need help with pumpkins

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HERBIE43 Rutland , MA(Zone 5b) Sep 23, 2003

a friend of mine started pumpkin seeds indoors in april. in june he transplanted them outside. they were about 3 or 4 inches tall. he has plenty of vines and loads of flowers but only about 3 pumpkins of which 2 didnt make it. the one he has left is about the size of a pineapple. he says that he fertilized and watered as the instructions suggested. i dont know anything about pumpkins but i thought someone out there would be able to help. thanks.

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MaryE Baker City, OR(Zone 5b) Sep 23, 2003

It sounds like he didn't have good pollination. Sometimes it is just too cold and rainy when things bloom and the bees stay home from work. Wish him better luck next year.

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HERBIE43 Rutland , MA(Zone 5b) Sep 24, 2003

maryE - thank you. will pass this on to him.

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eweed Everson, WA(Zone 8a) Sep 27, 2003

Herbie 43 punkins ,squash, and cucumbers all benifit from a couple of shovels of composted cow stuff in the bottom of the hole at planting time. Can't hurt I also leaf feed them.

Punkins and the like all seem to do noticeably better when protected from the wind and are treated to increased temp by clotching or floating row covers. At least thats the way it works best for me.

Regards Eweed

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Agrinerd Franklin, NC(Zone 6b) Oct 02, 2003

There was a lot of that happening this year. If it wasn't rain keeping the bees at bay, then there may not have been many honeybees in the area. A couple of parastic mite species have taken their toll on wild populations and, in some areas, gardeners have had to pollinate their squash by hand. That might do the trick next year.

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HERBIE43 Rutland , MA(Zone 5b) Oct 02, 2003

eweed/agrinerd - thanks for advice. maybe ill try them myself next year

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