Topic: Flowers

[chippy queen]

This is the first time I have grown pumpkins.  I am growing Jack o Lantern. 4 of them. At the moment they all have some flowers on them and some have flowers with a green "golf ball size" growth behind it.  Is this the actual pumpkin and do I have to pollinate the plants.  I thought I read that I had to do this somewhere.  Also if each plant has more than 1 of these green golf balls do I remove all but one or leave all of them on.  Sorry for lots of questions but am new to this and i dont want to lose any of them.  Thanks

[manicscousers]

only answer I can give is, yes, the small balls are the potential fruit, they need pollinating but, if there are plenty of insects, you can leave them to it  ;D

[chippy queen]

Thanks manic. But how do you make sure the insects are doing it and that I dont have to!!!!

[manicscousers]

well, I've just taken a male flower (no fruit behind), took off the flower petals and pollinated all the fruit ones with it, no good if you want to keep the seeds as they are all mixed up but at least you get some  ;D