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Cincinnati, OH

The Pumpkin Gods looked down upon me in mercy and saved my season. They sent me LADY LUCK and I have made it up to the frontlines and no longer battling from the rear. The mole was a close call, that was pure luck to catch him in the wrong place at the right time. Surgery wounds from the borers have healed nicely. I have bedded "punky" down and adjusted her plumbing of the main vine, makeing the turn up to and down from the pumpkin a smooth gradual one. This plant seems to have started backwards from normal. The main vine shot out quickly, and before any side chutes could start, she concieved a pumpkin 10-12 foot from the stump. The Borers caused me to lose two secondary vines from the stump. Now, with the pumpkin set and growing, the vine is growing very well. I now have 16 new side shoots started each still trying to produce pumpkins along the way that I keep pinching off. The vines grow during the day, the pumpkin mainly grows at night. She has settled into a slow constant growth rate and I expect it to pick up nicely when food arives from the new leaf growth. The young leaves should feed well in place of the older adult leaves. I am now setting my goal higher to shoot for 300-400 lbs, but there is potential now to do even better than that. I'm hopeing to post a story like some have in my "Experienced growers tell your success in you first year" POST. Good replies to that post, I like hearing the stories.

7/17/2009 10:13:41 PM

ordinary,VA

Keep her going you can get her to 400lb !
you are learning to make your own luck and let lady luck take care of herself

7/18/2009 10:01:17 AM

Cincinnati, OH

So very true Ed. To have success in this hobby, you certainly have to work for it. It's not just as easy as planting, watering, and watch it grow like a chia pet. If I get a 400 pounder, i'll be yelling from my rooftop. Tacket has invited me to come see his patch, he lives fairly close and it is his rookie season as well, only he has apparently had great success, he claims his is over 400 pounds already. I'm looking forward to seeing it. If true, this rookie can snatch a crown from a king. I simply NEED to reach the end of the season with a pumpkin, whether it be 100 pounds or 400 pounds does not really matter much, I just want to keep it alive. My tomatoe plants are my real pride this year. Almost to 7 feet right now and still growing. I have to stake them higher today, I contimplated over it, because I don't want my house looking so small. :-)

7/18/2009 11:10:51 AM

ordinary,VA

wish you all the success in the world,its not so easy.
sometimes your season can be over in a blink of an eye..
hope you grow way over 500lbs!!!

speaking of lady luck we have a grower that lives near the Virginia N.C border Jimmy has been trying to grow one 500lbs for couple of years he is our sentimental favorite.
Jimmy was off to a great start this year growing strong orange genetics seeds.He had some over 300lbs and looking very good until yesterday he had some severe thunderstorm's roll through his garden flatting everything watermelons,maters,cantaloupes,sunflowers and of course his beautiful pumpkin patch.his hoop houses and wind protection didn't hold up to the near hurricane force winds.He sent me some pictures of his pumpkin patch breaks your heart.....he season might be over.....

and like most giant pumpkin growers Jimmy Weir is one hell of a nice guy...

7/18/2009 5:41:51 PM