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Greencastle, PA

Does anyone know how big the plants that produced this year's top pumpkins were? Also, what pruning styles were most successful?
Tom

11/5/2006 4:20:22 PM

Here's my rundown not the "top" perhaps, but got some attention here,,,lol
First year grower I tryed different sizes:
1175.5 fruit 450 sq ft plant
1046.6 fruit 700 sq ft plant
1023 fruit 550 sq ft plant
an indication that smaller plants do the job and are easier to care for, my conclusion anyway.
Pruning style,,,kept all secondarys that weren't in the way,first secondary was removed for air at the stump, next let to grow to 14', xmas tree style, let main run and grow never terminated.

11/5/2006 5:47:03 PM

That State Up North

Good question, lets hear some good answers from those who know. I won't add what I did to grow a 189 pounder this year.
If you grew a 1000 pounder this year, tell us about your plant


Nic Welty

11/6/2006 8:35:30 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

It would be very interesting how the Wallace's grew there giants? Small plants? What style of pruning? Removal of any of the secondarys? How much of a plant was after the pumpkins? Side vines length?

11/6/2006 9:11:05 PM

Berlin,mi.([email protected])

1370 rose seed. started out double and grew out of it. i pruned the plant spider style. here's a picture of it.http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=56915
the plant was about 730 sq. ft.it had real big vines. i buried all the vines and managed to keep it healthy all the way to the end. final weight 1302 lbs. i beleive the use of m roots and adding a lot of aged manure to my patch was my biggest contributor to my success this year.

11/6/2006 9:22:37 PM

[email protected]

I was talking with Dick today. The 1502 R. Wallace & the 1450 D. Wallace were both grown on 700 sq ft. The trend this year was toward bigger plants again.

11/6/2006 9:41:21 PM

Danville, CA ([email protected])

What does a 700sf plant equate too? 25 foot main, 14 foot secondaries on each side tapering like a xmas tree? Or say a 20 foot main with 17 foot secondaries tapering? Just trying to see what people are talking about when they say 700 sf? Sorry if I am dense here. Thanks

11/6/2006 9:50:49 PM

Pumpkintown, SC

"If you grew a 1000 pounder this year, tell us about your plants"
The other 90% of you, well, talk amongst yourselves. LOL

11/6/2006 10:50:42 PM

Streator ,Illinois

4 pumpkins ---1119 , 1124, 1091 , 974 grown in a 35 x 39 patch , less then 350 sq. ft. per plant plants were ran toward each other, xmas style, secondaries 10 ft. , pumpkins pollinated around 11-13 ft.
1 or 2 secondaries after the pumpkin, the main turned and ran another 10 ft. to the edge of the patch and terminated. this was done with good seeds 1173 macari, 1039 leonard, 1253 sperry, 500 wallace .
A Big Thanks to Steve Sperry who set me up with the R.I. seeds and Darrell Leonard for swapping his seed with me. Plus great weather !!
Gene McMullen

11/6/2006 11:35:22 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

This is some great info.! Thanks for sharing.

11/6/2006 11:55:50 PM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

My 1093.5 Hunt was grown on the 1068 Wallace in a space about 20' x 20'. The plant was grown in a x-mas tree style & all secondaries were kept unless they interfered with the pumpkin. Main was allowed to grow to the end of the patch, turned & allowed to grow to the side & terminated. No secondary vines were allowed to grow once the main vine was turned. Pumpkin was about 7-8 ft from the stump. I only kept it because the others on the main aborted after they were pollinated. Weather was cooler than the previous year with the average high throughout the season of 70-75 degrees. Hope this helps.

Phil

11/7/2006 8:14:46 AM

Vermont

Ah! 974 Landers I know it is a little light, sorry about that but I'm replying anyway! 255 sq ft 15'x17',planted south to north, side vines were 7 to 8 ft long.Set pumpkin at 12ft cut main off at pumpkin early august due to vine stress. Plant had 250 leaves give or take a few.And I buried all side vines.
Dennis (scoops) Landers

11/7/2006 2:26:31 PM