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Mn

I have been growing two years now in MN. My first year i grew a 729.5 pound pumpkin one one pit full of old cow manure. I ony fertilized maybe 8-9 times with miricale grow and 3-4 times with Neptunes Fish/seaweed. This year i only ended up with a few 400+ pumpkins. I see all these top growers spending 100$ on watering systems, fertilizer, and pesticides. I'm really wondering weather it's really worth spending all this money on these pumpkins. If it is I'm SOL, And i may have to down size on the number of plants i grow (4plants) or even quit. I highly dought that i will quit though. So what does it really require to grow these things as fare as manure, ferilizer, pesticides, and watering systems? Is there a easier way?

11/10/2005 9:17:28 PM

Tipp City, Ohio

Hey MN,
It took me 5 years to get one over 500 lbs. I had one split at an est weight of 659 on Aug 29th. The weights in my area were way down from last year. In 2004, at the Chilicothe, Ohio weighoff, first place was over 1,100 lbs. This year no one broke 900 lbs and we had many more entries for 2005. Also, first place at the 2004 Circleville Show was the 1353 Liggett. This year no one broke 1,000 pounds at the Circleville show.

Now if you drive north to the OVGPG weigh off they had 12 entries over 1,000 pounds. Only about a 3 1/2 hour drive.

So, I think regional climate has a very large influence on the weights.

Tom

11/10/2005 9:45:28 PM

Pumpkintown, SC

A soil test would be your best starting point...

11/10/2005 10:10:20 PM

Rhode Island

best advice i can give you is to do the same things we will do every year

get a soil test this fall ( take a sample about 6 to 8 inches down in four spots in your garden, mix together and dry out a quart or so and send it out ) that tells you exactly everything thats going on in your soil
major and minor nutrient levels, caton exchange, percent of organic matter, etc,etc.

when you get the results back get together with an experienced grower ( or mail to an experienced grower who can read the results and advise )---- if you state your crop is pumpkins then the report you get back will offer valid additions as needed.

once your soil is in order you need to buff up on your insect and disease control for your area of the country.

as far as additional fertalizers i will say this. if your soil is balanced so that all nutrients can be taken up properly during the season then you really dont need to add more fertalizers.
possibly some liquid fish or kelp on occasion.
there is no easier way to grow a giant pumpkin. unless you buy one and stick it in your patch lol

dick

11/10/2005 10:38:34 PM

So. Maine

Dick , I wonder if anyone has ever done that ( buy one & put it in the patch )then show it off to friends, family.

Al

11/11/2005 9:59:43 PM