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Montgomery, IL

HI, first year at this ,if the main and secondary vines grow out into my yard "grass" will this stunt the plant,I have a great place for the main plant my planting box is 4'x20'.And how far apart do you separate plants. Thanks for any help!!

4/7/2010 6:04:15 PM

3 acre corner in Whittaker,Mi USA (faulkner5@msn.com)

Hi Rybec,
Last year was my first year and I had a too small spot for the seeds that I had (which were AG's i had bought from home depot) Alot of my vines ended up out in the grass and it seemed as though they had a hard time sprouting secondary roots through the grass turf itself. Lesson learned though!! I still ended up getting a 202 pounder off the better plant...but I still wonder what she could've weighed!!! This year i'm alot more informed and organized and have started a new patch just for the AG seeds and I plan on spacing the 2 or 3 plants i'll have about 30 feet away from each other. Alot of GREAT people on this site have helped me out IMMENSLY. Hope you have great luck this year.

4/7/2010 10:09:46 PM

Rhode Island

4ft x 20 ft is not really suitable size for growing giant pumpkins but if thats all you have then you will need to make due and get the most out of that area. here is what i would suggest.

PLANT A GOOD SEED BECAUSE YOU ONLY HAVE ROOM FOR ONE PLANT

START THE BASE AT ONE END OF THE 20 FT LONG PATCH IN SIX FT FROM THE END OF YOUR FOUR FT WIDE END OF PATCH. IF I HAD A CHOICE ID MAKE THE PLANT GROW DUE SOUTH OR SOUTHWEST.

TRAIN THE MAIN VINE TO RUN ON A STRAIGHT LINE HUGGING ONE SIDE OF THE 20 FT BED

ALLOW SIDE VINES TO RUN OUT AND PITCH DOWNWARD TOWARD THE
BACK CORNER OF BASE AREA. THIS ALLOWS FOR SIDES CLOSER TO 6 FT RATHER THAN 4 FT WITHOUT GROWING ONTO THE LAWN.FOLLOW THIS DESIGN TO FILL THE BEDDING AREA.

AT SOME POINT YOU WILL SET FRUIT.YOU WOULD PREFER TO HAVE THE FRUIT DROP ON THE LAWN AND NOT ON THE SMALL BEDDING AREA BUT THATS UP TO MOTHER NATURE AND THE WAY THE FRUIT DEVELOPS ON THE MAIN.

TO ME ONE PLANT ,ONE GREAT SEED, ONE SET OF SIDE VINES, GROWING ONE PUMPKIN, AKA THE FLAG PATTERN IS THE BEST THING IN YOUR SITUATION. IF YOU FILL THAT SPOT WITH PLANT AS NOTED ABOVE ? YOU COULD BE SURPRISED AT YOUR RESULTS.

best of luck

PAP

4/8/2010 8:11:35 AM

Montgomery, IL

OK,i now realize that the 4x20 isn't going to work,talked my dad into letting me till up a 35x35 section.I am going to try to put 3 plants into this area ,is this enough room for three??? THANKS!!!

4/19/2010 12:19:11 PM

Buffalo, new York, USA

I'd say 2 plants would be ideal.

4/19/2010 1:42:01 PM