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Connecticut

On my 845 Bobier I can't get a pumpkin started. 15 have aborted before they opened and three aborted after opening. What is wrong? Does anyone else have this problem?

7/19/2001 5:16:19 PM

Mid Michigan

Are you trying to pollinate them yourself, or you leaving it up to the bees?
I know i tried to forcibly rape my last female cuz it wasn't all the way opened, and i had to hurry to make an appointment. It aborted, and that was the 1st one i had do that. All the others i pollinated around 8:00 in the moanin' with 2 males that were open at the same time, and everything went fine. I cover the females, and at least 2 males the night before i think they're gonna open with zip-lock baggies/with holes punch in for air flow, so the bees cant beat me to the pollination game.
Hope this helps!
Cuzbiker

7/19/2001 5:57:23 PM

Connecticut

On the the three that lasted long enough to open I hand pollinated in the morning very gently and let the bees finish the job. This method worked with my 810 hamdy and 788.6 Dopp. Which makes me think it is something else. Thanks!

7/19/2001 7:38:25 PM

derry n.h u.s.a.

Hi
BLUE Ribbon: is there a lot of nitrogin in the soil, sometimes if theres to much nitro the fruits abort shortly after pollination.I have never seen one abort before the flower opens.I usually stop fertilizing 2 weeks or so before pollination and don't fert for 3 weeks or so after it gives the fruit a chance to take then i start to fertilize again. Nitrogin leaches from the soil pretty quick depending on your type of soil.If you think thats the reason water heavey every couple of days and pollinate as many pumpkins as you can till you get a few to take.Hope this helped.Best of luck. John G...

7/20/2001 9:03:32 PM

Connecticut

Yeh there is. This spring the nitro was really high and guess it is possible that the 845 was more vurnable. Thanks I'll stop fertilizing.

7/21/2001 10:55:17 AM