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Rhode Island

assuming of course that you have made it successfully to the pollination point of the season here are a few helpfull suggestions to improve your odds.

1. being new you should keep two pumpkins per plant .one on a side vine about halfways down off the mainand one at least 12 ft down on the main. especially if you only have a couple plants to work with.

2. get on a good insect and disease control program to insure your chances of success. (call your local or state agency for lists of pest and cures in your area ).

3.weed weed weed get them out of the patch. they help spred powdery mildew and an assortment of diseases

4. cut enough tap roots on each side of the vine connected to your pumpkin to allow for the vine to raise with the fruit as it grows. ( a mistake many new growers make ) the vine should have plenty of flexability on both sides of the fruit(

5. dont be afraid to position the fruit at a 90 degree angle off the vine. move it a little each day after the weather has warmed up. ( late morning or late afternoon )

6. dont water your plants during late evening . water early enough that the plants leaves can dry out before dark.

7. pumpkin size should not be your first goal. learning and doing is.

8. latch onto one good grower somewhere/anywhere and ask him/her to mentor you.( five years ago some of todays top sngpg growers knew very little about this hobby ) now, we have the top site/club in the world.

9. cover the fruit with a white sheet or shade structure from basketball size on out.

10. have a good time, amaze at the significant growth these things can put on, learn to manage the plant not the reverse.
that way you will be around this hobby a long time. just dont start with the ceiling as your goal.

pap

7/10/2006 6:47:27 AM

Thanks pap,,always glad when you take the time to put a post here for all of us rookies.(Pay attention to this guy,,, fellow newbies!!!!)

that said,,,once we have our selected fruit going and the above points covered what would be the suggested ferts program to employ from here on out? Say from day 20.

7/10/2006 7:41:02 AM

Coventry R.I.

hi pap, thanks , good to have it in writing, but in person is even better, thanks to you and ron. frank4 the rookie

7/10/2006 1:54:05 PM

Rhode Island

if your soil tesyt and the ammendments you added to get it in balance are good? you need only spray the leaves and or soil between the rows with a fish/kelp mixture once evey or every other week with a reccommended mixture.
if soil microorganisms and living matter are not your concern you can use a triple 20*-20-20 water soluable application on the leaves every couple weeks from mid july out.
in early september a light feeding of 0-0-50 side dress
( no more than twice ) can also add to fruit growth.

7/10/2006 10:09:45 PM

thanks again pap

7/11/2006 7:00:28 AM

Midwest

Pap: What's the organic counterpart to 0-0-50? K-sulphate?
thanks,
greg

7/11/2006 2:11:19 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Sulphate of Potash is 0-0-50 & it is considered organic by OMRI. The BIG BOYS make the stuff in the Great Salt Lake. It is extracted from brine that are raised in floating lagoons. Pretty cool.

http://www.gslminerals.com/general_info.htm

A few years back, the hard-core organic crowd had a problem with SOP so the certified organic growers tried to rely on Green Sand & other organic meals like crab, kelp, etc. for their supplemental potash needs. Green Sand doesn't work so the OMRI folks caved in & now permit SOP's use in organic agriculture.

7/11/2006 10:57:23 PM

Rhode Island

thanks trem. always enjoy and trust your advise
pap

7/12/2006 6:04:54 AM

Midwest

I hope you don't mind me asking a techy question... what's the chemical signature of sulphate of potash?
Thanks!

7/12/2006 1:17:49 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

K2So4

7/12/2006 3:16:04 PM