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Grant, MI

Almost all vine growth on both of my plants has more or less stopped. the big problem is that I only have one fruit growing on each plant and those aren't doing a whole lot either. I did have some powdery mildew on the neighboring pumpkin plants but since cutting them out and spraying I haven't noticed any signs of it on my AG's. What could be causing this?

8/8/2007 10:13:20 PM

Lombard, IL

I was under the impression that you wanted your vine growth to stop once you have fruit set and about 6 feet of vine after the fruit. You want your plant to focus it's energy on fruit development. What is your feeding/watering schedule like?

8/9/2007 9:56:45 PM

Grant, MI

That's the problem. There isn't any fruit or vine growth. I've been feeding with miracle grow tomato feed once a week and watering each day with 15gallons of warm water every other day. My one pumpkin went from 3 lbs per day to about 1/2 lb per day. Not very good at this stage in the game.

8/9/2007 10:39:41 PM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

Pumpkin Mom, I agree. The majority of plant growth should stop on it's own once a fruit gets going good. Cut and bury those secondaries also.

8/9/2007 10:41:36 PM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

Darren, sounds like you may have some nutrient problems in the soil. Have you had a soil test done?

8/9/2007 10:43:08 PM

Midwest

Darren... Sorry to hear about your pumpkin. If you have no growth now, are there any discolorations, splits, etc... on the pumpkin? If ok, is the stem and vines, basal crown ok? Are your leaves dark or light green? Maybe the plant is in stress mode? Could this be a result of too much ferts, water, pressure from bugs?
Greg

8/10/2007 12:22:43 AM

Buffalo, New York

i know what you mean man, this is my first year growing a.g.'s and they have basically slowed down in the last week. averaging only maybe 1/2"-1" per day each.

i water alot and feed neptunes fish and seaweed every week.

biggest one is 57" around, 2 days ago, it was 55-1/2" so all three are basically stopping.......

i have no idea why, but it is depressing.

8/10/2007 8:03:33 AM

Grant, MI

I have never done a soil test. Maybe next year. This year I was just hoping for the best. The leaves are a nice dark green, but I think their may be mites on them. Some of the leaves at the end of the vine are looking a little lacy.

8/10/2007 5:20:03 PM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

Darren, a soil test is not a "maybe" in this hobby...it is a "must". If you can't accurately amend your soil you have already lost over half the battle. Big dark green leaves do not neccessarily equal big pumpkins.

8/10/2007 9:27:11 PM

Buffalo, New York

next year, i will get a couple trucks loads of compost from the nursery that i use in my veggy garden and spread it around my patch.

i only used compost around the stump area this year for the pumpkins, all the other dirt was just regular dirt that i tilled up to spread it out.

i am sure this accounts to some of my problems currently.

like i said, my 3 fruit are probably 50-60 pounders, my goal was 100 pounder this year, looks as from the slow growth now that i wont hit my goal.

how depressing............ :(

8/10/2007 9:34:55 PM