For the first couple of years after we moved here, we had a small pumpkin patch that would yield a few nice pumpkins for fall decorating. My hubby added some gourds the next year that did really well also. For the next few years, he planted seeds that did not yield one single pumpkin.

He has talked to every extension office, etc but no one has any answer for this, or ever heard of this for that matter!! He has tried all different seed, done the hand pollination thing but to no avail.

The pumpkin patch itself is the most lush looking thing you have ever seen with leaves that are huge, and hundreds of blossoms that never set one pumpkin. He tills in oak leaves each fall, and most of the rest of the plants do well. We would like to solve this problem ,if for no other reason, than to find out what is wrong.

Hi Karen,

I am starting my very first pumpkin patch this year; so unfortunately, I don't have any real knowledge to pass along. However, I was browsing today and came across this article. Perhaps, you will find some good information in it and/or contact them for additional information. We are growing the sugar pumpkins and this article states to remove the first 2 female flowers on each vine? I don't know if this forces more female flowers than males or visa-versa, but that one of the helpful tips.

Please, let me know if you get any definite answers to your question. What a shame to have all that growth and no yield. Hopefully, this year will be a bumper crop for you!

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Karen, that is very puzzling... with your description of the huge leaves, I wonder if too much nitrogen might be coming into play somehow? Are you seeing female flowers, or just all male flowers? Do you grow other cucurbits, like zucchini, successfully? It seems like quite a mystery, I hope someone has an answer for you!

It's been established with an extension office that it's not too much nitrogen. Gourds grow like crazy, cukes, etc. He has even done the pollinating himself, and we have both sexes of
flowers. We have even contacted several pumpkin growers around here, and no one has a clue. It really is a huge mystery. Oak leaves are tilled in each fall, so go figure. The funny thing is that for the first few years we had pumpkins, and then nothing!!

Definitely a mystery! Could you try growing the pumpkins in a totally different area the next time and see if that makes a difference? Really frustrating to having things like that happen for no apparent reason...

We've done that too. Just seems to be no plausible answer!!

How very odd!

I don't grow pumpkins but do grow summer squash and sure would be frustrated with no fruit to show for my efforts.

Especially considering the amount of room they take in the garden...

It really is strange, especially if other cucurbits grow successfully. Do the female blooms rot and fall off? or do you think something is eating them? I guess I'd do what Sandy suggested and try an entirely new spot if you have one. It's sure a mystery.

The blooms just fall off as they normally would, and there is no shortage of flowers either.
The patch has been moved to no avail. No shortage of bees either!!

So when the female blooms fall off, do the tiny little pumpkins fall off as well?