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Taber, Alberta

I am growing two 1019 Grande's at my place. One for myself, one is my daughter's, and they are right beside each other, separated only by a concrete path. Saturday night, I picked several males from both plants that were going to open Sunday morning. I went to pollinate my 1019 with Alanna's yesterday and all of her male flowers were undeveloped inside, with no pollen. The flowers looked identical in development from the outside, but the inside was totally different.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=138082 - The 3 males on the right are from my 1019.

They get the same water, same fertilizer, same weather conditions. They were started on the same day.The only differences are 1) Alanna doesn't bury her vines as much as she should, but still does a good job and 2) Her soil, 13 years ago, was a sandbox. We've amended it to grow veggies and now pumpkins and does pretty good. She also has a pumpkin at day 10 this morning. I checked some other males opening today and 4 of the 5 were also undeveloped. One was fine. 9 of 10 are bad. Not a good record.

The only thing I can figure out is a nutrient deficiency in the soil. Anyone seen this before and have any answers?

7/12/2010 10:50:06 AM

Western NY

Could be a sterile plant, and that's what I thought when I first saw your pic. I've averaged one about every few years. You'll know when you try to set a fruit on it - the thing will be deformed and rot before it ever gets the chance to really take off.

7/12/2010 11:04:33 AM