[Arid_gardener] pumpkins not setting fruit

[Linda Drew]

The symptoms sound like the female flowers are
not being pollinated. You may need to polinate by
hand if you do not have bees and other insects
visiting your flowers. (pick off a male flower and dust
if over the female flowers.

The following information is for melons, but also applies to squash
and pumpkins:
" Q. Why do the first blossoms drop off my muskmelon plants?
A. The first flowers to appear on the vines are male, and they drop 
naturally. The female flowers, which open later, have a swelling at the base 
that forms the fruit. After bees pollinate these female flowers, the fruit 
develops.
Q. What causes poor (sparse) fruit set and low yields?
A. The failure for female flowers to set and develop melons can result from 
lack of proper pollination by bees; cool, wet weather (which also slows bee 
activity); and planting too close together, resulting in a dense, heavy 
growth of leaves (which also can suppress effective bee activity)."

http://www.tricountyfarm.org/oregon_melons.asp


Linda Drew
Master Gardener volunteer

>From: patdress at msn.com
>To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
>Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page
>Date: Sun, 5 Aug 2007 17:59:54 -0700 (MST)
>
>Pat Dressendorfer
>85284
>patdress at msn.com
>
>We are trying to grow pumpkins for our grandchildren.  The plants are 
>thriving and producing many big, yellow blooms.  When the fruit gets about 
>2 inches long, it drops off.  Are we overwatering, underwatering or ??  The 
>leaves wilt some mid-day but recover overnight.  Thanks for any ideas.
>
>
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>Arid_gardener mailing list
>Arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu
>http://CALS.arizona.edu/mailman2/listinfo/arid_gardener

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