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Hobbiton New Zealand

At what how many days does it take until the first flowers open things seem to be taking a long time or do I just lack
patience.
Plant is 46 days old and about 6-7 feet long.

12/15/2001 4:58:42 PM

canal winchester ohio

The last 2 years my male flowers opened up on day 54 & day 51, so I would guess all is still well.
And it took me 43 days to get a 6'vine so it sounds ok to me.........Paul

12/15/2001 5:53:13 PM

Long Island,New York

In my journal for 2001..."day 53...all plants (4) flowering with males".Four year average for females is 59.5 days with earliest at 51 days, latest at 78 days.(main vine flowers only)...................looks like your ok so far.....Glenn

12/15/2001 7:08:31 PM

Ankeny, Iowa

What are you fetilizing with?

12/15/2001 7:25:41 PM

Hobbiton New Zealand

Started with heavy doses of super phosphate last two and halve weeks product called super grow 18:8:15
twice weekly
and Worm juice one litre to 10 litre of water once a week

12/15/2001 11:23:31 PM

Hobbiton New Zealand

First male flower opened today day 52
and can see the first female floweer forming at 11 feet
Do I still bury the vine up to the female flower or leave
some uncovered so the vine can lift if the flower sets?

12/22/2001 12:33:48 AM

Long Island,New York

Leave a few (3-5 feet of vine before the female uncovered...and a similar amount past it uncovered.(you can always cover later if fruit doesnt set). Take the vine from 3-4 feet before the female and gradually start a "curve" so the female is on the outside of the curve for stem stress alieviation...(see page 75 in "Pumpkins 1"...page 90 in "pumpkins 2").......glenn

12/22/2001 9:49:51 AM

Greencastle, PA

or read about "S curves" in the how-to sectoin of this site.
Tom

12/22/2001 4:08:09 PM

Hobbiton New Zealand

Thanks for the reply just got to hope that I can get it to set now.

12/24/2001 2:01:47 AM

Hobbiton New Zealand

Female flower opened day 59 and I hand pollinated it
do I remove the side vine or should I wait until the
flower sets.

12/27/2001 1:26:10 PM

Long Island,New York

Wait until the flower sets...about 20 days or maybe a few more....I would guide the side vine around the pumpkin for now. Remember to make sure you have slack in the main and also in the side vines ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE PUMPKIN also...it gives you a little extra slack when it gets bigger.......G

12/27/2001 1:36:33 PM

Hobbiton New Zealand

What is the best or the easiest way of getting the pumkin
to sit at 90deg to the vine none of the female flowers are anything close to 90deg.
Help

12/31/2001 3:48:03 PM

Long Island,New York

Well, your supposed to select a fruit in good position on the vine (main vine fruit, 10-15 ft off stump) with a good stem angle(as close to perpendicular as the plant will allow). Even before that we're supposed to select seeds from pumpkins whose plants showed good characteristics (long stems being one of them). But if your plant wont give off main vine fruit with good angles or long stems to help you out, then your options are: gradually reposition the fruit daily with a goal of 90 degrees off the main, setting a fruit on the main and severeing the main after the fruit to remove all stem stress, or setting fruit on a side vine near the main and severing the vine past the fruit. Good luck !.....G

12/31/2001 5:42:54 PM