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canal winchester ohio

I've always believed you can grow a record pumpkin/squash in a smaller space 400-500 sq.ft.
Well due to 3 months off from work this winter & a possible strike at my workplace next year I went the "cheap" route this year for all my irrigation. It's basically this.
50 gal. drums elevated 4' in the air with pvc out the bottom leading to a garden hose. Every evening I spend about a hour to a hour & a half watering the patch with a water wand & having the water feed out by gravity. I placed a 3' extension on the watering wand so I don't track over the whole patch. I also water "under" the leaves keeping them dry.
By doing this I cover the entire patch evenly & leave no soaked spots on the vines like soaker hoses sometimes do. And it also lets me see every spot of the patch so if a problem arises I see it right away.
No hears the cool part,I'm NOT using misters this year & I've only experienced wilting & leaf burn when the temps exceed 93 degrees & then its minimal. My plants are the best I've ever had, both my Welty 744 & Glens 455 have a stump appx. 10" in circ. with a 17' vine. And 1' away from the stump the vine is 6" in circ. 2ndarys the size my mains used to be & the tap roots coming from the leaf joints are the size of a pencil. This must be due to the evenly dist. water as all I'm fert. is fish/seaweed once a week.
My soil is never dry, never soaked just moist.
I'm hoping this translates to a 1000lber this fall.
Tell me ,Am I crazy or could this be the main reason....Paul

7/3/2002 9:08:59 PM

Puyallup, WA

Paul....craaaazzzy? Naw! Not on your life!

7/4/2002 2:09:30 AM

Mid Michigan

Go get 'em Paul!! If you're crazy, i'm crazy... i've been doing the same thing!.....i'm also using a mister this year tho.....didn't use it last year, and had a lot of wilt on the hot days here in mid-Michigan.
1000 lb'er would be great, but i'm just trying to beat the 102 lb'er I grew last year!
cuzbiker

7/4/2002 6:44:54 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Huffer...How could you even suggest That An AG grower be crazy! TLC is all that plant wants...talk to it, say nice and things and baby it. WHy guys on LI import lizards to run around their plants, guys in Georgia rabbit poop em and swear by it. Guys in Maine garden at nite...Is that crazy no way. Grow em big buddy,,and keep doing what your doing we want a full report!!!

7/4/2002 7:10:33 AM

Stratham NH

Way to go Paul!

7/4/2002 9:58:50 AM

Long Island,New York

Paul...I think its plant selection (biased) that is giving you the great plants. Are you crazy? Yes, most definitely---but I dont think it has anything to do with the 744, the 455, or the watering system you use....or pumpkins for that matter....LOL.......G

7/4/2002 10:35:35 AM