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Minnesota

What flower (male) is best to use, does it matter. Do you pick any flower, the one on the end, closes to the stem, on a secondary, just one that looks good to use, any theory's. Anybody know what flower to germinate the pumpkin was used in some of those record breakers. Thanks (dum question but I'm curious)

5/10/2008 10:28:54 PM

Ohio

I try to use the 4th male flower off the 3rd secondary that runs off the main. If I cant get that particular male flower I will just go ahead and pull all my plants and then concentrate mainly on growing carrots and black eye peas.

5/11/2008 4:16:22 AM

Zone 6, Missouri

Man o man?? I never thought about that?LOL I always just chose a couple of healthy looking male flowers and try to get a good amount of pollen on the female? I have a feeling it don't make much difference. I hope that helped?


Brooks, I may try your style this year, it sounds like a winner to me LOL!

5/11/2008 4:33:01 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Wow Brooks ya had me going there for a second...LOL....The plant will dictate which males will be opening on the day of pollenation...just like the female you will know when they are ready to go....pick em the night before or tie them off and open them yourself in the morning to ensure a good pollen count. Good Luck. GrowEmBig!

5/11/2008 8:49:32 AM

ordinary,VA

pick my male flowers like the last two post..




dont listen to Brooks he told me last year he uses the fouth flower on the fouth side vine that faces north-north east of the stump.

lol@Brooks

5/11/2008 9:25:24 AM

Minnesota

I'm not even going to ask the average leaf count on a plant.

5/11/2008 10:00:11 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Looks like Brooks has been steering me wrong for years! He told me to use 3rd flower on the 4th secondary on the southwest side of the plant.

5/11/2008 12:40:40 PM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

Ed and Glenn you're both wrong. Brooks told me to clip the first male of the season and throw it in the freezer. Then in early July when the female is ready, grab the frozen male and get to work. He said it's gauranteed to grow a 1000 pounder every time.

5/11/2008 1:32:12 PM

[email protected]

Now I've seen it all.

5/11/2008 4:55:38 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Richard, in all seriousness regarding leaf count, pap said it best on a post awhile ago "there used to be a time when people counted leaves and such. Now, its square ft of plant. It really does not matter if your leaves are big or small. Even though big leaves present there own set of problems as they tend to break and bend in the wind.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=205720

5/11/2008 9:36:53 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Holly Sheet. Brooks told me to only use the 4th flower on the 3rd side vine facing east of the crown and then only if it was a 1068 Wallace. ERRR do ya supose he lead me down the wrong garden path.

5/12/2008 3:48:34 PM

Utah

I don't think it matters which male(s) you use.
I'm just happy if there are any!

5/12/2008 7:44:51 PM