Should I be concerned that my Pumpkin vine does not have a pumpkin on it yet in mid August?

The Vine is Huge! We have many flowers but I have yet to see a flower become a Pumpkin. Should I be pruning the Vine ?



Any thought would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! Otto

Should I be concerned that my Pumpkin vine does not have a pumpkin on it yet in mid August?
Hi,



Pumpkins have two types of flowers - male and female. Here is a site with pictures of each: http://home.rochester.rr.com/srinz/pkinp...



I had a neighbor who only grew one pumpkin plant and had all male flowers. Very bad luck because you aren't going to get any pumpkins that way.



If you have both types of flowers, then it can be a polination issue - not enough bees maybe? The link above has some instructions on how to manually polinate.



Pruning won't help with the problem, and I wouldn't recommend it becuase it will create areas for diease to enter.



Worst case, if you don't get any pumpkins, you can fry the flowers. I have never had myself, but I've been told they are very good to eat.



Good Luck
Reply:pruning probably would not hurt they may be to many blooms on the vine and you need to trim them. To many blooms will deprive the vine from producing large pumpkins
Reply:I am actually in the same position you are in. I have a large vine, but no pumpkins. My aunt recommends pruning the old bottom leaves to make more growth into the pumpkins. I wouldn't prune the vine because you may be taking what the pumpkin needs to thrive on.
Reply:I don't know where you live . . . but I live in Michigan and had the same problem with our pumpkins last year. From what I understand, pumpkins can be fairly fickle. I spoke to a woman at our local feed store this spring, and she said you shouldn't plant pumpkins until July 1st since they are a late bloomer. So depending on what zone you're in . . . and when you planted them, I wouldn't worry too much yet. I wouldn't try pruning it either. You might do more harm than good.



Also, our pumpkins were killed by mold last year, so be cognoscente of that possibility. This year I've been spraying them with Chamomile tea to control the mold growth . . . and it's been working well.



Great Luck and enjoy your garden !!!