From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Ontario

Well I have been looking at everyone's pictures and I'm thinking my plants are way behind. This is my first year trying...I'm in Thunder Bay Ontario which is pretty far north but there are growers around here who have been successful. My plants were in the ground by May 15. My biggest plant is about six feet long, I have quite a few male flowers, no sign of a female. We have had lots of rain and pretty good heat, but it still gets pretty cool at night. Is it going to be too late by the time a female comes along? Is there anything I can do (fertilizer?) to help speed things along? Thank you!

7/9/2007 10:08:09 AM

Coupeville WA

Wobbles,
You do need to be patient. Especially with this being your first year. You should have no expectations from my experience. I find myself starting over this year since we moved last fall. I am just beginning to build my soil again.
Building your soil, to be competitive will take several seasons.
Have fun with this season and soak up information like a sponge.
You could still be polinated by the end of the month and produce a great pumpkin.
Happy growing and good luck.

7/9/2007 1:04:30 PM

Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

Wobbles,
Two years ago I had a pumpkin pollinated around Aug. 1. It ended up estimated at over 530 lbs. It just grew nice and steady. Not a monster, but impressive to most people "off the street". I'd recommend taking good care of the plant at this point, so when it does set fruit, it will be ready to grow a nice one.

7/9/2007 4:17:47 PM

Ontario

thanks for the replies...I was hoping that it was still possible to grow a biggie - which I guess for me this year would be anything over 100lbs :) I put my backup plant in my compost pile, and it is doing the best of the three...I think my other location needs better soil

7/9/2007 5:27:06 PM

Hayward, CA

This our first year and we are not growing to win any contest, but we planted the seeds on May 17th and our largest plant is now three whole feet long. We also have alot of the male flowers already but have not pinched or pruned anything yet as I am not sure exactly what is what, that is probably one of the reasons we are having so much fun. It is all very new to us and every little change in the plants are just amazing. We started them as a one time thing, but now I will find a way to do this every year. Like I said, alot of fun!! (I also see the larger plants and get pumpkin envy)
Brent

7/10/2007 9:42:10 PM

Ontario

I'm having fun too, every morning I go for a little walk around my patch to see what has changed...but I do want to see a pumpkin after all of this work and worry!

7/12/2007 8:27:53 AM