Re: pumpkins DIGEST V1 #1325
Dear Crilly,
Spontaneous abortion of small fruit can be attributed to many things and it is not always possible to isolate the reason. For this reason growers pollinate every flower they can early on and then select out (cull) the others later. Many individuals on this list believe that inadequate pollination or high temperatures immediately following pollination to be two major reasons for such failures. Some plant diseases such as bacterial wilt will cause all fruit to abort, however, you mention the plants
look great. I am sure you would notice the telltale signs of B.W. (leaves that wilt even on cool days with plenty of water, then seem to recover overnight).
I am not sure anyone can tell you exactly what is wrong, though I am sure all of us would encourage you to keep trying and not to give up. Perhaps you could set aside several flowers and let the bees pollinate them for you. If that works it may indicate something wrong in the way you are pollinating. If you are not manually pollinating now, then we suggest you do. Cover the female flower and prospective male(s) the night before with cutoff nylon stockings. The nylon will hold the flowers closed
until you get there, preventing the bees from stealing all your pollen. Use a very small artist brush to transfer the pollen from the male to the female flowers. Use two or three males per female if available. Then be sure to carefully close up the female flower and cover it with the stocking for a day or so. This keeps the bees from un-pollinating your flower and assures only pollen from a known source was used to pollinate the flower. It is very important to keep the newly pollinated flower
moist, cool and shaded for at least the next several days. Some insecticides can be harmful to young fruit especially of applied during hot weather. George Brooks of this lists gives strong warnings against applying insecticides when the temperatures are above 67 degrees.
If you decide to give up, don't pull the plant. Leave it along. Some well noted pumpkins were grown from unkempt plants. Some times we love them to death (like me and my computer, I keep fixing it until it doesn't work anymore).
The important thing is to not get discouraged. Keep in mind the fun and joys of gardening, the challenges and thrill of discovery.
Greg Schraiber
The Crilly House wrote:
> We are first year growers. We have the space, good dirt, all the irrigation water we can use, 6 shetland ponies, 2 goats, chickens & now a use for all their manure, etc. We got seeds from nice people here, good germination, and 2 great LARGE looking plants. Minor insect problems that are under control - BUT - we can't get a pumpkin to set. We've had at least 9 starts - biggest got basketball size before getting mushy. This morning my husband was going to tear out the plants. He's mad at
> them. Help me save the plants ! Any advice ???
>
> When we had to thin plants to one per hill, I couldn't bear to just trash one of the plants. So we transplanted it near a fence line hoping the neighbor would water it. It has one single pathetic vine and a pumpkin that is canteloupe size. Water doesn't always reach it. It gets no fertilizer and no bug spray. Go figure.
>
> The Crillys
> Wenatchee, WA
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