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Connecticut

I was wondering how big people let their plants get and what size pumpkin they have grown. I am not looking for a ratio or anything I just want to see if a trend can be generated as far as what plant size has most commonly leads to big pumpkin sizes.

Thank you:-)

11/21/2005 4:42:20 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Matt,
For the last two years, I've let my competition plants get about 350-400 sq. ft. The two resulting pumpkins were 615 and 678.5 lbs.
For the record, is it the plant canopy area that is measured in this regard?

11/21/2005 4:56:12 PM

Connecticut

Yes, plant canopy is what I ment by plant size. Not growing area.

11/21/2005 5:05:29 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Not by any means a guru...but I think sunlight hours will determine plant size for competitive size pumpkins. In direct all day sun you may be able to get away with a smaller plant..leaf count wise...if you are sunlight challenged ..I would opt for a larger plant...packing away as much as I could to one sink...I may be off base but if the soil etc is right and the light is bad you may need to compensate for those conditions...
GrowEmBig!
Chuck

11/21/2005 5:20:13 PM

Utah

see the graph on the link below... it does not include 2005 data but I would guess that the ratios are still about the same.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/displayphoto.asp?pid=3534&gid=-3085

One would think that there would be a better trend .. but there isn't ... so if you ask my opinioin it looks like anything from 400 to 800 sq ft is where you want to be. The trend over the years has been smaller. 10 years ago the "ideal" plant size was 2000 sq ft.

11/21/2005 5:24:48 PM

San Diego

350 sq foot grew my 861, split day 41 and went down early, headed for 1045 real weight or 1150 estimated. Full sun patch in southern california. Jim

11/21/2005 6:13:54 PM

Syracuse, NY

veddy intedesting!
by that chart, then,
'pal2 here should have
some bigger pumpkins from
year to year...hmmmmm......

11/21/2005 6:17:41 PM

Trumbull, CT 06611, USA

500 square feet

11/21/2005 6:27:10 PM

Spanish Ontario

982.4 650sq ft
756 650 sq ft
1104 est 400 sq ft
953 600sq ft

11/21/2005 6:35:19 PM

Follansbee, Wv

684 split day 48 on pace for 1000 plus on 450 sq ft
1095 grown on 450 sq ft

11/21/2005 6:48:07 PM

Mocksville, NC

06 plant size will be 600sq ft give or take a little

11/21/2005 7:23:47 PM

Central Mi

600 sq feet

11/22/2005 3:49:03 AM

Roanoke Il

I would think 350-450 sq feet. The only reason for a bigger plant if one had the room and resources to improve the soil equally. max size 650sq ft. mark

11/22/2005 5:05:41 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

I tried to put 6 plants into just over 2200 sq ft in '05. Way over crowded. Will cut back to 4 plants this year. That makes it approx. 550 sq. ft. per. Hoping to bring a big one to completion in '06. Split at 275# on day 35, split 225# on day 28 this year. Rookie mistakes...live and learn. Peace Wayne

11/22/2005 7:56:21 AM

Pembroke, New Hampshire

2 plants this year- each with 700 sq. feet of canopy. One went down late August at 870 est., the second at 804.6. Next year, I plan on 4 plants in 2600 sq. feet, and plan to use all my space...650 sq. foot per plant.

11/22/2005 8:19:06 AM

Abbotsford, B.C

Used to be 500 square feet, but I am thinking of uping to about 600 or possibly 650.

11/22/2005 8:53:49 PM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

I grew 4 plant last year. Two were 500sq ft each (both pumpkins split @ 847 & 947# in August), One was a flag pattern at 200 sq ft (split @ 530# in August) and the last one was a christmas tree pattern at about 375 sq ft and it grew my 1011#. I will keep my plants around 400 sq ft next year.

Phil

11/23/2005 6:50:33 AM