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Connecticut

Any ideas on how to jumpstart the growth on a pumpkin that has really slowed down?

It's cool and rainy here the last few days, but the growth decline started a bit earlier, so I don't think it's weather related. More fertilizer? More water?

8/10/2007 11:42:17 AM

Buffalo, New York

good question.......all 3 of my fruit have slowed down to like 1/2"-1" per day. all in the 50" around size.

8/10/2007 12:12:34 PM

Rhode Island

weather does play a roll and cool spells will make a giant pumpkin slow some but chances are if they are not that big to begin with and then they slow as jeremys did then i would not expect much growth from here on out
one of the worse things we can do is force more fertalizer into a plant /pumpkin thats on its downward cycle

it will not help. just keep her evenly watered and let nature run its course

pap

8/10/2007 1:51:02 PM

Buffalo, New York

why did mine start slowing down so early in the season, i mean it is only august 10th?

8/10/2007 2:08:06 PM

Buffalo, New York

i mean i pollinated them on like july 14th so it is not even at day 30 yet.

i thought they grow for like 80-90 days?

8/10/2007 2:10:32 PM

Georgia

Jeremy it sounds like your doing everything right. I looked at your diary and things look good. This is my first year growing Ags but i have been growing big maxs and prizewinners since I was a kid. Ive seen many pumpkins almost stop in growth then spurt right back. I had one prizewinner last year almost just stop at a 100 pounds,then it got were it liked the weather or something and really took off late in the season and it reached 300 pounds. Id say hang in there and Id keep the same fert program ya got.

8/10/2007 3:08:45 PM

Buffalo, New York

i only fertilize it once per week, with some neptunes fish and seaweed stuff.

very depressing lately

8/10/2007 3:14:41 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Jeremy, you are doing a great job with 3 pumpkins on what appears to be a very small plant in quite a small soil area.

Don't be discouraged, you've done pretty well with a plant that looks to have only about 6 or 7 vines. 3 pumpkins on a plant that small is asking alot if you were expecting to grow giants.

8/10/2007 3:37:03 PM

St. Thomas Ontario

Jeremy, this game is alot like golf...you play against yourself alot. Just try to beat this year with next..that in itself can be very rewarding, (don't get discouraged;). I got seeds from Howard Dill when I was 11 years old, and got my dad to drive me all over Nova Scotia Showing off my 80lber! 80 lbs is now nice in a few days. You'll hone your skills and learn alot if you keep trying. Your position on the vines look good. Maybe next year, try burying the nodes a bit more and have your soil tested...you'll see a difference:)

Happy growing.

8/10/2007 4:14:48 PM

Rhode Island

i think north shore boyz said it best

8/10/2007 6:01:40 PM

Buffalo, New York

i wonder if i only was growing 1 or 2 on my plant if that would have helped, but like i said plenty of times, i dont have much room and being my only plant, i wanted mroe then 2 fruit.
i mean i did do some things wrong, i went out of town for 9 days so the vines got out of hand alittle, i did straighten them out but was not able to bury all of them like i should have everyday.

i am guessing mine are about 50-60 pounders.....really cant complain for my first year, but my question is......halloween is 2-1/2 months away, will these pumpkins stay healthy until then or will they rott?

8/10/2007 8:47:05 PM

Nauvoo, Alabama

they will rot

8/11/2007 11:41:15 AM

Jefferson, Ohio

Last year I harvested one 300lbr' on 8-1 for our county fair...it was still solid after halloween , sitting on the porch... I guess you just never know.

8/11/2007 1:55:44 PM

Pa

Your not the only one Jeremy. I have one plant with a 200 pounder on it and it has slowed down to only about 10 pounds a day, Today marks day 26. It was putting on 12 - 17 pounds a day from day 16 to day 22. Right now should be the time period it puts on the most weight but not in my case. It's my first year at this too. I've tried everything to get it going again, time will tell, I guess.

8/11/2007 8:56:16 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

To new@this, if you have a fruit at day 26 that is already 200lbs and gaining 10lbs per day, you are well on your way to a nice big pumpkin.....20 days left in August at 10lbs per day gets you over 400 lbs and then there is still a bunch of growing to do in September.

I would not do anything differant to try and get it going again....it is still going!!

8/12/2007 1:44:50 PM

Buffalo, New York

it is not growing much but it is atleast growing alittle, as long as it continues to grow the smallest amount, i am fine with that.

Main Vine Pumpkin
August 8th = 56-1/4"
August 12th = 58-3/4"

2-1/2" increase in 4 days

Better then nothing.

8/12/2007 9:21:22 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

We too have slowed down in Colorado since a cold spell, confirmed with many growers..... but have since picked up in our current 9o's pattern. I went from 25 lbs per day down to 10 lbs per day. We have had steady temps of 95 plus now. It took the pumpkin 3 days before it started to pick back up again over 10 lbs..... Now Im back to 15 lbs a day, tonight I expect more hopefully 20.......temps today should hit 100.

8/13/2007 9:30:06 AM

southwest MO

After 7 days of 98+ I've slowed WAAAAY down. Anybody have them slow because of heat and come back out of it?? Only at day 52...

8/13/2007 11:37:05 AM

Liberal Kansas, USA

Our temps got into the 100's about a week ago , gains went from mid 20's to 14and 17# a day,. but last 2 days with 104 temp they averaged 1 @ 17# and 1 @ 20#a day. Maybe they get used to the higher temps. ?

8/13/2007 11:54:06 AM

Colo.Spgs.CO. Pikes Peak Chapter @ [email protected]

Warm nights are the key to success.......Should I say more, As I an at over 6000 Ft. elevation, And Always wish for warm evenings

8/14/2007 3:51:25 AM