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Essex, Uk

Hi,
I have won my local pumpkin comps 2 years in a row now (with fruit around 200lb) but i am looking to optimise my efforts next year. I am based in south uk and grow on a small patch 20 m square (4mx5m), i am well aware that this is too small but do not have any more room. How can i maximise fruit size on this small area and what is the max size i could hope to achieve.The growing plot is part of a larger plot but i need this for food- the vines could potentially grow out but i have always cut and buried at the margins of the 20m sq area. Many thanks,
Will

10/31/2010 11:21:17 AM

Lancashire, UK

Hi Willardx,

I'm not a pro by any means so will leave the top tips up to the next grower who comes along to help you out. What I did want to say is have you tried locating your food veg on a maturity basis? Meaning the crops that you can harvest early planted closed to the pumpkin patch? I know it’s not perfect but I have to do the same thing too to give more room for leaves. This year my 763 grew on a patch that it shared with early peas, and early potatoes on the margins of the patch (Harvested before pumpkin vines smothered them). Also, my 675 and 354 (off same plant) in 2009 had a portion of the foliage growing through my sweetcorn. Obviously, if I had the room nothing would grow in the patch apart from pumpkin but it’s just an option to increase your growing area. You may already use those anyway?

10/31/2010 3:58:49 PM

Lancashire, UK

Just read your post on EGVGA. Seeds from growers will deffo improve your chances!

10/31/2010 4:07:20 PM

Essex, Uk

cheers mate. will def give that a go. how much space do you give your plants?

10/31/2010 5:13:39 PM

Lancashire, UK

I give them as much as I can give them. This year I had 300ft2 inside polytunnel with an extra 100-150ft2 outside. I train the vines to grow underneath the polythene out into the adjacent patch. Again not the ideal but have to make do with what I have.

10/31/2010 5:47:39 PM

Coupeville WA

Grow a 664.5 Liggett seed. This plant/seed does extremely well in small areas.
I grew a 1016 in 280 square feet with this seed.
I would watch the auctions. The seed is getting a bit older now. I believe it is from 2003.

10/31/2010 7:54:30 PM

Fresno, CA

Check out LongmontPete's grower diaries over the last few years. He has grown 4 pumpkins from 980 pounds to 1,306 pounds in the last four years and all of them were in a 250 square foot patch which is only about 50 more square feet than what you've got.

http://bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryView.asp?season=2010&grower=36085&action=L

11/3/2010 10:31:29 AM

Upa Creek, Mo

Pete also says to keep a sense of humor about it:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=119446

11/5/2010 11:09:52 AM

Essex, Uk

That Pete is a dude of the first order!

11/6/2010 3:47:47 PM