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Beach Park, IL.

I have approximately a little more than 600 sq. ft in my garden. Is it recommended only to grow one giant pumpkin plant, or can I get in 2??

4/10/2006 7:20:08 PM

Norton, MA

It would be the safe way to do it. You would have to prep at least a 10 ft. radius half circle at the root end anyway, if the plant was on all 600.
You might try 2 butted right up against eachother (running 1 towards each end of the garden), but it is a little more risky, and hard (have to maintain that small plant very well). 750 lb.+ pumpkins have been grown on 250 sf. or less. Alex Noel.

4/10/2006 7:50:14 PM

Norton, MA

Ale"X" Noel.

4/10/2006 7:50:34 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Grow one big plant, and grow another tiny plant for the front porch pumpkins

4/10/2006 9:41:37 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

2 is close but I'd do it if the dimesnions work. What is the length x width?

4/10/2006 10:31:08 PM

Beach Park, IL.

The length I think is 30 some feet, and the width about 20 some feet.

4/10/2006 11:58:30 PM

Beach Park, IL.

We can't really make it any bigger because the septic tank is on one side, and the shed is on the other, and we took out a large box elder tree last year which was in the front (that was starting to grow too big and shade out my patch).

4/10/2006 11:59:54 PM

Netherlands

You could try two plants, each 20 ft long and 15 ft wide. Start the plants on opposite sides of the patch.

4/11/2006 1:13:10 AM

milford, CT,

I think the best way to try to grow 2 if you choose is to plant them at opposite ends of the patch. With careful pruning you might be able to do this. Remember 2 triangles = a rectangle, so 2 300 sq ft plants grown in opposite geometries to each other should maximize the sqaure footage

Mark (the math teacher)

4/11/2006 8:21:50 PM

milford, CT,

Sorry! I couldn't pass up an opportunity to do a little geometry lesson. Mark

4/11/2006 8:23:52 PM

Picton,ON (j.vincent@xplornet.ca)

You could plant one at oposite ends and grow towards each other, offset slightly, then let some of the side vines grow out past the edges of the patch on to the lawn. This will allow for more leafe area on less tilled ground! Training the main on an angle will also allow for a longer main
Or you could grow one plant and train in a wish bone (double main) and set two pumpkins.

4/11/2006 8:27:32 PM

Norton, MA

Wouldn't you want the main roots in the middle though? Set each one to the opposite direction (L-R) by 2-3 feet. I try to never put the main root near an edge. AleX.

4/11/2006 9:29:36 PM

Midwest

tacotac:

I grew one plant last year. My patch was 17ftx14ft. The plant outgrew the patch in August and ended up about 24X20. I had to wrap the secondaries around the patch and let the secondaries run on the grass. By mid August, most of the plant was growing on the edge of the patch. It produced 3 pumpkins, but none really big. Does the shed block light? Hope not. Pumpkins love the light. This year, I expanded again to 22ftx17ft. If you can manage 2 plants, go for it! Sounds like you have two great seeds and you want to try both!
Gro Big Bro
Greg

4/12/2006 2:20:36 AM

Indiana

why cant you grow over the septic tank?

4/12/2006 12:39:54 PM

Beach Park, IL.

No, the shed is on the north side of the patch. Our septic tank is a big manhole thingy sticking out of the ground. Has a warning sign that death may occur if you enter it (I know, irrelevant). I guess the septic system itself takes up most of our backyard, underground, but what I was talking about was the place where you enter it, also has an outlet post sticking out where something is plugged in? I also plugged in my electric fence when I have previously gardened.

4/14/2006 2:44:45 AM

Coventry R.I.

hi , i have 1000sq ft i want to fit 3 plants is it possible thanks frank

4/14/2006 7:41:21 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Tacotac - 1 plant, well trimmed and spread out.

Frank - 2 plants max. I grew 2 plants in a 36' X 25' area and it was alot of work fitting them in. One good sized plant and then another smaller one would be OK.

4/16/2006 8:57:48 PM

milford, CT,

Frank, Don't do It!. Grow 2 plants. I have 1000sq ft and grew 3 plants last year. The short of it is I wasted a year. My pumpkins were smaller than prior years and it was very difficult to keep up with pruning given they were so tightly packed. This year I'm planting 2 plants and giving myself and the plants a little room to grow. 500 sq ft per plant. Mark

4/16/2006 10:21:31 PM

Coventry R.I.

thanks north shore, thanks mark, will take your advice. frank

4/17/2006 9:48:34 AM

Montoursville, PA

It is said that mycorrhiza go to where the needs, of the plant are. Holy poppers! What if they went to your underlayment, of household poop?

When you achieve ten percent or higher organic content the worms will bring up your hidden black gold too.

4/17/2006 11:17:54 AM

hamilton,Ontario

Every year I have high hopes of growing a big one... My patch due to a pool and a fence is about 4' x 12 ft. Evey year I have grown 2..start them together then circlethem out till eventually they meet...after a while I purge the secondaries and thats what I do...but The DREAM GOES ON.....I always have planted 2...just in case the borers or something else happens to one then I got the other as a backup.......hehe

4/17/2006 1:43:00 PM

Streator ,Illinois

You have plenty of room for 2 , start them at opposite ends
10 ft. side vines or have them extend a foot or 2 on the edge the patch.
I have a 30 x 35 patch and plant 4, they are small plants compaired to others but I have produced 700, 800, 900, and last year a 1000 lb pumpkins, no plant has ever been over 340 sq. ft. , and they were started in the corners of the patch, you can start 2 and one of them can turn into a dog of a plant, main vine snap off can set you back , always a good Idea to have a backup , you can always rip 1 out if you want. remember there are no rules in growing , just some guild lines to follow , expermenting in a given
Good luck and hope to see you at Didiers Farm this Oct.
Gene

4/17/2006 4:01:33 PM