Sausage Fest in the Pumpkin Plant?

I think you have frightened all the gardeners away with the mention of sausage.

I guess your plant is putting all it's effort into making sure the seeds that have already set make it to maturity rather than messing about trying to start new lots. Like you don't let your rose bush make rose hips otherwise it thinks it's work is done and stops producing flowers.

I don't know any solution to your problem though apart from maybe taking that pumpkin off as soon as it is mature so that the plant feels childless again.

I have personally experienced a lot of gardening fail, so I wouldn't rely on my advice anyway :)

Do you live in the US ? If so what region of the US or which state? I assume you live in the states. For better answers, mention your state and what part of the state you reside, be it E, W, S, N, central, NE, SW etc etc. Growing season varies depending on your region and which part of the state you live in. Being its nearly the 1st of Sept it may be too late.

<Is it on the right track to be ready by October, or will it be ready before that?.> Sounds like it will be ready before Halloween; but that is ok; it will keep.

< pumpkin fall off on its own once done growing> not unless the stem dries up or rots off.

When the pumpkin is ready to harvest, use a sharp knife or kitchen shears to cut the stem from the vine. Leave about 4 - 6 inches . If the stem breaks off, the pumpkin won't keep.

When the pumpkin is bright orange, you may notice the vine shrinking away & the stem starting to dry up. To test whether the pumpkin is ready use the thumbnail test. (press nail into pumpkin & if it doesn't make a dent it's hard) . You can also tap lightly on the pumpkin; it should sound hollow.

I think the main reason you only have 1 pumpkin is due to lack of bees. You need bees to pollinate. Bees pollinate the majority of our crops. The decline in bees the last 10 yrs is alarming if not frightening. I think the US lost 40% of the domestic honeybee colonies last yr. Wild bees are becoming extinct, bumble bees are dying off too.

You know the difference between a female & male blossom. Good :) The female blossom only opens for 1 day. Depending on the weather the female blossom may only be open for a couple hours. If not pollinated, the blossom falls off. If there are not bees or other insects to transfer the pollen from the male blossom to the female flower, you can try hand pollinating. When you see a female blossom open up, take a q-tip or a small artist paint brush & transfer the pollen from the male flower to the center of the female blossom.

You should also pinch off the fuzzy parts from the ends of each vine to stop vine growth after a few pumpkins form (or in your case 1). You want the plants energy going into the fruit not making more vines.

This all may be a mute point depending on how long the growing season is in your area. When do you get your first frost in your area ? Where I live, it would be too late. Last yr, the growing season was over shortly after Labor Day. After pollination & under ideal growing conditions you still need another 6- 8 weeks. Not knowing the variety it may take even longer. Frost will kill the vines. As long as its not a killing frost, the pumpkin will be safe where its at. Even if it is partially green you can still use it for Halloween. Just don't take it too many days before the holiday, otherwise it may rot.

You can contact your local county extension office & ask. They are a wealth of info.

Next year plant some brightly colored flowers next to the pumpkins to attract bees.

Good Luck :)

A very quick search came up with a few links you may find helpful.

http://www.almanac.com/plant/pumpkins

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/pumpkin-fruit-appear-...

http://www.allaboutpumpkins.com/growing.html

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Update

Looks like you're fine. Normal frost dates are usually mid to late Oct into Nov. If you live in the SE part of the state even better. Just throw a blanket or a couple rugs over the patch if they forecast frost. From my experience it usually warms up the next day. A light frost will not hurt ripe pumpkins but will kill the vines & damage an immature pumpkin. Even if you have a killing frost, you can still cover with a couple old quilts or an old sleeping bag at night which will protect the pumpkins & hopefully the vines too. Take the covers off in the morning.

You could set a pot of flowers next to the patch or in the patch. Marigolds will help keep the bad bugs away as well as attracting bees.

If you ever have a gardening issue, just call your local extension office. If they don't have the answer, one of their master gardeners will be more than happy to help. Give them your email & you'll get lots of help from the master gardeners in your area and you may make a new friend.

Find your local University of TN extension county office here

https://extension.tennessee.edu/Pages/Office-Locat...