From

Location

Message

Date Posted

St. George, NB Canada

Is there a routine cause of very few female blooms on pumpkins? Genetics, too little fertilizer, poor opening line when addressing the plant?

We have 3 plants, alot of males, but so far only two female blooms. One seems to be establishing itself into a nice pumpkin (pollinated 7 days ago), the other is yet to open. See this as an education year, but still hopeful this one little pumpkin or its sister will be develop into something respectable.

8/8/2001 5:45:58 PM

Utah

genetics !!!

8/8/2001 7:11:18 PM

Ga.

Try some fertilizer with phosphrous,,,like 5 -15-5,,just threw some numbers up there,,,want a higher middle number,,,,see if that helps,,,I got more females than I do males........

8/8/2001 7:31:52 PM

Omaha, NE

What type of pumpkin? My Big Max plants had very few females, and lots of males, once I fertilized a few females came up. Had quite a few females on the Conn. Field plants.
Karen

8/8/2001 10:06:34 PM

St. George, NB Canada

Pumpkin: Atlantic Giants. Have been fertilizing with fish fertilizer, lots of micro-nutrients, but lower on NPK.

Gone over to 20-20-20 fertilizer starting today, esp. since I now have an actual gourd to care for.

8/8/2001 10:23:13 PM

Herndon, VA

I seemed to see more females when I fertilized more often.

8/8/2001 11:19:30 PM

Omaha, NE

If I could send you some I would...Karen

8/8/2001 11:56:45 PM

St. George, NB Canada

Karen, you'll have to send the whole plant, and the root system, and some soil. :O) Probably want to fly it out through Chicago then Toronto and Halifax. Since there is soil involved might have to hide it inside a piano to get it past Canada Customs :(. <humor, by the way> But we are talking pumpkins here. What say we split the cost? Bill C.

8/9/2001 6:53:30 AM

Omaha, NE

Sorry the females I have popping up now are on a different vine but on the same plants as one of my pumpkins.

8/11/2001 11:32:34 AM

Omaha, NE

Aside from that too much money for an a plant with unproven genetics lol ....Karen

8/11/2001 2:36:25 PM

St. George, NB Canada

'S alright, thanks.

My one lone gourd is chugging away: 9 or 10 days post pollination, its about the size of a softball. Also in its favor, our kids have now named it. My 6 yr old boy called it "Monster", 5 yr old girl called it "Mark". So its: "Monster Mark". Mark's sister flower should be ready for pollination tomorrow. Bill C.

8/11/2001 3:53:31 PM

Greencastle, PA

where did you get your long gourd seeds?
Tom

8/11/2001 6:34:40 PM

St. George, NB Canada

From my Dad.

8/12/2001 3:31:12 PM