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Cochecton, NY

A few days ago I posted about a female @3 Feet. I was told I should cull it. Reason being the possibility of pulling the stump from the ground as it got bigger and that a fruit further out would grow larger. My question is, even with a fruit @ 8 10 or 12, won't growth pull the roots up that are @ the base of the vine where the secondaries branch off? Also, I am a little behind the curve here. I hear alot about pollinating by July 4th. My largest plant, "MONEY" is about 9 ft. out. I have a female developing at that point. How much longer can I wait? I had to stop fertilizing for about a week and a half because my mains were trying to grow straight up(thanks for the tip pap). Going to begin ferts again today. Should I pollinate a closer female @ six feet to play it safe or do I have time? All of my plants have females @ 3 and 6 feet so far. Should I remove them and hope that I get a nice growth spurt after resuming ferts over the next week? I guess I should have titled this post "multiple fruit set questions"!

7/6/2008 11:25:38 AM

milford, CT,

Bignut 24,..You gotta let the plant set up shop before trying to grow a fruit. It's like running your truck without a gas tank!!! Let her grow out some. I don't know what your goal is this year but if it's 500 bs you could pollinate as late as the last week of July and have no problem meeting that goal. If you set the one at 3 ft it has no leaves or roots to power it's growth. Good Luck! Mark

7/6/2008 3:13:00 PM

Cochecton, NY

500 is a reasonable goal. Obviously, just like everyone else, I want to shatter the world record, but know that being this is my first year and I do not have the experience, I am looking forward to reaching that 500lb mark. I will take your advice as well as anyone elses and do the right things to achieve a realistic goal. I am actually going on another road trip like the one I refered to in my other post. This trip is to Kentucky. Same amount of time as my last trip. Being that I am leaving on the 17th, I would like to pollinate by then. Since my plants grew out about two feet while I was gone last week, I am sure that I should be able to get it done before I leave.

7/6/2008 3:45:46 PM

Rhode Island

big24nut

milford has said it as well as anyone could.forget three ft and cull now. pollinate at 8-9-10 whatever and be patient.

cutting tap roots and allowing for stress is covered in many publications. but i will say this. check the main to the left and right of fruit starting from the time fruit is football size. there is a tap root underneath the spot where the pumpkin stem meets the main. thats the first tap root to be cut.
then as the fruit grows you keep cutting tap roots from underneath the main to the left and right of the pumpkin
( plus side vines off that area of the main that are causing tension)

the vines must be flexable and not taunt. also remove any side vines that will interfear with the growth of the fruit. --- dont worry loosing a couple of side vines its the reason you grow a bigger plant.

as far as leaving the plants unattended? you can only expect out of the plants what you put into them.
if the trips are a necessity then thats the way it has to be.your life and occupation come first.

this i will say with out reservation.

no world record holder for as many years as i can recall has left there plants unattended for one day, much less a week or two.
its just not in the cards. if you really intend on competing for a world record some day it will take a full time effort.
this is not intended as a slap to you its just the way it is.world records, local weigh off records, fair records ,etc, do not happen by accident.

7/6/2008 9:40:18 PM

Cochecton, NY

Understood! That's why 500 sounds more reasonable. As for these road trips, they are a necessity. Unforunately they are only for a brief time every year. I only wish that they were in the winter and not the summer. See, for the last 12 years I have been doing pyrotechnics as a hobby and a nice spare money maker. Part of the job requires delivering to other shooters as well. If the money wasn't as good in the delivery end, I would pass them up. But with the turn that our economy has taken in the last couple of years, gotta get any extra when you can!

7/7/2008 6:08:42 AM