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Newcastle, CA

anyone grow a giant pumpkin 1500 plus pounds while in a pot?

thinking about trying it in a 200-300 gallon size fabric pot?

5/17/2019 1:41:45 PM

Georgia

I think people have grown 1500 plus pounds while on pot.

5/17/2019 1:48:15 PM

Georgia

It boggles the mind how big a 300 gallon fabric pot must be. I would just love to see the pics of you giving it a try.

5/17/2019 1:49:20 PM

Grittyville, WA

It has to hit nearly 40 lbs per day to hit 1500. Water would be the biggest concern because growers on here talk about large plants needing 100 gallons per day give or take. So if you missed one day of watering your plant would be crispy chicken. Probably would have to water twice a day or get creative. Nutrients would be a whole 'nother issue but if anyone could do it you could. Go all out: 500 gallon/2000 LBS...

5/17/2019 2:05:11 PM

Newcastle, CA

hmmmm interesting. :) that's a lot of water!

5/17/2019 3:01:25 PM

Newcastle, CA

the pot im looking at is 70"wide x 27"high

5/17/2019 3:02:25 PM

Plymouth, MN

LOL @ the first response.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say it isn't possible. 150 sq. ft. patch hasn't hit a thousand pounds. Figure you till down 12" and you have a 1125 gallon area for your root zone. And that assumes you don't have roots any deeper or that ignore the boundaries to your contest plant.

5/17/2019 4:04:04 PM

Newcastle, CA

Well that is good to know!

5/17/2019 5:01:38 PM

Newcastle, CA

the measurements there were actually a 500 gallon pot. I would let the vines leave the pot. It would mostly be the stump in the pot that I would concentrate on fertilizing and watering. then the vines would be buried outside the pot like normal.

5/17/2019 5:04:49 PM

Weatherman

I'm sure next year they will have a contest growing a pumpkin in a 300 gallon pot :-)

5/17/2019 8:08:55 PM

Mn

Watering would be pretty simple. A 500 gallon grow bag would fit inside a 8 foot plastic pool. Run water to it and rig up a float and watering is taken care of. Moving over 2.5 cubic yards of material into it doesn't sound like a lot of fun though.

5/18/2019 3:20:15 AM

Central Illinois

I do not not think you would water anywhere near 100 gal a day,your not putting the water over 1000sqft, but you may have to water several times each day

5/18/2019 8:15:13 AM

Muddy Waters

Shouldnt be a issue. The stump or crown is only 25% of your plant once the plant is full grown anyway.

5/18/2019 11:43:46 AM

Salem, Ohio USA

Doc- I say: grower over 70- seeds over 20- 1 gallon pot. What say you?

5/18/2019 4:01:01 PM

Weatherman

Sounds like a plan. Lol

5/19/2019 6:07:10 AM

Central Illinois

It would be interesting to see how to care for just the stump area not letting the vines root down

5/19/2019 9:33:00 AM

Grittyville, WA

Whats your thinking weird wint why the big pot... If the side vines will root normally then you could let the stump root normally too, so it sounds to me like the pot is not necessary? Just an experiment?

I have no clue what the largest container grown pumpkin is but yeah this sounds like a competition... Would an old school bus count as a container? Im in... of course.

5/19/2019 1:18:05 PM

Muddy Waters

I think you have more potential for disease in raised containers.Warmer temps?? Maybe? Maybe not?

5/19/2019 6:34:21 PM

Newcastle, CA

I'm thinking the way the pots allow for more breathability to the roots, will give better stability to the plant rather than sitting in water all the time in my hot climate. Also, I can fill the pot with nothing but the best potting soils and not worry about fertilizing...you know 2000 square feet, id just fertilize a 70" circle of dirt with all the really great stuff that would normally be cost prohibitive at those 2000 sf numbers. looks like bubba says the stump is only 25 percent of the plant though, so i'm not sure really if its a great idea.

5/20/2019 11:03:19 AM

North Pole,Alaska

Couple of things you may want to consider.I'm not a soils guy,but as far as getting O2 to the roots, Oxygen goes from grater concentrations to lower concentrations. Roughly 20-21% in air, to the lower concentration in soil. It doesn't move quickly through dense soils, hence soil amendments and lighter soils vs silts and clays. The deeper you go ( Vertically AND horizontally from the sides) the longer it takes and the slower the exchange rate. The middle 50% of your pot will not benefit from fabric sides. Better soil prep will get you better O2 levels.
As far as not worrying about fertilizing....you'll soon find the need to fertilize more often and you will be root bound in no time.I grow aeroponically, and you have no idea how MASSIVE the root structure is on a healthy plant. There have been a number of studies showing reduced growth due to root boundry limitations, regardless of nutrient availability. Also, roots don't just take stuff in. You'll also have to worry about root exudes building up to detrimental levels.
Best of luck, but you've got a big learning curve ahead of you

5/20/2019 12:50:18 PM

Colorado

Back in the late 90's there was someone growing ag's in containers in sand feeding them water soluble fertilizer(not hydroponic).Cant remember the name but he may have been in the nursery business if my memory is correct. I believe he had pretty strong results.Big enough to compete in contests but not close to 1000 lbs back then whem the WR was 1000-1200lbs.

5/21/2019 2:08:29 PM

Salem, Ohio USA

Bill Fornoff (Pa.)- article on our website ovgpg.com In the early part of the "Articles"

5/21/2019 2:38:28 PM

North Pole,Alaska

If you note in the article, the bottom of the tub was cut out, essentially making it a raised bed with no bottom to limit root growth. I wonder how he treated the vine nodes growing on top of the 4-6 inches of sand, Unless he kept them watered on a very regular basis, the roots would have dried out before they had a chance to go below the sand barrier. Talking from experience here... 1 missed watering on a hot sunny day and 2-3 weeks of rooting dead. One of the reasons sand makes a good weed/ disease barrier.

5/21/2019 6:15:08 PM

Newcastle, CA

So...how big exactly are these roots? anyone have a photo where that was measured?

5/22/2019 9:55:48 AM

Newcastle, CA

the point of the fabric pots is that the root will be limited and "air pruned" forcing the plant to initiate more root structures on the existing area and to spread out to fill the pot without encircling itself. but I am curious about the actual root sizes on the big plants.

5/22/2019 9:57:32 AM

North Pole,Alaska

Just posted a photo on my diary. Don't know why it posted 90 degrees off- haven't posted pictures in a while, but it gives an idea of root complexity soil growers never see

5/22/2019 11:39:03 AM

Newcastle, CA

oooh thanks

5/22/2019 11:47:55 AM

Newcastle, CA

good god man, just looked at the photo. what exactly do you have going on? must be a giant aeroponic setup. wheres the stump?

5/22/2019 11:50:28 AM

North Pole,Alaska

No stump photos I can find quickly. I grow everything aeroponically

5/22/2019 11:55:59 AM