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New Brunswick

Well I am happy to say that the carpenters glue that I used along with black electricians tape did the trick. (Vine split) My largest pumpkin is up and growing. The question is how many pumpkins should I let this one plant have? It now has three. The largest is at 73 cir. Next in line is a 56 cir. and a 51. The 56 is only 2 days younger than the largest so it hasn't grown all that fast. Should I just keep the one large one or maybe it and one of the other two? The smallest one is 6 feet from the stump. The second largest is 8 feet out. And of course I am keeping the largest one. Do any of you just keep the one per plant?
I also have two on a 770 Van. One weighs around 100 pounds and the other one is half as large. Should I cut it and leave just a small new one along with the big one? The vines are a mess. Can I safely cut off some of the secondaries? If you haven't guessed already I am confused!

8/7/2003 3:33:11 PM

Nova Scotia

depends on you. are you a play it safe girl or a go big or go home girl. personally i'd set on a new one (for shock) then cut the other two off over the next week. then after 2 more weeks get rid of the shocker. at the very least get rid of the pumpkin in the middle. and if you take my risky advise be sure to have very consistant daily water and fertilizer program BOOM

8/7/2003 4:48:25 PM

New Brunswick

I am going to have to hunt for little pumpkins for a shocker. The only ones I have noticed are on the cut off vine. Sooo I will cut off the middle one for now. Do you usually leave just one pumpkin per plant ? is that terribly risky?
It has been raining here all week. Other than that I water every day and fertilize weekly. I started using 20 20 20 last week.

8/7/2003 10:32:30 PM

Nova Scotia

depends somewhat on the growth back ground (genetics) of the seed you planted (some are splitters). but if you keep your water & fertilizer consistant, (daily, fertilizers should be 1/3 dosage) chances are you'll be fine. p.s. if your main pumpkin is doing 5" + circumfrence a day take more time and caution when removing excess pumpkins. good luck ;)

8/8/2003 8:34:31 AM

New Brunswick

I have been measuring my pumpkin from stem to blossem end by laying the tape right over the top. (just down the top side) It has been gaining 1 inch per day. It is at 34 inches. I did not do the circumference today yet.
I cut the middle pumpkin today. I did not fertilize it today...it has been 10 days since I last used the 20 20 20. Should I just give it a tiny bit per day as opposed to the little scoop in a 5 gallon pail once every week to 10 days?
I found another pumpkin on a different plant today. That makes 3 for it as well. I don't know how I missed this one. I must be going blind in my old age. (: Now I have to choose which one of the two to cull. I have sent pics of the two at risk to my diary. One is Sunny side up and one is Butt Ugly. "Sunny" is growing with its butt up and stem downhill. It is a nice shaped pumpkin. The other one (Butt ugly) as as shown in my diary (as soon as it gets posted)is growing down hill the other way. It looks as if it might break off even tho I have built up board ends and soil behind it. Which one should I keep? There is one other small one besides my keeper (Mr. Perfect) on that plant. I guess I am not a good gambler. (I like keeping a back up pumpkin per plant) Soooo where that stem is growing downhill and into the vine, should I prop the vine up or leave well enough alone and just clip the tap roots so the vine is loose?

8/8/2003 2:32:38 PM

Nova Scotia

you should be fine if your stem to blossom end stays under 2 1/2" gain a day. yes fertilize daily with light amounts. this avoids any sudden growth spurts which are bad. but now i must wait to see what you have posted

8/8/2003 2:41:21 PM