From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Omaha, NE

Well, the first pumpkin I pollinate on my 1st Big Max plant started shrivelling and getting smaller, as well the the first one on the 2nd Big Max plant. So I cut both of them. Had two good size females on my 2nd plant this morning, but no males to pollinate with.

So I am down to just one Big Max pumpkin, thank goodness that one is growing by leaps and bounds(I think)46"OTT at 9 days since pollination, 17 of that in the lst four days. Cuzbiker, what is the growth rate like on your Big Max? Is anyone growing these?

Karen

8/16/2001 10:56:46 PM

Shreveport, Louisiana

I would gladly trade you some male flowers for females on my Big Max plants. Out of 10 plants that were planted on June 7th I have yet to have one female set. My female flowers either die before opening up or the pumpkings die a few days after the flowers open. I have tried everything I know and I have read to get a female to set. The problem is not pollination because I have hand pollinated each and every one that has opened. I have had to fight 3 or 4 bees from each flower just to hand pollinate. My Jack O'Lanterns which are in the same patch are producing like wild fire. I was going to pick the best two plants with the best two pumpkins and cull the rest but I can't even get one Big Max to set. Anyone have any suggestions?

8/16/2001 11:29:37 PM

Omaha, NE

All of my Jack o Lanterns quit growing in the heat. I set two on the new growth this past Sunday, only one of them took. I was hoping to keep all three of the Big Max that I had set. I think cutting the two that were shriveling had an effect on the one remaining, because it has a slight blossom tear... Karen

8/16/2001 11:35:04 PM

Omaha, Nebraska

Is your temperature at night getting down below 75. I hear that pollination takes place best around 65 or 70. You can run the sprinklers for awhile to try to lower the temps a bit maybe. My Shannon plant set only one pumpkin so far and its huge. I cant get anymore to set at all. It set during the heatwave somehow when temps never got much lower than 75 for 18 days straight.

8/16/2001 11:37:52 PM

Ga.

Packrat,,,if you are running the bees out of the flowers,,,I wouldnt worry to much about pollinating,,,if you got bees,,they do an awsome job,,,maybe you are knocking the pollen off when you try to set it...

8/17/2001 7:40:15 AM

Mid Michigan

Hey karen....didn't you get my e-mail? I sent you one this morning before work. I hand pollinated my Big max females with males from my 896 Wells plant. I've had 3 abort in the heat, and humidity now, but have 2 nice ones growing......not as fast as yours, but they're making decent gains. None of my pumpkins have made gains like some of the the ones i've read about on the site, but 4 or so inches a day was more than i expected for my 1st time trying anyway. Next year, i'll make some adjustments, and do better, i'm sure!
Cuzbiker

8/17/2001 5:17:38 PM

Omaha, NE

let me try this again, I swear I just sumbitted a post, but it isn't showing up. Yes I got your email Rick. I had sent the email using the internet connection at work (after the boss left). I was able to get online at home that night, and posted the message to see if anyone else was growing these too. I had forgotten about the email when I asked you about your big maxes. The one have left is now at 59" OTT at 12 days, I may have a few more, we went away for the weekend for a cubscout trip, and when I came back it seems that the bees had been busy. May possibly have three others set, will have to wait and see in a few days.

Karen

8/19/2001 3:10:32 PM