lobes easier to pollenate? What is the normal count on a bloom? I'm just interested in finding out about. Thank you for taking the time to answer.

7/9/2003 6:04:16 PM

Western Pa.

petal,

It used to be believed that , the more lobes, the better, (and the bigger the pumpkin!) I believe Dave Stelt's world record only had 4. I pollinated my first on my 845 Bobier this morning, and it had 3. Anyone grow a giant with only 3 lobes?

7/9/2003 7:32:51 PM

Commack, NY

Kilr........Krug 969 from 2001 was a 3 lober.

Scott

7/9/2003 9:12:09 PM

Utah

I would assume more lobes would means more seeds.

7/10/2003 8:46:57 AM

Deer Park, WI

I believe the assumption that more lobes equals more seeds is correct. However, I dont think there is a correlation between lobe count and fruit size. The average number of lobes in a flower is 5. 4 and 6 are also common. 3, 7, and 8 are much less common, but do exist. I have no idea what dictates how many lobes a flower will have. Especially since you will find a variable number of lobes on females from the same plant. Obviously its a mixuture of environmental and genetic factors. Perhaps temperature plays a role in lobe development? I believe that the more lobes you have, the more difficult it is to pollinate. 4 lobe flowers seem quite easy to pollinate, whereas 6 lobe flowers are somewhat more difficult, simply because they take up more space inside the bloom, and are harder to "paint" with the anthers.

7/10/2003 9:12:31 AM

Ljubljana, Slovenia

My first fruit was a 3 lobe beauty. I had 6 and 5 lobers which I also had to cull because they were on the roof. Now I am stuck with a four lober so it is relaxing to hear about giant 3 and 4 lobers!
I think that the number of lobes is in relation to the vigor of the vine at the time that flower is initialized. This is of course much before it is visible. About the fruit size, the seeds produce growth hormones so in theory more lobes would mean bigger fruit.

7/10/2003 2:15:48 PM