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Lodi, California

Hi all. I have a question involving the size of the plant before fruit set. In one of the how to grow world class giants in a article by Ron Wallace, he says he likes 450-500 sf of plant before fruit set. First of all, how do you get that much plant before the fruit? Pretty much all the pics in grower diaries of when the fruit first sets that I've seen have plants that are around 100- 150 sf tops.I had a plant at this size last year and was super worried. Can someone explane? Second question is how do I get the plant to 450-500 sf organically? Thanks

1/7/2013 5:54:47 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Start itZ April 4th...should be plenty BIG before the magic window pollination date of June 20th..... You can do itZ..Terminiate your sideZ at 12' and hit it with N. Go for it Ashton. You can have most sides set by pollination time thiZ way.

1/7/2013 5:59:59 PM

Lodi, California

My patch is only 12 ' wide, lol. I think I can grow the plant out of the patch. Thanks

1/7/2013 6:34:37 PM

Germany

Just a guess: Maybe "plant before fruit set" refers to the location of the fruit, not to the date of pollination. I.e., you probably don´t need to have 450 sqft covered by plant before attempting a pollination, but you might consider a final plant size of 450 sqft covered by the vines which are between stump and stem.

1/8/2013 4:28:28 AM

Rhode Island

ashton
dont get confused by trying to duplicate what other growers do. you have a small area as was noted earlier.
with a small patch you will idealy need to pollinate the first or second fruit when they show up at 8 ft or so and, if you for any reason need to pollinate farther out (even at the edge of the patch)you could always terminate the main at the pumpkin (or wrap it back around the outer edge of the patch and back toward the base .
there is only so much you can expect when you 1. grow totally organic and 2.have only a small plot to grow in.
just enjoy the season and dont worry about everything you do.
capt pap spaulding

1/8/2013 7:24:06 AM

Lodi, California

ok. im fine for patch length which is 25'. the problem is that my patch is half the width i want it at. thanks all

1/8/2013 10:30:12 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Ashton, when you route your vines some can fork forward... then end as another side takes its space....you have plan ahead with your vine burying...

1/8/2013 10:49:43 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Ashton - consider growing your plant in a flag pattern. If you do not already know...a flag pattern is growing the plant with secondaries only on 1 side.

That way you can grow at least 10 foot secondaries down the entire length of the plant. It is a very efficient way to grow in a situation like yours...and alot of huge pumpkins have been grown this way....

1/8/2013 11:02:06 AM

Ely Mn

check out my diary under master p 2012.i grow in the same size patch as you.if you have any questions email me [email protected]

1/8/2013 6:14:55 PM

Lodi, California

thanks master p

1/9/2013 7:50:32 PM

Lodi, California

i dont see your diary page..... still looking

1/9/2013 7:55:23 PM

Ely Mn

its right at the top.you just have to go back to the 2012 diarys.

1/9/2013 9:37:36 PM

Lloydminster/AB

I put up chicken wire around a patch to keep the waskily wabbits out( they naw on the fruit) and as a side benefit the vines grow up the wire, giving you another 5' of length. 12' of side vine is ok. All the side vines don't have to be the same length. Some can be longer in strategic places along the main. It will take several years to get a good "feel" for what your patch can grow. Don't expect world record results your first couple of years. There is much to learn and if you watch and take notes you will find that you still learn things 15 years from now!

1/9/2013 11:46:00 PM