Why are all my Pumpkin flowers Male?
aiden
16 years ago
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Comments (6)
justaguy2
16 years agopablo_nh
16 years agoRelated Discussions
Why only male flowers on Butternut Squash?
Comments (1)I'm having the almost the same issue with zucchini. I only got 4 zucchinis. Down at the base of the plants, there appear to be a few female flowers, contrasted with many male flowers. Tomorrow I plan to try to pollinate the females(using a little brush or even one of the male flowers, stripped back). I've got many bees, but they're more interested in the many tomato flowers nearby, and I'm guessing that once a bee goes to the male zucchini flower that he's not going to the female zucchini flower afterwards. Anyone else have ideas on the subject? Good luck if you can try this, by the way....See MoreGot a pumpkin without male flowers!!
Comments (1)Don't ever open up an immature male flower, it is pointless, although I do understand your motivation. I have female flowers on all my winter squash long in advance of male flowers, although people always say it's the other way around. Any summer squash in your area could have been the source of pollen for your pumpkin, assuming it is a C. Pepo. I sometimes wonder if a male flower from the previous day might be used. Possibly by removing it from the vine before bees strip it clean....See MoreLots of male pumpkin flowers, no females?
Comments (46)It's normal for males to dominate before females start to bloom. Even then you will see pretty much one female to every ten males. To the poster who thinks his male flowers are dying off: all pumpkin flowers bloom for only a few hours every morning before they die off. As for not cutting the male flowers, I disagree. I've been growing pumpkins going on ten years now and if there are no female flowers to pollinate, then I will cut the male flowers just before they start to shrivel. I've yet to get a diseased plant doing this. I cut the male flowers because they are delicious to eat. So if you don't get pumpkins, you can enjoy cooking and eating the male flowers throughout the growing season. I cut off the stem, gently rinse them under cold water and saute them after dredging through a thin whole-wheat pancake batter - yum! BTW. I should mention that pumpkins are very difficult to hand pollinate. You'r e better off putting out bee loving flowers early in the season in order to get your location established on the honey bees routes. Ants do a pretty good job also, so if you see ants around your pumpkin vines, then do not try to exterminate them. If you do want to hand pollinate, then use a very soft artists brush and lightly stroke the pistol of a male plant (you should not see tons of pollen - in this case a little is too much), then lightly stroke the stamen of the female plant (again a little is too much). Even then you are not likely to succeed with hand pollination....See Moreall male flowers--help!
Comments (1)in one of my other post a guy gave a helpful hint to making your plant grow more blossoms. In a gallon jug, add 2 tablespoons ammonia, 4 tablespoons Miracle Gro Bloom Booster, and 4 tablespoons fish /seaweed emulsion. Fill the jug with water and shake. Generously feed the roots every 2 days that it doesn't rain. I believe this will make your plant boom with success and try NEEM oil spray to prevent and get rid of the powdery mildew....See MoreKimmsr
16 years agogardenlen
16 years agopumpkinflower
15 years ago
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