[Arid_gardener] Re: Pumpkin & Melons Produce No Food

[Olin Miller]

Could be due to irregular irrigation but probably due to lack of
pollination.  Bees are the most active in the early morning hours just after
sunrise.  For maximum bee visitation the pumpkin and melon blossoms should
be in the sunlight at that time.  .  If the vines are in the shade and don't
receive sunlight until after about 10:00 am the bees will be gone.  This has
become much more noticeable with the decline in the honeybee population.

Olin Miller, Master Gardener Volunteer
U of A Cooperative Extension, Maricopa County AZ
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----- Original Message ----- From: <LDLMSL at cox.net>
Sent: Friday, September 21, 2007 4:13 PM
> Mary Sue 85254 LDLMSL at COX.NET
> Too late for this year, but does anyone have any ideas why our pumpkin and
> melon crops only put out very long vines but basically produce NO food?
> We sometimes get starts of pumpkins, etc., (small 1 inch diameter round
> fruit) but then they don't develop on from there.
> I would presume it has something to do with lack of fertilization but we
> have many birds and ants and worms and butterflies and flies and some bees
> flitting around.