Perth Dupont Community Garden
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You are on the [Pumpkins] page of folder [Plants We Grow]
For the cover page of this folder go to the 
Pumpkins
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We grew these large pumpkins in our garden in 2009.
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Pumpkin: These plants produce both a male and female flower.
Bees play a significant role in their fertilization.
Pumpkins have historically been pollinated by the native squash bee Peponapis pruinosa , but this bee has declined, probably due to pesticide sensitivity, and today most commercial plantings are pollinated by honey bees. If there are inadequate bees for pollination, gardeners often have to hand polinate.
Inadequately pollinated pumpkins usually start growing but abort before full development. Perhaps this is why the squash plants like these pumpkins are considered “promiscuous” .... there is no grantee that that you will get the same large pumpkins. But, they are an asset to any garden if you have the space. And the hope is help the squash bee.
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The picture on the right shows a female squash blossom - you can see the bulge below the flower that will become the squash.
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The picture on the left shows a male blossom, it just has a stem.
Content last modified on February 16, 2010, at 09:09 AM EST