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KENTUCKY

was wondering if anyone had any input on when to worry if pumpkin is growing to fast? after reading several posts i think i'm o.k. just started making measurments the last 3 days on all 3 of my pumpkins. #1 avg. ott per day is 7.5 inches. # 2 avg ott is 10.5 inches per day. # 3 avg ott per day is only 5.5 all 3 were pollinated between 7/10 and 7/22. and are now in the 40-55 pound range. i have been giving them 0-0-62 2 times a week for last 2 weeks through underground soaker hoses through huge above ground barrels. this i my 1st year at ag's, just don't wont' to BLOW them up. this being my 1st year, was wanting to hit the 200# mark. hope i get there. any advise greatly appreciated. p.s. to all, after reading almost every single post this year, i have learned sooooo much from the people here. thanks. can't wait to do this again next year after learning from 4 million mistakes this year! already starting to get more earth ready for next year so i can try more plants! thanks

8/7/2002 9:16:22 AM

Maine

man, that's a tough problem to have

8/7/2002 10:01:08 AM

Edmonton, Canada

That growth doesn't sound too fast, some people have had fruit put on 30 pounds in a day!

8/7/2002 10:21:32 AM

Deer Park, WI

I'd have to say consistent growth in circ. of 7+ inches per day could very well lead to a blow up. Ideal is 4-6 inches circ. per day. This applies when fruit size is 300 or so pounds or less. Later on, you will want to evaluate that in lbs/day. Last year I had a 43lb day on my 798, and it was solid as a rock. I sustained a number of days with 35lb + growth. Blow ups can occur reasons other than quick growth tho- genetics play a role. Thin walled fruit are more susceptible. Huge rainfall after a dry spell could cause one. Sudden spike in temps (from cool to ideal) could cause one. Fertlizer overdose could cause one. Pruning all your tertiaries and culling fruit all at once can cause one. The best thing you can do to prevent blow ups is to create a stable environment for the fruit. No major stress factors, smooth temp., pruning, and watering transitions. PUmkins are wimpy when it comes to handling stress. Instead of talking their way thru their problems, they just blow up at you. Which serves to make everyone involved miserable.

8/7/2002 11:48:05 AM

Cologne / Germany

Joze, just an idea from your answer here - looking inside a cull, can you predict thin or thick walled fruits on that plant from it? So the cull would even work as a "barometer".

8/7/2002 1:43:55 PM

Pumpkintown, SC

If your main goal is to reach a mark of 200lbs you may want to slow the the growth down(especially on #2) to play it safe. On the otherhand if you can sustain that kind of growth for quite some time you will be looking at a monster at the end of the season. Maybe you should continue to push one or two and play it safe with one or two.
PS. If they make it to the end of the season, 200+ pounds will be no problem.

8/7/2002 11:13:43 PM

Santa Clara, California

AG-learner, what brand of ferlilizer do have for a 0-0-62 and where do you buy iit from? I never heard of that high of potasium. I would like to try it. Thanks, Orlando.

8/8/2002 1:30:32 AM

Deer Park, WI

Floh- I assumed the idea you suggested last year, it it did not prove to be true- at least in this circumstance. In mid-September, I spotted a 40-50 lb delinquint hiding in the foliage on the plant that produced my 798. I quickly chopped it off the vine and opened it up. This fruit was roughly basketball size, with more of a football shape. I split it open thinking it could be a barometer, like you said. The fruit was completely solid. There was no inner cavity-yet. I felt that this could be a great indicator of what the 798 was like inside. However, not so. The 798 taped out at over 825lbs. It went way light, contrary to mine, and others beliefs. I never did see the inside of the 798, as it was sold to a professional carver. ON the flip side, i do believe that a larger cull, perhaps 150lbs or bigger, could be a better barometer. But unless you are growing multiple fruit per plant and one kicks, theres no way of knowing for sure.

8/8/2002 9:19:42 AM

KENTUCKY

thanks for the info all. mr e i got the 0-0-62 from a place in shelbyville, ky (about 25 miles from home) called Miles Farm Supply. don't know if they ship or not, but it's cheap. 50# bag of 0-0-62 water soluable is less than $8.00 a bag.

8/10/2002 1:12:01 PM