From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Hadley Ny

I should have asked a few days ago but probably wouldn't have kept it but nice for practice. I had a female ready to open the next day and it didn't. Should I have pried it open and pollinated? Aborted in a few days and want one of the next two anyway. First time this has happened to me. If it happens again..especially on the same plant...is this a viable option or what should I do. Also Curious as to why it didn't open.

7/3/2018 1:16:16 PM

Grittyville, WA

I had one do this... Rare occurence it probably could have been pollinated on the day it was supposed to open . . . but if they are tied shut the night before then you usually have to help them open anyhow and you wouldnt notice one failing to open on its own. Some people tie shut others cover em just be careful the bees are not dropping pollen through mesh i would not screen the bees out with mesh because the bees might drop pollen through it onto the stigma...?

7/3/2018 3:23:32 PM

Westmoreland, KS

Your pumpkin aborted on you before it opened. This happens often when it is hot out. Even if you forced it open it would not have taken. Make sure you keep them covered in the heat.

7/3/2018 3:40:29 PM

Upa Creek, MO

Agree with Jake, if you don't have enough real estate behind the potential pollination and temps pushing 95-100, this will happen. Very common here, I usually have 2-3 of these each year.

I've also had it happen when the plant is in explosive growth phase in every direction before I have terminated some vines.

7/3/2018 3:54:42 PM

Zimmerman, Minnesota

I tried this last week on an 1844 holub, I just forced it open and pollinated it....I never took

7/3/2018 5:15:56 PM

Hadley Ny

Wasn't really planning on keeping it and just placed a cup over it. Pulled cup in the morning and I thought it would be open and it never did. Want to know in case this happens in the future. Seems like I read someplace that they pried it open and pollinated and it was fine. Hate to lose one in the sweet spot. Was hi 70s when this happened. This plant has a ton of growth behind it. Fighting to find room for secondaries. I would say explosive growth phase with this one...it grew like crazy when this happened. If it happens again I will pollinate when it should open and see what happens. Thanks Guys, T

7/3/2018 5:58:39 PM

Lloydminster/AB

I had one do this this year. It opened the next day. It took but I had one in a better spot so I removed it. Strangely it stayed open an extra day too.

7/4/2018 1:26:28 AM

Westmoreland, KS

Don what was your temperature? I wonder if the cool weather made it act weird? You should have kept it for a week or two just to see what it did!

Generally smallmouth and I see this when temperatures reach 90+ but humidity makes it feel like 105+ they just fry and don't open up.

7/4/2018 8:44:54 AM

It's improper & immoral to force your way inside of a flower!
Consensual pollinations only, people!

7/4/2018 10:21:18 AM

Hadley Ny

I might have fried it by placing the cup over it to early in the day. Usually I just zip tie them. Saving time on something I hadn't planned on keeping but might have. Another lesson learned!!

7/4/2018 11:06:20 AM