Your comments and tips

30 Jun 09, Linda C (Australia - tropical climate)

Hi, just built a house on a new block, and itching to start my vegi patch! Planning on doing some soil improvement by digging in dirt from the saleyards (manure and hay mix, aged) and wanting to get some pumpkins in the ground. Would I be able to plant some seeds now in egg cartons, and when my garden patch is ready transplant the whole thing in the ground? Just curious. Thanks.

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13 Jun 09, Martha May (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

To Tony Bray..Pardon my tariness, had a beak away. Thanks very much for the pumpkin seeds Tony. Can't wait for September to get them started. To the group.... The garden is looking a bit bedraggled at the moment. Having a war with the possums. Tried napthalene, chilli, pepper. I know that a light on will deter them somewhat..even left a plate of fruit away from the garden beds. They ate that and came for dessert. The light is good but alas the chooks are near the veggie beds and when the light goes on the girls dash out of the coop thinking it is day light. So no lights. I can see more drastic measures coming up. Relocation... but even that is fraught with problems. If I get rid of them .... they invade someone elses garden .. So group any better ideas or am I doomed to go back to the greengrocer? Thanks MM

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09 Jun 09, Watering (Australia - temperate climate)

I have the yellow and green outside the pumkins so not sure what they are called. How do you know when to pick them. I was told when the Vine goes woody. However I have been looking and they are still very green. It was a self sown plant. I cut one about a month ago and the seeds werent fully developed but it was half looking like being ripe. Really not sure what to look for to make sure it is ripe. Thankyou kindly and would love the help

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04 Jun 09, Elle Allardice (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Dear Ray Selby, I have just accessed your reply to me about Iron Bark pumpkins! Thank you. How can I contact you. I would simply love some seeds, and even a pumpkin or two! I live on the Sunshine Coast at Buderim, Ph 07 54452729

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03 Jun 09, Tania (Australia - temperate climate)

How do you tell the difference between male and female flowers?

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17 May 09, Lindsay Langley (Australia - temperate climate)

Hi, I have a very healthy Jap pumpkin vine, that seeded itself in the compost heap. I have one pumpkin on it, and would love more. I have tried fertilising the female flowers with the males but they still rot and fall off. Any other ideas please.

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06 May 09, Mason Batley (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

I'm currently living in Finland and I've managed to grow 2 pumpkins in plastic party cups which are currently about 15cm and I'm going to plant the in the forrest, somewhere suitable to hopefully produce pumpkins in this cool climate which gets down around the -15 mark in winter but in summer it can get in the 20-30 mark so we will see how they go. I'm experimenting at the moment by putting cups with newly planted seeds into our sauna which is around 30c most of the time because of the infloor heating and it's a well insulated room and then I could bring the seedlings out when they rise above the soil. Will see how it goes! :)

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05 May 09, tony bray (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

For Robert B of Sydney West,17 April, dette-19April andMichael Stapleton 4 May. Forget about growing Jap Pumpkins. They are rubbish, far too soft to make good roasting pumpkin.. About growing pumpkins - plant your seed in September/October, male flowers will appear then in second week January the females will start. If fruit does not develop and turns yellow and dies that means the female has not been pollinated by the male, due to absence of bees. You will have to do it by hand. Determine how many fruit you want and then remove any female flowers that appear. I usually leave this until March. Do NOT prune the end of your vine. Feed with potash and phosphorous (liquid manure the best organic source). Note - phosphorous helps initiate the onset of female flowers The first pumpkins will be ready to pick in mid April. Place some coarse straw under the vine in January where you find a female (to prevent rot). Happy to answer any questions and provide seed of "Ironbark", the original Aussie pumpkin and still the best for colour, flavour and texture (sweet, smooth and dry - lovely) Tony 02 62310508

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15 May 12, harold reid (Australia - temperate climate)

you can buy ironbark pumpkin seeds from online suppliers .

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04 May 09, Tim (Australia - temperate climate)

Michael, the pumpkins usually turn yellow and die if the female flower had not been fertilised. You could try planting bee attracting flowers around the pumpkin plants or pollinating the female flowers by hand. Just pick one of the male flowers and rub it across any female flowers. Should help. I did this with my passion fruit due to lack of bees and now have well over 70 beautiful fruits developing.

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