From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Lakewood, CO

I was told no more than 1 gallon of water a week when the plant is young. Now you can see my plant on my diary here: http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=86499
Whe is it time to give it more water? Now the temperature is getting into the nineties, here during the day.

Ciao from Colorado

6/22/2008 9:50:30 AM

California High Desert CinnamintStick@msn.com

I don't know who told you that. Maybe they meant when it is in a container inside. I water based on my soil type and temp. I have good drainage, so I can water everyday as much as I need to. I water a few feet past the plant because my roots grow out much father than the plant. I also mist the plant durring the heat of the day.

6/22/2008 10:41:51 AM

Somers, CT

If the leaves become droopy, time for more water. It happens when it is hot very fast. When it is colder and wetter, you will not see it as much. Try not to let them droop.

6/22/2008 4:12:53 PM

Lakewood, CO

Thanks. Interesting because they do seem to droop for a couple of hours in the afternoon under the sun, but if it gets cloudy for 30 minutes or so, they come back up... I am no expert, but that seems to tell me that they are just "hot" but if they come back up when the sun goes away, it would appear they get enough water, no?

6/22/2008 4:22:53 PM

Flat Rock, Michigan

I copied this from a previous post for you. Hope it helps.
Great question Kathy and mentioned above, it really depends on your soil structure.

My soil is very high in organic matter for the top 18" and then is very sandy, gravel and rock below that. I don't have alot of clay in my soil so I've actually added it with a product called turface.

That being said, my soil has really good drainage and I need to water quite a bit when it is dry here in July and August.

Tremor posting this awhile back and I still find it very usefull;

Let's boil this down by the gallon & some specified areas.

All of these quantities are for ONE INCH of water.

1 acre (43,560 sq ft) = 27,000 gallons
1,000 sq ft = 620 gallons
100 sq ft = 62 gallons
10 sq ft = 6.2 gallons
1 sq ft = 2.5 quarts

As the roots expand, the targeted irrigation area increase rapidly. The freshly transplanted seedling may only require a 1 square foot area of water for a week. Hence a gallon of water would be overkill.

Given good growing conditions, this area will expand to 4'x4' or 16 sq ft in the second week. So now 10 gallons will be needed to deliver a FULL INCH to the same plant.

If the same plant is ultimately rooted into an area of 600 sq ft, it will then require 370 gallons to achieve the same result.

So, for your garden of 1200 square feet, you would need 744 gallons of water to achieve 1" of water and like most here I would double that to 2" of water per week when there is no rain to help you out. So that would be a little over 3 hours of watering time to get that 1" of water or 744 gallons each time you water.....alot isn't it? Hope ya'll are not on a water metre and paying per gallon.

6/22/2008 4:44:27 PM

Midway, UT

The good rule of thumb is to keep the soil lightly moist at all times. Don't ever let it dry out under the crust that forms with our clay soils on hot days here in Colorado. Make sure you are watering over a wide area too. Pumpkin roots will run about a foot in front of the vines at a minimum so you should always be encouraging the roots to go out farther. Feel free to visit the coloradopumpkins.com site. A lot of great information specific to the greater Denver area and a good bunch of people willing to help.

6/27/2008 12:56:40 AM

Colorado Springs.Co

yes Mildred we have our own site and hello from the Springs.

6/27/2008 3:12:07 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Plant in 1-3 gallon pot=1-2 quarts a day
Until plant lays down=up to a 5 gallon pail a day
Once it lays down=WATER!

I had to ask again for clarification; last month I used 45,000 gallons. (1/3 acre yard)

I have large ponds, trees that are trying to establish, yard, and a tomato patch and garden that equal the pumpkin patch in size. I have to top ponds every two days in our heat and winds. I commonly see temps in the mid 90's, less than double digit humidity, and sustained winds of 25mph or more. Even with some shade and windbreaks; this is more extreme than the high desert conditions along most of the front range of Colorado.

We have had so little rain as to not count, so I have to put subsurface moisture in with watering. I do have green lawn and healthy trees and growing plants... and we're not into hot yet.

Try digging down 4" to 8" to see what your moisture is doing below surface; but. If you're running 95F or so and drying winds of 25mph and low humidity, it may take an inch or so a day to keep your subsurface up. Just make sure to quit watering about 3 hours before sunset and let the plant dry, to prevent mildew and molds.

Also adding shade cloth will help with wilts and water needs. Colorado has a lot of water rationing in the urban areas...

AFTER I moved they got into the big pumpkins in the Springs. :p heh.

We're expecting triple digits today, out to start the cycle of watering. You can also keep track of your watering by putting out a catch container, to measure how much water you put down... and lessen how much water you use with soaker hoses laid out... overhead sprinkling has the advantage of cooling a plant during the hottest time of day and in high temperatures...

Good luck

6/27/2008 9:38:58 AM