Why so few female blossoms on pumpkin vines?

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milesdt Pulaski, GA Oct 01, 2011

I have 5 pumpkin plants that are huge and healthy looking. They have lots of blossoms. However, I have only been able to find ONE female blossom that appears to have a bulge that may become a pumpkin. The majority of the blossoms are on long stalks that don't look like they will become pumpkins. Why is this?

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flsusie New Port Richey, FL Oct 02, 2011

I'm having the same but opposite problem with squash. The last 3 plantings I get all female blossoms first an no male blossoms to pollinate with.

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WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland, United Kingdom Oct 03, 2011

It is the lateral side shoots that normally give most of the female flowers, to help encourage these lateral shoots to grow you need to nip out the top growing point, this applies mainly to trailing types of plants both pumpkins and squashes etc, and it might be necessary to hand pollinate depending on inside or under glass growing sites.
Hope this helps you guy's for next year. good luck. WeeNel.

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1lisac Liberty Hill, TX(Zone 8a) Oct 03, 2011

Squash plants usually send out male buds first, with females to follow. However, from what Ive read plants that are stressed may never put on female buds or will only put on female buds. Make sure your plants are getting enough water nutrients (they are heavy feeders) and so forth. As Wee said you can hand pollinate, I have done this many times using a make up brush or by removing the male blossom and rubbing it on the open female blossom.
Good luck!

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WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland, United Kingdom Oct 04, 2011

Someone else who has the same mentality as myself, I save my old make-up brushes, just for little jobs like pollinating, they are great for cleaning dust from cacti, applying weedkiller's if you have to resort to this task and my clear tights are used as supports for Mellon etc when the fruits get too heavy, so now I can tell my DG I am not the only saddo on the block eh, ha, ha, ha. Good luck and happy gardening 1lisac. WeeNel.

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1lisac Liberty Hill, TX(Zone 8a) Oct 04, 2011

Wee, I also use my "nylons" to support heavy fruit, that's funny. I do believe that many of my personal grooming items get more use in the garden then on me. LOL

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