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Portugal

hello All!
last season was my first year growing GP, and... it was not a good experience :-(
the seeds germinated very well on a greenhouse, in about 2 weeks they went into the ground.
had a litlle movement shock, but endedup in starting to grow.
but the unusual, observing everyones pics, it was that all my vines grew in lenght. they reached about 6m, but whith few or none secondary vines.
they produced lots of flowers and ended up bu preserving 2 pumpkins from each.
but when they were about 10Kg, they started to rot!! :-(
only one survived, but at about 40/50Kg it no longer grew any more!!

what did i do wrong??
water in about 4/4days
sun cover on pumpkins
....

give me your opinions!
Regards and Thanks
RMatos

11/22/2007 5:49:01 AM

Cornwall UK.(50N 5W)300ft.

Rui,

If you haven't already done so take a good look at the 2003 diary of Don Quijot (Carlos Perez).
Its a pretty comprehensive guide on how to grow a big one in your part of the world.

What and how much manure and fertilisers did you use last year?

Mark

11/22/2007 6:43:39 AM

Portugal

Hello AXC!!
i've taken a look a Carlos Diary.... howwww!!!
he´s almost a Pro :-)
all that instruments! the watering system!!!
no wonder my AG's had problems!!

i've send him an email, so we can exchange some opinions and some watermelon seeds (that huge watermelon).

As for manure:
dig a 1x1x0.5m deep hole!!
put about 20Kg ok sheep manure in layers with earth!

as for fertilizer, i used a recipe that i use in home plants:
Grass CLipings, Willow brenches and water (let is compost for 2 weeks) and use it about 15/15 days
the other watering was with normal small river water.

thank you
Regards
RMatos

11/23/2007 10:26:47 AM

Netherlands

"...they produced lots of flowers and ended up bu preserving 2 pumpkins from each.
but when they were about 10Kg, they started to rot!! :-(..."

Sounds like a pollination problem. Did you hand pollinate? What time of day? How warm was it?

Regards,
Brad

11/23/2007 10:37:33 AM

Portugal

Hello Brad!
i did hand pollinate the flowers.
they were all polinated in the morning.
and it was not that much hot!
we had a mid hot summer this year

Thanks and regards
RMatos

11/26/2007 12:13:28 PM