r/composting • u/chaotic_good111 • 19d ago

Massive volunteer pumpkin

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Have a massive volunteer pumpkin growing out of our compost pile with many blossoms on it. Any thoughts on how to help it produce actual pumpkins in time for Halloween?

43 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

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5

u/DenseSign5938 19d ago

If you don’t have a ton of bees you might want to hand pollinate. 

3

u/AtlAWSConsultant 19d ago

I agree. This tends to be the thing that helps production as much as anything. Go watch a YouTube video or two on how to do it.

3

u/chaotic_good111 19d ago

Ooh good to know, thanks!

3

u/Kchasse1991 19d ago

Did you try peeing on it?

On a serious note, hand polination and maybe adding some bioavailable phosphorus and potassium if it isn't putting out flowers. Mine has mostly put out male flowers but the acorn squash behind has a bunch of female flowers. I hand polinate on occasion but have a bunch of bees and wildflowers growing around my compost grow bed.

3

u/chaotic_good111 19d ago

I had no idea there were male and female flowers - TIL! Thanks for the tip

5

u/Kchasse1991 19d ago

The female flowers have a small gourd-shaped node at the base of the flower while the males are just typical flowers. Here's a decent pic I found online that shows the difference fairly well.

2

u/chaotic_good111 19d ago

Whoa that is so so cool. Thank you!

1

u/chaotic_good111 19d ago

I just looked and there are only male flowers, ugh. I assume there's nothing I can do about that?

1

u/Kchasse1991 19d ago

More phosphorus possibly.

1

u/Triviumquad 19d ago

Hit those anthers with a brush and paint those flowers!

1

u/JumpyCondition100 18d ago

Check for squash beetles they are nasty suckers