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Niagara Falls,NY

I'm looking for some insight that may give me some answers. My pumpkins are driving me insane. I've been growing for over 10 yrs. My best is 650 lbs. I've been trying to get to 1,000 lbs. Now I grew that 650 on basically chemical 20-20-20 and some osmocoat 14-14-14. and lots of water. I always grew on a budget,but I came into some disability money so I decided to spend a little for my patch.
I got 8 yards of manure, all the other stuff-pumpkin pro, azos cal/c02, fish,seaweed, liquid gypsum every thing. Things were going well.Plants growing fast.I pollinated last week in June. But my pumpkins went from growing fast to 8lbs /day to 12 lbs/day, 16lbs/day to 6lbs/day.I had a soil test done and followed the recommendations in the spring and I'm going to have a tissue sample test done,but if some one can give me some input on this I'd really appreciate it. Because right now my pumpkin only tapes 577lbs. With all the stuff I did I expected more. I'm so disappointed that I'm ready to get a bottle,get tanked up,take an ax and run through my patch and just chop it up!!! Any suggestions will help-Don

8/24/2012 8:56:39 PM

Buffalo, New York

Don, you told me last week when I was over you were happy with your fruit ?

But I know exactly what your talking about, I just sent a tissue sample out yesterday to see if and what I am lacking. A few weeks too late but live and learn I guess.

Hopefully someone else can help more.

Be ready, you never know when I'll come spying!

8/24/2012 9:13:03 PM

Western NY

Don - the one thing that comes to mind when I read that would be the possibility of vine borers - have you had problems with those?

8/24/2012 9:28:27 PM

Muddy Waters

Virus??

8/24/2012 9:31:15 PM

West [email protected]

Is your ph good (you want between 6.7 to 7.0) and are your pumpkins getting 100% full sun does your soil drain well enough (pumpkins and squash love more sand in the soil than most plants) Make sure you have a soil test done ( plant food N-P-K)

I'm sure you know all this but just throwing it out there, good luck

8/24/2012 9:44:16 PM

Princeton Kentucky

Lots of water means lots of nutrient depleation. Don't get me wrong these things need the water but maybe you need to reapply some basics soil structures such as more microbs via molasses and humic and soil blast or bacteria concentrate. I do this about 8 times during the growing season to wakeup the root systems. The 1333 Dodge I'm growing is basically grown over a gravel parking lot but with the reintroduction of "Basic" goodies regularly the plant and kin are thriving in a not so thriving place..just a thought but you sure can flush a patch and Gardens in general with lots of watering no matter what yer puttin on it..would be curious to know what type of soil you have, clay, sandy loam, etc. good luck

8/24/2012 9:48:02 PM

Niagara Falls,NY

Andy, no vine borers. Plant looks very healthy. It looked like it was going to take off, then just stopped. That's why I'm getting a tissue test done. Maybe it's just lacking something. No signs of disease,I spray once a week or when needed. Just frustrating. Maybe it just needs to be kicked in the ass! I'll try that tomorrow.
I'll be watching Jeremy! I have a sniper on watch for you! (you are welcome in my patch any time!) I was happy when you were here it started gaining, but then went back wards. I need a drink!

8/24/2012 9:48:56 PM

Niagara Falls,NY

As I was posting more people replied. Yes my ph is good I did a soil test in early spring. I use humic acid and molasses. Also use compost tea.I treat also with companion. I alternate every few days with different ferts. Fish then acouple days seaweed, then compost tea.etc. I tried to build up the soil with manure,compost,blood meal, bone meal, dried molasses etc. It just seemed to slow down. It should be bulking up now.

8/24/2012 9:57:27 PM

West [email protected]

I hear gun powder and a flint stone make them gro really fast. And a fifth for the gardener

8/24/2012 10:11:51 PM

Niagara Falls,NY

Brosco, you must be old school. I already have the ferts , just need a ryder van and some fuel oil. I don't want anything left! Besides, with the huge creator I can just fill it with manure/compost!!

8/24/2012 11:09:59 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Don, with a week left in August and all of September, keep it on the vine with as healthy a plant as you can, and you are well on your way to a personal best...and for me...that is a bonus if you can best your personal best.

We'll be cheering for ya!!

8/24/2012 11:19:03 PM

Lloydminster/AB

I know this sounds crazy Punk'nLvr but sometimes less is more. It sounds like you are over doing N. Try backing off N untill you see an obvious deficiency. If your soil has 8% or more organic material you may never have a deficient plant no matter what the soil tests indicate. I've learned to look at the leaves and ignore the tests (for N only). It's easy to add but takes years to subtract. If you have a couple of patches try it in one. I think AGs are incredibly efficient at N use. If you are growing in sand just ignore what I wrote lol

8/25/2012 12:24:26 AM

The bottom of New Jersey

I agree with Don here, if you add a bunch of manure and compost, the blood meal and fish is probably overkill on the nitrogen. There is also some nitrogen in a lot of other fertilizers, so if your soil is jacked up at the beginning of the season, I would seriously ease up on all the other supplements unless a late July/August soil test says you need to add something.

8/25/2012 7:15:19 AM

Buffalo, New York

I saw dons leaves last week....i wouldnt think he had too much nitrogen

8/25/2012 8:27:37 AM

Niagara Falls,NY

I agree with Jeremy, the leaves aren't overly green or bloated. But I won't rule out over doing something. I'm hoping that the tissue test will show me something that at least next year I'll be able to correct.
Thanks for the support North Shore Boys! Thanks you all for the comments, gives me somethings to think about. If I find out anything I'll let you guys know.

8/25/2012 9:01:18 AM

South of Buffalo

Punk'nLvr
Please email me i have a few ?'s to ask. I am in west seneca NY not far from you and depending on your situation i may have some answers.
[email protected]

8/25/2012 11:04:49 AM

Rhode Island

jeremy and punk
you could not ask for a better mentor than andy wolf. one of the good guys and edcuated people in our hobby.a tireless worker for the gpc as well.plus he lives in western ny.

my advise? make him your best friend.if we lived closer id also invite you guys to each take a wing but, rhode island is a far cry from silver creek,ny where i was born and raised.

i do enjoy your interest in the hobby. its guys like you two that will bring the hobby along after old farts like me are done growing.

pap

8/25/2012 1:02:48 PM

Maine

Mine did the same here in Maine two weeks ago, and many people suggested it was bulking up INSIDE, walls getting thicker, etc...for past 9 days has been taping to measure 10# a day (after not "growing" for four days), but visibly it is getting huge ribs, deep ridges, pushing the sand away daily, and the bottom is 2 feet past the top on the blossom end, so I'm buying the "pumpkin bulking up" theory, because there's no way this is just a 10# a day gain...but what a treat it will be when we weigh it....

8/25/2012 4:15:03 PM

Omaha, Ne.

My plant wouldn't grow, turned out my soil was hot. It was composting. this year I won't be adding compost in the spring and summer.

I can sure relate to the ax idea.

8/26/2012 3:52:15 PM