Topic: pinching out pumkin tips

[Anne Robertson]

Hope everyone is having a share in this rain.

8 of my golfball sized pumpkins have shriveled up and dropped off, what would cause this?

Also:

Should/can I pinch out the growing tips of my pumpkins. Will this concentrate the energy into the rest of the plant therefore making bigger/petter pumpkins? I have about 5 on each plant.

[jennym]

I usually stop mine after two or three.
And, by the way, no rain here. Its like a desert.

[Svea]

hmm, what about suqashes then? i have a gazillion on my plants - some are dropping off as nature sees fit. will i have to look after them? i was looking forward to an easy-going crop of plant - wait - harvest...

svea

[Mrs Ava]

I bet they are dropping off due to poor pollination.  Perfectly normal.  I should also think lack of water is a problem, but if you are having rain, then I would certainly blame pollination.  I never bother to pinch any growing tips out of my pumpkins, because I don't have the time, or energy as I have so many plants......and I have no idea where they start or finish!

[Svea]

i havent watered my squashes yet - i mean at all! :o
they are growing on plastic so that keeps the ground moist. although, i think i will give them some water as i think the cracks now run under the pumpkin bed too ::)

rain, we need rain. and yes, i am not worried about stuff dropping off :) there seems to be a surplus anyways.
i was just wondering if squashes have something like 'june drop' if there are too many little ones growing....

svea