Growing Pumpkin

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09 Dec 17 Cheryl (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
We have both jap and butternut pumpkins growing but seem to only have male flowers. Do we pull them out and start again. There is plenty of male flowers
11 Dec 17 Gary (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Cheryl, pumpkins and the like start off with plenty of male flowers, so that when the female flowers form (which should be any time now) there are plenty of male flowers to be able to pollinate them. When the pumpkin runners get to about 3 meters pinch out the tips and they will put out more runners thus giving more crop. Cheers Gary
11 Dec 17 Michelle (Australia - arid climate)
Usually the first flowers on a plant are male - be patient! These are used to pollinate the female flowers that will form shortly.
13 Dec 17 Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Just a point, pumpkin female flowers only open one day - until about mid arvo. If no bees, break off a male flower and pollinate the female flower with it. I did this the other week - two different f flowers in three days. One grew one died. ????

Hi Cheryl, pumpkins and the like start off with plenty of male flowers, so that when the female flowers form (which should be any time now) there are plenty of male flowers to be able to pollinate them. When the pumpkin runners get to about 3 meters pinch out the tips and they will put out more runners thus giving more crop. Cheers Gary

- Gary

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