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Sacramento, Ca

I will be making my second attempt this year at a big pumpkin. Last year was my first try and it did not go so well due to a lot of reasons. My seed from last year was from a grower that enters his pumpkins into the Elk Grove Pumpkin Festival (who I since have lost track of, if your out there, you bought a package Trane heating and Air system from us and live in citrus heights, ca.). I met him by chance in the course of my day job and, as it usually does, one thing led to another and he gave me some seeds from a pumpkin that weighed in at 675 pounds. I have no idea what the lineage of the seeds were. So anyway, I planted them, culled out all but the strongest plant and everything went well until the middle of July (Sacramento, Ca - gets into the 100+ range regularly). Just as the fruits came on to the vines the plant started having major wilting problems. It would only wilt in the daytime when it was hot. If it was cool out or at night then things were fine. I started researching on the internet and determined, probably falsely, that I had on of the viruses that causes wilt. I ripped the plant up and it was history. This year I will be trying again. I will be getting a soil sample done from a couple of different possible planting spots. I have purchased How-to-Grow World Class Giant Pumpkins II by Don Langevin and purchased AGHAIST1075_08 seed from P%P seeds. I have two questions.

1. What is the minimum amount of space, in square feet, that will grow a giant pumpkin?

2. What is the optimum date for sowing the seed in the garden in zone 9, Sacramento Ca. for entry into the pumpkin weigh off held at Half Moon Bay this year (10/12/09)? Can't ya tell, I have big plans!

3/17/2009 11:31:57 AM

Sacramento, Ca

Links to pics of last years plant before I pulled it.

http://s216.photobucket.com/albums/cc81/digital686/?action=view&current=ginat_pumpkin_06_19_08g.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc81/digital686/ginat_pumpkin_06_19_08c.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc81/digital686/ginat_pumpkin_06_19_08b.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc81/digital686/ginat_pumpkin_06_19_08a.jpg

3/17/2009 11:36:10 AM

Upstate S.C.

Midnight, 500 to 700 sq feet is PLENTY enough for a big pumpkin...However smaller patches than this have grown a big one..As far as when you should plant most do it by early april or even first of may...

3/17/2009 4:49:35 PM

Gold Hill, Oregon

midnight gardener dons books are a good starting place. the dt2 (dicks tips #2) is better a lot of great information. if you read through this website you will find some very invaluable information. this will be my third year growing. my first year i had a 20lber. last year i had a 388lber. have you checked out the seed auction on here? there are some excellent seeds thier. i'm not sure if your plants had a wilting disease. mine did the same thing in the heat of the day. when it cooled off they perked up like nothing was wrong. i think its just heat stress they really don't like it over 85-90 degrees.

3/24/2009 4:06:05 AM

Sloughhouse, CA

Hi Midnight gardener. Email me directly. I live in Sloughhouse down the road from the corn stand on Jackson Rd. You need to have sun shades and misters to make it through the valley heat.

7/29/2009 10:14:53 PM