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Saegertown Pa.

In the past 11 years of growing I could count on one hand the number of females that had seeds in them, this year I have had around 10 and a few were so bad you could only count one lobe. And it seems that the earlier sets at 10 feet were the worst. Half of my plants are the same seeds as last year so I wouldn't think it was genetics', and I didn't do anything deferent this year that I have in the past. Any one else having this problem more this year ? Is this a weather thing ? Or maybe an imbalance in the soil ? on the bright side I usually have some deformed lobs and this year I have only had two.

7/8/2009 5:16:30 AM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

I think it's the weather Quinn. Strange year to say the least. Plants are WAY ahead growth-wise, but only a couple of early pollinations. Females arrived later than ever on my vines.

Birds were a problem early on as well, nipping main vine tips on three plants. Sun burn has been an issue too, although temps. haven't been any hotter this time of year than in years past. It was never much of a problem until this year.

7/8/2009 5:25:00 AM

Many last year. More than my share of seeds and mutant lobes. Many aborts or deformed fruit. Have not seen one yet this year. Much lower N this year. Little bit more water lol

7/8/2009 8:02:55 AM

Northern Cambria, Pa.

We had one this year also Quinn, a female with 4 normal lobes and seeds where the 5th lobe should have been. Likewise, we do not see that occur very often. I did pollinate it and so far it looks OK.

7/8/2009 8:14:59 AM

Wi

Last year it was cold and wet and almost all my early sets were deformed or with seeds. The weather did turn real late June and things straightened out. This year with "nicer" weather I've had 2 badly deformed females all season.

7/8/2009 8:51:19 AM

Western NY

One or two here so far this year, and last year I had a TON of them, and it was colder here last year, but not by much.

7/8/2009 9:02:48 AM

Rhode Island

only one pumpkin so far this season that had seeds, lucky for us it was the oh shit third pollination so we should hopefully not need it.

we have had the worst spring (and summer so far ) in many ,many years. cloudy,rain,more rain, a dabble of sun to tickle your fanny, then some more thunder storms.etc. only thing we have not had yet is hail .and im sure we will before the season is over.

quinn i cant say weather plays a roll in deformed or seeds in cavities based on what we have here. is there something
new you may have added to your soil or spray program that could trigger this? i know we have added a couple new biologicals and also a nitrogen fixing component to our drenching program, with mixed feelings. pap

7/8/2009 10:19:15 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Quinn,

Yes I have experienced seedZ in the blosson this year also....first time ever.....on the 985 and 998,,,,,others are OK.....even on secondaries....Lobes are mangled too...some worse than others.....Our weather has been wetter than normal.....a lil cooler but not much....

Will see if my next 998.6 Pukos has a third on on them main deformed...however it does look like the second one took.

I too am using some new techinques this year along with...NFB..and WSJ.....first time ever I have seen seedZ and mangled blossoms.....weird....

7/8/2009 10:33:18 AM

Saegertown Pa.

The only thing deferent than last year for me is it's colder earlier and rainy, last year it was just cold. Been 41 to 49 in mornings and 63 to 72 in the day time. Haven't changed my drench program or foliar program from last year.

7/8/2009 11:31:54 AM

South Dakota

I have never had any females with seeds in them before until this year. Almost all of mine had seeds and or deformed lobes. I had no choice but to try and polinate them. Hope they make it. We have had rain almost evey other day all through June and July. Usually we cant get a rain for nothing this time of year. Last year I had to water almost every day. This year I only had the sprinklers on a couple of times. Kevin

7/8/2009 12:10:25 PM

had 1 with seeds in blossom in 2006 and 1 with seeds in blossom this year. watered only 2-3times so far this year not counting mister type on new leafs

7/8/2009 12:21:34 PM

Northern Cambria, Pa.

Mine was on a 998 offspring, our 1440. Were any others on 998 or offspring of it?

7/8/2009 1:45:41 PM

Wi

My 998 threw at least 3 with seeds or badly deformed last year.

7/8/2009 2:28:40 PM

Belgium Europe

This season i had some on 1306 and 1689jutras and 1350starr,but got normal females farther out on the main.
Last season my 1297(998pukos*self)plant only produced seed in blossom females.
I doubt it's weather or soil related.On back to back plants i have one plant producing normal buds and the other plant deformed ones. Last season same.Soilprep is equal on two plants spot.

7/8/2009 3:14:52 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Mine are on 998 and 985, most all females on the 985....the 998 took however. I pulled the spent blossom on the 985 and all looks sealed......

7/8/2009 3:18:03 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

I'd have to agree with Jos...mine are back to back in the same patch and one plant has seeds in all the blossums and the other one does not.

7/8/2009 3:38:13 PM

Sweden

all my four plants produce pumpkins with seeds in blossom and deformed lobes this year.its the 664,5 Liggett, 1378 Pitura, 1092 Martin and my own 1155 Lilja.
I use to have one of four with seeds in blossom the last years, this year its four of four.
Is it genetics ? Weather ? anything we use in the soil like humic, myccorizza, gypsum ?
or is the electromagnetic fields around the soilheatingcables?
or is it a combination of pushing the plants to hard and stress them to it?

7/8/2009 4:35:47 PM

Leicester, NY

Only one this year with seeds in the blossom and that's in a 1325 Starr. Have not had any seeds in the blossom problems with the 998.6's I have growing this year or ever for that matter.

7/8/2009 4:44:16 PM

Coupeville WA

I am not too quick to rule out weather/moisture/temperature.
Historically, here in the Pacific NW, I would have more than 1 plant throw seeds in the blossom.
This year, we have had our warmest spring since I have been growing, with the least amount of rainfall. I have not seen one flower in the patch with seeds in the flower this year.

7/8/2009 5:04:02 PM

Southern Sweden

Quinn, every year when I have used electric soil heating cables I have had problems with the plants and pumpkins. Next year I will grow without it, I will warm my soil with warm water only.

7/8/2009 6:10:04 PM

Ohio

Quinn, my first 3 females on 3 different plants had a few seeds in them(All pollinated end of June), and the one I just pollinated was on your 985 Werner(July 3rd), it had 6 and 1/2 lobes, only thing that worries me about that is the 1/2 lobe was the one that had a few seeds in it, hopefully it wont be a problem, because thats the first 6 lober I have had in a few years to pollinate.

I have never grown a pumpkin that had seeds in the blossom end before, I always ended up culling them because of the talk they end up growing bad. I'm just hoping that kinda talk isn't true for the one I'm growing this year, and looks like I'm soon to find out.

7/8/2009 7:02:44 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

I've had my first four lobers, and a 3 lober, and a male with only three petals and superwimpy center. I've been hot though, not cold and wet like a lot of the center and eastern US.

7/8/2009 7:46:48 PM

Jefferson Me

Well I would be very interested if anyone can determine what the cause of this is.I have two of my five plants that are the same seed (1129).They are both planted on equally prepared plots both started with heating cables. And yet one plant has perfect lobes (90% 5 lobed).The other one has not had a any normal lobes they are all disformed and have exposed seeds. The one I set had exposed seeds but a few days after pollination they wizzled up and is looking sound.In fact almost all the male pistols are split in two or three parts.

7/8/2009 10:22:53 PM

South East

no problems here

7/8/2009 10:51:01 PM

Mulino, Oregon

Quinn, that seems like pretty normal temps for us in the PNW. I always get a few every year, I rarely keep them as they usually blow out the blossom end before the end of the season. HOWEVER, i do believe that Thad Starr's 1528 had seeds in the blossom. So much for theory.

7/9/2009 12:30:13 AM

Indiana

I am having the same problem this year Quinn. I have seemed to be able to rectify the situation by going with a side vine as the new main. We'll see how it works out.

Tom

7/9/2009 11:38:03 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Hmmm is everyone using the same product that are creating this issue?

7/9/2009 1:53:44 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Doesnt appear to be product related...Im using the same product on all plants...it is seed related so far....Of 8 plants only two are showing problems and itZ not every female some side vines are throwing normal so not enough evidence to pin it on product.

7/9/2009 3:52:24 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

What is WiZZled up Race34X......?? I resymble that remark....lol

7/9/2009 3:53:44 PM

Indiana

sunspots unusual this year?

7/9/2009 5:06:52 PM

Jefferson Me

Wiz, I thought that might get your attention!lol. Nothing personal just a lack of a better word.

7/9/2009 8:37:08 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

I wondered the same thing Tom.

7/9/2009 10:24:07 PM

Eugene,OR

I have only one of five plants which has had seeds in the blossom, and it has consistently had them. I believe it is genetic.

7/10/2009 12:27:11 AM

Kalamazoo, MI ([email protected])

We've had two different plants with seeds on the blossom, the 1092, and the 1472. The 862 and 1073 had perfect blossoms. Could it be orientation to the sun. The 1092 and 1472 are growing South to North for me and are getting sun burned bad. The 862 and the 1073 are growing East to West and West to East and haven't been suffering the sun damage.

7/11/2009 10:49:44 AM