I get both male and female flowers. I try to hand pollinate due to bee shortage. This is second year of very few bees. My question is, I go out between 4 am and 7 am the morning when I believe a female will open and except for the first female, which I got plenty of pollen to pollinate my males, they have no pollen. Out of 3 males, only 1 turned the brush tip (small) a tiny bit orange. Last year all aborted. Anything I can do? I only have 2 very healthy vines. I have watched videos, read, etc. Thanks.
There are a couple other ways you can try to hand-pollinate your pumpkin vines. This article will walk you through them: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/pumpkin/hand-pollinate-pumpkins.htm
I guess I wasn't clear. I know how to hand pollinate. My male flowers have no pollen no matter how early I get up and how long I babysit them. I tie off the female as soon as I hand pollinate. My question is - why no pollen on my male flowers and how can I fix it?
The lack of pollen could be a result of not enough sun (pumpkin plants need 6-8 hours of sun) or inconsistent watering. It could also be a result of extremely high temperatures for multiple days in a row. Additionally, if your nighttime temperatures are averaging as high as the low 70's F., that will affect pollen viability as well. There is nothing you can really do about the lack of pollen except perhaps try to find someone locally who may have a healthy plant and beg them for a few of their male flowers. You could transport those flowers back to your plants and try shaking or wiping the pollen off onto the female flowers at the appropriate time of day (before about 10:00 a.m. local time).
Here are some additional articles that may help you with future pumpkin plants:
https://agdev.anr.udel.edu/weeklycropupdate/?p=1583
https://extension.psu.edu/plants/sustainable/documents/Pumpkin%20Pollinators.pdf
Read more at Gardening Know How: Pumpkin Plant Not Producing: Why A Pumpkin Plant Flowers But No Fruit https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/pumpkin/pumpkin-flowers-but-no-fruit.htm
My first ever Atlantic Giant is growing 8 ft from the start of the vine and is gaining 1 inch a day. Due to 100 to 108 degrees days for a couple of weeks, the leaves between the pumpkin and the start of the vine have been dying. There are only 7 left. There are many great leaves after the pumpkin. The forecast is for at least 14 days more heat. My questions are: 1. Can a pumpkin survive with most leaves after the pumpkin? 2. Is there anything I can do to help this situation? Thanks
Giant Pumpkins do not like extremes, cold or heat.
This link may have some suggestions for you.
http://www.maine.gov/dacf/pumpkincam/how-to-grow-pumpkins.shtml
I do know that a Pumpkin Farmer friend of mine creates tents above his Giant's. This creates shade but still air circulation for his big beauties.
I've got lots of blooms that fall off then I get more blooms but no pumpkins. I 've seen lots of bees.
I'm sorry your pumpkins aren't producing for you!
Stress, a calcium deficiency, even lack of pollination (even though you have seen bees) could all be contributing factors to your pumpkin blooms falling off.
There are handful of things you can do to remedy all of these. This article may help you:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/pumpkin/pumpkin-fruit-drop.htm
I have 2 Atlantic Giant pumpkin plants. Both have a well set pumpkin. One 16" circumference the other 33". I am growing for size. I have read everything I can get my hands on. The question I have concerns the 33." It is approx 8 ft from the base of the plant. Recently, we have had a heat wave up to 108*. Of the 8 full size leaves between the pumpkin and its base 4 have brown edges. THE QUESTION IS: Can the pumpkin continue to grow with only 4 problem free large leaves and several problem free small leaves between the base and the fruit? There are many good leaves after the fruit. Or should I throw in the towel and pull and discard it? Thanks
Pumpkins are considered a relatively heat-tolerant plant, so your pumpkin can most likely make it if you give it a chance. If you can, provide some shade for the plant. Water consistently in the early morning, and avoid watering during the hot part of the day since this can "burn" the leaves. Also make sure you don't over-fertilize as this can cause crispy leaf edges.
I didn't know they had to be planted on hills. Will they still produce pumpkins...because I have none yet and vines are real long.
Planting in hills certainly will help with water drainage, though this is ideal, many other conditions go into a healthy producing vine.
Adequate watering, full sunshine and pollination are also needed for your vines to produce.
Here are some links to help refresh you on the care requirements.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/pumpkin/pumpkin-growing-tips-for-halloween-pumpkins.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/pumpkin/pumpkin-flowers-but-no-fruit.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/pumpkin/hand-pollinate-pumpkins.htm
Why do we have huge leaves and many yellow flowers but no fruit yet on my pumpkin vines? My granddaughter, aged 5, and I planted the seeds from her jack o lantern. She is excited about the long trailing vines and big leaves but disappointed no fruit yet. There are thick green stems like we have seen on store bought pumpkins but the green stems seem to break open or look like they have been chewed on. We live near woods. Is there an animal possibly eating our stems? Thank you so much, as I hope to teach the child about gardening.
There could be a few issues with the pumpkins.
Flowering and lack of pollination may be a likely cause of no pumpkins forming.
You can try self pollinating by brushing the pollen from one flower to the next with a small brush.
Animals love to dine on pumpkin vines and pumpkins, but the damage you describe may be a Squash Borer.
Pumpkins need a lot of water to form.
Here are some links with more information and hopefully, fingers crossed a pumpkin may form.
I hope this helps for next years garden (don't give up!--if you it makes you feel any better--my 6 plants this year, I got 2 pumpkins!)
Hopefully a fun trip to a pumpkin patch this Fall can save the lack of pumpkins!
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/pumpkin/pumpkin-growing-tips-for-halloween-pumpkins.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/pumpkin/pumpkin-growing.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/pumpkin/saving-pumpkin-seeds-how-to-store-pumpkin-seed-for-planting.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/squash/squash-pests-identifying-and-preventing-squash-vine-borer.htm