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Baltimore, MD

I have never grown any large pumpkins, but I heard from someone that they got 11 big max pumpkins from one vine. Is this typical? How many pumpkins can you get from one big max vine? And I am not looking to grow the biggest pumpkins and thin to only one. I don't have a lot of space, I will only grow one plant after thinning and I want to be sure I give myself the best chance. I am looking to grow a nice round deep orange maxima type pumpkin. Would big max be the best variety? Also I would like to find a variety that doesn't crack often as I see that can be a serious problem.

Thanks for the help!

10/19/2007 12:35:14 AM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

I had a couple of Big Max plants two years ago. On one plant I culled back to one fruit and had one 123 pounder. The other plant had 6 pumpkins on it. They weighed from 25 to 60 pounds.

10/19/2007 2:22:15 AM

Westford, MA

I grew Big Max's last year prior to finding this web site.
No Vine management and Miracle grow was all I fertilized with. I had about 10 lg fruit, on 3 plants started in a 12x12 old compost pile, the biggest Kearns 117#-06(un-official). See the 1st entry in my diary.
This year I tried 4 AGs and 1 Big Max from my 117.
I got 7 fruit on the Max, 1 weighed 112# at Goffstown, 3 Taped larger than that, and I've still got 1 on the vine that is the biggest of the lot.
The plant was no problem growing, although I did let it take up too much space. I had a Christmas Tree Pattern w/the 1st 5-6 secondaries on both sides of the main, going out 21-28'.
I don't think the BMs are as tempermental as the AGs but this is my 1st year w/the AG's, and I didn't try 1 fruit per plant. So many fruit aborted on my AG's, I thought I'd get skunked. In retrospect I think they aborted because of so many fruit on 1 plant.
I may go w/2 BMs and 4 Ags next year. I like to have the extra BMs for give aways.
If you're interested in any of my 117-06, or 1##-07(still on vine), let me know.
Kevin

10/19/2007 10:02:23 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Prize Winner is a prettier variety

10/19/2007 1:42:33 PM

Georgia

I agree with Shannon Prize winners are a better looking pumpkin and also usually bigger.

10/19/2007 1:58:36 PM

Baltimore, MD

Do the prize winners get multiple pumpkins on one vine as well? That is part of what is attracting me to the big pumpkins . I am used to the pepo type pumpkins that only get one or two pumpkins on a vine.

This year I am going to actually start preparing my pumpkin beds in the fall. Hopefully the pumpkins will appreciate the effort. I intend to mix leaves, rabbit manure, decomposing apples and straw, and chopped up corn stalks and canna foliage under the assumption that it will decompose over the winter and possibly attract more worms to the area.

It seems to to work well with my cannas at least. I always chop up the canna tops and bury them in the hole where the tubers were. Then next season when I plant the cannas back in the same place after dividing them they are always taller than the ones that are in new holes without last seasons chopped up cannas.

10/19/2007 6:59:56 PM

West Bridgewater /Brockton Ma. USA

I have grow Prizewinners for the wholesale market for the last 10-15 years now. I find them easy to grow if you can get them past the small leaf stage of growth were they can be damaged by bug feeding and such .... once they are at the vine stage then wind is the other factor to protect against , easy to do if you bury the runners .... I have had few if any other problems with this type and will get 3-4 pumpkins per plant that average 100 lbs or better with care they will reach upwards of 300lbs and have great color and shape. I think you will be very happy with this selection ...
Bill g.

10/20/2007 3:20:11 AM

Reed Point Montana

I grew atleast 20 big max pumpkin this year without culling any I didnt have any more than one on a plant.
but the ones that grew were all 35 to my biggest one of 93 lbs(beautiful orange color too) although they can range from yellow to dark orange. i dont think you would have any problem with more than on pumpkin on a vine cause, with all my plants the main pumpkins set about the right distance out 15-20feet and all the others turned yellow and fell off on they're own. you could get a 50 pounder pretty easy granted you have the space 20x20 foot could grow you atleast 2 good plants. hope you find this helpful.

~mid~

12/2/2007 9:52:10 PM