From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Connellsville, Pa

How far down do they go, And how much do they spread ?

4/23/2011 9:16:01 PM

Midway, UT

There were some professors back in 1927 who actually excavated the entire root system of a pumpkin plant. There findings were pretty interesting and they weren't working with Atlantic Giant pumpkins.

http://denverpumpkins.com/2008/05/pumpkin-roots.html

With the tap roots that come out of the leaf nodes pretty much your entire pumpkin patch and a few feet beyond should be covered with roots by the end of the season if you have done things right.

4/23/2011 10:52:23 PM

Connellsville, Pa

Thanks alot. Very interesting reading. I had no clue the roots were that way. Changes my thinking alot.

4/24/2011 1:11:34 AM

Muddy Waters

The roots can grow 60 feet or more away from plant(Dont till)after mid June!!

4/24/2011 8:05:55 AM

South Hero, VT

Steve Connolly recommends not weeding too deeply close to leaves: 1 inch deep within 10 inches of leaf stems, and 4-6 feet around crown is safe(April SNGPG newsletter).

I guess that means frequent shallow weeding, with a lot of hand weeding close to leaf stems.

Oh, my aching back.

4/24/2011 8:22:57 AM