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Grittyville, WA

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2021.630587/full

This is sciency it may as well be written in Chinese but I think the point is that the meristem is largely governed by hormones and nitrogen. Nitrogen can be detrimental later on, but in the short term, it is probably the key to a fat or wide meristem (growing tip) and the whole megabloom thing. It is very much tied to an excessively large or wide meristem. But I'll have to cross check w/some other research and continue digging.

As the season progresses, its possible to see that the numerous growing tips compete for resources and hence they get smaller. Nitrogen is probably a key factor in the hormones and the construction of a large or wide meristem. This article mentions nitrate but I suspect they are grouping all forms of nitrogen under that label. In terms of forming megas, I don't think tomatoes respond well to nitrate. I think other forms of nitrogen will give better results. But I think there is some truth to the issue of small amounts of excess nitrogen in stimulating megas via supplying nitrogen to the critical mechanisms within the meristem.

I think this could help pumpkin growers also. There must be a short critical window where a little nutrient boost would give a better result. The problem with prolonged excess nitrogen is the leaves gobble up more than their share and the bloated salad part of the plant can become more of a liability than an asset so growing a pumpkin actually becomes more difficult. But a brief bump in the most meristem stimulating forms of nitrogen could make a difference. I imagine this would result in a bigger vine, a bigger flower, and a top level pumpkin.

6/23/2026 8:24:52 AM