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London, Ontario

Greetings from a pumpkin newbie,

I am on the fifth floor of an appartment facing due west. I have got my baby in a 100L pot and have tons of males but only two females. My primary vine is 15 feet long and I have some good secondaries...but the two females don't want to open. They both look healthy but are not looking like they are going to open for another week or so. I am getting concerned about how late it is getting in the year to pollinate. Should I do anything other than cut back on the nitrogen and keep on watering? The weather this year has been less than what I would have liked to have seen but I think with a little luck my baby will still giver'. Anyone have any tips to get my females to come out and play???

Cheers

7/23/2004 10:28:06 AM

Vermont Green MTN State

Getto Pumpkin! LOL...
I did the same stuff when I lived in an apartment. I had peppers and stuff growing on my fire escape. Hey, I maybe would have burned to death but at least I had fresh veggies!!!!!
I am new at this but have been gardening for years. In my experience too much nitrogen can cause plants not to flower, I would stop the nitrogen completely. Wait a few days to see what happens. I bet your luck will change. Good luck to you I am curios to how big a Getto Pumpkin will get!!!
Doeski

7/23/2004 2:22:35 PM

Hendersonville, NC

Great Question! I can't get my females to open either. I did cut back on nitrogen. What else can we do to jump start these girls?

7/23/2004 7:10:59 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

If the secondary roots aren't sending roots into soil, then the nutrient flow probably isn't going to make it out to 15 feet. You might want to try some of Miracle grow's "Bloom Buster" as a dilute (1/4 - 1/2 strength) foliar spray on the leaves. You might also try setting some window boxes filled with good potting soil underneath the nodes to give the aeriel roots something to chew on.

7/23/2004 9:54:33 PM

London, Ontario

Tremor,

Since I am on a concrete deck I have an elaborate system of baby bathtubs and pots under my main vine in order to get more of the good stuff to my females. I have had this in place for nearly a week and think that I may be seeing some improvement. That said, how late is too late to get a decent pumpkin set?? What is the latest that people have pushed the limit on pollination?

7/24/2004 12:56:11 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

The latest we've pollinated here was last year on August 9th & the fruit made at least 200 lbs though it never saw a scale. It did make a fine carver.

7/24/2004 4:42:44 PM

Vancouver, White Rock, Canada

Check out ym reply in the Canadian growers section...

7/24/2004 7:42:34 PM