Irvine Nature Center

Pumpkin Parents

October 6 | By Guest Writer Intern Madeline Mahon

Through all the hype about pumpkin carving, pumpkin pie, PumpkinFest and pumpkin patches, it seems the origin of a pumpkin plant is forgotten. Pumpkin flowers, which are how pumpkins come to grow, are flowers that are both beautiful and fascinating.

These flowers typically appear in July, and determine whether or not you will be growing pumpkins for the fall season.

Pumpkin flowers grow on the vines of pumpkin plants and have distinguished male and female flowers.

The males tend to bloom first and in abundance.

The females do not bloom as soon as the males, resulting in some pumpkin growers being concerned that they will not grow pumpkins. However, females (pictured above) will bloom shortly after and make harvesters well on their way to a lovely autumn pumpkin patch!

Female flowers have a small fruit attached to the bottom of the bloom. When pollinated, the flower will fall off, leaving the bulb to grow into a pumpkin. Male flowers have just a stem where the females have the bulb.

If hoping to get a good batch of pumpkins in for next fall, it is necessary to plant seeds in your garden between May and June. Make sure to plant them in plenty of sun, give them water, and watch them flower and grow into beautiful orange pumpkins!