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Montauk NY, USA

Hello all, I've been growing (Unsucessfully)now for 4 yrs and I have yet to get a fruit over 100lb. This year may be a good one for me. I have 2 fruits in a 600sq/ft garden. Total of 5 plants-2 of which are barren,Two atl giants and one prize winner. One of the giants is a month old and 72" (est.) in circumferance, the other is 3 weeks and 57" cir. There is also a prize winner that is approw 48" at 6 wks. They were started indoors in April.

So the vines are overgrown, too late to prune? I have placed a hard plastic sheet under the biggun a week ago, also a sun shade. the smaller giant is a control au-natural. I have cut back the tap roots on both.

Am I doin' ok for now? What should I look for? I had deer chew my biggun last year at around the same size- bummer. The year before the stem split, Bummer. I would be estatic with a #500. Please advise

7/25/2010 4:24:20 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

You need to get rid of some of those plants...More is not better. 2 plants in 600 is tight.

7/26/2010 1:23:52 PM

Western PA

Hello Skisher,

Hopefully the two fruits you have set and growing are on the AG plants. I agree with Linus if you have 5 plants jammed in there things have to be pretty tight and overlapping everywhere.

I would try to clear out some of the non ag plants to make some room for late season growth, I would try to bury the vines on the new growth as well.

It is key you start spraying a fungicide asap, if not your plants will be withered away to nothing with in the next month. There are tons of fungicides out there. you could use daconil and eagle in rotation every week. make sure when you are spraying you spray in the evening time, never spray in the heat of the day!

you also need to be using some sort of insecticide once a week as well. ex. I use ortho max and bayer T&S.
When you spray both your fungicide and insecticide make sure you spray the tops and bottoms of the leafs, if the vines are exposed i would spray those as well. Make sure you wear your PPE when sparying chemicals.

I would also fertilize once week from here out as well. remember fertilizing too much could cause more harm then good.

Also make sure where ever your two pumpkins are they have good drainage, get them out of the dirt, and on some sand.

For the critters you can put moth balls out (Don't do this if you have a dog or kids in the patch, they might eat them!)human hair, urine, dirty socks, bar soap, fake owl, talk radio, scarecrow all work well to keep the critters out.

make sure there is minimal stem stress on the pumpkins stem, this will become a problem when the pumpkins start to get bigger.

Good Luck!

7/26/2010 4:46:04 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

Nice post Pumpkin Picker.

7/26/2010 6:12:33 PM

SE Minnesota

not sure what part of New York you are located in but I would try to find a local grower and go see their patch...then apply that to your patch...or even getting someones email address and asking them questions...I know for a fact there are some fantastic growers in NY...best of luck...don't give up
Jim

7/26/2010 10:47:41 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

skisher, the one line in yer original post that has me worried is "hard plastic under the biggun" !!! Hard plastic will collect water, and cause prblms...!!! Rot starts when water collects!!! You want something under yer pkn that allows water to drain!!! Cutting tap roots near yer pkn helps, only if you put something under the main to support it!!! Styrofoam blocks work well!!! Oh, yeah 30 days after pollination w/72" circ, has you well on yer way to 500 plus!!! Grow em BIG!!! Peace, Wayne

7/28/2010 12:57:10 AM

Montauk NY, USA

OK, The larger fruit is now 89" cir. They are both AGs. I cannot seperate the plants at this time as they are intertwined. Some fungus is showing. I have a corrigated plastic under the biggun, which is at an angle to drain. I kill leaves when entering the patch so I try to stay out. I am most worried about the fungus, but an outlet for commercial quantities is not easy to find.

7/28/2010 6:33:50 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

skisher, for all yer extreme growing needs...try extremepumpkinstore.com Serious...A serious pkn head owns this store, uses the stuff he sells, good service, reasonable prices. Sounds like a commercial...sorry, Tom's a great guy w/ a lot of knowledge, and will talk w/you, if needed!!! Peace, Wayne

7/29/2010 12:08:25 AM

Newfoundland & Lab, Canada

Hi skisher, I think I may have some insight into your dilemma. Yes, the size of the patch and how many plants are growing there has some bearing on the size you can grow, but if I guess right, your growing with the generic Dill's Atlantic Giant seed. These are hit or miss (usually miss) with size possibilities. I don't know the standards by which they're produced exactly, but I think they're basically mass produced for the seed market. You need to try and get a 'genetically proven' seed from a known grower with a tagged geneology to get the best results.

I've tried growing those for 3 years, (genetically proven seed is not easily available where I live) and I've never been able to do better than 40 to 50 pounds with the challenging climate and short growing season I live with.

Next year I'm hoping to do better with some seeds ordered from Dill's site, they have Premium Seed Lists, and an order form. You can check it out here:

http://www.howarddill.com/premseed.html

Of course I could be guessing wrong and your actually growing a 1725 Harp 09! (in that case just assume my post is for other readers who didn't know.)

7/30/2010 12:12:19 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Tony, another way to get genuine AG seeds, w/ incredile genetic background, is to visit the Seed Exchange board on this site, in the late fall & winter!!! Lot's of incredible growers will fill up a postage paid, bubble wrap envelope. Words of advice...be nice, ask b/4 sending request, put on enough stamps, and send thank you note!!! Hope this helps!!! Peace, Wayne

7/30/2010 12:33:40 AM

Newfoundland & Lab, Canada

Good mention Wayne, I've shied away from doing that in the past, but this year I think I'll try that out. There are alot of great people here.

7/30/2010 9:09:37 AM