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Roanoke Il

First of all the fertilizer that you added in the spring is gone by now. unless you added tons of cow manure to your patch and I mean tons 15-30 isn't unheard of. Your soil is pretty much running on low for nutrients.
Now you ask yourself do I want a 500-700 lb pumpkin or do I want to go for a ride of your life ..
Chances are your pumpkin will go pop.
First step is to add some 10-10-10 5lbs sandy soil 3 lbs clay and 00-00-60 5lbs sandy 3 lbs clay to your plant this should have been done a week or so ago. Apply like if you where feeding chickens broad cast over the entire plant. Then wash off the leaves really good or it will burn leaves. Wait about 3 days to see what effect the granular does to your plants.
Then you need to start a folar (19-18-38 shultz tomato pluss) program 16oz per 3000sq feet of patch a week.
I break that up over 3 times during the week like monday
thursday saturday don't folar feed if your fruit gains more than 3 inches in circumfrence a day or it rains more than 1/2 inch.If gains are less than 2 inches a day folar feed with something lower like 3-1-5 on the off days.If this fails dead head every vine over a weeks time. keep atleast 2-3 pumpkins on a plant so when you pop the big one you will have a nice 500-700 lber for your kids.
Remeber heat and sunlight and rain plays a big part if the forcast calls for a 90 degree day and rain don't folar feed once you put the granular fertilizer down you may not need to folar feed. I have noticed that pumpkins that have 801 or 846 cali in their heritage are less likely to split the skin is more elastic. if the pumpkin has more 935-or 845 in their heritage they are more likly to split.
Best of luck to all that want to walk on the wild side.
WARNING THIS INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BY A GROWER THAT HAS SPLIT HIS BIGGEST PUMPKINS EVERY YEAR...........MARK

8/12/2003 6:54:32 PM

colorado

Thanks for the info mark! Steve

8/12/2003 7:07:26 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

Cool!

Push 'em if you dare and hang on for the ride!

8/12/2003 7:57:12 PM

South Western Pa

As I heard Dave Stelts say at a Ohio Valley Growers seminar early in the year, "If your not blowin them, your not showin them!"

Mark

8/12/2003 8:27:53 PM

Montoursville, PA

It's a right on the edge thing all the time. Exciting!

8/12/2003 8:29:36 PM

glad I have never followed advice like that!

8/12/2003 9:04:06 PM

[email protected]

COOL. Thanks Mark. I have one plant that is getting a similar treatment & so far every set has exploded. Hey. If it's not fun then why do it?

Steve

8/12/2003 10:12:08 PM

Roanoke Il

The main point of this article was not intended to get everyone to pop or split there fruits but if you have a good plant in the ground and a nice fruit on it you should hit 60-75 day 20 100-120 day 30 130-145 day 40 inches in circumfrence if you want a 1000lb pluss fruit. So if one needs 3 inches sady from day 20-40 then one needs to slow it down to 1-2 of growth from day 40-50 then an inch a day would be nic for the next 10 days just triing to help. mark

8/12/2003 10:52:53 PM

Roanoke Il

Pretty pumpkin if I'm not wrong you grew a few big pumpkins What type of feeding program do you use we are all interested ..Mark

8/12/2003 11:13:23 PM

Monrovia,CA

Mark, thanks for posting this info...especially the part about the measurement range for the days of growth. I only have one vine with one pumpkin on it... measuring on day 28 at 103 circumference by 69.5 X 73 OTT. I'd really like to not explode this one as it is already my personal best..over 300 lbs. but I also want to see its full potential...Wow, what a balancing act!! Have you ever heard of the granular feed, Sul Po Mag? Its a 0-0-22 formula. Would this do instead of the sulphate of potash or no? I also mulched with half finished compost laced with blood and bone meal.. Any thoughts?
Thanks!!
Michelle

8/12/2003 11:21:12 PM

[email protected]

Michelle, Sol-Po-Mag is a type of sulfate of potash. Here's a link to their website.

http://www.kmag.com/

Steve

8/13/2003 6:06:43 AM

Cologne / Germany

Since I´m having zero growth for several days now, that advise might eventually rescue my season.

8/13/2003 7:50:05 AM

Monrovia,CA

Hmmm, I might just try the Sol Po Mag as it is one thing that my local garden center DOES carry. The thought of 0-0-60 kind of scares me anyways!<G> Thanks!!
Michelle

8/13/2003 8:03:19 AM

Western Pa.

I seem to remember Dave Stelts saying, "If you blow them, you're not show'en them!"

8/13/2003 8:47:41 AM

Ga.

OK Mark,,I here by hold you responsible for my actions!! Today I applied 6 lbs of 0-0-60 to my lonely 112# fruit..If she explodes...I'm comin to Wisc. to help you blow yours...LOL.....

8/13/2003 1:21:01 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

Yeah gave a little helpful boost last night too..
Did 2 of the 3 listed above, just NOT in the listed increments.

Michelle - I have used the sol-po-mag before and had good results. Used an entire box about a month ago....

8/13/2003 2:26:24 PM

Monrovia,CA

Thanks, CEIS, I'm planning on broadcasting it before today's watering. We shall See!!
Michelle

8/13/2003 3:19:03 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Hey Mark, Let me thank you for sharing your fertilizing program.. I know that I've spoken to several newguys in the pumpkin growing sport and we all agree that your sharing of "trade secrets" is what every newbie needs to get a bigpumpkin. and I especially appreciate you candor and good will to help us along...We Know too that walking that fine line might not be for single plant, single pumpkin growers but for those that can have the space for more than one plant/pumpkin and want to take the chance and had no clue....thanks!!! wish some more growers would take your challange and give us some insight as to what they do... In my mind you and several others who share on this site are the true HH's...Thanks Again...
Chuck

8/13/2003 3:33:45 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

Michelle - be careful and try to keep it off of the leaves - or at least wash it off.

If you let is sit on top of the leaf it will burn holes in them. I used this product last year and burnt a few holes myself...


Hey Chuck you are right on track, this is exactly the info that I was looking for last year. I think that this certainly fits into the category of "Hitting it Hard".

8/13/2003 6:10:23 PM

Southeast

Done

8/13/2003 9:31:24 PM

[email protected]

Something worth considering I think.

There are different "sizes" of granular potash out there.

SGN is Size Guide Number based on the Tyler Sieve.

In the barn I have both Sul-Po-Mag in very coarse which is around SGN400 & the SGN100 for putting greens.
I also sell 0-0-60 Muriate of Potash (salty hot stuff) SGN220 (most lawn & garden fert's are about this size) and the SOP 0-0-50 in both SGN100 & SGN220.
We also sell sprayable forms of both Muriate (0-0-60) & Sulfate (0-0-50) of Potash.
I chose to use a 0-0-28 SOP with micros (greens & tees grade) SGN100 because I thought it would fall off the leaves easier. I was wrong. I would select either the very coarse material in the future or just spray it. Tapping off leaves & firing up a hand held leaf blower are insanely time consuming & potentially damaging ways of removing the stuck on prills. I think next year I'll spray it on.

Steve

8/13/2003 10:09:52 PM

Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin

So, with the Sul-Po-Mag you just sprinkle it on the ground and water it in? How often? Should all other fertilizer use be discontinued? Anything to help me beat last year's 389, my biggest pumpkin has slowed down a lot. Though, part of it may be the day time temps and the cool night time temps (58 the other night :P ) Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks, Tim

8/13/2003 10:34:21 PM

Midway City, California

what ever happened to slow and easy does it all the time?

8/13/2003 11:04:21 PM

Western Pa.

Water,

I think it will be interesting to see the results of those who chose to "kick it up!"

8/14/2003 7:26:02 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

tick, tick, tick, BOOOOOOOM

8/14/2003 8:05:29 AM

Southeast

I havnt heard even the slightest crack, I even turned on the water to make sure it was all dissolved today.

8/14/2003 2:51:28 PM

San Luis Obispo Ca

love!

8/14/2003 2:53:25 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

I begin my push.......whooooooo.

8/14/2003 3:37:12 PM

Syracuse, NY

i now wish i had been on here intensively for the last week or so to see this when it came out! sure i've got some 5-10-40 to hammer my plants with, and luckily at least 2 on 2 plants and 3 or more on the other 4, plus a few experimentals out in the back patch---i wonder how much granular i can fit in my car's back seat........i will try this technique on at least one plant, and my other regimen on selected others...jumble it up, that's what i'll do...i have everypound to gain, and not too much to lose!
thanks, mark!

8/20/2003 12:30:52 PM