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Maui, Hawaii

We are planning on entering our AG's in the "Maui County Fair" this year, which will start on October 10th. My question is what would be the latest date to polinate?, and given that time frame, what would be the best date to set fruit? All of our plants have females that are far enough out on the vine, that will be ready to set in a few days. Also I just started high nitrogen last week, and was planning to keep it high until mid July, or should I back off on the nitrogen after this week, to make my chances of a fruit set better? Thanks PD-1

6/30/2002 2:08:47 AM

Mid Michigan

Once you have a fruit set, you should back off the nitro, and switch to more potash. I found some 0-0-40 last year, and used that after my pumpkin was set.
I only grew a 102 pounder, but learned from quite a few mistakes.....hoping for a way bigger one this year!
Good luck!

6/30/2002 5:41:40 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

PD Start pollenating. If you read the posts different areas have different growing times. Florida might be 50-55 days. Other areas might hold a pumpkin for 100 days. If there are other AG growers in Maui I guess you would have to ask them. Also heavy doses of nitrogen after fruit set could cause aborts since you have forced the plant to grow again. Once you stat setting fruit or want to set fruit cut it down and go for the potash like cuz sez.

6/30/2002 7:42:59 AM

Indiana

I would say that you should try to set fruit about July 10th, with the latest optimal time around July 25. My fertilizer schedule uses Peters 20-20-20 from now until the last month of the growing of the pumpkin where I switch to a high K diet.
Tom Beachy

6/30/2002 7:45:34 AM

Maui, Hawaii

Thanks for the advise, I am going to try for the week of the sometime between the 10th and the 15th. Cant wait!!!!!

7/2/2002 3:31:43 AM