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Nj

I was wondering if these pumpkins can be grown in pots? And have them spill over the side? What size pot would you use? would, like a 20 gallon work? 20 gallons are the ones they grow trees in. Would a ten gallon work? I think I am going to try one in a pot to see how it grows this year :)

Thanks!
John

2/25/2004 7:32:29 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

This is definately not recommended, but can be done.

The plant will soon become root bound due to the limitations.
Use the biggest pot you can get your hands on.

I think one of the German guys grew a plant like this last year. Was supposed to be a pollinator only.


Question for you:

How in the world can you expect a GIANT grow in a 10 gal pot?

2/25/2004 7:58:11 PM

Indiana

I would at least use half of a 55 gal barrell couldnt hurt to try I wouldnt expect much.
Steve

2/25/2004 8:08:26 PM

Mastic Beach, New York

talking about root bound..lol..limited on space then dig up a 6ft x 6ft and put the plant in the middle and let it grow onto the lawn...grew a 100lb first year with a big max seed that way.

2/25/2004 8:21:12 PM

Nj

I am not to limited on space, I just love experimenting. So you guys think I can't get a 600 plus pounder from growing in a pot??? Now, let's see if we can :)

2/25/2004 8:46:31 PM

Midway City, California

You can always tell a guy from New Jersey but you can't tell him much. :=)

2/25/2004 8:59:44 PM

mcminnville oregon

i THOUGHT I HAD AN IDEA LAST YEAR BY GROWING A LONG GOURD IN A POT WITH TOMATO CAGE???? THE THOUGHT WAS ONCE IT WAS NICELY TRELLISED I WOULD SET IT ON ROOF SHED? 10' ABOVE GROUND???? POTS DRY OUT TO EASY! iVE HAD LUCK WITH TOMATOES!!!! THEY ALSO WORK GREAT AS A LAST MINUTE GIFTS!!!!

2/25/2004 9:00:27 PM

San Diego

John,

I tried this very thing and I used 5 gallon pots 2 years ago with big max pumpkin seeds. The plant grew over the side amd over grass. I got an 85 lb big max from my pot plant!:) It can be done, but I think 600 lbs is not realistic. I can see 300 maybe. Good luck, Jim

2/25/2004 9:05:18 PM

[email protected]

I honestly don't think this has ever been given a reel chance to work. Properly done the pot would have to be massive to contain an AG root system without cramping.

See my insane idea of using a hot tub here:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=65500

Even a large 4 or 6 person hot tub would still not be deep enough for a plant to perform unimpeded I don't think.

But for fun or to support a male pollen donor perhaps a 55 gallon drum would be OK.

Steve

2/25/2004 9:42:08 PM

Nj

Please remember, it was once thought that you needed a minimum of 2,500 square feet to grow one AG! Now we are down to as little as 400 square feet. A pot will make it easier to fertilize, easier to maintain the plant, and make fertilizer more work better, because you don't have them leaching to where there are no roots, and, for the most part, it is weed free! So, let me give it a try, and then we can make judgment later on...

Oh, and 'water' stupid NJ jokes are childish, and when a 16 year old needs to tell you are childish, then, well, I think you have some issues to deal with!
John

2/25/2004 10:17:20 PM

Nj

More work better, should be 'more effective'

2/25/2004 10:19:19 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

John 1st question have you grown an AG before? Its the vines secondary roots that also supply alot of the weight back to the pumpkin. Try it in a 20 gallon pot if you wish. Big difference in volume between a 400 SQF patch 18 inches down and a 20 Gallon pot. My thoughts are if you are going to put that much effort in to it, plant it in the ground. A 300-1200 lb pumpkin is not something you are going to grow up a trellis.
Stew was joking. People are more than willing to help.

2/25/2004 11:19:32 PM

Wichita, KS

I was speaking with somebody at a local nursery recently who had the idea of growing a vine in used tires. She described her idea, stacking the tires around six feet high for the stump, and five feet for the first node, four feet for the second, etc. Also cascading the sizes downward for the secondary vines. She said this had been done in root growth studies, since it was so easy to cut away the tires when the vine was mature so the roots could be washed off.

This might work for you pretty well John. It will certainly keep the root zone warm and easily fertilized. Ought to make weeds easy to handle. Should be cheap, too. Just make certain the inside of the tires are real clean before you fill them with soil.

Toby

2/26/2004 3:31:29 AM

[email protected]

If I had the desire to try tires, I would stabilize them with rebar or something similar to prevent their falling over. Creative idea if not a fasion statement. Probably get run right out of trendy Fairfield County if I tried this! LOL

2/26/2004 6:26:48 AM

Kenyon, Mn.

Experimentation is the basis of success; however, It is also the basis of FAILURE. I think it is absurd to think that you could possibly contain the root structure to support anything over 100 pounds, I agree with Tremor, possibly to raise a pollinator, I could try starting one right now, here in Minnesota, but it would FAIL; hey, maybe I could start it in the basement, in a barrel, and open up the window once it gets warm and let the..........:<}

2/26/2004 7:44:34 AM

Indiana

Maybe you could grow it hydroponically in a 55 gal barrel??
Steve

2/26/2004 8:48:23 AM

Nj

Moon dog, I was thinking of doing a hydro kin' Though it would be so expensive! So, I decided agents it. Hydro nutrients average 9 cents a gallon, and assuming they soke up like 20 gallons a day, that is 1.6/day that would be about 150 bucks, then they hydro media, witch is very expensive itself, and then the testing equipment... 150-200... No, I will pass on hydro :~)

Shannon, this is my first year growing AG's but I have a good mentor showing me to ropes, and giving some secrets, that kind of stuff, I am just a person that loves experimenting, and I experiment with everything! :~)

John

2/26/2004 9:44:32 AM

[email protected]

John,

Point's to consider:

Hydro media can be had cheaper if it's purchased not from a Hydro company, but rather the folks they buy it from. Example being SoilMaster which runs $400/ton bagged in 50's plus or minus depending on freight minimums, etc. 18 ton loose bulk is even cheaper.

The nutrients & solutions the Hydro folks repackage & sell can also be purchased direct from manufacturers usually for less than $1.00 per pound for solubles & $10 per gallon even for the highest quality solutions we make in drums. Bulk deliveries get really cheap if the grower has a tank farm & is located within 3.5 hours of a plant (DOT reg's have screwed this up pretty good though).

I'd say if someone wanted to think & plan this through it could be done on a reasonable budget. I wish one of the Growers Associations had a cooperative experimental test facility we could all jointly finance.

Hmmmmm......A Cooperative Giant Pumpkin Research Farm in Goffstown perhaps?

2/26/2004 10:46:48 AM

Greene County, Pa.

I just killed my pumpkin I had indoors, was getting too big. had a vine about 6 feet long and it was in a 5 gallon pot. There was no dirt left it was all roots. just something to think about.

BuddyG

2/26/2004 10:57:04 AM

Wichita, KS

I think the hydroponic idea would be much better than tires, but lets consider what has been done already by Marc Sawtell, and countless other cloners. They keep a plant alive for years by growing them in pots. If a person were to alter the cloning method a bit in order to mature a vine, not too much would have to be done differently. Once the vine drops a node and starts rooting into a container, you could cut it from the stump and keep growing it. Every time a vine is about to drop another node, put a 5 gallon container under it. You will loose your tap root, but biggies have been grown without a tap, and the nodal roots usually don't grow beyond 12 inches max.

I think you should try it, just for fun. If you only get a little guy, so what? If you end up with anything over 200#, then you have pioneered something in AG growing that people said couldn't be done! Go for it! :-D

Toby

2/26/2004 6:48:59 PM