From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Dummer Twp - Ontario

My patch is only 500 s/ft for this year. Would it be wise to plant 4 plants or 6 and eventually get down to 2 or 3 plants that will grow all season. I put in 3 organic feeding pits in the fall intending on doing 3 final plants. What are some thoughts on this, Thanks Kirk

12/20/2006 5:52:50 AM

Coventry R.I.

500 sq ft is good for 1 plant, if that, i wound,nt plant no more.

12/20/2006 6:08:09 AM

Belmont, NH

The only way you can put 3 plants in 500 sq/ft is if you plant them in the middle and run them out on the lawn or surrounding area. Like Frank said one plant can use up 500 sq/ft real fast. More than one plant would hamper the full potential of the seed you plant. The older I get the less I like to mow the lawn. I now have about 3600 sq/ft of lawn that grows winter rye in the Winter and pumpkins in the Summer.

12/20/2006 7:38:46 AM

Montoursville, PA

I vote with the majority here. One done well will far out perform any other attempt on this small patch.

12/20/2006 4:33:24 PM

Mt Vernon Ky

grow one or throw the seeds and money out the window

12/20/2006 4:58:38 PM

Ontario, Canada.

One plant is all you have room for kirk.

Vic, your giving away the secret. Seeds thrown out the window lead to a giant and a goose that lays golden...I've said enough......

12/20/2006 5:15:40 PM

Roanoke Il

two pumpkins plants max

12/20/2006 10:15:51 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Kirk,

What are the dimensions? You might start 3 & cull to one or two if you're willing to do some serious pruning & accept a smaller result. The shape of the patch has something to do with where you'll start the plants & what you can do to train them.

I know it sounds crazy but two 250 sf plants can coexist with some very careful planning & pruning.

12/20/2006 10:21:54 PM

Vermont

You could grow 2 and end up in good shape.I had 2 plants and each only covered 240/250 sq ft.Ended up at 974 and 763,my bigger plant a little over 500 sq ft ended up at 640.Properly taken care of you could grow 2 good pumpkins.And I backed off on the fertilizers in August on the 974 due to stem cracks. My vote is 2,but I've only grown for a couple years. And save those extra seeds there's always next year. Good growing in 2007.

12/20/2006 10:22:52 PM

Dummer Twp - Ontario

OK, here is some added info about this post, my patch measures 15x33 but I do have area around it that if my wife doesn't notice I can sneak plants outward. I know I should only plant one plant but I will plant and keep two as I need practice refining my techniques as I am relatively new to this. Keep em coming

Kirk

12/21/2006 6:07:55 AM

Wood River, IL (kennyw_49@yahoo.com)

Kirk,

Last year as a Rookie I was told by a grower that has already posted here (BHooked) that my patch was only big enough for 3 plants. I thought I knew better and "needed practice refining my techniques". So I planted 4, that was my first mistake of the season. You can refine your techniques on one plant.

Start 2 cull back to one. But most of all have fun with it. I got my oldest daughter (5 years old) involved last year and we had more fun working in the patch together.

Kenny

12/21/2006 6:25:30 AM

President - GPC

One could also go verticle too, I enlarged my patch 200 sf by installing cattlefencing on the side of the house up to 10 ft. Vines grew over the top and had no problem. Of course the kins had to be removed but they like to climb.

12/21/2006 10:09:53 AM

Simi valley, ca

My first yr i had got a 560 & sold at young age ,in less than 200 sq ft with many mistakes . Also a 683 in only 250 or so -sq ft & mistakes !! ,, Id say go for 2 , but start out with a few back up plants & pull them when others are about to touch ,, But be carfull pulling as roots will go out way beyound what you might think, & that will cause plants to wilt for a while ,& that will cause leaves to burn , !!!

1/22/2007 3:11:47 AM