From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Pittsburgh, PA

Hi All,

How can I judge when a female flower will open?

I have two (one at about 8ft and one at about 11ft).

I am going on vacation this Saturday for about a week and I'm worried that I will miss the opportunity to pollinate.

Any suggestions?

Thank you!

7/10/2013 12:21:11 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

It is hard to explain but they "PUCKER" the night before. The flower gets larger and the fruit gets a little bit bigger

7/10/2013 1:11:36 PM

west central IN/East central IL

Also, you can see the color begin to show in the tips of the petals.

7/10/2013 1:31:45 PM

Slate River,Ont. Canada

Vacation? What's that?

7/10/2013 2:16:32 PM

west central IN/East central IL

That's what you take in between November & June 20th.

7/10/2013 2:31:09 PM

Stanwood, Washington

its hard to nail them down very far ahead. It depends alot on the climate conditions. You will be able to tell the night before because the flower petals will change appearence as noted above. As you get more experience you will begin to get a feel for when they can open. When they are about a week I can usually make a gues thats within about a day. If your not there when they open theres not much you can do. Either get someone to do it for you or just let the Bees do their thing and call it an open pollination.

7/10/2013 2:50:37 PM

Germany

I guess your question did contain an additional question: What should you do to grow a big one this year?
- Size of the final pumpkin does not depend on the pollinator used, so if there is an open female and it gets pollinated by any kind of C.maxima pollen (even from little squash varieties) it will also grow a big one. The only disadvantage of an open pollination is that you don´t have any clue which genetics are hidden in the seed...definitely 50% Atlantic Giant, but maybe the other 50% are buttercup squash or Hokkaido squash or whatever thing which grows in your neighborhood.
- If you are aiming at a particular cross (a pollinator of your choice), then you have three options: 1) Set an additional pumpkin of your favorite cross on a secondary which is far away from your keeper on the main vine. 2) Get someone do the pollination while you are on vacation. 3) Wait for another female which will open when you are back home. (My favorite option is #1.)

7/10/2013 3:00:28 PM

President - GPC

WOW... for a minute there..I thought he was answering himself....lol

7/10/2013 4:18:36 PM

Germany

Hi WiZzy, no worries, I had made the same experience myself, also found it sort of confusing. ;-)

7/10/2013 4:24:04 PM

Germany

...not only in the case of Pum(p)king, but also as I had found a message board entry from "Whiz", see here:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=463630

7/10/2013 4:27:51 PM

Central NY

Practice watching male flowers open...

7/10/2013 5:48:02 PM

President - GPC

And we have and Iceman with no space aZ well...lol

7/11/2013 10:05:03 AM

Colorado

Takes about 4 days where the flower pedal develops fast.Also the stem will lenghten the last couple three days before it opens.if the pumpkin isnt in the tip of the vine it will open before you get back from vaca.

7/11/2013 1:56:15 PM

Pittsburgh, PA

Thanks everyone for your input.

I think I'll just wait for the next go around. I saw a new female this morning that is in a better position on the plant.

7/12/2013 2:16:49 PM

Nottingham, UK

Had to double check myself as surely pumpking knows this!

Don't worry pumpking I had to ask pumpking the same question recently

7/12/2013 10:06:07 PM

Nottingham, UK

Damn it, now I'm confusing myself

7/12/2013 10:06:51 PM

South East

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU8ojyD2oB8

Hope this helps ya.:)

7/14/2013 2:22:10 PM