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Brighton, Mi.

At this point in the season what do you seasoned growers use for ferts and how often? I have 3 decent pumpkins growing, all between 31 & 36 days old, their weights range from 256 -281 lbs. Still growing nicely (13-18 lbs a day), I feel like I need to give them a little juice.

8/16/2004 2:21:56 PM

Brighton, Mi.

Could someone please give me some ideas. This is my first year of growing giant atlantics and I still have a lot to learn.

Thank you

8/16/2004 4:50:01 PM

Utah

This is a tough question because you could ask 15 different growers and get 25 different answers (not a typo) ... but I also understand that you are looking for something, anything to do.

so if I were you- this is what I would do... If they are still growing at near their maximum lbs/day... I'd do nothing... Just let them grow.

If they have been tapering down in weight per day .. which is normal... then I'd get some like alaska fish fert or 5-5-10 or maybe even 20-20-20... water soluable (nothing higher that 20)... Miracle grow or Peters or whatever you can get... Then I'd look at what rate the container recommends... for example... 1 package per 1,000 sq ft... then I'd apply 1/2 that in a drench (mix in a 5 gallon bucket then water in) around the base... or through a hose end sprayer.
Then I'd wait a week to see what happens.

8/16/2004 5:18:00 PM

C N Y

mmmmmmm....yeah, and also, since we are pretty much in the "fruit-filling stage" of the game, and since the fruit are comprised of whatever the plant provides to them,
and at this point that is pretty much potassium (K),
then, a water-soluble fertilizer with a higher K content than the other constituents is generally what we should be feeding the plant.
so, i would get myself a nice tub of 5-10-40 water soluble
fertilizer from Age-Old Organics
http://ageoldorganics.com/
(copy and paste that addy into your web browser window)
hit "enter"....

home page---------look to the left and click on the link for "pumpkin growers." click.
the 5th listing down the page should be one for 5-10-40
late-season fertilizer...they are working on their websites,
so if you cannot find the price you should call them for this information. tell them pumpkinpal2 sent you.
no, no, not a deal! the application rate is "one to two tablespoons per gallon", as i recall from my own bag and tubs of the stuff. i regret now not having given my 950.4 Boyton a healthy dose every few days, as it is gaining only 11 pounds per....well, now, we'll just see about that!!! one more thing...why would you ever listen to me? then i scrolled down and saw the list of all the pumpkin growers that have used their products in the past.
most of them have used 5-10-40, including me. it doesn't exaggerate vine growth, keeps the roots happy, and provides the fruit with what it needs most.
good luck, and don't overdo it! eric gerry/pumpkinpal2

8/16/2004 5:49:22 PM

Deer Park, WI

If you are serious about growing giant pumpkins and would like to follow a structured fertilizer regimen, I'd suggest investing in the agro-k program. Previous to this year, I was without direction in my fertilizing program. A little fish seaweed here, a little 20-20-20 there. But the agro-k offers the structured program that a grower without extensive fertilizing knowledge can use. Agro-k is not meant to replace your current program, rather supplement it. But with the Agro-K program in place, i build my other fertilizers around it. Something to consider..

8/17/2004 9:08:34 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

I'm using water soluble 5-12-26, I can push it thru both the drip line and/or the sprinklers.
Like Eric said, keeps roots happy, no exaggerated vine growth, and no fert-only induced blowouts.

8/17/2004 6:37:02 PM