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C N Y

If one is about to - but like this one, looks to need about a day more to go - I can nylon-mesh baggie it and save a few males the expected night before indoors. If it doesn't bloom as-expected, I can gather more males anyway until it does...and the open pollinators are always kept out, lol. I think it's odd that no one that I know OF uses nylon mesh baggies but me, (not lol). Does this make sense, 'cause I try to speak every pertinent detail that I can, to not leave anything out. eric g
PS---Regardless, I'll probably make a short pic series of how it's done in the months ahead and with what, since I'm always taking pics to show it. I'm liking everything around the fruit here being gone to simplify activities later. Good job!---eric g

8/27/2026 5:23:38 PM

Upa Creek, MO

That'll open Saturday

8/27/2026 5:55:49 PM

Sainte-Catherine-de-Hatley, Quebec, Canada

Actually now that it's evening I am like 90 percent sure it'll be tomorrow. Urk I have only 43 days on this one till the last weigh off

8/27/2026 9:44:02 PM

Grittyville, WA

It may be a little low in nutrients but yes it might open tomorrow (this a.m.???) forcsome reason your soil seems to tie up your nutrients at a level where the plants are always a bit hungry. I think you should be 10x more generous with the fertilizer for this final attempt... broadcast whatever fertilizer you have got left widely around the base of the plant and hope the flower doesn't abort... It might. You've done a really great job this year. But, in terms of getting a bigger plant and a good crop of pumpkins, I would guess that maybe the nitrogen is very transient in your soil... in other words when you apply it it's not staying in the soil for long enough.

That's how it is. One little issue can derail the whole train. I sure hope this one grows!

8/28/2026 8:02:57 AM

Sainte-Catherine-de-Hatley, Quebec, Canada

Yeah it opened this morning 3 lobes selfed. A few days ago I gave a large dose of 12-6-6 for that reason.

8/28/2026 10:19:56 AM

Sainte-Catherine-de-Hatley, Quebec, Canada

I think I'll do it again soon as it says every week. Next year I'll try 24-8-16.

8/28/2026 10:20:50 AM

Sainte-Catherine-de-Hatley, Quebec, Canada

I think I may start vine burieng with 6-1-5

8/28/2026 10:21:37 AM

C N Y

24-8-16 is good for the initial growth of the plants (Oh, I think you'll LOVE IT) until males start showing up and starting to bloom. Then, switching to a High-Phosphorus variety due to the actual stage of the plants' needs is the next ('pal2, lol) step and keeping at that is to initiate blooms, rooting and pumpkin RetEntioN. You know how pumpkins abort and all that - IMHO, lack of phosphorus and possibly other elements, but mainly Phosphorus, which has its own warnings about using too much of it and its 'hanging around', which we should not worry about TOO much, unless patch area is in short supply. Not only that, I've often wondered why there is a tendency to use anything different for burying vines. What if the plant says 'Ewww!'?, lol. You will note that each of these ferts is low in Phosphorus.
All in all, I am 'one to talk', lol. As was said, great job this year nonetheless and I hope you grow that 3-lober as best as it can be.
I have FIVE squashes on one plant -=- We'll see how my beliefs pan out, lol. Take care---eric g

8/28/2026 10:28:20 PM

Sainte-Catherine-de-Hatley, Quebec, Canada

I have a 4-10-0 as well that's a slow release for next year at planting

8/29/2026 9:55:27 AM

C N Y

Okay, and I'm sure that there'll be all winter to research what else to incorporate. I have yet to place bamboo stakes next to each fruit for my own size-gain visuals. That'll be tomorrow. I de-weeded my patches in MASSIVE fashion today and 3 days from now, I'll see the results. Or, severe damage, lol---eg

8/29/2026 11:48:40 PM