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Entry Date
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Location
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Sunday, September 14, 2025
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Matt D.
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Connecticut
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Entry 61 of 71 |
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Carbon Dioxide Enrichment
After doing comparisons of growing with and without CO2 supplementation with giant pumpkins in the same patch there seems to be a great benefit to plant growth, but basically no impact on pumpkin growth. The target range is 1000-1200ppm of CO2.
As a result, CO2 is supplemented from the time the plant goes in the ground, until the pumpkin is about 20-30 days old. The reason for the day range is the goal is to help the plant fill the allowed space while the pumpkin is still small so that by time the pumpkin growth takes off, the plant is full.
Compressed 50lb CO2 bottles are used so there is no excessive moisture and it ensures only CO2 is being added. The moving of the bottles can be a little challenging, as they weigh about 175 pounds full but the plant growth is noticeable.
The exact benefit is hard to quantify, but as a general estimate the plant seems to fill the allowed growing area (about 1,000sq.ft.) about 12 days faster then without CO2. Essentially, this means the plant can be 12 days younger (or more) at the same size which essentially means there is increase plant growth efficiency. In addition, with the use of CloneX gel the root mass is also expanded in a shorter duration of time that also contributes to early robust growth that does not increase aging of the plant.
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