Your comments and tips

10 Jan 17, Jen (Australia - temperate climate)

When is the best time to plant pumpkins in Warrill View - near Ipswich please. Would it be too hot now?

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16 Jan 17, John (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Pumpkins could be planted up until February providing you don't get frosts. Plants take up to 4 months to mature so work out when you are likely to have a frost, if any. Unripe pumpkins do not keep so if you get caught make pumpkin soup or shred them into batch quantities as you would for Zucchini Muffins or Slice and freeze them for later use. Trust this helps.

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09 Jan 17, Joanne (Australia - temperate climate)

I planted pumpkins in early December & they are huge already & have long stalked male flowers not seen any female yet but am wondering if theirs still time for fruit to appear

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17 Jan 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)

Pumpkins, for some reason, are often reluctant to produce female flowers early in the seson. They take from two and a half to four months to grow and ripen from flowerset.Turn them on their edge as soon as they are big enough to stop water pooling around the stalk. When the cold weather sets in and the tops die off, harvest the ripe ones and store them in a dry place. Unripe ones can be used to make pumpkin soup or shredded in recipe quantities as you would for zucchini muffins thenfrozen in recipe quaantities for later use instead of zucchini. Trust this helps

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24 Nov 16, Jenny (Australia - temperate climate)

Hi, our house is on rock so we have very little garden. I have been trying to grow buttercup in large pots with varying degrees of success. I was wondering why sometimes the fruit or females are yellow as soon as they start to form.

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25 Nov 16, John (Australia - temperate climate)

Hello Jenny, The most likely cause is they haven't been pollinated. When a female flower opens pick a male flower and carefully remove the petals then put the male part of the flower onto the centre of the female flower and turn it slightly to transfer pollen (male sex cells) onto the female flower. Insects would normally do this but a shortage of bees will affect pollination rates. Pumpkins are hungry and thirsty plants so ensure watering is consistent and that they are well fed. Trust this helps. John

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27 Nov 16, Jenny (Australia - temperate climate)

Thanks John I am aware of the pollination process. What I want to know is why the females are yellow as soon as they form ie really tiny buds, they are yellow as soon as they show on the vine.

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02 Dec 16, John (Australia - temperate climate)

Sorry, I haven't got a conclusive answer for you. I have done some research and found that female flowers often don't set early in the season and also that they can be stressed by heat or dryness and not set. Sorry I can't help you more

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04 Oct 16, rebecca (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Hi, my female flowers and small pumpkin are going brown and falling off anywhere in size from and marble to squash ball size. The plant is quite vigorous but have started getting yellow spots on the more mature leaves. have fertilized with granules with trace elements but do I need something else. it is planted in a raised bed near a brick wall.

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07 Oct 16, bincy (Australia - temperate climate)

Are their enough bees to help pollination? If the female flowers are not pollinated, this fruit drop can happen. Tou can hand pollinate them.

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