Big blossom = big Pumpkin ?

Tomstrees · June 18, 2009

hello everyone -

I have 1 giant pumpkin plant and its set one of the biggest blossoms I've ever seen (has to be over 8inchs long) - question:

does a big blossom mean a big pumpkin?

If its been pollinated, I was going to nip all the other blossoms and keep just this big one to see how big I could get the thing >>>

~ Tom

Amigatec · June 18, 2009

Not necessarily, the genetics plays big part. How many lobes and where is at on the vine, main or secondary? Also do you know the male and female of this seed?

Tomstrees · June 19, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amigatec

Not necessarily, the genetics plays big part. How many lobes and where is at on the vine, main or secondary? Also do you know the male and female of this seed?

the flower is located about 1-2ft from where the stem has emerged from the soil - did not count the lobes on the flower - but its really big & wide - the stamin is like 1/2 inch thick and 1.5inches tall

I do not know the diff. between male/female flowers - but I totally understand why the genetics would have a huge part in it

There was a bee pollinating it this AM

~ Tom

Amigatec · June 19, 2009

The 2008 data has found that if you wait until 12' to 17' on the main you will have a better chance of a bigger fruit.

Also to tell the difference between a male and female flower go to the thread about Giant Pumpkins, I have posted pictures there.

Tomstrees · June 23, 2009

flower has 5 lobes on it

Amigatec · June 23, 2009

It is believed that the more lobes the bigger the fruit, because it holds more seeds. But I don't think there is any data to support that. Most flowers are 4or 5 lobe, there are some that are 6 lobe.

Worth1 · June 23, 2009

Tom I’m going to go out on a limb here and say this, the blossom of a plant is only what you might call the climax of a plant.
Well maybe not but you did say you didn’t know the difference between a male blossom and a female blossom.
The male only has a flower and a long stem, now the length of this stem or the size of the flower plays no part in the making of the baby pumpkin.
As a matter of fact the female blossom could care less how big or long the flower is as long as she/it gets pollinated.
The female blossom has a small fruit at the base of the flower followed by a shorter stubbier stem.
Thusly you can tell the difference between a male and a female blossom.
Unlike us the blossoms of the female or the male pumpkin do nothing for each other as they have no eyes but bees have eyes and they could care less whether it is male or female.
They will just buzz along going from one to the next spreading pollen to the female.
You will be able to tell if the female pumpkin blossom is pollinated as the small fruit will begin to swell and the flower will stay on longer.
If all goes well and the baby pumpkin grows up to be a big pumpkin you will be able to harvest it in the fall.
You can then hollow it out put on some wheels, turn two mice into beautiful white stallions and go for a ride with the wife and new baby.

Worth

Tomstrees · June 23, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

Tom I’m going to go out on a limb here and say this, the blossom of a plant is only what you might call the climax of a plant.
Well maybe not but you did say you didn’t know the difference between a male blossom and a female blossom.
The male only has a flower and a long stem, now the length of this stem or the size of the flower plays no part in the making of the baby pumpkin.
As a matter of fact the female blossom could care less how big or long the flower is as long as she/it gets pollinated.
The female blossom has a small fruit at the base of the flower followed by a shorter stubbier stem.
Thusly you can tell the difference between a male and a female blossom.
Unlike us the blossoms of the female or the male pumpkin do nothing for each other as they have no eyes but bees have eyes and they could care less whether it is male or female.
They will just buzz along going from one to the next spreading pollen to the female.
You will be able to tell if the female pumpkin blossom is pollinated as the small fruit will begin to swell and the flower will stay on longer.
If all goes well and the baby pumpkin grows up to be a big pumpkin you will be able to harvest it in the fall.
You can then hollow it out put on some wheels, turn two mice into beautiful white stallions and go for a ride with the wife and new baby.

Worth

glad to see you back to your old self Worth !

I was worried about you crying about the weather and how small / unproductive your tomatoes are, lol

Good to see you back on track sharing your pumpkin knowledge

I'ma take a lookie outside and see who's who with them there flowers

~ Tom

Tomstrees · June 23, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amigatec

It is believed that the more lobes the bigger the fruit, because it holds more seeds. But I don't think there is any data to support that. Most flowers are 4or 5 lobe, there are some that are 6 lobe.

Amigatec -

I thought there may have been a correlation between slender blossoms and heart shaped tomatoes that turned out to be untrue

thanks for your help !

~ Tom

bohica · July 14, 2009

The size of the blossom is not representitive of how big the fruit will become, nor do more lobes mean biggeer fruit. Giant Pumpkin growers try to keep fruit with 4 or more lobes, I have been given various reasons why, but if we had to make a choice between a 3 lober and no pumpkin....I can bet you that you would see alot of 3 lobe pumpkins out there...lol

June 18, 2009	#1
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	Big blossom = big Pumpkin ? hello everyone - I have 1 giant pumpkin plant and its set one of the biggest blossoms I've ever seen (has to be over 8inchs long) - question: does a big blossom mean a big pumpkin? If its been pollinated, I was going to nip all the other blossoms and keep just this big one to see how big I could get the thing >>> ~ Tom __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

June 23, 2009	#5
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	flower has 5 lobes on it __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

June 18, 2009	#2
Amigatec Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 208	Not necessarily, the genetics plays big part. How many lobes and where is at on the vine, main or secondary? Also do you know the male and female of this seed?

June 19, 2009	#4
Amigatec Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 208	The 2008 data has found that if you wait until 12' to 17' on the main you will have a better chance of a bigger fruit. Also to tell the difference between a male and female flower go to the thread about Giant Pumpkins, I have posted pictures there.

June 23, 2009	#7
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Tom I’m going to go out on a limb here and say this, the blossom of a plant is only what you might call the climax of a plant. Well maybe not but you did say you didn’t know the difference between a male blossom and a female blossom. The male only has a flower and a long stem, now the length of this stem or the size of the flower plays no part in the making of the baby pumpkin. As a matter of fact the female blossom could care less how big or long the flower is as long as she/it gets pollinated. The female blossom has a small fruit at the base of the flower followed by a shorter stubbier stem. Thusly you can tell the difference between a male and a female blossom. Unlike us the blossoms of the female or the male pumpkin do nothing for each other as they have no eyes but bees have eyes and they could care less whether it is male or female. They will just buzz along going from one to the next spreading pollen to the female. You will be able to tell if the female pumpkin blossom is pollinated as the small fruit will begin to swell and the flower will stay on longer. If all goes well and the baby pumpkin grows up to be a big pumpkin you will be able to harvest it in the fall. You can then hollow it out put on some wheels, turn two mice into beautiful white stallions and go for a ride with the wife and new baby. Worth

July 14, 2009	#10
bohica Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: NY Posts: 113	The size of the blossom is not representitive of how big the fruit will become, nor do more lobes mean biggeer fruit. Giant Pumpkin growers try to keep fruit with 4 or more lobes, I have been given various reasons why, but if we had to make a choice between a 3 lober and no pumpkin....I can bet you that you would see alot of 3 lobe pumpkins out there...lol