Pumpkins
Pumpkins close the season in the late-summer fields. Each vine carries separate male and female flowers that open for a single morning, then close for good — so pollination is a race against the clock, and a few strong colonies in the right place make the difference between a set fruit and a missed one.
Set to the field, not a chart.
| Planting & row spacing | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Standard plantingsnative squash bees present | ~1colonies / acre |
| Few native beeslarge or isolated fields | 2–3colonies / acre |
Pumpkin and squash flowers open for just one morning, so timing and morning foraging matter. About one colony per acre is typical where native squash bees are present, stepping up to two or three in larger or isolated fields with few wild pollinators. Strong colonies that forage early give the brief female flowers their best chance to set.
Strong colonies, in the right place, on time.
- Working the morning bloomPumpkin flowers open and close in a single morning — colonies are placed for early, active foraging.
- More bees where wild ones are scarceIn large or isolated fields with few squash bees, we raise the rate to keep set even.
- Distributed through the fieldColonies are grouped across the planting so every female flower is within easy reach.
- Health tracked through the jobStrength and mite pressure are monitored before and during.
If you want to go deeper.
Independent university-extension and research sources on pumpkins pollination — useful background as we plan your season together.
These figures are general industry recommendations, not a fixed price or a promise of a specific colony count. Final stocking is set per field with you, based on acreage, planting density, variety and bloom conditions. External links open third-party sites we don't control.
Planning pumpkins for the coming season?
Tell us your acreage and bloom window and we'll talk through colony numbers, timing and placement.