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Casa Grande, AZ

Im really new at growing Pumpkin. I originally got into growing Pumpkin because my son loves these guys so much(he sleeps with the little guys,even names them. I though I would introduce them into my garden. I have put them into my garden with other produce and now it seems they are taking over on one side. I dont mind so much, but I have a question on watering. I live in southern AZ and as most know is soooo dry here. I read many directions and advise on watering and such but I am not sure how much to water here in the desert??? The sun is soooo strong that if I let the vine get afternoon sun it would never make it!! The part of the plant that is in the sun after 1pm is getting crispy leaf's. Also is a steer compost good food? If so how often should I feed my kids?(Thats what my son calls them)
Any advise is very much appreciated!!!!

5/5/2008 6:22:10 PM

Western PA

I can help you out with 1 of your questions, When it comes to the sun being really strong you can use a sun filter (basically just a mesh type fabric that will filter out a certain percentage of sunlight like 30 or 50 percent) hang that over the entire plant. you can also setup a misting system to spray a fine mist over the entire plant during the hottest part of the day. if you use both of those in combination this should help out.

5/5/2008 9:21:26 PM

Minnesota

You can look thru the diarys (on the main menue) tell you see what a pumpkin sun shield looks like.

5/5/2008 10:16:16 PM

Westford, MA

Separate your Patch from the rest of your garden.
AGs will be sending roots out everywhere and choking out the rest of your garden.
3 years ago I decided to try pumpkins in my gardening.
I put 2 Big Max plants on 1 side of my reg.garden.

No knowledge and little care and i got a 94 lber and was hooked.
All my other garden stuff just remained stunted very little fruit/veggie production.
Now I use a separate patch and get production in both.

You may want to try drip irrigation, burried with lots of mulch/organic matter ot hold the moisture and decrease evaporation.
If you got $$ product called Water Wizzard(I think), and other products that hold moisture.
good luck kevin

5/6/2008 9:59:48 AM

Casa Grande, AZ

Thanks Kevin!!

5/6/2008 10:19:12 AM