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MHO (My Honest Opinion) is that your plant has always been looking great in the color and condition aspects but no one perhaps has asked (seems that most/any comments are gone or there were hardly any) for how (often/much/with what) you are watering and fertilizing the plant. There is no pressure to announce it all but it is !cool! that it is working. Nice! A plant is at its 'visible' optimum, to ME, when it is growing slightly, still, even with fruit on and it is still trying to put out males and females; I was impressed with my lush 6-8" per day a week/10 D ago, but I am now using a low-N, high-Phosphorus/Potassium water-soluble fertilizer anymore that I can use much less of per my research, so I am elated in the cost reduction (perhaps, lol) and resources savings, lol - so now, maybe 2"-3" per day. If either stop, I feel there is a need for whatever kept it going. NOT a Heavy Hitter, lol. To increase size, MHO is to read up on Vine Burying - increases the root mass for the fruits' trying to take it all in, Site Searching exactly what you are asking about, 'Bigger Fruits' or similar and Googling or waiting for better advice about 'Hi-Phos' and 'Hi-Potassium Fertilizers for Atlantic Giants' and such. Perhaps what you have is great soil for an AG, where everything is there by a stroke of good luck or a soil strategy otherwise unmentioned. Pardon me if my joking ever hits a nerve, lol. Your best bet may be to just do what you are doing and water the HHHHHHHHHHHH out of it at least once a week - you don't wanna upset the apple cart. In MY patch? I'd be taking it easy with my 6-30-30 combined with Holland's Land O' Giants Seaweed Powder (It is several years old, but I have plenty) and those will be the only things I'll use the rest of the weigh, plus or minus...but taking it VERY easy.

[Last edit: 08/24/26 4:50:27 PM]

8/24/2026 4:29:57 PM

C N Y

The second fruit could stay, but if you wanna have a backup AND a shock absorber for the main fruit, then, as the big one gets bigger, you could start cutting off the backup a lit-tle bit at a time - even at 1/4 of an inch every few days and it may start to grow lop-sided, even 'lop-topped', lol and will still be of some use. Biggest main fruit ever in a week or so? Then, remove it the rest of the way with some vine attached; Secure this to a neighbor's bushes as they are gone for the weekend and oh, won't they be surprised, lol. Well, enuf outta me and I wish you good luck. Great talk, Great Pumpkin, a huge feat growing on a postage stamp and DO keep it all on here for us! eric g

8/24/2026 4:30:07 PM

C N Y

PS---'OTT' is 'Over-The-Top' Method, lol.
I do know of an 'OOT Brothers Roofing' from MANY years ago.
How odd. Take care---eric g

[Last edit: 08/24/26 4:37:20 PM]

8/24/2026 4:32:37 PM

Bethlehem CT

plant and pumpkin look good! The blossom nub looks healthy too, many growers have to remove that nub if they forget to remove the petals a few days after pollination, the "nub will rot". so it is then removed, like yours.

8/25/2026 6:00:37 AM

Colorado

Good to know everyone. Thanks for the advice.

OOT was a typo :P I meant OTT.

Everything is still looking mostly healthy.

8/25/2026 10:44:10 AM