????Pumpkin blooming????

[leelanauferg]

This is my first try at starting pumpkins inside, and I'm not trying to grow the biggest, most or prettiest. I'll just be happy if I get some this time (last year was a flop-2 fruits, each was half green). I started some Connecticut Fields inside about a month ago, and now I have a bloom and 3 buds! Is this normal?!? I plan to set them out this weekend. You all seem to be pumpkin experts so I hope you can set my mind at ease!

[jeanette]

well i'm no expert, but i'd say plant that bad boy... they do flower.. but i think you need to get him in the ground.. i think you plant it with the first 'true leaf' pointing in the direction you want the plant to grow.. is that right guys???

[Compost Pharmer]

At least you had a couple of punkins. Last year I had vines about 15 feet long and no blossoms. Think it was to hot and dry, even though I gave each vine 1 gallon of water each day. This year will be different. The punkins will be out of the sun from 12:00 noon on.

[Pharmer Phil]

Your pumpkins need to be planted. They do not like to be root bound, and unless you have them in a very big pot, they are.
In my experience, they will not benefit from the blooms they have now, at all. Usually, pumpkins, squash, etc. set male flowers for awhile prior to female flowers. I would pick off the blooms when I set them out, this way the plant will put it's energy into root production first. The blooms will die off anyway, and I doubt any are female. You will still have a crop, there is plenty of time.
The amount of light they are getting can make them flower, they are affected by Photoperiodism, the length of daylight, shortened periods of sunlight will cause premature flowering

[leelanauferg]

Thanks everybody. I was so disappointed last year that I started them too late that I guess I started them too early this year!!! I'm planting them this weekend. I hope I have better luck this year!