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Ct

Can anyone elaborate on the use of milk in growing pumpkins? How and where is it applied, and does it work?

6/25/2009 9:57:49 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

It controls powdery mildew when applied to the bottoms of leaves. Rate varies from 10-40%. I've used 10% once per week with great results.

The clacium in milk is NOT plant available & does nothing to make the fruit grow.

6/25/2009 1:29:25 PM

Ct

I asked because I've heard stories of people injecting milk into the vines. I'm sure it's been tried though.

6/25/2009 2:20:18 PM

Ct

Thanks Tremor

6/25/2009 2:20:35 PM

Pataskala,OH

No not the milk story again every time I mention that I grow giant pumpkins people tell me to cut the plant open and pour milk into it. I want to know who started that crazy myth.

6/25/2009 3:19:49 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Cutting vines for wicks or making injections is the stuff of kid's books. Fun to read though not effective.

6/25/2009 4:44:42 PM

canal winchester ohio

it's been around a long time, I remember when I was around 13 & going to the weighoffs in Circleville ( 32 years ago)- folks said that was the secret then as well.

6/25/2009 6:14:46 PM

Covington, WA

That myth was started by aggressive dairy farmers pushing their product. I tell them what I want from the cow comes out further back and higher up. They'd like us to compost with cottage cheese too. And tomatoes like yogurt and beets love ice cream. And lettuce loves buttermilk. (That ones true, it's in the Ranch dressing.)

6/26/2009 11:08:57 AM

Northern Cambria, Pa.

The myth started back in the 1800's in a book called "Little House on the Prarie."

6/29/2009 3:24:39 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Most of these crazy wives tails start with some basis in fact. Imagine if this was 1909 & organic chemistry didn't yet exist...Spraying milk every week on an early GP variety would certainly result in a substantial increase over it's Powdery Mildew infected cousins.

All wives tails start somewhere.

6/29/2009 7:11:55 PM

Midway, UT

I believe the milk myth goes back to Laura Ingalls Wilder story called "Farmer Boy." At least that is probably where it became popularized. In the story there is a description of growing a giant pumpkin by isolating one fruit, slitting the stem near the fruit, inserting a rag as a wick with the other end in a bowl of milk, kept full. The pumpkin won first prize at the fair. Wish growing a big one was just that easy.

7/1/2009 1:11:12 AM