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Palmyra Ohio

Hello Everyone!

This is going to be my first shot at growing Atlantic Giants.

I would like to tell everyone how I got pumpkin on the brain and decided to try this. My wife purchased our first home in late fall of 2003 while I was deployed overseas. Last year I decided to grow some jack-o-lanterns since I now had somewhere to grow them. I made every single mistake you could possibly make when trying to grow a pumpkin. My patch was ravaged by powdery mildew and slugs. Not one of 12 plants survived or produced anything. ( That was a different garden.) So I went online to find out what I did wrong and to learn how to grow them better. Thats how I found this web site. I have spent the entire winter reading, reading, and then reading some more. Especially the diaries of the growers. The pictures are a major help, especially in the early stages like germination and to give me an idea of exactly how these monsters are grown. I am getting more exited as April approaches and its almost time to get going.

I am getting ready to build my cold frames, but I am not sure how many plants I can put in a 40x40 garden as I have never actually seen one of these plants live. In the diaries I have seen some people put them back to back in the center of a garden while others put them along the edges and everything in between. Some plants seem to grow much longer than others. I dont want them to run into my grass where the powdery mildew and the slugs can get at them. I was thinking of four plants in the center that would run for each corner.

Suggestions on a good number of plants for my garden would be most appreciated.

Thanks!

3/8/2005 2:59:40 AM

Rhode Island

john

believe it or not 40 x 40 will only accomodate two atlantic giant plants ( and thats pushing it ) but it can be done

idealy you would like to have 500 to 600 sq ft per plant
i would suggest planting back to back starting in the center of the patch and allow both to run to the outside or corner of your patch

best suggestion i have for you is to find someone in your area and stick to him or her like those slugs you had in the patch last year ( nothing beats learning from someone that has already experienced the mistakes and misfortunes )

also you need a soil test and get the ph between 6.5 and 7.2

i suggest you get one of the many good books available on this site because they will save you a lot of grief

pap

3/8/2005 6:08:09 AM

Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, Germany

I think you can do four plants in that 40 X 40 spot

3/8/2005 6:18:07 AM

Litchfield N. H. 03052

A new grower would do best with two plants the frist year. Once he learns how to grow, he will be able to increase the number of plants.

3/8/2005 6:25:31 AM

Knopp, Germany

I think that anexperience grower could successfully squeeze 4 plants into a 40 x 40 foot area, but that a new AG grower would need to learn hands on about plant managment before they would be successful. I guess you could try 4, sort of the sink or swim theory, or go with 2 and give yourself a year of learning. I personally would go with 4 and try your best, you will learn one way or the other, and with 4 plants you have a better chance of taking something to a weighoff, even if it isn't 1000 pounder. Here is a link to one of my attempts. I had a blast that year:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=13214

I ended up with 3 over 600 pounds and one over 300 and none of the plants had more then 300 sq ft.

3/8/2005 7:06:16 AM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Here is another thought. You have 1600 square feet to grow in. I think four plants would be pushing it but three is not unreasonable. There is a good chance that something might happen to one of them and then you would be down to two which you do have adequate space for as most posting here agree. I think start with three and plan on removing the one that doesn't live up to standards. The idea of hooking up with an experienced grower to be your mentor would be the best thing you could do. You don't want to learn by mistakes. It is far better to avoid them. A mentor would help tremendously.

3/8/2005 8:13:15 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Welcome to the obsession John...I would go with the four plants if you have the time...The other way if you only did two it would take you two years to get the same experience from this year. OM OM OM ...not chanting just trying to get thatsoil right! Good Luck and Grow em BIg!!chuck

3/8/2005 8:13:49 AM

Omaha, NE (N41-15-42 )

I agree on 4 plants. You'll gain a lot of experience from seeing the different characteristics of different plants.

3/8/2005 8:23:15 AM

Utah

4 should work just fine for you.
I'd suggest that you grow your dividle your 40 x40 into 4 plots each 20x20, with each plant in this shape:
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/displayphoto.asp?pid=3524&gid=-3085

3/8/2005 8:43:08 AM

Puyallup, WA

No more than three and here is the reason why. Your soil will not be "built up" enough to to have four plants growing at maximum rate...not to mention four big pumpkins.
Yes...there are growers who believe in small 400 sq.ft. plants, but most of them are experienced growers with a lot of "savy". It has been my experience that new growers seldom have the "heart" to severely prune back the vines as is needed to confine them to 400 sq.ft. Bear in mind, John, that a single plant can easily grow to 1200 sq.ft.if left unfettered. A main vine can grow to 26'in good soil.

3/8/2005 5:02:52 PM

Palmyra Ohio

Thanks for the advise everyone!

I got into the game late last October by having the ground plowed up. I managed to get two dump truck loads of leaf compost on it before winter.

I have strange gound to work with. A local farmer came over and got it plowed up so I could work with it. He quickly pointed out to me that I had a nice looking chunk of clay to work with. He also pointed out to me that my topsoil was two feet down under the clay. Aparently thats where they spread the clay from where my basement was dug out. I thought I had a lot of compost and then he dropped my jaw by saying that ten times that amount would be a good start. And I should get some sand, too. Since the guy grows soybeans and corn, I figured he knew what he was talking about. So the odds are against me this year for sure. I did not go and get any seeds from any 1200 lb pumpkin. Mine are all in the 500lb range. I didnt want to kill a good plant.

Hey Olsen, I was in Germany in 2003 for a few months. A very beautiful country. Good wine, good food!

I will check out the links you guys gave me asap.

3/8/2005 5:05:41 PM

Massillon, Ohio

john hello !!! ok i have to admit i had to google palmyra and i still dont know where you are from..LOL. palmyra township in portage county was my best find but even then i couldnt find it as a real current township township on our stark / portage schools consorium map. before i keep looking like a total idiot, lets ask this: were you there sunday at the seminar?

anywayyyys. there is a guy that grows in brimfield (loccoloop on here) and probably tons more up there. ohio rocks !!

3/8/2005 5:59:53 PM

Ohio

I have never heard of Palmyra Ohio ether,I even looked it up on a ohio map search and nothing, wheres that at John?,lol

Brooks

3/8/2005 6:30:53 PM

John I emailed you a pic of one idea. You could also do 4 plants. I believe Clancy/Z-green on this site does 4 plants in a back to back way. That might work too. just ideas.

Christy we all know you're not an idiot!

3/8/2005 6:57:24 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Geeze, Even the Northeast has heard about Ole Polly Thurber and Billy "boy" Bacon...THought they were the Flame of Ohio in portage county! LOL

3/8/2005 7:13:19 PM

Puyallup, WA

Even Mapquest hasn't heard of Palmyra, OH!!

3/8/2005 7:29:20 PM

Butler, Ohio

John...greetings from pumpkinland..lol...You're just down the road frome me!!! This will be my second season, so we can make our mistakes together if you like. Email me bud.
Mike

3/8/2005 7:38:28 PM

Montoursville, PA

Wow.......a friend with fields of soy beans. That means a friend with excellent plants that contain nitrogen and very good humus just waiting to feed a patch. Grab that farmers shirt tail and hang on.

3/8/2005 7:40:30 PM

huntsburg,ohio

isn't palmyra down around salem or in that area.Jerry

3/8/2005 9:39:00 PM

huntsburg,ohio

what i thought just north of deerfield.Jerry

3/8/2005 9:41:08 PM

Palmyra Ohio

Sorry for the late response, work has made me one tired guy lately! I am near where rt18 and rt225 cross in Portage county. Near Lake Milton, Ravenna, Edinburgh, Deerfield, Alliance. Those are some of the towns around me. Almost all of you are right as to where I was.

3/9/2005 2:41:19 AM

Butler, Ohio

oops..I thought you were in the palmyra down here from me. It's just a little fart of a town on RT 13 just south of Bellville. Guess I jumpped the gun...lol :) Oh well. Cmon spring!!! Cabin fever is settin bad this year. Mike

3/9/2005 5:46:11 AM

Follansbee, Wv

Don't know anything about Palmyra, OH, but I do know that there is a Green Twp, OH which is not the same as Greenford, OH. I happen to know the two are just at an hour apart ;)

3/9/2005 5:44:16 PM

mcminnville oregon

Get your nieghbor growing a plant of your choice. This increase pollination potential? Im for growing 4 plants. The two best back to back .. The other TWo growing from the edge? this increases odds incase disaster strikes ( IT WILL) If it doesnt , the hardest part will be deciding which plant to cull! One of the center choices should be giving full potential! The weakest should have multiples for carvers! Squash for thought! DBH

3/12/2005 5:28:37 AM