Volunteer Leaves Safe

HeatherKellyB said:

It's been blooming for at least 2 weeks now, probably more. I am seeing more and more females sprout but still none blooming. I'll look into getting some calcium added to the soil. I'm guessing this isn't just the typical fertilizer? Thank you so much for this information. I apologize that I missed it for so long. The ducks aren't able to reach any more of the leaves now, which they're not happy about. My free ranging roosters don't bother the plant at all. I'm also seeing some volunteer corn stalks shoot up

Thank you both for all of your time and input. I really appreciate it

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Usually if it's advertised as a tomato feed/fertilizer it has calcium or a "rot stop" works. I like Bloom City "Cal-Mag" and Bonide "Rot-Stop".

Have you ever gave the birds pumpkins?
This plant looks similar to my pumpkins. Different varieties will have minor differences in the leaves. You still need female flowers but they do take a while to start. More than 2 plants per hill is usually recommended to increase chances of fruit on anything in the squash/melon family. (summer squash, zucchini, cantaloupe, watermelon, etc)

Pumpkins

You want to know how confused I get whenever this thread comes up?
"A volunteer for what?" Why would they leave a safe? Who would trust guarding of a safe to a volunteer?!"

NanaK said:

Have you ever gave the birds pumpkins?
This plant looks similar to my pumpkins. Different varieties will have minor differences in the leaves. You still need female flowers but they do take a while to start. More than 2 plants per hill is usually recommended to increase chances of fruit on anything in the squash/melon family. (summer squash, zucchini, cantaloupe, watermelon, etc)

Pumpkins
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I have been starting to think a similar thing. It reminds me of winter squashes.

I thought about winter squash too. They are more rambling like pumpkins. Summer squash are more bushy.

NanaK said:

Have you ever gave the birds pumpkins?
This plant looks similar to my pumpkins. Different varieties will have minor differences in the leaves. You still need female flowers but they do take a while to start. More than 2 plants per hill is usually recommended to increase chances of fruit on anything in the squash/melon family. (summer squash, zucchini, cantaloupe, watermelon, etc)

Pumpkins
View attachment 3185081


View attachment 3185082

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They did get pumpkin guts from my daughter's pumpkin carving. Hmmm! Interesting. I think this thing grows almost a foot each night! It's huge! I see more and more female sprouts but none of them are blooming.

And it's most definitely running out not at all bushy. I could probably walk over it and avoid the prickly stems but I usually walk around because I'd love to get something from it, other than leaves. It has a lot of those really tight and thin spirals stemming from it, but that's with many squash plants, right? I completely forgot about those pumpkin guts! Good catch!

HeatherKellyB said:

And it's most definitely running out not at all bushy. I could probably walk over it and avoid the prickly stems but I usually walk around because I'd love to get something from it, other than leaves. It has a lot of those really tight and thin spirals stemming from it, but that's with many squash plants, right? I completely forgot about those pumpkin guts! Good catch!

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Yes, all the melons have tendrils to reach out and grab anything they can. I grow zinnias and sunflowers in that bed and the crawl all across them.
Check out this article I found with a quick search has good pics of male and female flowers. It is from New Zealand so their seasons are different.

https://giantpumpkins.co.nz/dont-worry-if-you-only-have-a-male-giant-pumpkin-flower/

It could also be a winter squash if you think that's possible but growing them is about the same. I just thought pumpkins because lots of people give their birds pumpkins. I grow a small patch for mine. They love them!
Hope this helps!

NanaK said:

Yes, all the melons have tendrils to reach out and grab anything they can. I grow zinnias and sunflowers in that bed and the crawl all across them.
Check out this article I found with a quick search has good pics of male and female flowers. It is from New Zealand so their seasons are different.

https://giantpumpkins.co.nz/dont-worry-if-you-only-have-a-male-giant-pumpkin-flower/

It could also be a winter squash if you think that's possible but growing them is about the same. I just thought pumpkins because lots of people give their birds pumpkins. I grow a small patch for mine. They love them!
Hope this helps!

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Are yours already starting? If so, are they huge? Tonight I was looking and it's got to be 8 or 9ft by 7ft. How on earth will it not take over everything before fall I haven't ever tried to grow winter squash of any kind, so this is all new to me. The big yellow flowers are really pretty though

HeatherKellyB said:

Are yours already starting? If so, are they huge? Tonight I was looking and it's got to be 8 or 9ft by 7ft. How on earth will it not take over everything before fall I haven't ever tried to grow winter squash of any kind, so this is all new to me. The big yellow flowers are really pretty though

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Yes they get really long vines. My pumpkins were planted by early May so as you see in the picture they are making pumpkins now. I planted a small sugar pie pumpkin so they fruit a bit sooner than a large jack o lantern type. Maybe it will set fruit soon. If you ever decide to plant some always put 2-3 in together. I will often set 6-7 seed in a spot and thin out if I need too. Then stand back they grow like crazy. The duck water/poop is probably helping them grow!
Bees love the pretty yellow flowers too!
I get odd volunteers most years. I move a lot of compost around from the chickens so plant seeds all over plus just come up around their pen. I noticed recently I have a cherry tomato growing in a flower bed in my front yard among some lantana and vinca. Never know what I'll find!