Lots of flowers...no pumpkins

[dtkid]

Hey folks:

This is my first post. I have been an avid gardener for 30 years...however, I need some knowledge/advice.

Last year my pumpkins vines were beautiful; lots of huge healthy flowers (many of which I fried and ate). Yet, the vines never yeilded a single fruit!

Now, I again have beautiful flowers but as the flowers die-back no fruit is developing. Could it be the lack of bees?? Should I take a stick and pollenate the flowers myself?

Should I mix the pollen from many flowers and vines?

I hope ya'll understand my problem/question. Thanks, from the mountains, for any assistance.

[Matt.]

human assisted pollination is worth trying to get sucess with pumpkins and squash. Mix and match the pollon as you like. Just peel back the petals on the male flower and brush the pollon onto the female flower. Simple (but not 100% guranteed!).

As a side note folk growing giant pumpkins want to specifcally cross different seeds so they cover the flower in a bag to prevent contamination from pollon carrying insects. Unless you want to keep seeds and definitely want to know what the heritage was you don't need to do this.

[Pumpkin Becki]

I had terrible trouble with pumpkins and squashes last year, just couldn't get the plants to grow on, I think the weather had a lot to do with it.

This year my plants are much healthier and happier, and I can see flowers forming, but its still quite early to be worrying about fruits, remember you can still direct sew seeds into the beginning of June, so those plants would have a lot of work to do to have fruit by now. I think it will be fine, but you certainly can hand pollinate as Matt describes.

[Pumpkin Becki]

Oh and I nearly forgot! Welcome to the Vine!!

[dtkid]

Thanks folks...........when I get home this afternoon I'll be checking for female flowers. Three of my pumpkin vines have over 10 large flowers...I've not sexed them yet......but I assumed they were male because their shoots are at least a foot tall.

Thanks for the welcome.....this is a nice site.

[gojiberry]

Welcome dtkid. I also have problems with winter squashes and pumpkins. I didn't grow either last year. The year before I ended up with one butternut and three small pumpkins. Am having another go this year with summer and winter squashes and a couple of pumpkins. So fingers crossed. It would be a good idea to put your location into your profile as it can have a bearing on advice given.

Ian

[Two_Sheds]

I never hand-pollinate my squashes (or anything else). Mind you, I do grow lots of lovely flowers to attract the bees

[dtkid]

Thanks for all the input. As requested, I've completed my profile so that useful advice for my geography is possible.

I now also realize that this forum is primarily used by folks in the UK.

I live in the mountains of Southeast Kentucky (upper-southern US). I reside at approximately 2800feet above sea level.

Last night I pollinated two female flowers......the fruits were about two inches in diameter and 4 inches long.

I then proceeded to collect a couple dozen male flowers.....of which I battered and fried and they were oh-so tasty. Do you folks in the UK eat the flowers off of the pumpkins and squash and gourds??

Thanks for all your help.