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Manitoba

I've looked at some photos on the Grower Diaries and see that some folks are removing the huge leaves that shelter the potentially-giant fruit - and then they go and place some sort of artificial, shade-making, protective cover in their place! What the hey? Why not let mother Nature provide the shade while the fruit is still relatively small?

At what point should I make a shade cover? I go to the websites and they say to shade your giant fruit - but they never tell you exactly at what point in the fruit's growth.

As always, glad you're here, friends. So grateful.

7/22/2015 10:34:41 AM

Goodwood, Ontario, Canada

The problem with using leaves to shade is that they move with the wind and can scrape / damage the pumpkin.

7/22/2015 12:30:46 PM

Manitoba

Oh my goodness...I just measured the circumference of my 10-day old pumpkin and nicked it with my fingernails. (I am female; now I guess I'm going to have to cut my nails real short when handling my baby.)

It has occurred to me, though, that a wee bit of stress such as you describe would not automatically be a bad thing; it might very well boost the plant's immune system, just like children being exposed to a bit of dirt and rough 'n' tumble have been shown to be tougher and more disease-proof than children who are hovered over in all ways. What do you think?

7/22/2015 1:22:41 PM

Central Minnesota

Good thinking-but not true. We are trying to grow these things at 50 plus pounds a day. We need the skin as soft as possible and free of defects. As you found out with your fingernail. They scratch easy. Yes they heal up just fine but you are left with a scar that will not expand at the same rate as other tissue.

7/22/2015 1:30:33 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Lol...dirty disease proofed children...

I don't like the leaves closest to the pumpkin to blow in the wind and rock the vine back and forth either...shade structure needed....a few leaves sacrificed out of a couple hundred...not an issue.

7/22/2015 4:16:57 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

And to answer the question, when the baby pumpkin is larger than the leaf that shades it, then you require a larger cover. I start with golf umbrellas and move up to a shade structure when the pumpkin is around day 20-30.

7/22/2015 4:19:26 PM

Manitoba

North Shore Boyz - well, that is exactly what I needed to know - when to make an artificial shade for the Big Baby.

"Leaves closest to the pumpkin blowing in the wind and rocking the vine?" LOL! A few delicate leaves are going to move 100+ pounds, never mind 1,000 pounds? (Not that I'll get anywhere near that).

This should be fun - going to the garage and trying to find some things that can be cobbled together to make a shade.

7/22/2015 5:39:23 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Hey laugh and mock as you like, the leaves closest to the pumpkin on either side of the fruit get raised off the ground along with the vine....these leaves are prone to be blown in the wind, rocking back and forth at the joint where stem meets the vine...causes stem stress and possible issues later. I

Vine rocking and swaying in the wind...not the pumpkin !

No stem stress....equals a happy growing pumpkin.

Best of luck this year.

7/22/2015 5:58:33 PM

San Diego

You wouldn't second guess these peoples advice if you knew more about this site. This isn't just an ordinary giant pumpkin website. It is a collection of the worlds best and they have tons of experience and helpful advice. I have had a lot of fun connecting usernames to real names then real names to record holders the past few months.

7/22/2015 7:14:04 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Who is this " North Shore Glenn " guy anyways?

7/22/2015 7:44:34 PM

Manitoba

Yes, I have lots to learn. I have been pregnant so I have progeny: this Giant Pumpkin thing is the same. You want so hard to do everything correctly to get a good result. :)

PS: The shade is made! Just finished an hour ago. I took 4 five-foot pcs of rebar, stuck them into the ground, and attached an old window screen to the top, then placed 3 layers of tent mesh on top and down the sides and tied it all down. I will buy proper green shade cloth when I have the chance.

7/22/2015 11:31:43 PM

Williamsburg,KY

MeToo, most growers just use a tarp you can buy cheap at any big box store. I use t posts and a tarp.

7/24/2015 5:48:58 AM

Manitoba

Thanks, croley bend, for your advice. I used what I did to "manufacture" a shade because that is all I could find in the garage and I was anxious to get going, as real hot weather was starting up.

About your recommended tarp - wouldn't that prevent the rain from getting through? Or do we not want the rain to get through to somne degree? LOL.

What are t posts? Thanx.

7/24/2015 8:51:56 AM

Upa Creek, Mo

The tarp cannot touch the pumpkin though (this is critical), and yes it keeps it and the stem dry which is what you want. These pumpkins as big and mean as they look are prone to stem rot when wet. A plain white sheet works, but you must rotate it out with a dry sheet when it rains.

7/24/2015 10:19:49 AM

East Jordan, MI

yes keep the pumpkin dry and make sure tarp is not close to pumpkin or it will over heat it. We use PVC hoops and keep the tarp at least 3 ft from the Kin

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=241237

T posts are steel fence posts http://tinyurl.com/odnk4yc

7/24/2015 9:35:37 PM

Manitoba

Smallmouth & Countryboy: Many thanx to both of you for all your information! Stem rot - one more thing for me to fuss about, now...and we are having real steamy, hot weather.

Countryboy, I went to your grower pictures and was utterly amazed at the size of your pumpkin that is still alive, picture taken only yesterday! Your hoop house is nice and your overall operation is beyond belief. I have this little garden and my "giant" pumpkin is bumping into other crops. I don't understand when I should cut the side vines off, I've already cut one so far because it was crawling up the fence. LOL! But my feeling is: the more vines & the longer you keep them, the better to gather up the rays of the sun!

I've so many questions about your photos but don't want to make a nuisance of myself. Anyway, upward & onward! Betcha they'll see you at the Circleville Show once again.

7/24/2015 11:46:32 PM

East Jordan, MI

ask away, that is what this site is for.

Here is a blog I made my first year from a beginners perspective for other beginners (and my own notes). http://How2GrowAGs.blogspot.com It may answer many of your questions.

Side vines. Terminate when they get to the edge of your patch, until you are on the last 3 per side closest to the pumpkin, then start turning them and let them sweep forward past the pumpkin.
Make sure you cut all Tertiary vines off unless you have a hole to fill in.
Typically we are now using a 30x30 spot per pumpkin now. we grew some over 1000 in 20x20, and grew one 662.5 in 150 sq ft one year.

7/25/2015 2:08:50 PM

Manitoba

So there's hope for me then, with my little space! Yahoo!

Serious question: how would you attach a tarp to the top of some 2X2 stakes (used in lieu of the recommended t posts? Tks.

My "tarp" is a thin sort of semi-plastic woven sheet they put around those large hay bales. I just realized we have a huge sheet of this stuff.

7/25/2015 2:46:18 PM

Manitoba

PS to Countryboy. I forgot to say thanks for the link to your blog. At first glance it would seem to be what I need!

7/25/2015 3:07:06 PM

East Jordan, MI

im not sure a 2x2 would hold up in a wind (likely cant drive them deep enough with out busting them)

However, if you want to try, use two that are taller say 5 ft above the ground. Center them on the pumpkin and tie a rope, or piece of wire between them for the tarp to go over. Then use 2 that are shorter, say 3.5 ft above ground on either side of the pumpkin to tie the edge of the tarp too. This will make an A frame type tent over the pumpkin so rain water doesn't pool up on top of it causing it to crash down on the pumpkin. you can use rope or wire or tie straps or probably even duct tape to lash the tarp to the 2x2s.

I use 3 pvc pipes 17 ft long and bent in a hoop slipped over a short piece of rebar driven into the ground, a 10 ft one along the ridge to make them one unit, then zip tie the tarp to the ribs.

You are most welcome, that's why I leave it out there.

7/25/2015 4:36:11 PM

Manitoba

You know, I kind of like the pvc pipes + rebar version, since I already have some rebar. It's that, or go to the forest with the chain saw and cut some saplings for posts (& make them pointy), since you said 2 X 2 might not hold up. They won't rot by October.

7/25/2015 7:06:25 PM

Wixom MI.

Another reason to remove leaves and vines close to the pumpkin is that the prickely leaves will almost always find away to scratch and scar the pumpkin and you will always kick yourself for every scare that you put on your presious baby ! Lol...

7/25/2015 8:25:58 PM

Manitoba

@wixom-grower(chris)

At what point in my pumpkin's growth is it okay to cut off those huge leaves that are close & touching? I should think that at 12 days after pollination, the fruit still needs all its leaves to manufacture food. What do you say.

But I've noticed a few teensy scratches already!

7/25/2015 9:02:30 PM

East Jordan, MI

those teensy scratches will be an inch wide and 10 inches long when the pumpkin is 500 lbs

7/25/2015 9:47:08 PM

Wixom MI.

I see more and more that many growers are pruning them as soon as the pumpkin takes after pollination. Removing a few leaves around the pumpkin does not hurt the growing of it.the sooner you position the pumpkin and the vines to make room for it to grow the better for both the plant and pumpkin.everyone does this a little different. Some growers cut the main vine off after the pumpkin others let the main vine grow forever. But you will notice that most growers remove all vines or leaves around the pumpkin that can touch it.pruning the plant will actually help it grow larger and faster, but everyone has different views on how much pruning to do.that is why its good to follow many different diaries to form your own methods and ideas.

7/25/2015 10:18:16 PM

Manitoba

    

"those teensy scratches will be an inch wide and 10 inches long when the pumpkin is 500 lbs"

I love that you have such faith in me & my "beast". Thank you!

I can't believe how fast my pumpkin is growing, I just can't.

7/25/2015 11:19:11 PM