From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Santa Ynez California

Hi. It is only our second year and last year was a very short season so when our pumpkin last year slowed at about 600 pounds i thought it was a seasonal thing. Now I am noticing that all of my pumpkins seem to be slowing down considerably after they hit 500 - 600 pounds. dropping from about 30 pounds a day to about 10 or so. Any suggestions. I am on a high phosphorous fertilizer now but it seems to be a size and weight issue rather than a fertilizer issue as the plants all look quit healthy. our biggest hit 600 then slowed down and our second biggest is still growing about 30 a day but will hit 600 in a couple days and I am afraid it will slow down too. our third biggest hit about 450 and then slowed too. Is it time to jump start with potassium or still too early. Is this normal. All plants look healthy and vigerous. Steve

7/25/2009 6:39:31 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

I really don't know enough about your area to comment. Weahter, soils, weighoff date, etc...
That aside, take caution jumping a plant with potash unless you know the soil is lacking.

7/25/2009 9:06:41 PM

Hamilton, Ohio

i put my pumpkin on a skid and i think it stopped growing. Did i do the right thing be picking up the pumpkin? Or did i hurt it? I thought i was carefull but this is my first year. Could it be from the cool weather we are having? very cool this year we are in record breaking cool days. please respond worried about my pumpkins.

7/28/2009 11:36:04 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

How large is it?
Was there a sound like crunching celery?
Personally I would never grow on a pallet.

7/28/2009 8:10:56 PM

Santa Ynez California

Hi. I think it may have also been a mistake in measuring. I noticed that I had been adding numbers wrong on them and this may have been the biggest problem hahaha. They seem to be growing as normal now that I am adding correctly again. Also i must admit i think i was getting a bit over eager on my measurements and in the last week got a bit more accurate with that. Still they are sitting at 700,600, and about 550. It is just getting harder and harder to measure them accurately as tape keeps falling off and sliding around. Also it can not look good to have a grown man laying on top of a pumpkin hahahaha. Steve

7/28/2009 8:35:07 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Blue painter's masking tape, just a little bit, and very carefully applied, will help hold measuring tape on far side of pumpkin so one person can measure when they get too big. Else recruit someone to help you manipulate the tape. Duct tape leaves too much residue!

7/28/2009 11:04:29 PM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

I use regular scotch tape with no problem. It sticks well enough to hold the tape but comes off easily.
I agree with Tremor on the pallet thing...wouldn't even consider it.

7/29/2009 5:37:41 PM