growing pumpkins (forum)

Kirstie starts with ...
Hi,

I am new here, and a first time pumpkin grower!

I googled my way here after wondering how would I know when they are ready to pick.

The more appropriate question is probably 'IF' they will ever be ready??

I noticed some time ago that the vine had spilled out of the garden area and onto a concrete area. I had made attempts initially to move and re-direct the vine and baby pumpkins. Not long after this, the vine was doing a little too well and taking over my entertainment area, I did give it a little trimming.

The couple of times that I have moved the vine, has been at about the time of unusaully heavy rain for this time of year.

The baby pumpkins have all managed to go black , shrivell up and die without getting any more than about 10cm in length (I think they are butternut Pumpkins)... so I am at the point now where I dont know if its me, or the strange weather we are having?? But my babies just don't want to grow!

Any suggestions?

Thank-you

Time: 16th February 2011 2:49pm

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About the Author Kirstie
 
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snottiegobble says...
Kirstie, my butternut babies were also dying off until I placed shade cloth over the whole bed. I also applied dry wetting agent around the plants, plenty of sheep manure & then watered it all well in.
I dont know where you live but here it now seems vital to use shadecloth over vegies in the summer.
remember to suspend the cloth high enough so that the bees can still get in to pollenate the flowers.

Time: 16th February 2011 3:03pm

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About the Author snottiegobble
Bunbury/Busselton ( smack in the middle)
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Kirstie says...
Thanks snottiegobble...

I am located in Melbourne.

The majority of the babies that I am loosing seem to be on the concrete area that is covered with a pergola.. being in suburbia.. the pergola is attached to the side of my house then there is only a couple of meters of unprotected area between my pergola and the roof line... there is also a 6foot high fence in the mix. I thought they would have been well protected... maybe I do need to offer them some more protection.

The babies that I have at the moment that are in a less protected area seem to be doing much better - except for one - that again I disturbed... it was growing through some chicken wire and I moved it slightly hoping to re-direct it as I felt it would not have much hope growing through the wire - it would ring bark itself...

I will certainly try your suggestions though! Thank you for your advice.

Time: 16th February 2011 4:04pm

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About the Author Kirstie
Melbourne
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au0rey says...
Hi Kirstie, I grew pumpkin this season too..the one starting with 'J'..cannot remember the name now. I am also in Melbourne. This vine is a sprawling one and grew all over my lawn and it needed redirections like yours did. Lots of flowers and finally one fruit that withered and dropped off. Lots of bees too. With the crazy weather here, it started to have powery mildew. So much trouble so I pulled it all up and into the green bin it went.

I read that pollination by bees is very important for success in growing pumpkins. Mine was growing on the grass area before the fruit withered so I didnt think it was the heat.

My spagetti squashes are doing very well so I think I shouldnt blame the bees.

Time: 16th February 2011 5:50pm

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About the Author au0rey
melbourne
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snottiegobble says...
Even here there is more humidity than norm & so my cucurbits got mildew. Luckily I`d already had a good run of Zuccs & cucums & all melon & pumkin fruit had formed, but the mildew certainly reduces the life of the plants. Yes, sprayed with milk, water & a drop of washing up liquid, but it needs to be done everyday at least, & also its not always convenient to water cucurbits early mornings as recommended instead of evenings!

Time: 16th February 2011 6:07pm

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About the Author snottiegobble
Bunbury/Busselton ( smack in the middle)
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Kirstie says...
Thank you both for your feed back. I actually went out for a closer inspection again yesterday. Again I had to cut it back because it is growing so quickly. To the surprise of my husband and myself, the babies that we thought were doing well had started to shrivel and we noticed a couple of leaves also have now got powdery mildew on them.

I think that my pumpkin vine will be follow yours straight into the green bin au0rey!!!

Weather may also explain my pear shaped tomatoes that are refusing to ripen!!!

Time: 18th February 2011 9:59pm

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About the Author Kirstie
Melbourne
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Itdepends says...
Have you tried hand pollinating yet? Strip the petals from a male flower (in the early morning) and brush it against the stamens of the female flowers (the ones with the lumps just behind the flower).

Time: 20th February 2011 12:01am

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Sundari333 says...
Our pumpkins grew abundantly but didn't set flowers and therefore fruit this year. I am in Geelong and am wondering what we did wrong?!

Time: 24th March 2011 12:28pm

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Sundari333 says...
Our pumpkins grew abundantly but didn't set flowers and therefore fruit this year. I am in Geelong and am wondering what we did wrong?! PLEASE help.

To see pictures of us and our back garden go to:

http://transitionbell.groupsite.com/network/show_profile/339738

http://transitionbell.groupsite.com/galleries/show/7803

Time: 24th March 2011 12:28pm

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pammy51 says...
hi sundari333 i am also in geelong i have tried to grow pumpkins in geelong for the last 3 yrs without any luck ..
my grandkids were playing in an old area of the garden soil wasnt any good i had some kent pumpkin seeds that i had dried out on the table out the back .. the kids got them along with flower petals they were making a pie mixed them .then they went away to play
i left them and all of a succed i had pumpkin plants coming up every where
well to my surprise i have at least 10 pumpkins ready to pick they all look like around 3 kilo im wrapt so dont loose heart try the kent pumpkins next year .. good luck
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Time: 31st March 2011 2:39pm

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About the Author pammy51
geelong
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mathew says...
hi all
i am new here and just yesterday found a wonderful place with approximatley 30 different types of whole pumpkins so i brought 6 different varietys to save the seeds for this year.
i was wondering is bees a big issue in melbourne as i grew jarrahdales in our front garden this year and i had to self pollenate them all.
i ahve attached a picture of the varietys i brought.
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Time: 28th April 2011 12:57pm

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speedy says...
Matthew, If the 30 different types of pumpkins were all grown in the one place, the seed wont come true to type because they'll have cross pollinated. That is unless the flowers were isolated and hand pollinated for each fruit.
If not all grown in the one place, there's still no guarentee that they'll grow true to type.

It is nice to have the variety of cultivars to try out though, and a good way to find out which ones you really like.

Your Jarrahdales should be fine though.


Time: 28th April 2011 1:24pm

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About the Author Speedy
Northern Vic.
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Lewis & Arna says...
Please Help or advise.
We are trying to grow butternut pumpkins, we have about 14 pollinated and growing nicely BUT, they seem to have got some kind of infection as show in the pictures.
Does anyone know what this is and how to treat it?
One pumpkin has dropped off the vine and we don't know if it is a result of the apparent infection.
Hope to hear from someone and thank you in advance.
Regards
Lewis
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Picture: 4

Time: 29th January 2015 7:40pm

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Markmelb says...
Have you been watering from above? dont wet your leaves - leaves need a fungal spray or what i recommend remove affected leaves and dispose of in garbage bin - use a sulpher spray on other leaves like mancozeb plus top and bottom

Time: 29th January 2015 7:49pm

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Original Post was last edited: 29th January 2015 7:48pm

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Waterfall says...
Powdery mildew, it travels in the air so if you are going to get it then you will get it. Some plants are much more susceptible than others though.

Time: 29th January 2015 9:46pm

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About the Author Waterfall
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Diego says...
this may be of some help;

http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/controlling-or-eliminating-powdery-mildew/

Time: 29th January 2015 9:47pm

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About the Author Diego
Woombye
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Markmelb says...
Update - sprayed leaves with econeem this morning - keep you posted with results :)

Thanks Diego - I have it on my Zuchs a tiny bit and dont greatly worry - just remove usually oldest leaves anyway but will try eco neem I have or the Milk - interesting :) In fact since using econeem havnt had a white fly issue all summer on Cucs and Toms.

Time: 30th January 2015 9:50am

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leanne_lano says...
Hi, can anyone tell me what's wrong with my butternut pumpkin?
Thanks in advance

Time: 3rd November 2015 2:48pm

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About the Author leanne_lano
huntingdale
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