| We are growing a pumpkin vine for the first time and it is very large. The question is, how do you get the flowers to turn into pumpkins? |
| As long as your plant is vigorously growing, it will produce pumpkins all by itself. Your vine will develop male blossoms and female blossoms. As insects travel from flower to flower they will pick up and deliver pollen (transferring it from male to female blooms). Once that happens, the female blooms will produce a pumpkin. You can tell which blossoms are which by looking at them closely. The male blossoms will have a straight, narrow stem behind the petals that attaches the the vine. The female flowers will have a slight swelling (a potential pumpkin) directly behind the petals on the stem that attaches to the vine. As soon as each vine begins to develop two pumpkins you can pinch out the growing tip of that vine, to help direct the plant's energy into producing pumpkins instead of growing additional vine. Wait and watch, your vines will eventually produce fruit! |
