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Ohio

that you would be still trying to pollinate flowers on July 23 rd, and on two plants at that still!!,,,Ha!,,,,

I really dont even know why Im still trying to pollinate these plants be cause the chances these plants to be in contention for any weigh offs is slim, but for some reason I still keep trying!!,,,I guess I made it a personal thing to me now to see if I can get one pollinated.

I have some great named plants growing that are the healthest plants I have ever had this time in the season, but I just cant get the female flowers to take.

I have tried pollinating side vines, secondary vines , third vines, fourth vines,back vines, front vines and even grape vines,,,LOL,, I have even tried the Arizona type pollinating, covering with coolers with ice and still nothing! ha!!. I even tried as much as 5 to 6 male flowers from all my different plants just on one female and guess what,,, still nothing!! ,,,,Im desperate here and have never seen anything like it!!!,,,LOL!!!.

This heat, and espically the humidity has been the worse I have ever grown in, and Im sure alot of you other growers as well, but you go outside for 10 minutes just to walk around your plants and when you come back in, your shirt is soaking wet that looks like you just go out of the shower with it on. But I know now, this humidity/heat has got to be the main reason for my problem pollinating, its got to be.

But last shot for me today for pollination's, if they dont take the plants come out and I'm going to work on soil prep in those area's the rest of the summer.

If today's pollination's dont take,,well,,,Chalk one up for the bad guys I guess.LOL!!

7/23/2010 8:04:58 AM

Upa Creek, MO

I really wish you luck man. Later is better than never. You can still have a nice pmpkn with just 30 days of growth.

We are at 98 today with a heat index of 110 and same for tomorrow.

7/23/2010 8:12:16 AM

Bristol R.I. USA

Everyone has had problems with pollinations. The heat has been bad. I had some issues pollinating the 1596. Many aborted and i was forced to use a side vine. I pruined the other and made a new main. Tough season. The only good has been that its been a learning expirience.

7/23/2010 8:39:53 AM

Navarre,OH

Next week all low to mid 80's man so I wish you luck!
I have had this problem all summer as well with my marrow.
I have 5 recently pollinated females that hopefully can make it through these few days of 90's into next week for some lower humidity and 80's! Good luck Brooks lets keep our fingers crossed! LOL

7/23/2010 8:50:46 AM

Midway, UT

Try selfing them Brooks. The Iceman suggested that sometimes the self pollen takes better than pollen from other plants and from what I have observered it may be true.

7/23/2010 10:30:14 AM

nOVA sCOTIA

Just my opinion Brooks but i would pull them unless you are looking for something for the porch.Lots of sandbaggers out there this year you know.

7/23/2010 10:31:58 AM

Wallingford,CT

sounds like your trying to grow a squash Brooks,lol

7/23/2010 10:48:43 AM

Pataskala,OH

I am going to pull out my plant August 1st. Last chance pumpkin is mush and every time I look at the plant it looks more and more yellow.

7/23/2010 11:55:10 AM

Buffalo, New York

who would have thought......my fruit would be done growing in July. Fall Patch Prep is starting in August this year.

7/23/2010 4:21:27 PM

Ohio

lol Bart,,, yea I know!,,

I just did a self this last go around Jamie, I didnt know about that self theory but sure glad I did that cross now,,lol... so hopefully out of the two pumpkins that I pollinted on that 1 plant on the same blistering hot day ,if the other cross dont take, the self will.

7/23/2010 4:48:43 PM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

Take heart Brooks, you probably won't get the orange jacket this year but you have the skills to make it to the party. I realize it's July 23rd, but

1521 Razo- pollinated 07/15- 21 feet out 550 sq. feet
1409 Whittier- 07/14- lost the stump August 1- avg. 18 lbs. per day.

The math is in your favor to still grow a respectable fruit.

7/23/2010 5:04:30 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

You are good Andy.Does that mean i'm still in the race.lol

7/23/2010 8:11:00 PM

Las Cruces NM

Brooks, many are in your boat! I had a hard time just getting flowers as the heat would abort them befo they even bloomed. Just have to keep at it! 30 lbs a day for 30days is 900lbs ... for 60 days is 1800lbs ... and there is still more then 60 days till weighoffs. There is still over 120 days till halloween ... and that may not be the end of the growing season even though weighoffs may be over. There is still time, if noting else, prize cross seeds for next year!

7/23/2010 8:11:11 PM

East Jordan, MI

hey Brooks, maybe you should try so strwberry pollen...lol

7/23/2010 9:14:31 PM

East Jordan, MI

seriously though, I hope you get one to take. Good Luck.

7/23/2010 9:15:17 PM

British Columbia, Canada

Well, at least you won't be pollinating in AUGUST like me....Gahhh, this sport hates me!

7/23/2010 9:45:17 PM

Ohio

cntryboy,, Ill try any pollen at this point in the season!,,haaaaa!

Thanks for that info Andy, it makes ya want to keep on try'n!

7/23/2010 9:48:41 PM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

Brooks, look bigger. Three of the four biggest pumpkins ever grown were from progeny under 1000 lbs. ( 998 Pukos, 904 Stelts and 901 Hunt ) Your fruits of labor, literally, may yield the next big one. Carl, 1144 in Cape Breton on 350 sq. feet, you're still in the race.

7/23/2010 10:14:06 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

Include the 850 in there also Andy.lol.In 5 years of growing i have never had a plant with vines as massive as this one and so very easy to manage.The 1287 Vankooten was a whimp compared to this beauty and i know when i start terminating vines this one is really gonna start packin it on.I'm lookin at atleast 800sqft per plant this year.Splits and wind @&%$%# off.

7/23/2010 10:33:23 PM

Ohio

my 1450 Wallace is like that Donkin, the secondaries are bigger then all my other plants main vines,,lol. Instead of that plant growing one root at the bottom and one root at the top of each node it has been growing a total 4 at each node including the nodes on the main vine, (2 roots at bottom of vine and 2 at top of vine at each leaf). I have never seen anything like it before. Wonder how often that happens on a plant, cause its the first time I have seen it or even heard about it before?

7/23/2010 10:58:45 PM

Midwest

Wow! I hope you get a set on that plant!

7/26/2010 12:38:42 AM