GC Pumpkin Growing Challenge 2013

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by Steve R, May 9, 2013.

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  1. Bilbo675

    Bilbo675 Total Gardener

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    Yet more female flowers opened yesterday on both Atlantic Giant and Invincible..........but also several males - at last!! :dancy: :biggrin: , I was straight there with the cotton buds collecting pollen and pollinating the females:imphrt::spinning:
     
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      Bilbo675, Jul 8, 2013
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    • Lolimac

      Lolimac Guest

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      Nice one Bilbo:dbgrtmb:

      I've lost two of my little pumpkins through not being pollinated:doh:still waiting for the female flowers to open....then i'll be in there like a shot:blue thumb:
       
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        Lolimac, Jul 8, 2013
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      • JWK

        JWK Gardener Staff Member

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        Been away for a few days and found the first female flower open with a few more lined up. But no males, perhaps we should organise a pollen swap :snork:
         
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          JWK, Jul 8, 2013
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        • Phil A

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          Have you got male flowers on any other Cucurbits? Should do the business if you didn't want to save the seed.
           
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            Phil A, Jul 8, 2013
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          • JWK

            JWK Gardener Staff Member

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            Great idea Zigs!

            I've got flowers on courgettes and cucumbers, I've never thought about using those as pollinators :doh:
             
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              JWK, Jul 8, 2013
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            • Phil A

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              The resulting seed is what they sell as "Small Warty Hybrid Gourds" :biggrin:
               
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                Phil A, Jul 8, 2013
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              • JWK

                JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                So I went into the greenhouse to pick some cucumber flowers and suddenly realised I'm growing all female F1 cucumbers :snork:

                Never mind I'll get some courgette flowers instead, only to remember I'm growing a Parthenocarpic variety that doesn't require pollinating, so again it doesn't produce male flowers :doh:

                Luckily I'm growing a climbing 'normal' courgette as an experiment and that had a couple of male flowers, so I've crossed the courgette with the pumpkin :)
                 
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                  JWK, Jul 8, 2013
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                • nFrost

                  nFrost Head Gardener

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                  Hope the Pumpgette works out for you JWK! What do think will happen?
                   
                  nFrost, Jul 9, 2013
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                • JWK

                  JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                  Assuming I have managed to pollinate the pumpkin then the fruit should swell and develop normally. It will be the next generation that would show the effects of hybridising, so if I saved the seed and grew them next year I might have some massive courgettes or more likely some inedible tiny pumpkins :)
                   
                  JWK, Jul 9, 2013
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                • Allan Hodgson

                  Allan Hodgson Gardener

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                  here are some updated picks. I haven't had any flowers open in my main patch yet but there are about 30 males altogether on 4 plants and 6 females. is that too many? should I take some of the males off to encourage growth? I buried the stems of the plants with the broken stems because they started wilting and I was paranoid that it was because it has grown to the point that it cant get enough water. although could the wilting be due to the hot weather?

                  i buried the stems to see if I can get it to root.
                  IMAG0081.jpg
                  my vines are starting to take off with this hot weather.
                  IMAG0080.jpg

                  and here are a few females that I've noticed. I've counted 6 so far.
                  IMAG0079.jpg
                   
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                    Allan Hodgson, Jul 11, 2013
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                  • nFrost

                    nFrost Head Gardener

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                    How do you tell the difference between the sexes of the flower?

                    Your second pic Allan, how many plants is that?
                     
                    nFrost, Jul 11, 2013
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                  • Lolimac

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                    The male flowers are on a long stem nFrost:dbgrtmb:
                     
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                      Lolimac, Jul 11, 2013
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                    • **Yvonne**

                      **Yvonne** Total Gardener

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                      would i be gate crashing this party if I joined in with my Jumbo Pink Banana Squash, grown from the seed parcel?

                      Edit - sorry just realised this is a competition, I'll take back my wine and leave quietly :biggrin:
                       
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                        **Yvonne**, Jul 11, 2013
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                      • JWK

                        JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                        It's only a light hearted competition Yvonne Donnellon, you are most welcome to join in the fun and we are also all learning from each other the best ways :)
                         
                        JWK, Jul 11, 2013
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                      • Bilbo675

                        Bilbo675 Total Gardener

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                        The more the merrier Yvonne :)
                         
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                          Bilbo675, Jul 11, 2013
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