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Yukon, Canada

Hi!
I am trying to grow a giant pumpkin here in the Yukon. The seedling will be going into a greenhouse. Has anyone done this before? I have some basic questions, firstly how many cubic feet of soil should I allow for one plant? And also how deep should the soil be? (I am using raised boxes) The sunlight here can be strong and lengthy around the solstice, how does this effect the plant?
If anyone can offer advice I would sure appreciate it. Maybe somebody in the north has done this before, in Yukon or Alaska perhaps? Would gladly read advice from anyone.
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4/26/2000 1:47:32 PM

derry n.h u.s.a.

HI YUKON;John here i grow in a raised bed garden. The soil is 1 foot deep on the front side and roughly 1000 sq ft" in size(not a greenhouse). I use a weeper system through the whole garden spaced 18 inchs apart.My plants did very well just don,t let the soil dry to much. A steady moisture level works best( constant)A little water every couple of days is better then a drenching once a week or so(steady feed ,water and growth will get you there.As to size of the plants i,ve grown a 700lb pumpkin on a less then 300 sq. ft plant. I usually grow 2 plants one around 600 sq. ft and the other 200 to 300 sq. ft. and grow 1 or two pumpkins on the larger plant and 1 on the smaller one. there was a man last season who grew a 700lb pumpkin on a plant that was 175 sq. ft.area.Others use as much as 3000 sq. ft.and grow 3 on a plant i don,t have that luxury and many don,t. Well hope this message was some help to you and good luck in 2000.

4/27/2000 2:13:30 PM

Yukon, Canada

Dear John; Thanks for your reply. I'm thinking now I might not have to much luck. My greenhouse is definitely not large enough for a 300 sq ft planter. It will be have to be a fair bit smaller, but the depth of soil can be deeper than one foot. Hopefully this may go some ways to compensate for lack of area. I guess I'll just have to wait and see! Thanks also for your advice on watering, this will be an important issue for me as I haul all my water (drinking and gardening) and must get the most out of it. Thanks again and good luck.

4/28/2000 12:56:29 PM