i would try the old flower first. my AG,s are only 4 feet long but lots of males and already 1 female. i wonder if opening a male, if it would be fully developed.

i have also tied the male flower shut umtil i had a female, but it wasnt on a ag.

I grabbed what I could of the remains of the male, and mushed it around inside the female, then I was away for 2 days without internet. I guess another week will tell if it got pollinated or not. It looks like it will be no big difference either way, as I have another female flowering now, and 2 or 3 more on the way. Males seem to be slightly outnumbering the females, maybe 1.5:1. Last year with the other brand, females were rare.

I'm thinking that if nourishment only flows upstream in pumpkins, I probably don't want to try for one on the mainstem so near to the base root anyhow. Something further away from the main roots should do much better, especially since I'm burying my whole main vine.

thanks,
-JJ

Need more phosphours in the soil????
Have your soil tested.
Take 10 samples from all around where the pumpkin is growing about 6 inches deep and mix them all together and have it tested.
This may help you next year with blossoms.

Competitive growers pick the flowers as they bloom and refrigerate them until a female is around, some people even freeze the pollen. Obviously the fresher the better.