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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Chris Graham on July 23, 2008, 11:29:07

Title: Pumpkin Plant
Post by: Chris Graham on July 23, 2008, 11:29:07
My pumpkin plant has only just been pollinated, do I still have a chance in getting some fruit?

I can see a small one beginning to develop.

I really hope so! 

;)
Title: Re: Pumpkin Plant
Post by: Sparkly on July 23, 2008, 11:31:39
I have just pollenated fruits too. Last year I did not get my plants in till Mid July (from 5 inch pots) and I had quite a decent sized pumpkin.
Title: Re: Pumpkin Plant
Post by: Chris Graham on July 23, 2008, 12:04:56
Thats good news then.

Its the first time growing pumpkins and I have one plant in a cold frame in a grow bag.
Title: Re: Pumpkin Plant
Post by: Sparkly on July 23, 2008, 12:08:54
No idea about growing them in grow bags, mine were on the plot. Good luck!
Title: Re: Pumpkin Plant
Post by: littlebabybird on July 23, 2008, 12:10:44
i think you might need to water  lot in a bag and i think maybe feed as well
Title: Re: Pumpkin Plant
Post by: Duke Ellington on July 23, 2008, 13:24:25
This pumpkin was planted out in the first week of June! its spreading fast and have about six pumpkins on it !

(http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh131/jazzbyrd/canna043.jpg)

Duke
















































Title: Re: Pumpkin Plant
Post by: adeymoo on July 23, 2008, 13:45:04
I got a mixed packet of squash seeds from Lidl and they have trailed about 8 foot (5 plants). Do you let them continue or pinch off the end. Can a plant support so many squashes / pumpkins? One of the squashes looks like a marrow which is half green, half yellow. Any ideas what it is?
Title: Re: Pumpkin Plant
Post by: saddad on July 23, 2008, 13:57:48
You can pinch the ends out... it will develop larger fruit on the vine than if left totally alone... some squash develop sideshoots like Melons....  :)
Title: Re: Pumpkin Plant
Post by: adeymoo on July 23, 2008, 14:04:24
thanks Saddad

is it these side shoots that the books tell you to pinch out when they are 2 foot long?
Title: Re: Pumpkin Plant
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on July 23, 2008, 15:55:13
It's bigger than mine, but they're getting moving now, apart from a Big Max which is probably getting too much shade.
Title: Re: Pumpkin Plant
Post by: Sparkly on July 23, 2008, 15:57:32
How big to 'big max' plants get?
Title: Re: Pumpkin Plant
Post by: adeymoo on July 23, 2008, 16:11:53
As a note I have a strong cross wind at my plot and recommend using a staple to fix the trailing plant at strategic points as it grows. The advantage of a staple is it is 40mm wide giving the plant limited movement.
Title: Re: Pumpkin Plant
Post by: Tyke on July 23, 2008, 16:56:16
I planted 3 plants in June and they only started fruiting 2 weeks ago. However, the biggest fruit is the size of a football already! I am amazed at the spurt of growth these plants are capable of. So i would have thought that there would be plenty of time for you to get fruits. Mine are still green though and maybe the tough orange skin takes more time...
Title: Re: Pumpkin Plant
Post by: Duke Ellington on July 23, 2008, 19:51:27
mine are still green too ~ i think it wont be till September that they change colour:)

Duke
Title: Re: Pumpkin Plant
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on July 23, 2008, 20:29:06
I haven't grown Big Max before, and will be interested to see what I end up with! If you want to grow really big pumpkins, you do it under glass.
Title: Re: Pumpkin Plant
Post by: elvis2003 on July 23, 2008, 20:34:05
to pollinate them,i assume its the same method as for courgetees> do my sqaushes need it too? ta in advance RACH x
Title: Re: Pumpkin Plant
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on July 23, 2008, 20:37:22
They need pollination, and have male and female flowers, so it's the same process. Right now I've got nothing but male flowers on my pumpkins, and nothing but female on my cucs.
Title: Re: Pumpkin Plant
Post by: elvis2003 on July 23, 2008, 21:13:11
thank ye kindly robert...as a recap..the female flowers are the ones with the fruit behind them arent they?
x
Title: Re: Pumpkin Plant
Post by: Chris Graham on July 24, 2008, 08:33:25
This is what mine looks like

"Ghostrider"

(http://www.backyard.8m.net/garden%20veg/23.07.08/IMG_2382.JPG)
Title: Re: Pumpkin Plant
Post by: Tyke on July 30, 2008, 20:54:42
This one was planted in the beginning of june - and the fruit started about 3 weeks ago. It is now the size of a basketball.....

(http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o152/avm777/web2008-07-29-Allotment-022.jpg)

(http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o152/avm777/web2008-07-29-Allotment-021.jpg)
Title: Re: Pumpkin Plant
Post by: Chris Graham on July 30, 2008, 21:01:38
So far so good

Mine is in a grow bag  ;)

(http://backyard.8m.net/garden%20veg/30.07.08/IMG_2565.JPG)
Title: Re: Pumpkin Plant
Post by: manicscousers on August 02, 2008, 15:43:43
potimarron, getting bigger by the minute but the other 3 are small and starting to darken in colour  ???
Title: Re: Pumpkin Plant
Post by: Tyke on August 03, 2008, 20:56:35
You seem to be growing it in a tyre..why? I am intrigued....
Title: Re: Pumpkin Plant
Post by: lottie lou on August 03, 2008, 21:03:44
Thats a lovely pumpkin.  Mine start off and then turn yellow and drop off.  Does anyone know why?
Title: Re: Pumpkin Plant
Post by: manicscousers on August 03, 2008, 21:05:30
Quote from: Tyke on August 03, 2008, 20:56:35
You seem to be growing it in a tyre..why? I am intrigued....
when the plant is small, the tyre protects it from winds (windy allotment), if cold is forecast, we can fleece by putting the fleece under the edges of the tyre and over the plant,  :)
lottie lou, could be they're not getting pollinated, try doing a few by hand, it might help  :)