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milford, CT,

Hi Guys, It's starting all over again. Planning for 2006 is beginning. My question is.. I have a 30 x 40 patch. In order to grow 2 pumpkins I've been toying with different geometries to get the most sq ft per plant. If I plant the 2 plants back to back in the center and use the diagonal as my center line I can grow 24 ft long mains and the initial 5 -6 secondaries would have about 18 ft on each side to grow. To me this sounds like a better layout than growing them towards each other from opposite ends. Looking for feedback? Mark

11/6/2005 8:10:48 PM

Simi valley, ca

Sounds good, But id keep 5 ft or so between for roots!!

11/6/2005 9:56:13 PM

Vancouver, White Rock, Canada

Yup, that's exactly what I'd do. I just wish i had 30' X 40' to grow in!

11/6/2005 10:35:45 PM

milford, CT,

Thanks for the input. Last year I tried to squeeze 3 plants in and created an unmanageable patch and small fruit. This layout also maximizes the way the sun covers the patch. Good luck everyone on winter planning!

11/7/2005 9:27:06 PM

Long Island,New York

If three plants in 1200 sq ft produced small fruit and you used "named seeds" and your soil was OK I'd definitely increase the size of the plants. This is where experience, trial and error, and individual adjustments come in...not everyones patch can make big fruit with 350 sq ft plants. You need to adjust things to what works there in your patch while adjusting the patch to its optimum growing conditions.

11/8/2005 7:40:23 AM

milford, CT,

LI Pumpkin, I think you saw my patch on the Ct tour. Your comment then was too many plants not enough sq ft. My decision this year is to enlarge the patch a little and only grow 2 plants (500 sq ft each). I was thinking along the same lines that I didn't have enough plant to support bigger size. My 350lb pumpkin only gained 5 - 7 lbs a day for 45 days. Thanks for the info. Mark

11/9/2005 9:18:16 PM

[email protected]

Glenn Andrews meet Mark Lombardi (again).

11/9/2005 11:11:04 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Mark, I would like to chime in if I may. Firstly a man named Eaton once told me that he liked openness. Meaning lots of room for the plants leaves to expand. The canopy should have good air circulation and ample room so the leaves do not touch. This can help to reduce PM and allow wet leaves to dry much faster. Surface light distribution is more even when the foliage does not overlap. Plenty of room provides ample space when spraying or weeding between the vine rows.

11/10/2005 7:05:21 AM

milford, CT,

Russ your so right. The temptation to plant that extra plant caused me to have difficulties last year. Guys like me that can only plant a few plants always feel at a disadvantage to growers that can plant 10 plants. BUT.. I agree that growing fewer plants so as to better space and tend to them should be the rule. After last year I definitely plan to let the plants grow bigger and to give myself a chance to care and prune them efficiently. Thanks for helping a new guy. Input from guys who have already been there helps to shorten the learning curve for new growers. Mark

11/10/2005 7:55:45 PM