[domw001]

Can anyone tell me what to look for when growing pumpkins (first time growing this year).

I'm used to cucumbers and courgette and can identify their male/female flowers. Are pumpkins the same?

I have plenty of flowes but they all look female to me.

[mumofstig]

Persacerley the same 

Boys just have stalks ............girlies have ready-made babies behind the flowers 

[MichelleC]

Also when the flowers drop off you'll soon know if the baby pumpkin has been polinated or not as it either follows the flower or starts to swell. You can hand pollinate or leave it to the bees. x

[SUTTY1]

I've only got male flowers   Pity they cant be posted

[fisher]

saw Monty prepping supports for pumpkins in his bijou garden.  has anyone done this and if so any tips please??

[hogwarden]

saw Monty prepping supports for pumpkins in his bijou garden.  has anyone done this and if so any tips please??

I did last year with some `mini fruit`pumpkins--I used a lot of string by the end of the season holding it all together and supporting the `fruits`- created work!!!

[MichelleC]

I'm growing several pumpkin plants vertically. I built a 6ft by 5ft wooded trellis structure which is very sturdy. A couple of the plants are now growing over the top.  I use strong garden netting to support the pumpkins and adjust as they bigger. I'll try and post a picture later.

[plopleuk]

do you just pull off the ones you dont want to grow then the others grow bigger

[sunshineband]

Stopping the plant after the number you want have set gives bigger pumpkins 

[MichelleC]

Here is my vertical Pumpkin house. 

[plopleuk]

That looks great, i wish i had the room for one of those   

[gobs]

Can anyone tell me what to look for when growing pumpkins (first time growing this year).

I'm used to cucumbers and courgette and can identify their male/female flowers. Are pumpkins the same?

I have plenty of flowes but they all look female to me.

Forget them. Watched kettle never boils.

Unless just for the festivities, only leave 2-4 fruit on each. Even that is ambitious to get fully ripe most summers here.


edited to clarify quote

[MichelleC]

Have a look on YouTube for Vertical Pumpkin growing or just Vertical Growing. The heavier the fruit the stronger the frame needs to be.

[SUTTY1]

FRame lloks great, think i might give it a go next year

[MichelleC]

I'll post more pics as the pumkins get bigger. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'll be able to support them.