Pumpkins and indian corn

[Stumpweasel]

Hi. Newbie questions alert!

Im muddling along in the greenhouse and blow away things with the rest of the veg but i was sent pumpkin and indian corn seeds from states (michigan).
Both sets are growing like triffids but my questions without further waffling are these 😀

Can i restrict the rambling of the pumpkin by pinching out anything? Ive got loads of male (i think) flowers coming but no females yet so not wanting to stop them coming.

The indian corn is apx 5/6ft high planted in pots in a square block type affair. I cant put them out as a/ am in scotland and b/ dogs will eat them. Does anyone know at what point they should be flowering? I know ill need to hand pollinate but i dont see any flowers coming yet.

I gave out some seedlings to my boss and a couple pals and we are now in competition for a special trophy/bottle of vodka prize for best pumpkin and most beautiful coloured cobs so obviously i intend to win

[Snadger]

The American Indian, three little sisters. Corn growing vertically, cucurbits spawling in between and beans growing up the corn.

Pumpkins send up loads of male flowers before any female flowers arrive. I wouldn't cut the pumpkin but rather try to train it in the direction you want. Once you have a couple of pumpkins pollinated the plant can then be stopped if need be, but personally I still wouldn't stop it.

[Jay-ell]

Corn doesn't grow flowers as such - it grows tassels. The male tassels at the top of the plant


and the female silks are on the immature corn in the leaf joints.

Each one of those silks will result in one of the corn kernels.

To pollinate them you just give the plants a gentle shake and the pollen will fall from the males onto the females, You need your sweetcorn in a block to ensure you get maximum pollination otherwise the pollen can miss the females all together. To get a full cob without gaps you need pollen on each of the female silks.

[Stumpweasel]

Thankyou. The American Indian 3 little sisters sounds great. That'll be one for next year! Have to think of a suitable bean now.

Ill follow your advice and maybe try to train it around its big pot as its headed for the door.

That corn looks amazing. Is that your plants? Ive some smaller (3ft) later corn (gem coloured) that i might just have to put outside to get some space back.
Thankyouboth again.

[Jay-ell]

wikipedia images - mine are nowhere near this