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05 Feb 11 Kate (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I'm about to try growing some RM in a garden bed. I've noted from a few websites to make sure they're well drained. I'm not too sure how this will go as the soil is quite heavy in clay. I've been preparing the soil for months now with lawn clippings, organic compost and mulch and claybreaker. Currently I have a crop of Jap pumpkin in there from which I've harvested four good sized pumpkins. My biggest problem is when about the size of an apricot, they rot and fall off the vine. I only water when the vine is wilting. If they grow larger I raise them by placing a terracotta saucer underneath them (have found this works well) but I lose so many before they are large enough to raise. Will the same happen with RM? BTW, my pumpkin self seeded and grew out the side of my compost bin. Nothing else has done this. Just pumpkin.

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06 Feb 11 Randy (Australia - temperate climate)

Hi Kate, Your problem is lack of pollination, so the fruit wither and die. Worldwide, bees are disappearing and while there are theories, nobody knows for sure why it is happening. Pollinate them yourself with a small paint brush or cotton bud, wipe some pollen from the male flowers (these are just a flower on the vine) and wipe it onto the stamen in the middle of the female flowers (these have the small fruit behind them). Good luck. - Randy

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