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Newark, CA

I have 4 pumpkins plants in a 20'x20' area. Each of the plants has a pumpkin that is 30 or more lbs. If I want the big one...do I take off all the other pumpkins now? Do I need to cut back the vines? If so at what length. All of the big pumpkins I want to keep are really close to the base of the plant. Is this a good thing or bad? I have had to terminate the vines at the boarder of their 20' x 20' area already. Help, only 2nd year of going for the big one. Thanks, Grandma

6/28/2009 2:25:33 PM

Winston Salem NC

If you have 4 plants in a 20x20 space then cutting back to 1 plant would be best for getting a big one. Alot of growers say 400sq.ft for each plant minimum, which would be a 20x20 area. From data that some growers have researched the sweetspot for a big pumpkin is around 14'-17' out on the mainvine. Keep 3 pumpkins or so on the vine and then make your culls depending on which fruit you think is going to be the best (size, shape, location, position) Hope this helps some but its just my 2 pennys.
Rick

6/28/2009 2:30:19 PM

Whidbey Island

Don't cull all of the rejects at once. Take one off, wait a day or two, then the second, etc.

6/28/2009 10:45:35 PM

Farmville, Virginia ([email protected])

Hey Grandma, How far out on the main vines are your pumpkins? If you are correct in saying you have 4 plants in a 20x20 patch then something besides a few pumpkins need to go. You have a total of 400 square feet growing space. Thats usually the minimum most growers recommend "per plant". If you want a big one I would say leave one plant in the patch. Depending on how big you are trying for you might leave two plants. I grew one two years ago 694lbs on a little over 200 square feet.

6/29/2009 12:52:32 AM

Rhode Island

if your truely a grandma then i wish you well. us grandparents need to stick together.

if you start pulling plants now you will do more damage than good. as you pull up plants you will destroy the other plants root system.

id just dead end every vine and take whtever you get for this year. one pumpkin per plant only.

next year grow one plant in that 20x20 area-----start the plant in middle at one end of garden. run the main 20 ft straight down the middle of the garden .this allows for 10 ft side on each side of the main. a fruit or two set at 12 to 15 ft down the main. and a little space left to grow out the rest of the main.

pap

6/29/2009 9:16:03 PM