Got Pumpkin Growing Questions?
Have you been looking for answers to pumpkin gardening questions that I haven’t answered on this site? How about any other aspects of pumpkin gardening?
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{ 112 comments… read them below or add one }
I have Jap pumpkins growing and producing well enough for an amature but i get a lot of baby female buds yellow and falling off the vine. Some times befor the buds open, some times after the flower has gone and the pumpkin is about 10cm across. But most yellow from birth. Has good fertiliser and water. I am thinking of a nutriant it might be lacking?
Please help
Lyn
How do you keep the weeds down – is there a spray? We grow a large number of pumpkins for a road side stand.
I started my Pumkin early its april and I all ready have flowers
should i leave them or do i clip them off what should i do?
@Matt Johnson,
Leave them. The flowers are male and female, and when they are pollinated by insects, your pumpkins will soon begin to grow.
@lars, so is the flower a fermafradite or are the flowers eather male or female??
@Matt Johnson, leave them
Im planting pumkins bought from a local nursery but arnt an experienced gardener they will be in raises beds and am wondering if they will be ok with other plants around them?
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They should be fine. They are going to be long vines for a raised bed. But, just let the vines grow out of the bed to keep from blocking sunlight to other plants.
can i use the seeds out of last years pumpkins-last fall i cleaned and dried them out. would they work? thanks
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Yes, plant these seeds. Saving seeds is an economical way to start a pumpkin patch. Folks have been known to keep pumpkin seeds in cold storage, too. But, as long as you cleaned them and let them dry out, they should be fine to plant.
My leaves are turning yellow and then shrivel along the edges. Why?
Our pumpkin plant is growing like mad! About 3 months in we have several vines that are loosing leaves near the roots and then spreading out. Is this normal or does it mean that vine is going to die? Is it possible that we’ve let it grow too long and we need to some serious trimming? THANKS!
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Don’t trim the pumpkin vine. Pumpkin vines do not need to be trimmed. Double check and make sure there are not any vine borers. Also, it could be a nutrition deficiency. If you don’t see any pest damage signs, apply a little fertilizer.
When the pumpkin starts to grow the flower starts to die but when the flower dies off the fruit starts to rot where the flower has dropped off.
I live in Montana – short growing season – a local grower said to pick the flowers and only let one or two stay. This would allow the plant to focus all it’s energy on one or two pumpkins and the largest pumpkin possible.
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It seems the plant should set fruit first. If you reduce the number of flowers, you reduce the chance of pollination. Even if you are hand pollinating, it seems you would want to make sure you had enough male and female flowers. Here’s more information on growing giant pumpkins in the home garden: http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1646.html. This site suggests letting the vine grow a few pumpkins to volleyball size before picking off a few of them.
i planted my pumkins extremly early, before january,
and there weren’t any frosts, so my plants developed; but, at
first i did not know how much space pumkins need so i planted
too much, and about a week ago i “cleaned” the garden and
left 2 pumpkin plants with enough spacing, and here is my
question: the female flowers started appearing, and when
they reached the size of 4\5′s of an inch they died and fell
of the vine with they’re “baby pumpkin”, even before they
bloomed. what should i do?
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If a female blossom opens and dies, it means it wasn’t pollinated. But, if your female pumpkin blossoms are not opening it could be a number of problems that are interfering with plant fertility. Check these things first:
1) Does your plant get enough sunlight?
2) Does the plant have enough nutrients? Also, keep in mind that too much nitrogen can affect the plant fertility too.
I live in Northwest Florida, where our temps are already in the mid-90s at peak, and it is almost always humid. This doesn’t sound conducive to growing pumpkins and I have not had good luck planting and growing any. Any suggestions for how to keep them thriving in full Florida sunshine? I have seen farmers here with small fields of pumpkins and I’m not sure how they did it.
Thanks.
@guy,
ok, i’ll check, here are some more details:
*there is a wall on the north side of the patch.
*i didn’t fertilize my patch for a long time, so what’s
better, plant based compost or cow manure compost?
i also have all sorts of those weird bottles of special
plant chemicals and medicines, should i use them
any of them? thanks again.
@guy,
and i almost forgot, a farmer told
me i should use garlic for fertilization, should i?
thank again.
i live in Easley SC today is june 15 am i to late to plant pumpkins? i have my feilds ready.
I planted my pumpkin seeds the first week of June , I live in Hershey PA . How do I keep my Pumpkins from Maturity before Oct . The plant are doing very well and each plant is now 6 foot long with flowers on the plants.
I am getting plenty of male flowers for about a month but no female flowers. What is going on. I planted them in rich organic well rotted compost. they get lots of sun the temps have been high but I have made sure to maintain good water practice. Can ypu help?
Have a friend trying to grow a giant pumpkin, but they keep developing soft spots and rotting. Any suggestions?
I planted my pumpkins in April. Now there is one pumpkin about 2 in. big and three small pumpkins. Are they the right size? Could you show me some pictures of pumpkins in June? Thanks
I live in Texas and want to know if it is too late to plant punkins for halloween this year.
My pumpkin has many small pumpkin growths that turn yellow and mushy. Am I overwatering or what? I have two large pumpkins which look fine, but, the other small pumpkins are turning yellow and look sickly – I pull them off and throw them away. How do I get pumpkins which will grow to maturity when I cannot get beyond two viable pumpkins on the vine? The plants get about 6 1/2 hours of sun and are watered at the root daily.
Thanks for your help!
HEH
Please help!
my question is . why are my medium sized pumpking grow to be the size of a miniature pumpkin? i am not sure what i am doing wrong.
This is my first time growing pumpkins. The vines are very healthy and no bugs or mildew. I have lots of flowers but no visible pumpkins yet. Why not?
Renee
On further inspection and a little research I have found I have no female flowers. Do the vines have to mature? When should I start seeing female flowers? I live in NJ and planted in May.
Thanks guy!
I planted pumpkins and I am seeing flowers just fall down leaving only the stem. Why do they fall? Is this normal?
Do I need to cure my pumpkins if I don’t plan to store them? I have some that are nearly ripe, and I have no idea where I could find 80% humidity to cure them, so we are thinking we will just cook them right away.
Flowers are blooming , but falling off and no fruit forming
WHY DOES MY PUMPKINS FORM A SMALL PUMPKIN JUST BELOW THE FLOWER AND THE NEXT TWO DAYS IT TURNS BLACK
Often my vines will form pumpkins, then they get to the size of a softball or a bit smaller, and then they turn soft and rot. Am I watering too much? Not enough? I’d greatly appreciate any help at all. I love growing them, and this has been an ongoing problem.
Thank you.
IHAVE NICEN PUMPKINS PLANTS WITH MANY BLOSSEMS. THE FLOWERS WILL NOT POLLENT AND THE FLOWERS DROP OFF. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM IN BREVIOUS YEARS ALSO WITH A POOR QUANTY OF PUMPINKINS. THEY WILL ALSO BE SMALL. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM. PLENTY OF SUNLIGHT. WHAT SHOULD I DO? THANKYOU
This is the second year my husband and I have attempted to grow pumpkins. Are vines get super long and we get a ton of flowers but never any pumpkins, I just am not sure what to due to get some pumpkins out of it, we are very frusterated! We water all the time and fertilize about once a week, just wondering if you have any suggestions for us?
how long does it take after you plant pumpkins to they start to prouduce ive got flowers on my vines
In Scotland we are about a month behind in the growing season due to long cold winter. I planted 3 pumpkin seeds which are a good size now. I have transplanted them, 2 into 1 growbag and 1 into my small garden. What type of liquid feed should I give, would Tomorite do, and when should I begin feeding?
we have pumpkins growing which were planted at easter , growing really well in the garden and spreading across the garden..we get flowers then small green 5p balls which then grow to golf ball size then die .. why is this .. is it because the flower did not pollenate . so it just dies .. we have 2 which are the size of tennis balls should we be taken the 5p ones that are going around it off
My pumpkin plants are flowering like crazy, the vines are growing out really great too, but I’m not seeing any actual pumpkins growing yet and I’m getting worried. I live in Montana it’s already the end of July, and although I picked short season growing pumpkins to plant this year I’m wondering if it’s even worth letting the plant continue if it’s not going to produce anything, and possibly choke out the rest of my garden. Everything else in my garden is doing great, already harvesting zuchinni, tomatoes, lettuce, etc so I do not think it’s a problem of pollination. Any ideas?
I am growing a pumpkin plant for my son and we live in Michigan. I have lots of blooms but no pumpkins yet, since it the end of july shouldn’t I have small pumpkins by now? What do I do?
Hi,My kids and I started (trying) to grow pumpkins. We have loads of vines and flowers, but not a single pumpkin has started yet. It seems that the flowers simply are falling off and not turning into pumpkins. What did I do wrong? Is there still a chance or is it too late in the season to hope that they will grow? We live in Illinois and it has been very hot, but I have been keeping them very wet. I guess I thought by now there would be a few pumpkins forming. Let me know,
I have pumpkin plants flowering, but no pumpkins yet. When should the fruit appear? Thanks!
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The first flowers appear about forty days after sowing the seeds. Shortly after both male and female flowers appear, you should start to see fruit set. Pollination can be delayed from weather conditions or from the lack of pollinators. If you don’t start to see pumpkins, you may want to try hand pollinating.
i have great plants..they get lots of sun..but the pumpkins get ball size and then the dry up.. and fall off…what can i do…thanks..ruth mcintyre
what will cause the pumpkin to split while still on the vine?
I live in Bethlehem, PA, I started my pumpkin vines with my grandson and now they are taking over our deck. it is very exciting!! However, some of the leaves are yellowing and dying. I have been snipping them off to avoid damage to the rest of the vines. I am seeing both types of flowers; male and female. I was wondering What am I doing wrong that the leaves closest to the roots are yellowing and dying?? AND should I be pruning this ever growing intermingling vine?
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Let the vine grow. There’s no need to prune the vine and sometimes can open the plant up to disease. Try a trellis with the vine or run it along the rail. You will need to support the pumpkins if you choose to use a trellis. As to the yellow leaves, try giving the plant a little fertilizer. There might be so much growth the vines and blossoms are using the nutrients.
Hi there,
I planted my pumpkins and they are looking so pretty! They are starting to grow vines! But…a couple of nights ago some mysterious creature started eating at the base of the plant. Where the plant comes out of the ground. Now all my plant stems are white! But, the leaves and everything else are growing.
I am confused…this is the first time I have ever tried to grow something and I am afraid they are already doomed.
Please help!!
I’ve already lost one and it looks like I am about to lose my strongest two.
Thank you!
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It sounds like it could be squash vine borers that are attacking the base of your pumpkin plants. Here’s a helpful website for pumpkin insects with pictures for pest identification: http://veg-fruit.cropsci.illinois.edu/Events/IPD/Presentations/Pumpkin%20Insect%20Management.htm.
I planted a mix of around 4 medium and giant pumpkins for carving and eating. Out of all the flowers, I only have a total of 5 pumpkins which set and started growing. They range in size from a softball to a basketball. I have noticed that a number of pumpkins set, but then rot and fall off the plant when they are only the size of a pea. Any ideas? Thanks, Jeff
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It could be due to poor pollination. The larger pumpkins that are growing sound like successful pollination. But, the pea sized ones are actually part of the female flower. Try hand pollinating. Here’s more information on how to hand pollinate: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs398.
HI, it is my first attempt at Pumpkins,my question is can I stuff a Pumpkin like I can a Marow with meat ,
if you can help thankyou Del , UK
I HAVE PEA SIZE (3) PUMPKINS THAT ARE GROWING AT THE BASE OF WHAT LOOKS LIKE A FLOWER BUD THATS ONLY 1/2 INCH LONG. WILL THAT BE MY PUMPKIN?
AS YOU MAY OF GUESS THIS IS MY FIRST TIME—I’VE BEEN WATCHING FOR PUMPKINS WERE ALL MY FLOWERS WERE BLOOMING—(LIKE MY SQUASH PLANTS DO) BUT ALL MY FLOWERS JUST DIE AND FALL OFF. HELP!!!!!!
I have a very small flat garden abount 20x 20 Ft only half a this is pumpkins, the garden gets 50% sunlight 1st half of day and 50% sun/shade remainder. both male female flowers galore fruit starts to grow to about size of a ping pong ball then rots off and breaks free off the vine WHY !!, it is now august ( mid ) and no real pumpkins to speak off pleanty of vine spread although a little cramped. Bill
So I was a big idiot and tried to shift the pumpkin and broke the main vine in the process. Is there anything I can do to save this pumpkin?!
Jeff, this is my first attemp at growing pumpkins and gourds. I planted them in a raised bed in hills. I planted the seeds around 6/7 as the instructions stated the growing period was 100 days. My gourds are doing great but no pumpkins yet! Are the main stems that started from the seeds supposed to dry up and the leaves at that site die off? Iam just starting to get a few small pumpkins at the base of the blossom. What am I doing wrong or not doing? I’ll keep trying but need advice for next season. Thank you so much. I live in southeastern Ohio along the Ohio River. Judy