Where are the pumpkins? (flowers, growing, fertilizing, vines)

[mitopcat]

So, I planted a package of pumpkins earlier this year. Most of them survived the weather but we had to transplant most of them. So right now, only one is thriving. It has tons of male flowers (big orange-ish flowers with long thin stems). The females are a little harder to find but they are there, however. They seem to die as soon as I see them, even before they open.
unless females open up for a few minutes in the day. Is there something I can do that will help them open up or a specific time they open up at? Should I trim it down any?

[Ellwood]

Grandkids cultivated and planted a pumpkin garden; lots and lots of yellow flowers, but no pumpkins. Now vines are just drying up and dying. We water every day for 20 minutes, garden was in full sun.

Can anyone tell us what we did wrong and what we can do next year to improve our chances of getting pumpkins?

[Inthesierras]

I have been *told* by other gardeners that sometimes over fertilizing pumpkins, squash, and gourds can lead to no fruit, even though the vines have flowered. They said that too much nitrogen will cause that. I have read about that affecting other veggies, but have never had a problem myself.

[Opyelie]

Originally Posted by mitopcat

So, I planted a package of pumpkins earlier this year. Most of them survived the weather but we had to transplant most of them. So right now, only one is thriving. It has tons of male flowers (big orange-ish flowers with long thin stems). The females are a little harder to find but they are there, however. They seem to die as soon as I see them, even before they open.
unless females open up for a few minutes in the day. Is there something I can do that will help them open up or a specific time they open up at? Should I trim it down any?

Same problem here - vines growing, big yellow flowers, then they dry and fall off..........

[midwest4567]

There are male and female flowers on the same plant. The female flowers have rounded ovaries where the petals begin, the males don't. The males grow first and then the females, usually, toward the ends if the plant has the resources to grow enough. You need either insects to visit the flowers and take the pollen from the male to the female flowers or do it yourself with something like a small paintbrush.
Hand-Pollinating Pumpkin Plants

[Opyelie]

Well the issue is.....I don't seem to be getting any female flowers but I'll go out and take a closer look

eta: okay, I found a bunch of female flowers - now all I have to do is wait and check a lot to see if I get male & female flowers blooming at the same time so I can hand pollinate them - sigh LOL

This site was very helpful - showed me what to look for - http://chiotsrun.com/2008/07/14/pollinating-squash/

[South Range Family]

Fertilizer is the problem. Nitrogen makes the plant grow. It then needs potassium to set the fruit.

I grew giant pumpkins with Miller's solugro 12-48-8 Potassium is the last number.

[phonelady61]

The problem is that it has been too hot and it has to go below 75 at night to get sufficient pumpkins . which it has not been here in Ohio at all . I feel for everyone and even my tomatoes did not do anything I got two tomatoes off of 6 plants Sad , really sad I know . this season has just been too hot .