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Maine

Need some advise. My 2365 will have a female start and look to be a couple days from opening but then will turn pale yellow and never open and die. I have male flowers all over the plant with pollen loaded in them. What would cause this?

7/21/2023 8:56:38 AM

Syracuse, NY

I recommend with my own lowly, unsubstantiated - Oh, wait I do know this one -
My thought would be simply lack of phosphorous or any of the trace elements in Miracle-Gro 15-30-15 or 10-52-10 to be foliar-applied in whatever volume you want to the entire plant at 1 TBSP/gal H2O every other day for a week +1 day and literally see what happens. My plants are in impeccable shape using only MG.
I recommended this to a grower last year and she had great results and it cannot hurt anything. Just MY honest opinion, which I doubt will be really any different from others'. eg

7/21/2023 9:13:55 AM

Syracuse, NY

I enjoy being able to reference my BS from even years ago,
so, if you'd like to read some heartfelt beliefs, have at it,
paying attention to 'pumpkin maximus 666''s results:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=14&p=720005

My owns will ALL be treated to this today, as a matter of fact,
as I still have 4 plants that are not large due to lack of sun
butt could be of course having pumpkins on them presently.
I wish you the best of luck with that 2365!
eric g

7/21/2023 9:31:03 AM

Westmoreland, KS

Joe if you post pictures of your plant it helps to troubleshoot what is going on...we could start guessing but that doesn't really help

7/21/2023 9:50:58 AM

Western NY

Yep, post a few plant pics.

7/21/2023 10:07:20 AM

Grittyville, WA

Phosphorus, nitrogen, zinc. Those would be my guesses. Maybe calcium too. Folks on here dont like guessing but I have to guess a bit sometimes on the way to getting to the truth.

I'm having had the opposite problem on one of my plants, the females are strong and healthy but the males just getting anemic and shriveling down. Sounds like a bit TMI :) Its weird that one combo of nutrients might favor females, while another combo might favor males?

7/21/2023 12:19:31 PM

Maine

I will try and get some pics this weekend. I have a squash plant right next to this one doing outstanding! Just driving me crazy to be this late into the season without a fruit started. Thanks for the advise so far and will get you some pics.

7/21/2023 12:45:01 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Never fails, Guessing Game Gtitty and Miracle Gro Moments with pumpkinpal2

The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round.

Great advice from Jake and Andy however, I’d do that Joe1327 and I’d bet a solution will be found.

7/21/2023 9:44:55 PM

Colorado

Joe thats weird to have that when a neighboring plant is behaving normally.Hope someone can help.

7/21/2023 10:46:50 PM

Syracuse, NY

Lol - I expected that Glenn would be here at any moment.
The other guy will be here in a sec, once he gets a text about it, lol.
He just cannot have an opinion and leave mine nor Little Kins' alone.
I was here, I offered my advice and even said that it was
my opinion alone and so what if it were different than anyone's butt probably the same in general. Was it not Glenn that recently brought up 'what is someone's PB' as a qualification to give even unsubstantiated advice or not? I believe so. Maybe the minimum should be 1400 pounds - OHHH!!! That cuts Glenn and I out and maybe this squabbling about what FERTILIZER can be used to rectify a deficiency for 14 bucks! If Glenn would accept that he's not the only chef in the kitchen, it'd all around be a better place to be at. It seems that lately, it's some kind of a competition to see whom or whosever (bunches, perhaps of pumpkin question answering enthusiasts) can be either 'first in' or ultimately the person or persons ('I agree with so and so, but not what's his name) who resolve the issue. News to me. Seems that as soon as I pipe up, this mosquito of sorts is there to annoy me, like right now. WTF and WTH. Glenn has no advice other than to follow someone else's. There's another tragic-looking plant on another post that I was gonna say 'This one's for the experts' about, butt I refrained, even though I was not going to recommend Miracle-Gro in all its glory, so, have at it Glenn, with YOUR one recommendation and see how it goes.
I 'm sure you'll be well-thanked about it, if YOU can come up with it.
YAYYY!!!
So far, show us pictures about it - It is pretty hard to imagine shriveled up and yellowed male flowers. Meanwhile, my possible remedy or an attempt at it could be in the works.

I'm not going anywhere, Glenn, so get used to me. eg

PS- I DO appreciate that you took the few hours to coordinate the initials of my and
Gritty's advice channels, however immature of you this all is. MGMeg, lol---

7/22/2023 12:20:32 AM

Syracuse, NY

Sorry, Jake and Andy - Didn't mean to get you respectable, top
growers caught in my statement, there. Of course, pictures are and always will be beneficial in any diagnosis of a plant problem, if one has the time. eg

7/22/2023 1:01:52 AM

Syracuse, NY

I think this growers should be helped right away:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=6&p=732586

eg

7/22/2023 1:11:45 AM

Upa Creek, Mo

So many reasons for this, the below are most common for me...

It is usually because the plant isn't well established and still throwing out a ton of growth. Once you lift up a walking board and see a spider web of roots, the plant is "established". It might be different where you are due to cooler temps, but nothing will successfully pollinate until it is well rooted here. It's just too damn hot.

I also have had plants that abort everything (a lemon plant). We sometimes grow the salad and nothing will take, and if it does, it aborts by day 10. This is rare and usually by chance.

There are a plethora of other reasons, but pics and how old the plant is will help.

7/22/2023 9:25:22 AM

Torrance, Ca.

Thanks for letting us know about the guy needing help pumpkinpal.
I shot him my email and will try and visit him living so close to me.

Great job!

7/22/2023 10:19:16 AM

Grittyville, WA

Sorry if my input was bad or unwanted.

7/22/2023 10:20:54 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Atta boy Chris! Any advice for the original question about female flowers aborting/not opening by joe1327? We’ve never had that happen to us before so I’m not prepared or comfortable to speculate or give any kind guidance or recommendations.

7/22/2023 10:40:37 AM

These might be of some help. High phos or something like bloom boost. There are other discussions on this that I remember but cannot find. Ain't a scientist so just bringing up old threads and youse guys can make up your own (for those that have one) minds .


http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=255133

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=542602

7/22/2023 9:39:37 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

Glenn (North Shore), I get it every year on at least one plant and usually happens one or two times mid to late June. Female inflates like pollination is ready to go, I walk out the next day and it is deflated and dull in color. It is 100% due to heat here when the plant isn't well established.

I am now thinking this is not the issue for someone in Maine or the Northeast in general.

On a different note, there use to be a few good growers a while back who used the term "over doctoring". It is easy to do and sometimes if you don't know, it's best to just late nature work and avoid throwing a 2nd kitchen sink. A guy from Nebraska comes to mind, then he grew a state record when he slowed the roll...

7/22/2023 9:50:25 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Thanks Luke, I often marvelled at the growers like you that need to take special measures with ice, styrofoam coolers and fans in an effort to keep things cool enough to pollinate, just way over my pay grade and nothing we’ve ever had to deal with. I agree with you 100% on the different note and great advice for some other growers that continue to suggest a 2nd or 3rd kitchen sink just might help solve any situation, which we know it doesn’t. Thanks for posting Luke, you always make sense and have good input.

7/22/2023 11:22:58 PM

Syracuse, NY

Thanks for the 'Thanks', So.Cal. - eg

PS1 - Then, it should be suggested that anyone 'please' report back about what an actual problem was fixed by rather than just leaving it alone, unless NO action was taken whatsoever, and even then.

Wishful thinking, although it does happen.

Human illnesses such as colds and therefore viruses generally go away if they don't kill the Host.
The Immune System at least does something about it, whether the Host likes it or not, immediately; Malnutrition usually just gets worse and unless something is done, the symptoms will get worse or
just continue.

I find it slightly 'reassuring' that spudder's links include a couple or a few reputable growers indirectly recommending as I do or did with no flack involved and even on this page by said grower.
Apparently, it is a matter of brand and a matter of PB, rather than one's experience with it.

Almost undoubtedly, a plant will eventually have a female and a male to carry on the species, simultaneously - although just yesterday, not the case even for me.
So, I didn't make the cross that I had planned, butt a good one has still been made.

All I ever say is to try what works for ME. No one has to, butt they could, and at least find out rather quickly the end results. I pretty-reliably indicate that my opinion is neither absolute nor guaranteed to work and that there will be others' opinions forthcoming, which can be chosen from agreeably.

If one were to take a tissue sample and spend that money, how long does it take, plus the time and money for any remedy otherwise? Indeed, doing so would indicate the problem indisputably.

PS2 - I was enlightened to find out that this problem can be caused by a plant that's
not well-established just yet.

All in all, an interesting potpourri of information for down the road.
No NEED to reply. eg

7/23/2023 2:12:18 AM

"If there is an imbalance between the elements and minerals in the soil then your plant will face an unhealthy environment and lack of nutrients.
Most of the cases if the flower is not opening and dying then the soil you have planted your seeds in has an excess amount of Nitrogen.
The lack of phosphorus and iron in the soil also causes a huge nutrient deficiency that results in the death of pumpkin flowers before they open up.
Due to the lack of these elements, the germination organs don’t develop properly.
If the soil is infertile before you plant the seed the damage can be severe. On the other hand, the soil will start to get infertile after you have planted the seeds.
In that case, you need to recognize if the plant is hungry or not and take care of it likewise."

"Lack Of Nutrition
The soil may be getting too much nitrogen. Or it may not be able to maintain its consistency. Beautiful leaves are growing but showing zero power in fruit production.
The soil lacks phosphorus, so your flowers are not turning to reach the given stage. The nutrients in the pumpkin growing soil may not be appropriate."

These sites also say heat can be a factor as well as inconsistent watering etc.
Plus phosphorus has worked for me in the past but I am still not going to say one size fits all

7/23/2023 11:15:19 AM

Syracuse, NY

'I'd like one large phosphorous to grow, please.' eg

7/23/2023 9:19:44 PM