No Female Flowers??????

10 years ago

Hi all,

I'm growing Fairytale pumpkins in Phoenix. I put the seeds in on July 4th. I have nine plants, and they are beautiful and healthy and huge. Some of my vines are almost 20ft long. I've been getting flowers for almost a month now, and they're great. The only problem is that none of them are female. I'm averaging about 35 male flowers per day (yes, I count them), but not a single female to this point. Is there something I should be doing that I'm missing? I grew the same variety last fall, and at 90 days I at least had fruit on the vine.

Thanks

Allan

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

j c
10 years ago
How many days left in your growing season? If you have sufficient time you may try tomato bloom set spray. It is a spray that has plant hormones in it that will encourage, but not guarantee, female blooms. Formulated for tomatoes, but does work on many other plants too.
awtarrant1 thanked j c
docttt
10 years ago
JC, I wonder if rooting hormone might do the same thing. What do you think?
Related Professionals
Mobile Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Barnstable Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Allentown Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Kenosha Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Great Bend Landscape Contractors · Leominster Landscape Contractors · Omaha Landscape Contractors · Superior Landscape Contractors · Wausau Landscape Contractors · Albuquerque Landscape Contractors · Savannah Stone, Pavers & Concrete · Elkton Stone, Pavers & Concrete · Greensboro Stone, Pavers & Concrete · Mankato Stone, Pavers & Concrete · Kearney Stone, Pavers & Concrete
docttt
10 years ago
awtarrant1, I planted my seeds about the same time as you and I've been having the same trouble. After I made the earlier comment to j c, I went out and gave some of my pumpkin plants rooting hormone, but while doing that I noticed TWO (just two but it's a start) that had female blossoms. So, maybe they just need a little more time. I might have a few smaller pumpkins for Halloween, but perhaps, our timing will be perfect to have large pumpkins for Thanksgiving and Christmas...
awtarrant1
Original Author
10 years ago
JC - thanks for the advice.

docttt - I had the same surprise this morning. I went out to water the pots around the garden and I noticed a single female flower. I went ahead and hand pollinated. Not taking any chances on what might be my only pumpkin. I just hope that gets the ball rolling.
j c
10 years ago
Doctt, I don't think rooting hormone would work for female flowers, however it could be used at leaf nodes and would make some major vine rooting. Glad to hear that you both some blossoms opening.