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Problem with pumpkin.... Help and advice needed

Stacey DochertyStacey Docherty Posts: 1,759
in Fruit & veg

Thanks for reading my thread. I am (and do every year) growing a few varieties of pumpkins this year and yet again I only seem to get one pumpkin per plant and a ton off male flowers...Doris this normal? Do I cut the male flowers off? Or what am I doing wrong?????

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  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 16,538

    To get a big pumpkin you only have one fruit per plant.  After one female flower has set and the fruit is starting to swell, remove all other flowers so the energy all goes into the one fruit. Then feed and water a lot.

  • Stacey DochertyStacey Docherty Posts: 1,759

    I'm not that worried about a Big one but thanks, it is a crown prince and I thought I would get multiple fruits!

  • HeadGardener86HeadGardener86 Posts: 5

    How big is the plant so far?

  • mollycatshirleymollycatshirley Posts: 22

    you always get lots more male flowers especialy at first. The female ones are much smaller and sometimes dont last long enough to set or there are not enough insects about to polanate them.  sometimes I give them a helping hand by fertalising by hand,check the plant every day and as soon as you see a female flower  cut a male flower that is open peel back the petals and rub it against the female. If you are wanting more than one or two pumpkins per plant  you realy must feed and water them extra well , they are the most greedy plants if they dont get enough food they will concentrate all their efforts on the one pumpkin.and stop producing more. 

  • Stacey DochertyStacey Docherty Posts: 1,759

    Headgardener86 quite big!!! the one pumpkin is big already will attempt a pic shortly.mollycat thank you for that I know they are greedy they are in a bed of 1 year old chicken manure mixed with home compost ( which they love!) but maybe I should get them some more feed... thnk you for your advice

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 82,800

    I've read that high temperatures can cause more male flowers to be produced, so as the temperatures drop (as surely they will) you'll get more female flowers.  In the meantime, rather than let the male flowers go to waste 

    http://www.bonappetit.com/ideas/zucchini-blossom-recipes/search

    Crown Prince is a wonderful squash - a glorious coloured flesh and great flavour, and they hold their shape when roasted - each year I buy half a dozenorganic ones from the local farm shop and store them in my frost-free garage - they last me through until the spring image

    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • Stacey DochertyStacey Docherty Posts: 1,759

    Dovefromabove its my fave too hence growing it this year!!! So far so good although only one fruit image as for cooking the flowers I already do I normally tempura them they are super yum with a sweet chilli sauce dip!!( also made from last years chilli harvest!!)

  • Stacey DochertyStacey Docherty Posts: 1,759

    image

     My pumpkin patch 

  • Stacey DochertyStacey Docherty Posts: 1,759

    Just to say thank you to all for our advice I now have 6 pumpkins all doing great

    image

     

  • Andrew KennethAndrew Kenneth Posts: 265

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     I'm growing pumpkins for the first time and they are Jack O Lantern type.

    I have various fruits of different size.

    Can they be harvested like courgettes ie: not letting them get massive and picking them small?


    I believe the type I am growing will eventually turn orange, but can they be picked green?
    Would it help if I removed some of the foilage which shades the pumpkins to aid ripening?

    Regards

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