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Kenora Ontario

Hello
I am new to this site and trying my second year at big pumpkins! I am so lost trying figure out where to find the beginning of this site to learn pumpkin growing. I really want to grow my granddaughter a huge pumpkin and it looking pretty good so far… not near big like I see here but one day…I hope.
I am wondering about what fertilizer I should be using right now I understand cut down nitrogen… I really don’t have much options here to find fertilizer except the miracle grow, worm castings, couple other fertilizer like miracle grow. Oo I put some thrive and molasses. Ok I’ll stop blabbing can some send me in the right direction on this site… it’s huge.. on fertilizer for pumpkins . Thank you!

8/1/2021 11:07:47 PM

Syracuse, NY

Finally, someone mentions Miracle-Grow right off the bat.
You are in EXACTLY the right place to begin, so, glad yer here! You can simply go into the New Growers Forum and
look at any post that has been placed from any new grower previously and review what they have asked and what the potential answers have been, all this week, for instance.
You can also select any grower's diary that has been updated ('What's New since') and follow any grower's diary from the beginning to present and see 'how it's done' by that PARTICULAR grower. There are dozens and dozens every year so you'll have no trouble with variety, lol. I can't really suggest a particular one or that'd maybe be unfair to anyone else, I suppose.

Concerning Molasses, you can probably type it into the Search Window on the front page, go to the BOTTOM and READ the posts about it (at the top are mostly diary entries with pics, which might only MENTION that one word, Molasses);

8/2/2021 12:13:24 AM

Syracuse, NY

Whenever I'll start using it in a day or two, it'll be the BlackStrap-type at one quart per 55 gallons H20 applied with whatever else I'm doing through a Whizzer-type sprinkler head until that barrel is done and move onto the next plant. I believe it give the soil microbes something to munch on and makes the place smell nice, lol - Also, probably the worms love it as well - I can only hope.

Since you already have a fruit going on, we don't want to upset progress thus far unless there are any obvious troubles, so, I would strive to get a water-soluble such as Miracle-Grow with a BALANCED formulation such as 10-10-10 or a slightly-higher-Potassium content such as 5-10-40 to accentuate fruit growth and yet still give something else to the plant for fun and games. Follow the label directions exactly.

You can hit the Search with any topic, but I'll warn ya - it's gotta be an exact match for this site so keep trying at it, and you'll also have all those posts listed in NGF to sometimes hit the nail on the head. Check the other listings for fun, and lots of it.

Hope I've helped with my honest opinions here and you'll hopefully get a lot more responses from others as well! later---eric g/'pal2

8/2/2021 12:13:33 AM

Colorado

Start on the fertilizing and watering section.There is a lot of info on here but its question and answer mostly.

8/2/2021 1:10:26 AM

Central Illinois

Try the How To section http://www.bigpumpkins.com/HowTo/ and there are other sites that give you a good understanding of what growers do http://how2growags.blogspot.com/p/beginners-guide-to-growing-giant_892.html#Shading%20the%20pumpkin|outline

8/2/2021 6:04:32 AM

Grittyville, WA

My first very first try on atlantic giants was 80 lbs... but I thought that was huge. For me its an ongoing learning process comong from various directions.

8/2/2021 9:07:19 AM

Grittyville, WA

You may want to start with a soil test & go from there.

8/2/2021 9:09:32 AM

Kenora Ontario

Thank you all so much for steering me in the right directions!
I am so excited!!!!

8/2/2021 10:30:24 AM

Kenora Ontario

One more question
My pumpkin stem has also another stem on side can I cut off ugh I’m scared I’ll screw up my pumpkin… I don’t even know what stem pumpkin growing off … I feel overwhelmed now reading…S curve…Christmas tree… holy moly I’m gonna need to make pumpkin wine after this 😂

8/2/2021 11:50:31 AM

Kenora Ontario

One more question
My pumpkin stem has also another stem on side can I cut off ugh I’m scared I’ll screw up my pumpkin… I don’t even know what stem pumpkin growing off … I feel overwhelmed now reading…S curve…Christmas tree… holy moly I’m gonna need to make pumpkin wine after this 😂

8/2/2021 11:50:40 AM

Deer Park WA

Look for an experienced grower near you that can show you the unique basics of pumpkin soil, fertilizing and plant management.

8/2/2021 3:25:46 PM

Kenora Ontario

Yes Gads! I am a hands on learner. I came across Roland Manitoba growers and fair… still three hours away but I noticed on their site they have big pumpkins.com now to figure out which are the Roland Manitoba growers on here!

8/2/2021 5:53:14 PM

Team Canuckle Heads

Have you checked out GVGO.ca? (Giant Vegetable Growers of Ontario)

8/2/2021 8:09:11 PM

Kenora Ontario

I will look Zeke! Thank you!!

8/2/2021 8:37:34 PM

Kenora Ontario

I will look Zeke! Thank you!!

8/2/2021 8:44:14 PM

Ironton, ohio

Welcome to the site Mustard! It can seem a bit overwhelming, great seed and decent soil will get you a long way. Im in year two and still learning. Im liking the Neptune harvest products also gsplantfood has some decent options.i apply often but lightly thru a hose end sprayer. The answers you need are on this site somewhere, use site search and keep digging. Grow big!

8/3/2021 5:00:35 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Mustardseed, loads of information here as others have suggested and I’ll chime in a bit late on the topic. Not to overturn or disagree with the use of MiracleGrow by EG, but with the legalization of cannibis and the proliferation of hydroponic stores in Canada, I’d suggest you go for something better than what I consider to be the cotton candy of fertilizers (MG).

Products from RAW NPK, General Hydroponics, Advanced Nutrients, Gia Green, FloraGro and the list goes on.

Also, never mix Miracle Grow or 20-20-20 blue powder or anything at the recommended label strength or you’ll burn your plants out way too early. The recommended rate on those products exceeds 1000 ppm (parts per million) and my strategy with feeding is slow and steady wins the race and maybe mix those products at 1/2 the recommended label rate.

Hope this helps, get a local mentor that has grown something consistently over 1000 lbs every year and follow their formula and you will find success going forward.

Good luck.

8/3/2021 11:57:47 AM

Kenora Ontario

Thank you North Shore Boyz! I will look for those fertilizer suggestions online none here in stores. I came across Roland Manitoba grower and hopefully get to get out there…I never dreamt I would get so interested in pumpkins and realize omg I’m talking to a pumpkin…conversation pretty interesting lol! Thank you and everyone for the time and information so much appreciated! Rose

8/3/2021 12:56:00 PM

Kenora Ontario

North Shore Boyz I just went through your diary very helpful with pics! With the Dap 30 what fertilizers are you giving it at this time… like should I order raw potassium…calcium I think this is where my brain is stuck now on which fertilizer to give at this time…

8/3/2021 1:59:57 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

I’ve switched over from RAW Grow to RAW Bloom (3-12-12) as well as rotating with Stoller’s Ureamate (5-10-27).

I’m not using much fertilizer at the moment because we pre-loaded our soil with granular fertilizer as per the recommendation from the lab following a soil test.

We have a soil test done in the spring (and amend accordingly) and also another test in the fall before planting the cover crop to see what has been used. We then plant our cover crop and usually use some granular organic 7-7-7 to get the cover crop started and fed during its growing season.

8/3/2021 3:28:19 PM

Kenora Ontario

North Shore Boyz! Thank you for information so much appreciated!

8/3/2021 3:35:14 PM

Western Washington

Glad you're here, Mustardseed! Much luck to you!

8/3/2021 7:20:40 PM

Kenora Ontario

End to end: 59”
Side to side: 71”
Circumference: 91”
Estimated weight: 249 lbs

If I did chart right ! If not I’m still a very happy Grammie!!

8/3/2021 8:09:27 PM

Kenora Ontario

Thank you Suburban Gardner! I am learning lots I am so grateful everyone is so amazing with information and help. I think I turning into a pumpkin nut! Lol!!

8/3/2021 8:28:08 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Find a Mentor if possible it will take years off your learning curve and make your chances of success much better

8/4/2021 7:39:04 AM

Kenora Ontario

Yes Engel! I wish there were pumpkin growers here I would love a mentor! I have given seeds to neighbour's kids and random friends and said were having a pumpkin contest… it be fare none of us know what we’re doing lol! But the the neighbors boy keeps checking on mine to see if I’m beating him! I will hopefully get to meet Arthur in Roland Manitoba… 3 hours away but be worth to see and learn… all in all I am having fun and learning lots! Thanks to everyone’s help in the magical world of big pumpkin growers!

8/4/2021 1:07:02 PM

Syracuse, NY

Well, I'm bummed that I slept right through last night and missed all the activity on this post! The good news is that I'm reminded that I need to order Urea Mate and use it at its recommended rate on the label, along with all my Miracle-Grow that I've accumulated, in the same fashion; I've been more worried about the hyphen in its title than anything - it turns out that it's 'Miracle-Gro', lol;
Now, I'll grow a really BIG pumpkin! Woo-Hoo!!! eg

8/5/2021 3:19:21 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Here’s a great link to an insightful piece on Urea Mate, how it works as part of a complete fertilizer program.

http://www.wickmanchemical.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/HARVEST-MORE-5-10-27-GENERAL.pdf

Doing the math is fun based on the professional recommendations of 10 pounds per acre (an acre is 43560 square feet) every 7 to 14 days.

My patch is 3500 square feet or roughly 8% of an acre. So I use that formula of 8% of 10 pounds = 0.8 pounds (roughly 3/4 of a pound) of Ureamate every 7-14 days in the fertigation water from my 250 gallon tank.

I choose to do it evenly (spoon feeding) over those 7-14 days in quite small amounts that equal the recommended rates by the professionals. We also apply Ureamate via foliar twice a week at 250 parts per million.

8/6/2021 12:33:46 AM

Kenora Ontario

North Shore Boyz where do you get your ureamate… I don’t know why I can’t seem to find it anywhere.

8/12/2021 7:34:16 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

There are contacts at the following link.

https://stollerenterprises.ca/

8/12/2021 10:45:24 PM

Kenora Ontario

Thank you North Shore Boyz!

8/13/2021 12:10:49 AM