The pumpkins took off with a vengeance growing about a foot a day and the leaves were like dinner plates. I would check expectantly each week waiting for the flowers to appear and eventually the fruit. Unfortunately all we got were flowers, but no fruit. Imagine my disappointment, so research was the order of the day.
I knew pumpkins had both male and female flowers, but didn't realise the complexities involved in fertilisation.
Reasons for lack of fruit:
- The female flowers appear at a different time than the male flowers
- Lack of bees at pollination time due to weather conditions
- Lack bee attractive flowers in the area.
- Overdoing on fertiliser with a high nitrogen formula
- Yellowing levels and broken stems
What to do:Growing more bee-attracting flowers nearby is always a plus. Try sunflowers, sage, or a patch of lavender, all will attract bees just when you need them.
If you are really keen identify the female flowers by the slight bulge at the very base near the stem, which will develop into a pumpkin if fertilised. They have to get pollinated during this critical time. A helping hand-pollination of the female flower will be very helpful. Using a cotton swab or small paintbrush, wipe the pollen from a male flower onto a female.
Yellow leaves may be removed from the vine without hurting the vine. The vine often sends new shoots from the sides when trimmed or when the stem is accidentally broken. Flowers will then develop farther along a vine that is producing pumpkins these should be removed so that all the strength is concentrated in the already-formed pumpkins.
Well-composted manure should solve the problem of high nitrogen level.
Then there is the weather, well that we will leave to nature.
Never be afraid to admit defeat it is all a learning cure. Mine have been pulled out and I'll try again next year.
Happy gardening
Bronwyn
No comments:
Post a Comment