From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Madera, CA

So those of you that have been doing this for a few years, how many square feet do you plan on for each plant? Thanks for all the advice.

12/17/2011 11:06:55 PM

Muddy Waters

600

12/17/2011 11:31:19 PM

Hinckley MN

the 2010 WR was grown a little over 700 I think. I plan on 25x30 for each plant and I can let them run an additional 10ft in the lawn.

12/17/2011 11:37:58 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

I try to give 30x30' then I have some area on edges leftover, and aim for about 700-750 square feet. Best layout is the 'bypass' where you have two grow at each other and pass part or all the ways, saves a little space.

12/18/2011 2:46:20 AM

Rhode Island

marty

we allow for over 800 sq ft per plant however if space is limited? giants have been grown on plants half that size and less.
id say a good average size would be around 450-500

more importanty than plant size however is how you grow and protect that plant and pumpkin.

pap

12/18/2011 7:43:09 AM

Layton, UT

Do you think the entire plant contributes to the growth of the pumpkin? Does the plant from the main root to the fruit is the main source of food for the fruit? The plant past the fruit contribute anything to the fruit? Would appreciate some opinions on this.
Marco

12/18/2011 7:51:42 AM

Muddy Waters

I'm doing about 550 per plant,but this will be in a screen house.I heard the 1723 was grown on about 500 feet & Quinn has some down to 600 feet.The whole plant feeds the kin,there's lots of different theory's.I think plants even the melons can be be grown on smaller plants.were doing 300 sq feet,I might try a 150-200 plant this year.I think a huge plant is more likely to Split the kin when rapid growth is occurring.Im no HH on Kins but I have been growing since 96.I was 35 pds from a State record in 2002.Never hit 1000 pds till I used Mycorrhizae.

12/18/2011 9:09:44 AM

Buffalo, New York

my max is 450-500 sq ft....no other option.

12/18/2011 11:42:56 AM

Madera, CA

Marco, there was a recent thread on that subject. I spent a few minutes looking for it but I could not. Maybe someone knows the topic I am refering to and can post up a link.

Thanks for all the information everyone.

Pap,

My limitation is I need to have shade cloth and misters over the plant. Any leaves that grew outside the shade cloth did not last long last year.

12/18/2011 11:58:29 AM

Oakland,Maine

Marco,
Here are a couple threads on the vine before and after theme:


http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=70571

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=132183

12/18/2011 2:37:58 PM

Madera, CA

I just ran out to the garden at it looks like I have right at 1,000 sq ft under the shade cloth. So it looks like if I want to grow three plants (like I did last year) I really should add more shade.

Thanks for the links dww2.

12/18/2011 3:50:54 PM

Madera, CA

It was bugging me that I couldn't find this thread, it was linked in another post. Marco, this should be what you are looking for, good read.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=387240

12/18/2011 4:30:31 PM

Layton, UT

Thanks to all of you for the URL's. Plenty to read and learn from. Marty, I grew up in Fresno and know about the heat in the valley. Awful!

12/18/2011 4:56:56 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Gee, I was hoping that my problem was growing too much salad...and I usually did. This year Im growing like LongMont Pete...Smaller plant bigger fruit? Last year my 1161 had 30 foot side vines before the fruit on either side. Massive plant, I had lots of salad, and little fruit. This year I am going again with the 1161 same spot, smaller side vine lenghts with a main, guess we will see.

12/19/2011 3:11:43 PM

South of Buffalo

This was my 1st year growing ag's. 2 plants:
1 about 390 sq feet-->1079
1 about 190sq feet--->835
Both had small areas of tilled ammended soil with the vast majority of plant grown on lawn. I have now tilled enough soil to match the plant size. Hopefully that will add an extra 600 pounds or so :)

12/19/2011 4:41:29 PM

South Hero, VT

Since both Chris Stevens and Steve Connolly grew their biggies last year in a patch @ 25 x 30 feet, I would say you don't have to go bigger than 600 square feet for a patch.

I believe that Jim Bryson also grows his fruit in an area around 600 square feet.

But I may be wrong on that. Let me check.

12/19/2011 7:14:32 PM

South Hero, VT

Checked the latest SNGPG newsletter.

Jim Bryson uses 30 x 30 feet. Dave Stelts uses 25 x 30 feet. Joe Jutras uses 30 x 30 feet.

My math was way off due to another 10 hour day at work, topped off with some brandy.

Duh.

12/20/2011 6:29:25 PM