Post by douglas on Mar 24, 2005 11:01:37 GMT -6
The next door folks will be amazed when they see your prize winner pumpkin in the front of your yard.
If you really want to grow a BIG pumpkin then you will have to make time each day to care for your plants to make sure they get what they need.
You will need the right seed for growing these monsters, Pharmer phil may have some but alot of web sites have them too. Big Max will give you a nice size pumpkin, but the Atlantic Giant pumpkin seed will do the job if you really want big!
First of all you will need seed starting mix and a few peat pots for starting your seed. I would recomend starting them at least three weeks before your last frost
When they start showing roots coming out through your peat pots you should start thinking about where to plant them.
Your planting space should have alot of room seeing your plants will need it later on due to the vines, and should be planted on one side of your garden.
Make up a hill filled with all matter of organic stuff like manure, leaves and in that catagory, the more the better!
Plant about three plants per hill, do not crowd your plants in your hills, but only keep ONE plant per hill and weed out the weakest plants.
Keep your plants weeded out as needed
Keep your pumpkin plant moist and water on hot mornings because that will help it get a good start, and do not water it in the evening or you will be risking mildew that could kill your plant in time, goes for all garden plants.
When it starts to vine you need to think about where you want it to go, point it in the direction of your empty garden space by using small bamboo sticks as a guide.
(CAUTION) do not force your vines but move them gently a bit at a time or you will hear a sad sound. The best time to move your vine is when the noon day hits because your vine will be warm and elastic enough to handle.
Start to cover your vines in organic matter as proceeds to grow.
Do not set the first fruit you see come on the plant, but wait until it reaches at least ten feet or so.
You can set as many as four pumpkins at one time and should keep the one that grows the best and eliminate the rest.
As your pumpkin starts to grow in size it would be wise to place sand under it to keep it dry.
Place blocks under the vine on both sides about four feet away from the fruit to give the pumpkin some room to grow or else it will snap off the vine.
Make ajustments every day by pulling your pumpkin back away from the vine because it will have masive shoulders in time and could snap off if ajustments are not made.
Place a blue tarp over you pumpkin to keep the sun off it because the sun can harden the shell and it will stop growing.
Use two or three PVC pipes to make a hoop to place over your pumpkin with the tarp fastened over top.
Use a good liquid fert to feed your plant with a good feeder. I recomend Peters 20-20-20 if you can find it.
Potash plays an important part in growing a garden, it will cause your plants to produce a good crop as well as pumpkins.
You may need to find some help in the fall to lift your pumpkin so you can roll it on a tarp and have friends lift it upon a truck.
Good luck and may you grow a MONSTER!!
If you really want to grow a BIG pumpkin then you will have to make time each day to care for your plants to make sure they get what they need.
You will need the right seed for growing these monsters, Pharmer phil may have some but alot of web sites have them too. Big Max will give you a nice size pumpkin, but the Atlantic Giant pumpkin seed will do the job if you really want big!
First of all you will need seed starting mix and a few peat pots for starting your seed. I would recomend starting them at least three weeks before your last frost
When they start showing roots coming out through your peat pots you should start thinking about where to plant them.
Your planting space should have alot of room seeing your plants will need it later on due to the vines, and should be planted on one side of your garden.
Make up a hill filled with all matter of organic stuff like manure, leaves and in that catagory, the more the better!
Plant about three plants per hill, do not crowd your plants in your hills, but only keep ONE plant per hill and weed out the weakest plants.
Keep your plants weeded out as needed
Keep your pumpkin plant moist and water on hot mornings because that will help it get a good start, and do not water it in the evening or you will be risking mildew that could kill your plant in time, goes for all garden plants.
When it starts to vine you need to think about where you want it to go, point it in the direction of your empty garden space by using small bamboo sticks as a guide.
(CAUTION) do not force your vines but move them gently a bit at a time or you will hear a sad sound. The best time to move your vine is when the noon day hits because your vine will be warm and elastic enough to handle.
Start to cover your vines in organic matter as proceeds to grow.
Do not set the first fruit you see come on the plant, but wait until it reaches at least ten feet or so.
You can set as many as four pumpkins at one time and should keep the one that grows the best and eliminate the rest.
As your pumpkin starts to grow in size it would be wise to place sand under it to keep it dry.
Place blocks under the vine on both sides about four feet away from the fruit to give the pumpkin some room to grow or else it will snap off the vine.
Make ajustments every day by pulling your pumpkin back away from the vine because it will have masive shoulders in time and could snap off if ajustments are not made.
Place a blue tarp over you pumpkin to keep the sun off it because the sun can harden the shell and it will stop growing.
Use two or three PVC pipes to make a hoop to place over your pumpkin with the tarp fastened over top.
Use a good liquid fert to feed your plant with a good feeder. I recomend Peters 20-20-20 if you can find it.
Potash plays an important part in growing a garden, it will cause your plants to produce a good crop as well as pumpkins.
You may need to find some help in the fall to lift your pumpkin so you can roll it on a tarp and have friends lift it upon a truck.
Good luck and may you grow a MONSTER!!
sure, why not try it. I would do a side by side comparison this year for all to see, but I have limited pumpkin space, I may only have room for 1, well maybe 2....3 if I......... ROTFLMAO