pumpkins grown in singapore

visited this farm featured in seenthisscenethat's blog. the farm - kin yan agrotech - located at 220 neo tiew crescent is not at the road level; that may explain why i have missed it all this time that i have been touring the kranji area. the farm is open every day of the week, from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

after viewing the wheat grass and the different types of mushrooms in the special enclosure, i went to look at the plants that were outside. the aloe vera did not really interest me because i had seen similar ones at kok fah. the mexican cactus was also not something i was seeing for the first time. on seeing the pumpkin vine on the ground, that perked me up.

the pumpkin plant has male and female flowers. the second picture shows a male flower and the one below it shows a female flower. the female flower can be identified by the bulge at its base.

these days, with fewer bees and other pollinators around, humans can play a supporting role. when the birds and the bees do not do it, then man must come in and play his part. to hand pollinate, pick a male flower, remove its petals and then dab the pollens on the stigma of the female flower. the pollens have to be mature. you can tell if the pollens are mature when they readily come off the stamen and onto your finger.

i talked to one of the helpers on another farm and he was telling me that this has been the way - hand pollination - when they were growing pumpkins in the 70s.