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Buffalo, MN ([email protected])

1. Last year when I went out to tie up the flowers to pollinate, something had eaten almost all of my male blossoms off all seven plants, 3 different locations. Any ideas?

2. Three of my seven fruit matured around day 25 - 40?
No soil test done last year. Will do one this year any suggestions as to what I should be looking for??

2/25/2009 11:43:09 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Hoppers on the eating up the blossoms.... doesn't take many of them around to sneak up and chew up your flowers.

On the latter, no idea.

2/26/2009 12:37:22 AM

Ohio

thats weird Bill, only thing I can think of is maybe a animal got in there and had a smorgasbord on your flowers? Was the entire flower gone, or did they look like they was eaten by some kind of bug?

2/26/2009 9:16:06 AM

Adams County

Bill, maybe deer eating your blossoms . they sure like to hang around my patch wene the blooms are on .So i keep my dog by the patch and the deer stay away. just a thought

2/26/2009 9:44:06 AM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

Both rabbits and groundhogs have eaten off flowers on my plants. I use 6 strand 6' high electric fence with a couple of low wires to keep most critters out. Fox or coyote urine keeps the rabbits and groundhogs away.

As far as maturing too soon, could you be having some root disease problems that cause the pumpkins to shut down too soon? I had that problem and it has diminished since I started using Aliette regularly. I plan to use some biological control like Companion also this year.

2/26/2009 12:55:11 PM

Deer Park, WI

#2 fruit matured around D25-40- For two years consecutive, my pythium-laden patch has lead to pumpkin plants that develop normally, set fruit and at exactly Day 30, come to a screeching halt. Pumpkin stops growing immediately, foliage slowly withers, patch is sick for the rest of the season. I dont wish this fate upon even the most annoying grower. Do be aware, however, of any possible similarities.

2/28/2009 8:24:49 AM