Advice on Pumpkins

[reetnproper]

Hello,

I'm new to this forum and so apologies if I'm in the wrong place but I am looking for some info' on pumpkins.

My pumpkin plants are a healthy looking crowd and have been throwing out female flowers for a few weeks now and, until today, no males.

The problem I have is that even as the pumpkin embryos are forming behind the female flower they are turning yellow (a sign of an unfertilised female I know) before the flower is even close to opening. I have grown pumpkins successfully for 2 years now but I have never seen this phenomenon on this scale.

Every embryo I can see starting to grow is yellow! Has anyone any experience of this? I have tried to google for an answer but every site I've visited refers to yellowed fruit AFTER the flower has bloomed and not before.

Is it because the plant hasn't produced any males until today? Are the initial females being 'scrificed' to attract the bees etc needed for pollination in readiness for the next batch of females?

Many thanks in advance for your advice.
Reet

P.S. I do normally hand pollinate but haven't got to that stage yet!

[SarzWix]

I've had the Same thing with one of my plants, so I'm checking moisture, feeding etc because it's in a different part of the plot to my other plants - the others are slightly more shaded, and in a more clay soil (holds more water). I'm wondering if in this extra heat maybe I haven't watered enough


Oh, and Welcome to the Vine reetnproper

[shirlthegirl43]

I am off to sulk, my pumpkins don't have any flowers yet. Mind you, they are growing where they decided to as they are 'volunteers' from the seeds out of last years halloween lantern which I gave to the chooks so maybe I shouldn't grumble.

[bluemoon]

The plant will sacrifice unfertilized flowers, try giving them a bit of a tap and they often fall off. It depends on the variety though, a few do start out with yellowish embryos. Try the tapping thing and if they don't snap off straight away give them a few more days. If you definitely haven't had any male flowers though then there's no way they can be fertile (unless a neighbour has some), so you can be fairly confident about removing those.

[Matt.]

Are you sure its a problem. I'm sure some of my pumkins have had a yellow embryo thats gone to to be a fertilised pumpkin. Is this a different variety you're growing for the first time? I'd hang in and see how it goes and don't terminate yourself unless its not where you want a fruit.

I have no idea why pumpkins terminate themselves. Last year I had one the size of a beach ball growing at a great rate that suddenly decided that was it. The rest of the plant was huge and in fine condition but I'd culled all other fruit and terminated the vines so I got nothing. It would appear they are random plants.

[bluemoon]

I'd have to agree, Matt. As I said it depends upon variety, I'm pretty certain that my 'Pottimarrons' are a peachy colour, but doing well.

[reetnproper]

Thanks everyone,

Yes Matt, I normally grow Jack-o-lantern but this year decided to try Hundredweight.

Thanks for your advice and suggestions. I'll just hang on in there and hope for the best.

Reet
xx

[Magiccat1978]

I'm growing a hundredweight pumpkin plant and the fruit behind the flowers on mine are yellow too I believe its normal for the variety - the two I gave my mum are the same

[chriscross1966]

Hmm... I'm hoping that my "donated by the sister-in-law" pumpkin I've got isn't Hundredweight..... it's saved seed from a big pumpkin they bought for Halloween last year from the description of its size I can't see it being Jack, I'm hoping for Atalntic Giant..... the plant is already three times the size of any of my squashesthough they all got the sulks after they went in whereas the pumpkin didn't it's just started flowering and as I'm not a seed saver of cucurbits I've been using all sorts of male flowers on all sorts of female flowers around my various squashes and courgettesso hopefully it'll set a fruit fairly soon.....

Never quite saw the point of Hundredweight TBH, if you want a biggun then grow Atlantic Giant, if you want sensible ones for Halloween grow Jack and if you want to actually eat them grow Jack for pies and soups and Hooligan for small ones to stuff....

chrisc

[SarzWix]

Oh, that's good news - mine is Hundredweight too, if they're supposed to have a slightly yellow embryo fruit before pollination then I'll stop worrying
My other plants are Jack of all Trades and they have a greenish embryo.
chriscross, everyone is entitled to their opinion I'm growing Hundredweight because my kids chose it, and Jack because I had the seeds from last year. That's enough of a 'point' for me.