[polly nator]

We've got lots of fruit merrily swelling on our Hundredweight and Mars pumpkins   but no sign of female flowers on the Jack Be Littles and Sweet Dumplings .....is this because the final fruit size is small so they dont need any early start? Do they get going later?

Whats happening on other allotments and gardens? How are yours doing?

[Annen]

I've got lots on my Jack-be-littles and one or two on the sweet dumplings, one bigger one and a couple more coming on.  But one of the Jack-be-littles didn't do anything until well after the others and has only just made some female flowers.  I wondered if it could have been because it was so dry for so long.  You were probably the same as us in Newcastle, hardly any rain since May.

[polly nator]

Yes we have been dry all summer but I did water almost daily. Will keep fingers crossed then. How many Jack B Ls are you allowing per plant? Not tried them before but 6 yr old grandson wanted to grow some.  Mine are very very variable in the way the actual plants are growing. I have four plants - you wouldnt think some were related!

[Annen]

I haven't counted the jbls they are all planted in the same bed and are all over the place and mixed up with butternuts and others. There are at least 10 and I have picked 6 as they had gone orange and looked ready. I just randomly nip off a leader when I come across one.  The sweet dumpling are far more restrained and so far there is only one squash per plant, although one is making a bid for the cucumber bed.  I have noticed that some have tendrils as if they wanted to climb and some don't.