From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Appleton

Hey any help on how to grow a giant pumpkin in ones basement?

4/15/2019 8:33:16 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

You would need a huge light source...

4/15/2019 8:44:21 PM

Morgantown, WV

Honest advice if you want your question answered...

100 sqft raised bed, 6 powerful LED's on light rails, lotta TLC. Keep in mind though, there will be considerable humidity kicked off from both the plant itself, and soil evaporation. Plan on failing one or two times before you get good at it. Finally, plan on cutting it up in the basement for harvest.

4/15/2019 9:32:19 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

i have seen anywhere from 32 -50 watts of LED lighting recommended per sq ft of grow area. So for 100 sq ft you would need 3200-5000 watts of lighting. Some basements have a door to the outside. My current house doesn't...getting the pumpkin up the stairs is what has held me back from trying. If you have 150 sq ft available and about 6000-7000 watts of lighting I think you could grow a big one in your basement.

4/16/2019 5:44:23 AM

Central Illinois

you just need to rent a concrete saw bnot

4/16/2019 8:26:00 AM

Appleton

Hey thanks...really appreciated your comments. I will just dream on...however, the outdoors season is almost here!!!

4/16/2019 3:33:56 PM

Morgantown, WV

To put it into perspective, there has been an upsurge of indoor growing recently. Beyond the recent trend of winter competitions, and spring starts increasing indoor knowledge, these plants are not meant to be supported by artificial means. They out-produce what the common person can imagine in their wildest dreams, but only with nature helping.

It will be done, and soon I think. Those who have grown out of season in a greenhouse have had trouble. What it will take is someone with dedication, connections, and a mechanical mind.

Dedication - will get you through the troubles

Connections - will get you good advice from experience, not speculation from a message board. will get you better seeds, and the witnesses you will need to make things official. Will get the genetic project grown despite the pumpkin size... look at Matt DeBacco's winter experiments if you'd like inspiration in this category.

Mechanical Ability - the most important factor. If you grow a giant indoors, people will be interested, henceforth improving connections. Despite your dedication, and connections however, you will not get there if you need to be told how things work. If you can look at something and see what, in the process causes it, and fix that issue, you will eventually have success even if you lack the other two.

Good luck my friend, don't stop dreaming!

4/16/2019 8:54:21 PM

North Pole,Alaska

Just a note on the "these plants are not meant to be supported". I've been growing them Aeroponically for over a decade in North Pole Alaska.Highest average temperature differential of any city in the world, and one of the shortest growing seasons in the world. Best pumpkin is 1200+. Also set 2 Guinness Records. I don't know of ANY plants meant to be supported by "artificial means".If you're up to the challenge, you ultimately have a higher potential indoors than out, but it will be expensive and time consuming. Best of luck!!

4/28/2019 10:08:28 AM

Oak Grove, Mn

daveigiantguy...where you at 1200 hydroponically? I was thinking that John Barlow had the record for hydro pumpkin, but I do not know for sure.

4/28/2019 11:42:39 AM

Oak Grove, Mn

ooops...aeroponic...even more interesting. Next winter will have to restart my winter aeroponic tomato setup. Pumpkin aero could really be a challenge...even more so with a high pressure system.

4/28/2019 11:44:56 AM

Morgantown, WV

Thank you for the input Dave, I'd be interested in what type of system that would actually take. Are you talking one main rootball in a giant reservoir, or are you rooting nodes as well?

In an effort of fairness however, it sounds like when you say "indoors" you are referring to greenhouse growing in Alaska, rather than basement growing as it was asked here. If you are speaking of completely artificial light with your aeroponics setup, I applaud you sir. If you were under plastic, and had sunlight however, Nature is contributing more than you have explained.

4/28/2019 12:23:09 PM

North Pole,Alaska

Yes, in all fairness my plants do spend a good portion of their adult life in a greenhouse with natural sunlight.I start them in my garage when it is typically 20-40 below zero outside. Due to the short growing season, I have to keep them until the main is 6-10' long before driving a bare root plant 5 miles to the greenhouse for the transplant.At this point it usually still dips to sub zero temps at night.
My point was that it was "artificial means" that generated Giant Veggies in the first place- selective breeding. The ability to completely control the environment indoors will ultimately grow the largest plants. You are correct about hardships required. Creating the ideal environment for a large plant is a monumental task. But that is only the beginning. By doing so, you have also created the ideal environment for insects and disease, without the normal system of checks and balances. You will have to address each and every one of them.Their rate of propagation will generally be higher than seen outdoors.There is a long learning curve and NOBODY has been COMPLETELY successful to date. Currently "successful" operations are "economically viable" operations geared towards above average growth rates. Driving a Lexus vs a Formula 1.You need a darn good pit crew to go the distance with the later. We WILL get there though. NONE of my record plants were fully healthy the entire season. We haven't come close to current genetic potential with any plants yet. Still alot of problems to solve but we are getting closer.

4/29/2019 11:22:46 AM

North Pole,Alaska

Yes, 1231 Aeroponically.

I'll also be attempting a few non-pumpkin plants completely indoors this season as well. We'll see how it goes. Best of luck to all!!

4/29/2019 11:29:06 AM

Morgantown, WV

Thank you for your answer back Dave. Would like to see more of you around here. Good luck this year!

Cheers!

4/29/2019 8:10:34 PM

North Pole,Alaska

Thanks, Dustin.
Unfortunately, free time to log in is a rarity, but I'll try. Best of luck to you!

4/29/2019 8:57:15 PM