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Manitoba

Hi. This is my first post. I attended a Giant Pumpkin Weighoff for the first time the other day, and I am gung-ho to take a crack at it for myself. I read in a University Dept of Agric article that you need 2,500 square feet for a giant pumpkin. However, at bigppumpkins.com some fellow said you need a space "at least 20 X 20". What do I do? Thanks. I don't have 2,500 for one pumpkin, that is for sure, especially when I haven't proven myself yet.

10/8/2013 3:22:07 PM

Germany

Hi, MeToo, the question regarding space required had concerned Me Too (LOL)...to answer your question:

1) 2.500 sqft is more than you need, you will have troubles getting that patch space filled in a nice manner, and you will experience even more troubles when it comes to plant maintenance (spraying, pruning of tertiary vines etc. etc.)

2) Have a look into my diary, I have posted some graphs of pumpkin weights vs. patch space. You can easily see that between 400 and 500 sqft per plant some kind of plateau is reached, and further patch space might bring only marginal additions to the weight gains of the fruit. Well, in terms of those graphs I call it marginal, in terms of necessary weight on weigh-off day even the marginal difference of 10 lbs makes significant differences, but 50 lbs more or less will depend much more on plant maintenance rather than patch space.

Summary: For a newbie you better start with 400 sqft per plant and start 3 or 4 plants...even if one or two of them happen to fail (split pumpkins, foaming stump etc. etc.) there´s a good probability you get one or two pumpkins to a weigh-off. As soon as you notice that your soil is perfect, your pruning pattern is fine, your timing of seed starting and pollination is perfect etc. etc., then it comes to growing bigger plants, because then the patch space might be the limiting variable in your equation of how to make a pumpkin grow BIG.

Most of the biggest pumpkins were grown on less than 1.000 sqft.

10/8/2013 3:33:56 PM

Austin MN

Metoo iv grown many pumpkin with only 20ft x 15ft 900sgft is what most peop,e shoot for but if you are just starting out it will work. Shoot me an email if you would like some free seeds [email protected]

10/8/2013 5:01:12 PM

Manitoba

Many thanks to both of you and for your offer of seeds, TConway. How very nice of you. I know NOTHING about GP's, I have so many concerns that are not found in all the advice, details they don't tell you because they have been doing this for years and take it all for granted.

Re seeds: OK, if I plant 3 or 4 plants, should I have 2 each of 2 different varieties, one for the pumpkin and the other for pollination only? Is that better than pollinating with the same variety? Wouldn't it be more fun to have a different pollinator and then see what you get next year? Maybe some weird sport, a monster! (Or maybe a Wee Be Little...) I really do want to do it that way. Can you advise.

But if I were to grow 4 of the same variety, should I pollinate from another plant or from the same plant (inbreeding)? Can't you tell I never studied plant genetics.

Does it matter if all 4 plants are fairly close together?

Pumpking, I am going to go to your diary. Hope I can find it!

10/8/2013 6:01:08 PM

Austin MN

Here's is what I would do to make it easy on my self I do two plants back to back in the same hole ( dig a big hole about 4ft wide 3 feet deep) than Iwould pick two different seeds maybe one seed proven meaning it did well for others and one seed unproven meaning that no one know its potential yet. I would plant both of these in the same whole back to back ( and you can tell the direction of the vine because your first true leaf will be opposite to the direction the vine will go) as fare as the hole I fill it with compost and dirt mix and make it very nice a fluffy so the roots can grow good.

I hope this helped?

10/8/2013 6:13:34 PM

Littleton Co Usa

I grow my 795 in only 150 sf

10/8/2013 6:27:44 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

I've done 873.5 on less than 300 sq feet. 600 is my target plant size.

10/8/2013 7:17:24 PM

Muddy Waters

I grew at 1478.5 on 600 feet

10/8/2013 7:47:28 PM

Ely Mn

1197 last year and 1122 this year in 300 sq feet.

10/8/2013 7:54:03 PM

Manitoba

I am relieved to hear that you folks are growing such large fruits in such a small space. Thank you TConway for additional info. The more specific the advice I can get, the better. Of course, I have all winter to worry about this, don't I...but that's just me. Too enthusiastic already.

10/8/2013 8:03:32 PM

Stanwood, Washington

Grew my 636 in 140 SF of dirt with another 60 sf of the plant running onto my gravel driveway. Grew my 593.5 in 150 SF. Have one going right now on 130 SF thats estimating at 564. You can probably grow alot larger than that in a warmer climate but I wouldn't try it unless you have to. 20 x 20 for 400 Square feet is probably about the minimum for a competitive sized pumpkin. gives you enough room for about 10 10 foot long secondaries on each side.

10/8/2013 8:05:59 PM

Austin MN

Metoo shot me an email I would be more than happy to give you seeds for next year.

[email protected]

10/8/2013 8:19:52 PM

Manitoba

Should I nick the seeds to help them get going next spring?

10/8/2013 11:04:38 PM

Muddy Waters

Getting your soil right is more important then space.Not trying to start a new subject here.Just saying if your soils not right you wont get over a 1000 lbs.

10/9/2013 6:30:18 AM

Minnesota

500-750ft good seed genetics, the soil and good weather!these monsters really grow!

10/9/2013 9:51:19 AM

Manitoba

Pumpking - I had a look at your diary. Thank you. These are beautiful photos and help with my issue regarding space. Just nice to see your GPs growing so nicely.

10/9/2013 3:42:38 PM

South Hero, VT

25/30 x 25/30 feet seems to work for most of the world champions. How you treat the soil in your patch is more important than the actual area.

10/9/2013 8:29:17 PM

Manitoba

VTSteve, if one is just starting out, I guess that the space is much less important than if you are going for 1/2 tonners. I know with squash (my favourite crop)that it doesn't seem to matter how terribly crowded they get, if the soil is nice, I get a great crop!

10/9/2013 11:47:24 PM

South Hero, VT

20 x 20 works great for a lot of people, but don't let space size keep you from growing.

10/10/2013 7:40:52 AM