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Jasper, Indiana

The past couple of days I noticed my daily gains are starting to drop. I have been using TKO and 0-0-25 regularly. I have also been watering regularly. Yesterday was day 31 and the pumpkin only gained 5"ott. Is there something I am missing in my fertilizer program?

It seems like the pumpkin should still be gaining at least 7" per day at this age. What can I apply to increase the growth rate?


Thanks, Karl Margarida (BuckHunter)

7/20/2011 6:53:14 AM

western PA

Too early for TKO

7/20/2011 10:35:37 AM

Middle TN

Ive been using TKO too, didnt know it was too early :(

7/20/2011 10:52:50 AM

Pataskala,OH

How much TKO did you give it?

7/20/2011 11:03:54 AM

Wi

Disclaimer: actual results may vary per soil conditions / climate.

That said in my patch it's never too early for TKO, but it's too early for 0-0-25.

7/20/2011 11:11:09 AM

Georgetown, Ontario

I use TKO every 10 days from planting onward. If you are using it to help prevent PM, starting now would be too late in my opinion. There are so many reasons why your growth would be slowing, it can't really be diagnosed here. I have used lots of seaweed fert to kick start the growth of a slowing pumpkin in Sept. I used 4 oz per gallon foliar every 3 days for a couple weeks and the growth picked up again.

7/20/2011 11:25:55 AM

Kevinstinindians@yahoo.com

I second what Chris and Shepherd said in regards to the TKO and 0-0-25, too early for the K and use the TKO as a foliar all season.

How many pounds per day are you getting? It's hot just about everywhere, maybe you need to increase the amount of water to your plants?

7/20/2011 12:27:23 PM

Jasper, Indiana

I have been averaging 26 per day but the last 2 days it has been aroung 20.

I have been using 1 ounce per gallon of water foliar sprayed.

I will try some seaweed fertilizer and increase the water per day. Does anyone use 10-10-10 at this time of year?


Thanks for the replies.

7/20/2011 12:44:36 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

I think Kevin was asking how much water are you putting to the roots for the plant, not how much you are using to administer the spray products.

7/20/2011 1:44:43 PM

Kevinstinindians@yahoo.com

Yes, 10-10-10 is a good choice at this time of year as a foliar, seaweed is great too. In the heat I like to mix seaweed with a CalCarb/CO2/Lithovit type of product, it seems to help the plants deal with the heat.

7/20/2011 4:21:11 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Too Early for TKO? I start using TKO the first week of June and spray weekly through the season.
As far as 0-0-25 is concerned, at 1 oz per gallon you are supplementing what the plant is getting from the soil, you are not juicing the plants with potassium. Plants need potassium throughout the season. The old way of thinking that potassium will immediately ripen your fruit and end your season is just that...old way of thinking. This is a light application. If Potassium wasn't needed until the ripening stage, it wouldn’t be part of every basic fertilizer out there...lol...N-P-K, don’t get me wrong, I don’t think that you should be pouring gallons of Potassium on your plants. That said, if your fruit is 10 days old, I wouldn’t apply it, if you have steady gains, the plant is using up valuable resources in the soil and can benefit from supplemental foliar applications.
CO2 will absolutely help with heat stress:
The Calcium strengthens the cell wall, making it more durable in harsh conditions, especially drought. Plants that use CalCarb recieve carbon dioxide via the intercellular space, the stomata of the leaves no longer have to remain open trying to fixate it atmospherically. The stomata can now remain closed, significantly lowering transpiration and effectively increasing plant water retention by up to 75%.
In Laymans terms, the stoma, or pores on the leaf surface can remain closed resulting in less evaporation of water and less stress on the plants

7/20/2011 11:03:32 PM

Jasper, Indiana

Thanks everyone....Last night I applied Seaweed fertilizer and Extreme Blend. This weekend I will apply some 10-10-10.

Hopefully this will increase the growth rate. I understand the risk of splitting but reaching my goals means more than a slow growing pumpkin.

Good luck to all....Karl Margarida(BuckHunter)

7/21/2011 5:23:21 AM

western PA

sorry for the missinformation, i ment too early for the 0-0-25

7/22/2011 1:17:11 PM

Middle TN

Karl Im running into the same problem you've decribed here. Im using TKO, Calmagmax and CO2 regularly but my gains have dropped significantly this week. Did the 10-10-10 help you?
Tammy

7/26/2011 11:54:51 AM