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Cincinnati, OH

Most of you know my plight. After all my circumstances, my "Punky" has been crawling in growth...only about an inch a day now. Is this the sign of a dying fruit, or one that has simply setteled into a growth rate the plant can withstand after the devastation? I am still torn on whether or not to allow a couple more pumpkins to grow farther down the vine so I can salvage as much out of this plant as possible. I was forced to cut all secondary vines leading up to the pumpkin which is about 10 ft. out from the stump. That secondary vine I left is growing well. I have three more secondaries that have started growing near a secondary root system established about 5 feet out from the stump. They are a little odd in the fact that the diameter of these secondaries comming out from the main vine are very small, but then resumes normal diameter as it grows farther out. They are growing at an impressive rate, despite this abnormality. I have ceased all feeding because I did not want to blow money on a hopeless case. The plant seems to be getting plenty of Nitro due to vine growth. The main has grown 3 feet this week, and secondaries beyond the pumpkin seem healthy and trying to produce more pumpkins. Is Potash what my pumpkin needs right now, or is the dimminished amount of leaves up to the pumpkin slowing it's growth?

7/27/2009 1:12:18 PM

Cincinnati, OH

I did leave one secondary before the pumpkin which is about 6 feet long and growing. And as I mentioned..3 new secondaries have started. A total of only about 50 leaves up to the pumpkin, and 200+ after the pumpkin. This isn't about growing a giant anymore, it's a survival story. If I can get a couple more started now that will get to say 50 lbs. or more, without killing the plant, I'll abort "punky" myself if she's not going to get much bigger. She is 51" circ.

7/27/2009 1:22:04 PM

ipswich, ma usa

You answered your own question. Your plant is the problem to the small growth.

John (5150)

7/27/2009 1:46:05 PM

Cincinnati, OH

I'm not concerned with small growth, I would like to know how I can get the best results from here on out. I know i'm not going to have a fraction of a prizewinner, I want to know my best "survival" option. Do I continue letting Punky grow with so few leaves in front of her...or let one or two grow farther down where there are more leaves to feed them?

7/27/2009 2:07:47 PM

Farmville, Virginia ([email protected])

Nutrient consumption by the fruit from vines past the fruit will be very minimum. Without the side vines behind the pumpkin there is probably little you can do to increase growth. Whatcha got is whatcha got...
Never give up though! Try to keep it going and learn all you can from what went wrong this season and apply it next year. Anything you get this year is a "personal best". Then you got something to shoot for next year. GOOD LUCK!

7/27/2009 5:48:46 PM

[email protected]

Full soil test in October after the patch is clean. Make all corrections before the ground freezes. Tissue tests as needed during the season. These things cannot be second guessed in July. It's all part of the scientific process.

7/27/2009 6:24:55 PM

Cincinnati, OH

Hoots...that was the response I was looking for. I will see how well the new growth before the pumpkin does before I make the final call on it, If I cut it, there may well be enough growth after the new pumpkins to sustain decent growth and hopefully a couple more small, but larger than normal pumpkins, which would be what i'm after at that point. Thanks again for an excellent reply!

Tremor, thanks to you also for pointing me in the right direction for next year. Next year...I GROW EM BIG...this year...I GROW EM SMALL!
Thanks.

7/27/2009 7:11:01 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Pumpkinator,
What you seem to be asking is if backfeeding occurs on the plant. Mark(Hoots) gave his opinion. I don't know if there are studies regarding this. If backfeeding does occur significantly, the 51" pumpkin you've got going could be your best bet.

7/27/2009 9:07:37 PM

Cincinnati, OH

I may try and find a happy "balance" and keep my punky, hopefully she'll reach the weight of 100 or so and counting leaves in front of her. If I can set 2 more after her at even intervals.... Maybeeeeee...I can end up with three pumpkins all around the same wieght???? That would be three larger pumpkins than I have ever had or bought. I'm an expert carver on these things, i'm not afraid to boast that....I take pride in it. I want to carve these pumpkins!!! That's why I want them to survive, it's not about the "big one" anymore, I need a canvas for my art.

7/27/2009 9:28:03 PM

Cincinnati, OH

By the way Doug....you had my question nailed, nicely put in simple terms.

7/27/2009 9:29:04 PM