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Central NY

Alright new growers, lets hear from ya .. The good the bad and the ugly ...we are getting close to the exciting part of this hobby , how yall doing?.. Are ya keeping up?...Any big ones goin?...losing sleep?

7/26/2015 2:33:02 PM

Manitoba

Hi, Porkchop. I have one main giant (1,379 lb seed) pollinated on July 13th, plus a wee one pollinated on July 22 on the same vine. Plus another wee one on a neglected vine that doesn't have enough space, from a 1,111-pounder.

Big one is maybe 15" in diameter. Looks healthy except for a nick where I hit it lightly with a plastic bucket. I swore I would not let that happen but it did.

How can you measure the diameter or circumference, by the way, without lifting it? Believe me, kind friend, I am not taking any unnecessary risks.

My pumpkin is sitting on sand under a crude little shade-house. It is 86 degrees here today, feels like 102 according to the weather man. I sliced the roots at the nodes nearby to prevent stem stress - for as much as I understand all this. I guess at some point I will have to put foam rolls under the nearby vines but I'm pretty clued out.

Yes, I am losing sleep already!

Thanks for your interest, Porkchop, and how are your babies doing? Are you on the grower diaries? Not sure how to find that if you don't tell us.

7/26/2015 5:54:33 PM

San Diego

I am doing okay right now. I am not losing any sleep but I am making a huge list of improvements/changes/regrets. My pumpkin is at day 10 right now and 25" circumference and it looks like it will be orange so I am happy for now. I am happy I have gotten this far. Usually I can't get things to grow...but I have never been this serious either. Haha

Rats are driving me crazy though. I killed 6 of them and their nest, but they keep coming back. Until I planted we didn't have any rat problems for years.

7/26/2015 6:38:22 PM

Central NY

Hey me2.... Check out this link on how to measure before u break something !!..lol.
http://youtu.be/Cd1S8gUC-Ew
Our babies are just getting started and I screwed up a bit training mor than one vine as a new main but so far a healthy few plants this year...no Heavy hitting here but still hoping for 1000 lbs...I'll post more to journal soon...
Somebody , watch out for them rats, I hear they love young pumpkins!!.. Good luck you guys ... Grow em big!!

7/26/2015 8:29:01 PM

Minnesota

I just found svb's, I got them all out I hope! I have Orange and one for heavy.

7/26/2015 10:09:11 PM

Bloomington, IN USA

I'm just living the dream, lol!
I have 2 punkins, both on side vines of the same plant, a 1738 Barron.
I think I had sterile male blossoms.
Anyhow, 2 female blossoms on the main vine I thought had been pollinated but they never grew.
The ones on the side vines got pollinated the same day & are 26 DAP today.
They are growing pretty well.
Recently they have been growing at 13 & 11 pounds per day.
So one is 184 OTT & 144 lbs & the other 190 OTT & 158 lbs..
My goal for this year is only 500 lbs.
I have been keeping both of them because I am worried about screwing it up & figure I have a spare if I lose one.
Neither of them are beauties. I sprayed them with a 10% bleach solution but then didn't wash it off so they look like t hey have acne!
Live & learn!

7/26/2015 10:55:33 PM

Germany

MeToo!, you don´t need to lift the fruit for any circumference measurements, because you measure CC parallel to the ground (not orthogonal to the stem-blossom-axis).

BTW1: Start a grower diary here on BP, that helps with reporting your success and with pointing at some of the troubles you experience and when you ask for advice on the message board, sometimes a picture can tell much more than explanations on the message board.

BTW2: You are asking many questions, good and important questions, that´s the best way of learning. Keep it up!

7/27/2015 3:17:14 AM

Germany

@ Somebody: How about a diary of your pumpkin season? Did you already mention the reason when writing "Usually I can't get things to grow...but I have never been this serious either."? At least I recommend you take some pics of your plants, maybe every week, and even if you don´t post them in a diary, they could serve as a little motivation for you. In 2013 I´ve made this experience, after two pretty good years I´ve finally had a crap year because of a cold and wet spring and a flooded patch, and even though I was far away from growing a new PB, the comparison of the pics, which revealed the positive attitude of the almost dead plants, also served as a motivation for me to let these plants and pumpkins grow instead of pulling them and replacing them by a cover crop.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=204776

7/27/2015 4:03:53 AM

New Berlin, PA

Another new grower here. Last year was my first for any kind of pumpkin. I grew Big Moon variety and had one that was 40 pounds on my bathroom scale. This is my first year with AGs, and I am learning a ton and having a lot of fun. I do worry though - about wind, or heat, or bugs, or disease...the more you know the more you realize what could go wrong I guess.

The good - I have one at 224 ott DAP 28 and one at 202 ott DAP 23. Also, I think I have my insect program starting to work. Cucumber and Jap beetles are all but gone now. Also, I rigged up an overhead watering system, which is great especially for the heat we have this week.

The bad - my third plant produces volleyball size fruit and then they turn white and soft. I have no fruit left on that plant except two soft ones I plan to cut off today. Also my biggest fruit is starting to roll over on the blossom end a little. I tried sliding it away from the vine and putting more sand behind it.

I have both kins on mill fabric and a bed of sand. I keep them covered with white sheets 24/7, only uncover to measure and check the stems and blossom ends.

That's my story so far. Look forward to hearing other new grower stories.

7/27/2015 8:43:49 AM

Central NY

Nice Dan ... Every day is a new pb for you...sounds like they are just getting started.. Good luck!

7/27/2015 10:22:54 AM

San Diego

I considered a diary but decided I would skip this year and wait until I have a better idea of what I am doing. The reason is, like I said above, I usually can't get a plant to grow, and I thought the diary might just come to an early end. First time with only one plant is kind of risky since I see that so many people lose almost half their plants every season. In fact, I don't even have enough space for one plant. LOL

I have taken some pictures for myself but I think I will start taking them every week like you said.

7/27/2015 10:23:47 AM

Manitoba

I sure do want to post photos of my darling pumpkin, but we don't have a digital camera. A regular camera + having to wait quite some time would have to do!

Thanks to you, pumpking and Porkchop, and everyone for sharing your knowledge.

Well, I'm off to the patch! It rained last night...

7/27/2015 10:36:20 AM

Manitoba

OK: Here is my first official statistic:

40" at Day 15. FWIW. Is this within the normal range or not?

7/27/2015 6:34:34 PM

Easthampton, MA

Well, it's been a bit up and down for me. I just had my best pumpkin start abort. I have a new one - 8"cc at DAP 5.
I think I set my pumpkin back with too much MKP. New start and the vine it's on looks good though. I'm not going to play with anything until it makes 2 weeks. :)

But, I'm finally getting a soil test... I wasn't going to this year, but now I think I need it.

I've thought about a diary and said 'next year'. But now I might do so since my leaves are showing some symptoms that I believe are related to the fertilizing. I've cut off a bunch of bad ones, but it would probably be helpful to show how things are developing. Might be a deficiency due to too much K. I'm not looking for advice on it yet. Best to wait to get the soil test, put some pics up, and see if it continues.

After my foliar spray of MKP, lots of new flowers aborted (male and female) so ya... Lovin' it to death. ;)

Oh, great video link on measuring! Thanks for that!

7/27/2015 7:40:57 PM

East Jordan, MI

I haven't slept since Jul 17th! 2 days till day 40...then new pics will be posted. Be prepared to be amazed... I know I am, what a ride!

7/27/2015 9:17:16 PM

New Berlin, PA

Thanks, Porkchop. I just hope one or both make it the whole way through summer to the fall.

7/27/2015 10:13:06 PM

Central NY

Nows the time to be vigilant Dan ... And if you have it dialed in, you gonna grow one like countryboy... Can't wait to see the pics ...looks like a SLAMMER!!!!

7/27/2015 11:15:11 PM

New Berlin, PA

I wouldn't use "dialed in" as the best description of my patch, and I certainly am not growing one like Cecil. But either way - I am trying my best, and as I learn I try harder. Its fun just watching what my pumpkins can do, and seeing what others on here are capable of. Pretty amazing!

7/28/2015 8:49:35 AM

Bloomington, IN USA

So I am trying to rev up the growth of my pumpkins.
The plant has completely filled it's patch space.
I trimmed all the tertiaries, I probably had about 5 that had popped up in the last few days.
I terminated all secondaries & buried the tips, including the ones my fruits are on.
The tip of the main vine has been terminated for 3 weeks.

My question is, if I sacrifice one of my pumpkins, can I expect the growth rate of the remaining one to double?

7/28/2015 8:51:24 PM

Torrance, Ca.

I have nothing like Cecil either but sure having fun with what I got;)

7/29/2015 12:22:00 AM

aurora, IL

Yesterday, Rocky was 92"cc dap:28 and Terminator was 49.5"cc dap:15! :)

7/29/2015 10:09:47 AM

San Diego

My pumpkin started doing 4 inches a day a few days ago and has moved up to 5 today. I am really happy about that since I only have 250 square feet of imbalanced soil. DAP 13

If I can keep it going I think I will be very happy with what I get! I don't have to worry about beating my PB because I did that 13 days ago.

So.Cal.Grower, I need an update on that crazy pumpkin!

7/29/2015 2:09:24 PM

Central NY

Nice somebody... That's the best part about being a newer grower...everyday can be a new PB...keep it growin!

7/29/2015 6:00:49 PM

Aurora, Il

Christopher is now the grower of two giants! Queen Big Butt "The Terminator" is 16 days old today and I just saw her at our patch! Tomorrow, he will post some pics. This girl has a big ... butt!!! "Rocky, his other big butt is jealous LOL!! Pics tomorrow Mr C................

7/29/2015 10:11:11 PM

myrtle creek Oregon

1st year grower here, down to just the one due to the deer getting the rest.28dap taped out to 276lbs, I'm content with that as well as just all the knowledge I've gained. Oh, and the discovery of this web page and the community I couldn't be happier, thanks all.

7/30/2015 4:58:41 PM

Jefferson, Maryland

I've got 4 still holding on despite a bout with powdery mildew and a groundhog.

Estimated weights are between 44 and 70 lbs. Growing at 5-6 pounds per day right now.

But in my little county fair, a 200+ usually wins. So, here's hoping!

(Already lining up a dump truck of manure for this fall!).

7/31/2015 6:53:57 PM

Aurora, Il

Okay, yesterday after work, I helped pull with a gantry crane and straps Miss Big Butt, Rocky, back from the edge of the abyss. She continues to grow forward! Best to all of you guys - this is really awesome to see so much feedback!!

7/31/2015 7:57:18 PM

San Diego

I was gone for three days (thought it would be four) and I was amazed at how big the pumpkin had gotten in that amount of time. It is on day 17 so I am guessing that it is at the point where they really start to grow because it doubled in size in three days. I will be happy with 10-15 pounds a day for my rookie year, but I think it will be more than that.

8/3/2015 1:31:54 AM

Bloomington, IN USA

As of yesterday, Maxime is at 263 lbs & Hagrid at 223 lbs.
Over the last 3 days, Maxime is growing 18 lbs/day & Hagrid at 11 lbs/day.
Optimistically projecting forward, I am hoping to get Maxime to 750 & Hagrid to 600!

8/3/2015 11:29:25 AM

aurora, IL

Yesterday, Rocky was at 100"cc at dap33 and Terminator was at 66.5"cc at dap20.

8/3/2015 11:54:50 AM