Two Pumpkin Questions

[Kirsty_84]

1. How do I train a pumpkin into a circle without snapping the vine, and what should I hold them in place with?

2. Also I don't appear to have any male flowers, one female is already open and the rest appear to be female too, and I've read that males tend to appear first - am I doing something wrong?

Thanks
x

[reetnproper]

Hi Kirsty,

The first year I grew pumpkins I had all female flowers for what seemed like forever but the males did put in an appearance eventually and we did get pumpkins for Halloween. If you have a diary for this year make a note of the fact that only female flowers are around at the moment (attracting the pollinators in) and then when your first male flower appears, make another note so that next year you'll remember and not worry so much .

If you're lucky then someone close by might also be growing pumpkins and the flowers may pollinate anyway.

As for training the stems, I gently place the stem in the position I want it to go (first thing in the morning is best I believe as the stems are slightly more pliable but I'm sure someone more experienced will confirm whether or not this is true later) and then use thin plant sticks (the kind you can get from Wilkos for supporting young tomatoes or chilli plants) places along the outside of the stem, 1 - 1.5 foot apart, to keep it from repositioning itself. Seems to work for me.

HTH
Reet
x

[Thelma Sanders]

or cut up some old wire coathangers to make v shaped pegs to hold the stems where you want them

[Two_Sheds]

I put stones on the stems to weigh them down ~ haven't snapped one yet

[Kirsty_84]

That's great everyone, thanks a lot