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Northampton MA

Hi,
My pumpkin has a 93" circumfrence but is only gaining 10 to 11 pounds a day for the last 2 weeks. Should I expect a growth spurt or more of the same? It's a self pollinated 1470 Wallace. I've read many books including "How to Grow Atlantic Giants II" and I've been hitting my plant with potassium but still more of the same. The plant is healthy and the only problem I had which has now dried over and healed was a stem crack that leaked. The growing days are dwindling and as each day passes I lose more time to outdo my PB. Any suggestions? Thank you.

8/14/2009 8:08:27 AM

Preston CT

Soil test. Balance your soil and add organics and you should not have to fertilize much in season.

8/14/2009 9:14:09 AM

Northampton MA

I've never had a soil test done and it's been in the back of my head since I started this hobby. Are soil tests hard to read when they come back? Thank you Trailor1116!

8/14/2009 9:17:05 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

A&L Labs West. Pay the extra couple of dollars for the analysis and recommendations and they do have 'giant pumpkin' for choices of crop to be grown. Very easy to read.

8/14/2009 9:19:01 AM

Northampton MA

thank you so much! The people on here are so nice.

8/14/2009 11:42:47 AM

Rhode Island

POOCHIES

UNFORTUNATELY THE BIGGEST MISTAKE NEW GROWERS MAKE IS TO TAKE A REALLY GOOD SEED STOCK AND PLANT IT IN SOIL THAT IS NOT BALANCED FOR MAX PERFORMANCE.
EVERYONE STARTS OUT DOING THIS SO DONT TAKE OFFENSE.
UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS NOT A SIMPLE GARDENING HOBBY LIKE GROWING EGG PLANT AND PEPPERS. MORE CAN AND USUALLY WILL GO WRONG DURING A SEASON OF GIANT PUMPKIN GROWING.

AS TIME GOES ON AND IF YOU STICK WITH THE HOBBY YOU WILL LEARN THAT

THE SOIL IS KEY NUMBER ONE.anything you can learn about the soils nutrients,microbes,soil born diseases,tilth, etc, will benefit your future efforts.soil is the number one most important consideration.

THE SUN IS KEY NUMBER TWO. if your plant can not get 6 to 8 hrs of sun daily it will never develop properly-nor will the pumpkin.

THE SEED IS KEY NUMBER THREE. you planted a 1470 wallace so i can assume you know the ropes on requesting seeds. thank you by the way for planting one of our seed stocks.

PAP

8/17/2009 9:57:09 AM

Northampton MA

Thanks Pap! I've only been doing the hobby seriously for 2 years. Last years pumpkin was 420lbs so I'm trying to get at least 500lbs this year. I've read everything I can get my hands on but the one thing I was lacking was a soil test. Believe me it is the first thing I am doing when preparing for next season. I went with a Wallace seed because of great genetics and the great reputation.

8/18/2009 8:29:12 AM