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Pulaski Tn [email protected]

by now ya'll have figured out i know nothing about growing a big pumpkin so i dont mind axing these questions.(i know how to spell asking im malking rush limbaugh who sometimes malkes jessie jackson) (i dont know how to spell malking though) heres the question i have one pumpkin (her name is Late Bloomer) that is 10 feet out on the vine and has another 10 of vine past it. should i bury the end?? also the main vine has smaller vines growing out probably 2-3 feet long, what should i do with these let them grow cut them off bury them??? what what i got to know!!!! thanks Keith

8/24/2001 10:11:08 PM

Ga.

I buried end of mine,,,also bury the side runners,,pinch off the tip of it and bury......

8/24/2001 10:59:22 PM

Puyallup, WA

IMHO....pinch off the buried secondarys at 15 feet and do NOT terminate the buried main vine.

8/24/2001 11:29:49 PM

Leicester, NY

Keith,
I would let the secondaries get out to at least 10 feet to each side, before terminating them, if you have the space. Another 5-7 feet on the main would be good. I terminate my mains between 27 and 31 feet...Joe P.

8/25/2001 7:20:12 AM

Pulaski Tn [email protected]

ok guys which of you have grown the biggest pumpkin?? one says dont terminate the main vine the other says terminate it.. what to do??? im torn here its like going to the doctor if you dont like what one says go to another, he will tell you something different.. i thank both of you for your help but im going with the biggest pumpkin grower thats the only way i can decide, so if you dont mind lets hear what you biggest one weighed. thanks,Keith

8/25/2001 9:35:29 PM

CT

The biggest was grown by Joe P. over 1000lbs.

8/25/2001 9:46:14 PM

Puyallup, WA

Joel Holland's 1026 was grown on a plant that covered over
2500 sq.ft. In the pumpkin world as in the religious world,
your actions depend on who you believe!!!

8/26/2001 1:55:47 AM

Pulaski Tn [email protected]

oh tay.. i think i may just bury one and let the other one grow.. thanks for the advice,Keith

8/26/2001 10:50:02 AM

Leicester, NY

Keith,
Oh my, I didn't mean to start any controversy. I'm in agreement with Stan that the main should not be terminated at this time. With that said, the growing season is winding down and soon, you should be thinking about stopping all green growth and concentrating on fruit growth. Here where I grow in western NY, I don't allow any vine growth past the middle of August. Perhaps in the warmer climate where you are, one could allow vine growth well into September, I'm not sure about that. I do know in order for your plant to grow a big fruit, it will have to have more size to it and leaf area, so let it grow for a while longer and see what happens.... Best of luck! Joe P.

8/26/2001 11:38:46 AM

Leicester, NY

Stan,
Yes, Joel Holland does extremely well with very large plants, but for most growers, 2500+ sq. ft. per plant might not be practical. My whole garden is 3000 sq. ft. and I want more than one plant out there. Gerry Checkon's world record 1131 and Larry Checkon's unofficial 1190 were grown in a 33'x33' area, Gary Burke's world record 1092 was grown in only a 20'x20' area. My 1096.8 and 805 plants took up a space of 900 sq. ft. each, so it appears almost anything goes when it comes to plant size. It's not a matter of whom you believe, it's more like, whatever works for each individual grower. Simple trial and error.... Joe P.

8/26/2001 11:52:23 AM

Long Island,New York

I think one thing you need to consider in addition to those things already mentioned is the plant morphology. I believe to be more accurate in your description of plant size you need to consider each main as a plant. I think Joel Holland had two monsters on his plant each on its own main vine.With a second main,back main etc,I believe it would be more accurate to consider the square footage as 1200+1200 if the entire plant is 2400sq ft and each half were equal i size. Each main has its won fruit/sidevines etc and only share the stump. Just my opinion...anyone agree?

8/26/2001 12:08:49 PM

canal winchester ohio

I do,
I remember reading on the OSLGA site that someone grew
2450 lbs. of fruit on 1 plant. the only thing was that there were 4 pumpkins each on their own seperate main vine......Paul

8/26/2001 12:24:54 PM

Pulaski Tn [email protected]

Joe P., being new to this sport i would like to know the story behind and unofficial 1190 grown by Larry Checkon, if you grow a world record isnt it a world record or does it have to be weighed on a certain date at a certain place and thanks again for all of ya'lls advice. Keith

8/26/2001 12:59:38 PM

Leicester, NY

Keith,
Larry's giant fruit, which was grown in 1999, developed a blossom end split on Sept. 13. The split opened up into the seed cavity, which made it ineligible for any contest. Sometimes, a pumpkin splits at the stem end and as long as the split does not go into the seed cavity, it would be okay for the contests. Amazingly, Larry’s wife Gerry became world champion that year with her 1131 pounder...Joe

8/26/2001 1:23:44 PM

Pulaski Tn [email protected]

now i see, with all the info yall give me im pretty sure i'll have a world record this year i just wanted to be sure i didnt have to be in new york city to get it officialized!!!! thanky, Keith

8/26/2001 1:31:05 PM

Buffalo, NY

Hey Joe,
Was racing 1/4 mile at the track in your town about 5 years ago; was that smell of cow manure permeating the air at night your patch?
3000 sq ft patch is large to me...
3000 sq ft is my entire vegetable garden...
PLUS my whole yard...
PLUS my driveway & garage...
PLUS my HOUSE!

Ahh, the DISadvantages of being a city slicker...
at least I don't get my feet dirty when walking amongst the vines--they're now sprawling over my lawn!

Mark

8/26/2001 2:46:08 PM

Long Island,New York

At least you have room for a lawn.........G

8/26/2001 2:57:11 PM

Buffalo, NY

But NEXT YEAR I won't ;)

8/26/2001 3:07:52 PM

Buffalo, NY

;<)> Sorry, forgot my mustache & beard

8/26/2001 3:10:17 PM

Leicester, NY

Mark, Hope you did well at the local track and I'm really sorry about that cow manure smell!

Keith, You don't have to come to NYC to get your pumpkin certified, but I know darn full well, Letterman is going want you and your world record fruit in the worst way. Good luck with that one!! Joe P.

8/26/2001 4:02:37 PM

Puyallup, WA

Joe,
Thank you for your excellant report on how one does not need large amounts of land to grow AG's. Since I have limited exposure to growers outside of the Northwest, I was basing my report on the successful growers in my area. Most say that it takes around 1000 sq.ft. to grow a "big one". To my knowledge, no one in the Pacific Northwest has grown a 900# fruit on less than 900 sq.ft.

I am truly amazed at the ability of some growers to grow
very large pumpkins in a relatively small space. This however is not the "norm" as you pointed out. Generally, one should use "every inch" of available patch. I am growing eight plants on 8000 sq.ft. ....and bare dirt can hardly be seen! Next year, I'm probably going to limit secondary growth to twenty feet!

I apologize if I came acrossed as "combative" in my response. I have learned that nearly everyone growing AG's has an opinion...and even the successful growers do not agree on all subjects! As you pointed out....what works for some, may not work for others! :)

8/27/2001 1:19:59 AM

Omaha, Nebraska

Im growing my one Plant on 361 sq feet in the city... and my 2 pumpkins on the plant are growing at World record Paces!

8/27/2001 1:34:31 AM

Pulaski Tn [email protected]

letterman, a thousand bucks.. mighty tempting for a bare footed hillbilly, might even get to see some of those real life painted women!!!

8/28/2001 9:47:13 PM

Puyallup, WA

You're a "riot", Keith!!!

8/29/2001 12:28:54 AM

Omaha, Nebraska

Letteman is my Favorite Show ... seriously.... thats why Im trying to grow World record Pumpkins!

8/29/2001 12:31:50 AM

Pulaski Tn [email protected]

my favorite show has to be the grand ole opry...only thing is it filmed live on saturday night but we are so far back in the holler we dont get it till wednesday night..

8/29/2001 10:43:27 AM

Charlotte, North Carolina

My favorite show is Battlebots.

8/29/2001 3:40:07 PM

Omaha, NE

Blkcloud,
Where is Pulaski at? We just spent the weekend at Bristol for the race. I was raised in the south even though I now live the mid west.

I would not have mind smelling cow manure if it was for only for fertiziler. The field down in the holler where we were camping at was just across the creek from the cows? I did enjoy the many southern thing that I miss so much being up here (like goin to a eatin establishment and being able to order sweet tea, and not be handed suger packets)

Karen

Karen

8/29/2001 4:51:49 PM

Pulaski Tn [email protected]

Karen, i thought all tea was sweet, you mean your actually supposed to ASK for sweet tea?? Pulaski is located about 65 miles due south of Nashville on interstate 65. thanks,Keith

8/29/2001 5:16:35 PM

Omaha, NE

The South is the only place you can get "Sweet Tea", every where else it is nasty unsweeten tea, that you have to add sugar to. Depending on where you are in the South, you either hae to ask for sweet tea or ask for it unsweeten. I make my own sweet tea at home, finally after twelve years of being married my husband is used to sweet tea as well.

Karen

9/1/2001 4:19:52 PM

Pulaski Tn [email protected]

next year i'm think of growing o pumpkin and watering it with sweet tea, i know it works on me...

9/2/2001 1:44:25 PM

Omaha, NE

That would make for one sweet tasting pumpkin as well!!!!

9/2/2001 2:19:31 PM