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St. Louis MO

Hello Pumpkin people and thanks for all the help on these pages. I'm a first year guy with first year questions. I have a couple main vines which have developed many basketball sized fruits only to have them slow to a snails pace once the newest fruit on the vine begins to grow. I have cut the old basketballs from the vines when the new ones seem to have all of the growth momentum. They then stop at around 40" circ. PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO GET JUST ONE OF THESE THINGS TO GET TO A COUPLE HUNDRED POUNDS! I live in St. Louis. Could that be a problem? Thanks

7/29/2000 11:20:29 AM

PA

How much are you watering,what are you feeding and how often, and how long without growth before you cull them? How many pumpkins on the vines. Give us more info please. I'm not sure about your location, Let that for someone more experienced. Also haw much total area does your plant take up and how long are the main vines.
Amy

7/29/2000 3:37:41 PM

St. Louis MO

Thanks Amy..I water every day with a soaker hose. I started fert. with 15-30-15 until I began to get softball sizes. Since then...about two weeks ago..I am using 10-60-10. I'm not quite sure about how much space the plants use because I planted too many too close together. My main vines are about 35' long. I have not pruned anything in fear that I may be cutting a future monster. I cut the slow pumpkins after they hit 30" circ. and the next fruit on the vine has surpassed it. I have two main vines with four-five fruits. (or had four -five). anyway....sorry to here about Tubby. THX

7/29/2000 5:36:28 PM

PA

The one thing that really sticks out to me is the 10-60-10 I would get other opinions before you do anything but the 60 is for root growth which is a little less important now than vine and fruit growth. Don Langevin has a schedule I am sort of following. Basically you start with the 15-30-15 like you did and then after a while shift to 20-20-20 and then in August to 15-11-29. The 29 is potassium which place a large part in fruit growth. There are many combinations to use but you want to start with roots then vegatative growth then fruit. Also don't fertilize around pollination time its supposed to increase aborts. If you don't already have Dons books 1 and 2 get them those in addition to this website have helped me grow an estimated 375lb Tubby. If you don't have time to get now,then buy them sometime for next year,you won't be disapointed.(remember I'm sort of a beginner too but I'll help if I can
Amy
Amy

7/29/2000 6:13:59 PM

santa barbara, Ca.

Steve,
It sounds to me like you may have too many pumpkins on your vines. One or perhaps 2 per plant is all you want. You want all the energy going into one fruit. Too many plants to close together could also be a problem. I would focus on growing only one pumpkin per plant. (maybe 2) Good luck!!

7/29/2000 8:58:42 PM