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Belgium

Just curious, but who on here has grown a 1000 lb. plus pumpkin and what were the growing conditions like(temperature, climate, plant size, etc.). Also, what plant were the pumpkins grown on.
Thanks,
Jake Byrd

9/5/2004 3:27:24 PM

Walkerton Ont

mmmmmmmmmmm, nayyyyy, not me

9/5/2004 3:43:50 PM

New Brunswick

nor me...blasted weather...squeezed out two over 400 pounds for my best. (last year)

9/5/2004 6:01:34 PM

Rhode Island

jake

my son and i have been growing atlantic giant pumpkins since 1989
back then you needed a shoe horn to stand a chance to pry any information or tips from just about everyone
fortunately over the years enough good people and paper backs have been written to put all of us on a level playing field
the lines being pollinated into these monsters are getting better each year
last year our best pumpkins weighed 1068 and 961 both grown on the 845 bobbier
this year our two best presently taping 1020 and 875 were both grown from our own pumpkins from last years crop
the best advise i could give anyone that truely wants a big pumpkin is to
1. get good seed stocks
2. prep your soil in the fall and get your organic matter to 8 to 10 percent and your ph between 6.5 and 6.8
3. get on a good insect and disease control program that suits your area
4. get on a fertilizer program, ( some organics like fish and kelp ) and some chenicals like 10-50-10 early on, and 20-20-20 mid season, then 5-10-40 mid august on out
5.put out your plants by 5-1 so that your first and second set of sides is ready for dead heading on or around the same dates you start to pollinate
6. set only on the main and never leave more than one per main ( after you chose the best prospect on that main )
7.shade the fruit with a sheet or plastic tarp early and blanket every night that the temp is below 65 ( heavier blanketing if 50 degrees or lower )
8.let sun get to fruit from sept on out during the day
9.spray pumpkins with mild mix of beach and water ( 10 to 1 )once a week from sept on
10. read a lot of books and get friendly with the best growers within driving distance of your house ( nothing beats a first hand look )
hope this help you or any of the newer growers

dick ( r.i.p.g.a. )

9/5/2004 6:39:36 PM

Topsfield, Ma.

Dick, Thanks for taking the time to share the great info!
Duff

9/5/2004 7:36:00 PM

Vancouver, White Rock, Canada

Thanks for the advice Dick, greatly appreciated.

9/5/2004 8:35:09 PM

Belgium

yep Dick(I guess that is you pap), thanks for the info

9/5/2004 9:03:42 PM

Knopp, Germany

nice response pap. thanks.

9/6/2004 12:39:09 AM

Minnesota([email protected])

Dick,
Thank you from me as well!
Could you explain the reason for exposing the pumpkin to sun starting in Sept.? I was thinking of doing it for better color. Is it O.K. to not shade my pumpkin at all from now on? Should I shade during hot days? My pumpkin is about 46 days old.

Doug

9/6/2004 1:13:02 AM

Cologne / Germany

Dick, it was amazing to see about point 5. this year. Pollination and terminating the first secondaries was almost about the same day for me. Thanks for sharing it.

9/6/2004 5:39:23 AM

Rhode Island

doug
the reason we uncover the fruit during sunny days from september on is for two reasons
1. sunlight helps keep the fruit warm and hopefully growing
( plus helps keep stem dry, which can get soft late in
the season )
2. the sun also will help mature the pumpkins color and at this late stage of the game you dont need to worry about damage from the sun to the outer surface
( i would also leave fruit covered on days that are cold and lack sun )

9/6/2004 5:44:31 AM

Minnesota([email protected])

Thanks Dick for clarifying.
Point 5 also is helpful to me. It will be something to shoot for next year. Maybe my fruit will take off faster next year, if I can terminate the first two secondaries around pollination time. This year my fruit was slow out of the blocks. I should hit my goal of 400 lbs. in a few days, so I'm pleased.

Doug

9/6/2004 10:53:32 AM

Luverne, Alabama

pap,thanks also for how to.i have just one question.whats the purpose for the bleach and water spray? simplman

9/7/2004 9:17:19 AM

[email protected]

S2,

Bleach is a sanitizing agent. Kills germs as well as pathogens that vector disease. No real residual after is't dry. But a very effective sanitizer.

9/7/2004 9:43:03 AM

Central PA

Many Thanks Dick:

I noted that you didn't mention the Calcium towels? Or was that intended in #4

I'm not on that scale yet, but I do have a DON'T DO that I'm going to add to my list.
- Don't grow near a flood plan.

9/7/2004 11:32:51 PM

Walkerton Ont

no more 1000 lber for me for sure, she went down yesturday.

9/8/2004 4:45:09 AM