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Atlanta, Georgia

Anyone ever have problems getting a pollinate-able female because of the heat or drought or whatever?
This is my situation...females started to appear but never fully developed. They remain pea size and just shrivel up and die on my plant. The main is now 24 feet long...
If you could email me some hope I'd appreciate it...(grin)
Michel
vitis@vitisearch.com

6/23/2008 11:28:42 PM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

Could be to much nitrogen. Also like you said could be the heat. Have you tried shading the female from the time it appears until pollination? And of course continue after pollination.

6/24/2008 5:50:30 PM

Central Ca

If the heat's a main factor...put a couple frozen 2-liter bottles next to the females in addition to the shade. It has helped my pollination percentages go from 0 to 80%.

6/24/2008 7:04:24 PM

Utah

sounds like to much heat to me.
ditto to the suggestion of shade, ice etc.
I shade my whole patch and have mist if I feel the need for it. you can see it here and in the next 10 or so pictures ...
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=87688

7/2/2008 8:35:05 PM

Georgia

Yes, absolutely.! First I though it was because my urban setting led to plants that weren't as vigorous as they should be. Then I thought is was because I fertilized too heavily too early.

Maybe keep the last few feet of the main shaded? That's what I'm trying now. Don't blast the nitrogen fertilizer while those babies are forming.

Heatstroke is 100% correct, I always use ice on Pollination Day. But that doesn't help if the babies never make it that far.

I do some mist also.

I grow in Duluth. Where you at, Tenacious?

7/29/2008 9:23:07 PM

Georgia

I FINALLY got pumpkins to bloom today with this break in the weather. They must be 30 feet out. Did you ever get fruit to set Michel?

8/13/2008 9:04:46 PM