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Dublin, Ireland

Hey guys,

Sorry if this is covered elsewhere; I am living in Dublin, Ireland and have limited sun (and no exposed soil) in by back garden but still am pushing to grow pumpkins (pot-of-gold cultivar) in what I can only guess are perhaps 50 liter pots, one pot per plant. <a href="https://ibb.co/NnJJP0W"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/Z1FFPQc/IMG-20200625-1324417.jpg" alt="IMG-20200625-1324417" border="0"></a>

Last year I had three pots per plant but none of the fruit set even with rigorous hand polination.

<a href="https://ibb.co/99fYpKS"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/wNb6dGj/20190806-113106.jpg" alt="20190806-113106" border="0"></a>

This year I have some weird female flowers and I just wanted to know what you folks thought- should I try pollinating this weirdo female flower with the one male flower I have

<a href="https://ibb.co/JR7gnHT"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/qMsVBp8/IMG-20200625-1202454.jpg" alt="IMG-20200625-1202454" border="0"></a>

or wait for a more normal looking one; also same question with this twin-female;

<a href="https://ibb.co/LPZzywL"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/z54hgcy/IMG-20200625-1202596.jpg" alt="IMG-20200625-1202596" border="0"></a>

try it out or wait for some normalcy? Thanks for any and all replies, flying solo out here, no one grown pumpkins.

Thanks Again,
AK

6/25/2020 8:35:14 AM

Dublin, Ireland

Ug, don't think embeds work like that;
Also, one other note, I did have one successful fruit, so it *can* be done here with my light and climate and containers

First pic (setup)
https://ibb.co/NnJJP0W
or
https://i.ibb.co/Z1FFPQc/IMG-20200625-1324417.jpg


Second pic (last years lack of fruit set :( )
https://ibb.co/99fYpKS
or
https://i.ibb.co/wNb6dGj/20190806-113106.jpg

This year's first female flower (weird), like 2x normal petals, can barely get to sex organs
https://ibb.co/JR7gnHT
or
https://i.ibb.co/qMsVBp8/IMG-20200625-1202454.jpg

Double Female
https://ibb.co/LPZzywL
or
https://i.ibb.co/z54hgcy/IMG-20200625-1202596.jpg

thanks again!!

6/25/2020 8:40:28 AM

Bethlehem CT

It sounds like you are growing in challenging conditions. I looked at your pictures. That is a very strange blossom and if I were to guess, I don't think it would take and grow. I would wait for some normal blossoms and pollinate them. Make sure your plant is not in need of water or any nutrition. If there is a short supply (or excess) of a nutrient or water the fruit can abort. Your plants look good to me. Keep up the good work, and hopefully your plant will get it's act together with some normal blooms. Things usually will work out just fine once the plant has had some time to figure out what it's doing.

6/26/2020 7:09:25 AM

Central Illinois

Twins can grow to maturity

6/26/2020 7:24:23 AM

Central Illinois

Actually those dont seem connected at the pumpkins, you could cut on of them off

6/26/2020 7:26:39 AM

North Of The Border

If you start a grower diary, it will be easier for people to see what is happening with your plants, and then they might know something is wrong before you do, and can help easier.

6/26/2020 7:48:10 AM

Dublin, Ireland

Thanks big moon biatman & grower216- these are all very good suggestions. The conditions are tough- Ireland is not known for its abundance of full sun and our garden is in this pocket of trees and is in the north of the house and we're at a decently high latitude, so the house blocks a lot of the sun. Id go out front, but this is like city/dense, paved suburbs.

Just to say, I had mixed some potassium suppliment into the soil at the bottom of the container upon planting- I'm not sure this was wise and wonder if they could use some nitrogen at this point in their growth. I also sometimes think tinkering isn't a good idea..

6/27/2020 11:10:23 AM