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Halifax, Nova Scotia

I'm a newbie to the site and to pumpkin growing, and I love this site. I got into this thing originally with the intent of growing a pumkin large enough to enter in the Annual Pumpkin Regatta in Windsor, and I'm now fully hooked on AGs. At this time my best pumpkin is a mere 20" circumference, 8 days old. It's only about 5 feet down the vine, but it's in a good position. The vine itself is 12 feet long, and I'm considering burying it soon. One note, the plant my largest pumkin is on seems to have become root bound in it's small plot, approximately 3 feet x 4 feet and 1 foot deep. The plant itself is growing across my lawn. I didn't realize the amount of roots these plants shoot out! Anyway, here's my question. With proper watering, fertilizing (I've been taking lots of hints from the grower diaries on some of the better methods), and a little bit of luck, can anyone project a possible size for my pumpkin? Will it be enough to float as I try to paddle down a lake in Early October? I only weigh 140 pounds, how big does this pumkin have to get? Regardless of the extent of growth in my garden, I will find a way into the Pumpkin Regatta, even if it's by buying a pumkin from the weigh-off held a week earlier. Thanks everyone for entertaining me during the time between visits to my patch!

8/5/2004 9:41:02 AM

Deer Park, WI

Unfortunately, if you are growing a pumpkin in a pot, pumpkin size will be quite limited. Pumpkin root systems, like most plants, are typically larger than the foliage half of the plant. The Iceberg effect.... With that said, i must make the grim prediction that your fruit will not be big enough to navigate across a lake, even at 140 lbs. Typically you would need a fruit in the 700lb+ range to make a boat out of it. Had your plant in the ground from day one, you may have been able to get it large enough!

8/5/2004 10:44:50 AM

Halifax, Nova Scotia

The pumpkin is already in the ground, I called it a plot, should have just called it a garden like a normal person would! I dug my garden out of heavy, clay type soil, then filled it with good quality compost and soil. The roots of my plant are doing fine in the good stuff, but don't seem to be able to penetrate the hard clay that surrounds it. That's what they're bound by. I'm sure this info doesn't improve my outlook terribly, but I thought I'd clarify.

8/5/2004 11:21:53 AM

In the shade - PDX, OR

You'll get a better read on the final size of the fruit in a couple of weeks.

@ 8 days old this would be very difficult to predict.
5' from the stump could also be a significant limiting factor for you as well.

I'd recommend keeping good measurement records STARTING at day 20. This is the fun time when you can actually see the results.


Find some other growers in your area (Howard & Danny?!!?) and ask them when things start slowing down for your climate. Probably early to mid Sept. Then you can calculate the rate of growth of your fruit & then # of days that you have remaining. (40??)

Good Luck growing your boat.

8/5/2004 12:34:02 PM

Nova Scotia, Canada

First of all I would like to say that 20 in. cir.in 20 days is not all that bad in N.S.. and you can expect some good growth in Sept with the proper weather. And 5 feet out from the stump is not a problem either, both our biggest pumpkins were 5.5 feet out last year(1178 and 1081). On the down side is your 3x4 foot patch, this will limit the growth potential of your pumpkin during its peak growth period. I have personally paddled a 300 lb pumpkin just for fun and have paddled a 575 lber in the regatta and I weigh about 180 lol...wife laughing as I type my weight. Just keep that sucker growing and try for a bigger plot next year.
P.S. I rarely have a pumpkin 20" in 8 days...excellent.

Roger

8/5/2004 1:44:47 PM

Deer Park, WI

My apologies, i misread "plot" as pot as well. With that said, i'd expect your pumpkin to grow much bigger!

8/6/2004 8:39:33 AM