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Indianapolis,In

I've been told the first year to leave two pumpkins on per vine for safety purposes. I know this will probably hurt size, but my goal is to have some decent size pumpkins the first year. Any comments or suggestions from the vetran growers out there.

4/17/2001 10:19:27 PM

Connecticut, USA

I try and grow no more than four fruit per plant but only one per main vine. Since I grow few plants (2) this gives me a saftey net for splits and other problems. Some growers will do one pumpkin per plant but they usually grow more plants. This year I may grow a single plant.

4/18/2001 6:32:14 AM

walton n.y.

i think your choice comes down to are you going for a personal best or a weighoff site contender for the top spots if you are a first year grower with a gardening backgroundyou can grow a good sized pumpkin with some site prep work and knowing what insects to look for your first year is a learning experience these plants grow fast like no other plant i've ever grown good luck

4/19/2001 12:49:00 AM

Greencastle, PA

I am a first time giant pumpkin grower but I have 2 years of experience growing pumpkins in general I'm only 12 but boes anyone think I have a shot at the top 20 at topsfield, speaking of topsfield does anyone want to tell me how to enter? I have great genetics and think with luck, a lot of luck, I could break 1000 pounds. by the way is vine pruning good for your pumpkins?

4/19/2001 4:46:11 PM

Long Island,New York

Two per plant is smart...especially in the first year.One on a main vine and one on a secondary close to the stump, but about 10 feet out. They will act as shock absorbers for those heavy rains.....all the vines efforts go to two pumpkins instead of blowin up one. If you have a good plant pretty much anything is possible. Off the top of my head....Joel Holland had a 879 and a 903 on the same pumpkin plant and Joe Goetze had a 896 and 798 on the same squash plant.There are many others....Mark Pistono had 5-6 pumpkins over 400lbs on the same plant last year...check the diaries from last year here at Big Pumpkins.

4/19/2001 5:45:32 PM

Joel grew 3 fruit totaling 2700+ pounds on a 2700 sq ft 903 plant this year, one of which was his 1026. Wow, that is truly amazing!!!!!

Alex

4/19/2001 6:07:08 PM

Newville/PA

Farmer Tom-
Hey yeah you could be top 20 in the fair thing. As long as you take care of your plants and don't let them go off withotu water and fetilizer. I thougth I heard that it is ok to prune your pumpkins. I just recieved a "How to grow world class pumpkins" and it has a subject on pruning. After I read it I will tell you what I read.

4/19/2001 7:57:40 PM

Newville/PA

Yeah it is ok to prune the vines. But you should make sure that you do it when the vines are just starting to grow. Because if you wait until they are big and cut them, you could damage your plant. Thats what I read. So you should be ok.

4/19/2001 9:22:02 PM

Connecticut, USA

I would whole heartedly recommend buying the Langevin books, escpecially the second one. You can easily do this by typing in Langevin on the home page's Amazon search box at the top of the page.

Also, as suggested pour through the Diary entries, they are one of the biggest assets of the site.

Registration into the Topsfield fair is easy. Simply join the N.E.P.G.A. Information is available on this topic by selecting N.E.P.G.A. from the main menu or from the dropdown at the top of the page.

4/20/2001 12:38:10 PM

Greencastle, PA

I just heard that topsfield is only for new england growers is that true? if so does anyone know abou wiegh-offs in the mid atlantic reagon

4/20/2001 3:15:53 PM

Connecticut, USA

This is what I recall, can anyone else confirm?

Prize Money put up by the Topsfield fair is for NE members only. However, since it is a G.P.C. site ANY entry would qualify for G.P.C. prize money.

4/20/2001 3:27:06 PM

Herndon, VA

Yes this is true. Hugh Wiberg, Director of the NEPGA, confirmed this in a letter after I inquired about it. Also note page 6 of the Dec. 2000 NEPGA newsletter, "17th Annual ALL NEW ENGLAND Pumpkin Weigh-off".

4/20/2001 7:36:11 PM

Greencastle, PA

oh, ok. I'll have to find other wiegh-offs then.

4/21/2001 11:47:51 PM

Connecticut, USA

Last year my 600 and 604 were on the same plant (different vines).

4/23/2001 1:59:16 PM