Pumpkins/Tomatoes

Question

I am trying to garden two plants at a time. This is my second year and I am not anymore successful than last. My questions relate to my two plants. First: My pumpkins turned orange this year, but only on one side. I have not found anywhere that says I have to turn my pumpkins as they grow. One side is nice and orange while the underside is softish and pale. Do I need to turn the pumpkins while growing?

My second question refers to tomatoes. I have several plants and lots of green tomatoes, but it seems as if I get lots of plant (I have a ton of huge-5 1/2′ or taller plants), but am having trouble with the production of the fruit. Do I need to prune or trim the plants to get better fruit production?

Answer 1

While it's not always necessary, I've found it helpful to carefully turn pumpkins so they can have a somewhat evenly orange color throughout. Keep in mind that you will still have a lighter shade on the portion that sits on the ground (or thin piece of wood). As for the tomatoes, it could be caused by fertilizer (if you're using any) or due to poor pollination. Here is an article that you may find helpful for proper fertilization of tomatoes: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/tomato-fertilizer.htm

If the problem is due to a problem with pollination, you may want to consider hand pollinating: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/pollinate-tomatoes.htm