[Ghdp]

I bought three plants (type unknown from a plant sale) early in the summer and planted two outside and one in a poly tunnel. They only ever produced male flowers. The books told me to be patient and female flowers would follow. Well not so far!
What should I have done differently?

[clydesdaleclopper]

moved to a country with some sunshine 

[Ghdp]

Ha!

[Quirkygirl]

Mine didn't take at all and the slugs didn't help.. But my watermelons have worked

[Caroline1]

Can't help as didn't grow pumpkins, but my party pan squashes have gone nuts.

[Mad Goatwoman of Madeley]

I've only had males flowers on my squashes and courgettes this year.

[Ghdp]

Not just me then. Party Pan squashes are untried territory. Recomended?

[Fleecewife]

Not just me then. Party Pan squashes are untried territory. Recomended?

Think that's 'Patty Pan', but Party Pan sounds much more interesting.  I found them more difficult to grow than Pumpkins and Squash.

It's difficult to know just why your pumpkins didn't work without more details.  My squash have worked fine for setting, scrawny plants though.  They are inside the polytunnel, and were hand pollinated initially.  Of course you can only do that if you have female as well as male flowers.  I think male flowers tend to be produced when it's a bit cooler, so they'll be ready to pollinate the females when they appear a few days later when it warms up.  Where I live I have little success with outdoor cucurbits of any kind - too cold and windy.
Maybe next year try a different variety, with smaller fruit and a shorter growing time?

[Caroline1]

Not just me then. Party Pan squashes are untried territory. Recomended?

Curse that autocorrect. I hadn't spotted the change, Patty Pans 

I have grown the Patty Pans, Butternut Squash and courgettes this year, all have done really well, sounds like I have been lucky

[clydesdaleclopper]

I have grown the Patty Pans, Butternut Squash and courgettes this year, all have done really well, sounds like I have been lucky

That's because you live in the tropics 

[Ghdp]

(I for one will be growing Party Pans nexy year)
Is there any chance anything might yet set on my plant in the Poly tunnel or should i clear it out!

[Ghdp]

That of course is 'next' year. Why are  keyboards so  small and fingers so big!!!

[Caroline1]

 Wouldn't class it as the tropics but probably a bit warmer than your end of the country 

The joy of typing

[Ghdp]

Hey! My pumpkins appear to be butternut squash and I now have about 4 set squashes! After weeks of dismay I feel disproportionately chuffed!

[cloddopper]

That's good  Ghdp,

If you can get the vines up on some light netting so they are off the ground it pays dividends, as the cold ground slows then down a lot .  They will need lots of sun as well , I've often had to snip the odd leaf off to  give them it .
They'll also benefit from a quality liquid feed.
 
If the frosts hold off ,  by the middle of next month you'll like as not have plenty rock solid ones that will store in a cool out of strong light place for several months . we ate out last one from the 2014 crop[ at the end of march 2015

They make a brill chicken stock based soup .