Your comments and tips

12 Aug 11, judy farrelly (Australia - tropical climate)

I notice that a lot of growers say that when a pumpkin sounds hollow, it is ready to pick; I have heard that you are supposed to leave them until the vi ne is dead; is this also true?

Reply or Post a new comment

10 Aug 11, judy farrelly (Australia - tropical climate)

to arthur stevens: you will probably find the bees have not pollinated your pumpkin flowers, thus the young fruit fall off; you could try hand pollinating them yourself; that's what I had to do this year (in CCairns)

Reply or Post a new comment

29 Jul 11, Helen (Australia - temperate climate)

Why have my butternut pumpkins developed rot after harvesting? They have been stored in a dark dry place.

Reply or Post a new comment

31 Jul 11, Karen (Australia - temperate climate)

If your pumpkins matured late in the season (o you platnted the seed late) they do not store well, you eat these first. The pumpkins that developed first are the ones that store. The other reason for rot is not leaving the pumpkins in the sun (dry outdoors area) after harvest for the skins to fully mature. Better luck with the next crop

Reply or Post a new comment

20 Jul 11, Sylvia Allan - Sgallan07 (Australia - temperate climate)

Hi Karen, Yes I did get a couple of Windsor Black seeds, they were given to me especially from a generous person who gave me all they had, and I am to grow them and return a 100 seeds to them as well, I am waiting for the frosts to go, and will plant them Hopefully they are fresh seeds and I will be able to sell seed later this year. They will be available through eBay when I have harvested them. I hope to be able to make available over 100 varieties of pumpkin & squash seeds along with 6 varieties of Pie or Jam melon seeds.Kindest regards Sylvia.

Reply or Post a new comment

26 Feb 13, Evette (Australia - temperate climate)

Hi Sylvia, Just wondering if you had any luck with the Windsor Black pumpkin. We have been looking for this variety for a while but havent found any. Do yuo have any seeds for sale? Best wishes Evette

Reply or Post a new comment

20 Jul 11, sgallan07 (Australia - temperate climate)

Japanese Pumpkins have really long runners (Vines) The male flowers always come first, then the females follow in a couple of weeks then you may have to hand pollinate them if there are not enough bees or insects. it is easy just pick a male flower and brush the pollen gently on the stigma of the female flower early in the morning, you can recognize the female flower because it has the small pumpkin under the flower. It is often suggested to cut the main long runner when about 10 feet long (3m) But here in the Lockyer valley the farmers plant acres of them & get tons of pumpkins, I am sure they don't go to that trouble, they just let them grow. A fertilizer PK of 6.6,6 is ideal as to much Phos. will grow all leaves and little or no pumpkins when the female flower isn't fertilized it will go black/brown and fall off. also if stung by fruit fly will do the same only if you break it open it will be full of fruit fly larvae. How ever when you have a pumpkin setting , you can grow it larger if you cut the vine runner off. can help protect it from fruit fly and birds by covering with straw or a larger pot with a bit of gauze in the bottom and place fruit fly traps. hope this helps. sgallan07

Reply or Post a new comment

31 Jul 11, kspace (Australia - temperate climate)

Are you sure about your advice? Nitrogen causes leafy growth. Phos sets fruit. If there is a bulge under the female flower then it has already been polinated and the pumpkin has begun to grow?

Reply or Post a new comment

29 May 11, Helena Stam (Australia - temperate climate)

Took a chance with a large pumpkin with broken stalk that had been sitting in sun for a 2 weeks or so. It sounded hollow. Cut it and it was absolutely beautiful-thick fleshed-did I say it grew from vegie peelings etc, dug into garden last year? Sometimes my best crops grow from throw outs dug into garden. As happened with tomatoes this year. What a lovely surprise to have crops growing well-all without buying seedlings!

Reply or Post a new comment

04 Jun 11, Hz (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Congrats Helena! Hollow sound means hard flesh inside - "cured", ie ready to pick and store.

Reply or Post a new comment