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Fraser Valley, BC, Canada

I have read you can grow pumpkins vertically providing you got the proper support etc. I am using a ladder, so far good. Have two successful pollinations so far, bees attend each morning. My question is this... does growing up affect the growth of pumpkin, or abortion rate of fruit due to less rooting and nutrients coming in, since majority of vines are mid air?

I thought of trying to do a hanging basket type system randomly across main vine so that some rooting happens, but unsure if i even need to do that. Not trying to grow a prize winner or anything... this is my first time growing pumpkins EVER. I didnt know gourd was a thing, so Atlantic giant seeds is what i got. If i can get them to be beach ball size, I will be thrilled. If bigger than that, my kids will be more thrilled than me as they wont be the ones trying to move it come harvest, lol.

Any suggestions or help with growth of pumpkins growing vertically would be great, esp if Atlantic giants. i got the support, its the other things i am uncertain about. TIA!

7/24/2020 1:46:58 PM

Plymouth, MN

If your whole vine except the stump is growing vertically, you're going to have smaller fruit. The secondary root system that develops by rooting at the leaf nodes is needed to support really big kins. People grow "blossom down" just at the fruit to try and get some "Cinderella" looking big pumpkins.

7/24/2020 2:45:59 PM

Central NY

Welcome to the site twins!....my advice would be to have fun with it. Protect it from wind. Weekly spray of an insecticide and fungicide. While your here check out the grower journals people post on here.lots of good tips! Seeds to most if not all of the pumpkins you see will be available in the fall. Most for the cost of a shipping bubble envelope. And this is a good time of year to see them grow...many will grow over 1000 pounds in the next 30 days. Which is remarkable considering the size they are already. Good luck!

7/24/2020 4:42:41 PM

Fraser Valley, BC, Canada

Thanks for the warm welcome. My one has def took, it grew an inch last night but it was cooler, overcast and no sun today either, so to be expected. If i wrap my fingers around it they cant touch and yesterday they could. It’s 4 DPA now, so i assume thats half decent? Because its growing up, I am just trying to figure out a way to get a handful of the secondary roots into soil, via small pots secured or hung. Have not seen anyone do that yet from the journals ive read.

I have one that is sitting on top of the ladder that i think pollinated, but i need till tomorrow to be sure I think. I have a few others that will bloom next week. Also this morning when i checked SOMETHING tried to take a bite of my baby pumpkin! It’s vertical to, hmmm 3.5 feet up. My guess is squirrel or poss mouse/rat... sigh. It’s just a skin scrape, not a dent, so today i need to protect it somehow before whatever it is comes back.

I noticed today that some bug that looks kind of like a lady bug but isnt, is on my plants. There is several but not enough to be an infestation. What do you suggest I spray for that? I know I’m going to be dealing with powdery mildew just because of the climate I’m in, so i need to be able to handle that. Other than those two things disease/bug wise I seem to be ok. I know there is worse things i could be dealing with by the things ive read, so I’m happy they are minor atm. Let’s hope it stays that way.

Ill add more photos to my journal once i see if pollination i did yesterday takes. The flower is rounded on the bottom and closed on top like it did with the one that pollinated earlier in the week, so i have hope. I actually had two females in june, but they didnt take... i blame the tons of rain and cooler temps.

Anyhow excited to watch everyone’s pumpkins grow and to learn at the same time.

7/24/2020 6:14:49 PM

Central NY

Ya found a cool site for it...liquid sevin for the bugs...maybe bugbegone if you have munching bugs like stink bugs...daconil mixed right with that and evenly and lightly sprayed on the plant after the sun goes down should keep them at bay. Once a week. They can do a lot of damage quick. There’s other products that most use to keep all the bugs away but don’t want to overwhelm you.

7/24/2020 6:37:49 PM

Lakewood, WA

Welcome aboard, Twins!

Daconil for powdery mildew works well and is widely available at most any garden center (at least it is in the States). Amazon may be an option for you as well.

Someone else on this board may be familiar with your red bug situation.

Your June females may not have been pollinated. I've noticed here in Western Washington that bees aren't always that numerous in June, leaving me with female pumpkins withering away, back when I was growing small pumpkins. Pollinating your own pumpkins typically solves this problem.

I also remember back when I was growing small pumpkins that I ended up with too many soft pumpkins, probably from a lack of calcium in the soil. Adding some bone meal to the soil would have been helpful back then. Since then, I've made sure to provide plenty of calcium to my AG's and been happy with the results.

As far as the hungry critters go, even the best growers encounter this. A cat or two might be entertained at your patch :-)

Good luck to you and have fun! /waves at Canada

7/24/2020 7:13:56 PM

This link to a diary might interest you

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=317690

7/24/2020 9:04:19 PM

Fraser Valley, BC, Canada

It’s not a red bug, its tiny with circle pattern dots on it... were they yellow or red i cant remember, but tiny like ladybugs, and they were on the leaves. Even saw one climbing my ladder, lol. I have since sprayed dish soap, baking soda and water on the leaves. For the most part, i started off with leaves that ended up with lots of holes... then i fixed that, but then these little lady bug sized things showed up, that were not there before.

I do not know if i get borers here or not, but thankfully i dont see them. I have seen the odd ant, but not as much since the plant grew and the bees finally came.

If i put my pumpkin in pantyhose does that usually keep little critters like mice or squirrels off of it? Does pantyhose also aid in shade for it maybe... i am not sure the more i think about it, but maybe? Lol. Next week is going to be a few HOT days in the low 90s and so i def need to shade the two and possibly 3 as i think one is going to bloom Sunday when it warms up again. If I’m super lucky i could have my 4 pumpkins all growing next week :)

I think i am going to duct tape some small planters to the ladder and fence, putting in some of those roots, i believe it would really help with me going vertical, the added nutrients etc, esp the one on the ladder as its two diff plants. the one on the chain link is same variety, but seperate. I put two pics up on my journal and will have more by Sunday. I am so excited to see what happens in the next month with my pumpkins.

7/24/2020 9:06:57 PM

Look at July 7 and Sept. 2 in this diary


http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryView.asp?season=2019&grower=56344

7/24/2020 9:25:54 PM

Lakewood, WA

You can also see my photo in May in that diary, Twins!

/blushes and runs lol

7/24/2020 10:51:55 PM

Lakewood, WA

Seems like many, many moons ago, before the 'Rona.

Excellent info there overall, Twins! It's how I learned about soil testing and utilizing the soil calculator. I am still learning about soil chemistry and agronomy, thanks to Dustin.

Thank you for posting, spudder!

7/24/2020 11:22:09 PM

If they are yellow with black stripes or dots, probably cucumber beetles and yes treat for them as they can become a problem rather quickly.

7/25/2020 5:54:23 AM

Fraser Valley, BC, Canada

Not stripes, but was dots, and tiny round little things. I hope the soap mixture i sprayed yesterday will work.

Supposed to be be MUGGY and hot (we have heat warning out) Monday Tuesday... feels like 38c! The patch gets sun early morning, then shade then more sun for the entire rest of the day just after lunch which of course is the hottest. guess i just cover the tennis ball size pumpkin to keep it from being burnt?

Currently its set up to be a Cinderella, but has no support on pumpkin but vines have support. Thinking ahead on what support i can use 3 ft up, as if she grows all this week the heat is going to make me need to support it. today is 5 DAP, a bit of growth but only 12c overnight.

7/25/2020 6:38:12 AM

Fraser Valley, BC, Canada

Thanks Spud was a nice read over. I really know nothing about soil testing, but know I’m past the nitro stage at this point. Trying to figure out when i add more fertilizer again since was done last weekend. Not too much rain all week so didnt get washed away. Figure I’m good for another week.

7/25/2020 6:42:57 AM

If you are past the Day 20 and the pumpkin is still shiny, you are good to go with heavier feeding and if I am reading right you are growing with just the stump rooted. cjb is right about his assessment for growth. You have to remember that the area( at least 5 feet) around the stump is supplying all the water and nutrients. Try not to soak the stump but the area around it.
Is there anyway you can lower plant without ruining it. If you are going to grow it that far above ground, put sand between boards or table you use to support . The weight of the pumpkin will probably break the vine otherwise.

7/25/2020 8:51:03 AM

Fraser Valley, BC, Canada

Spudder yeah stump and maybe the first leaf node are in soil, the rest is above ground, but in a raised bottomless planter. The ladder protects a good part of it from heavy rain which I realized is a bonus. I actually water not inside the box as much as I do around it. I do water the planter but just to not dry it out. The deeper watering happens outside.

There is a way to lower it BUT not a lot of space and I have moles or something Of the like nearby that is currently staying in the neighbors area and I wish to keep it that way lol.the ladder will hold the one pumpkin on top , but I just need to shade it. The other has shade but not enough support for it to grow past a baseball size prob. I can find temporary support, but if it grows big enough then I need something more. I have a chair I can stick styrofoam on, but how much weight does styro hold? The chair is good for prob 200 lbs as is but can be made stronger. Really don’t know the size I’m likely to get with mostly the stump being the support. If 200 lbs is possible I will look at something better.

7/26/2020 12:58:49 AM

Syracuse, NY

from what i have seen, you will wanna consider placing a
1/2-inch or thicker piece of plywood in under the pumpkin that is now using the blue material for padding/support; for pumpkin safety, this would involve another person with a cordless drill set for Philips-head, 1" or longer, self-tapping drywall screws, two into the plywood and through the top of the ladder for stability; several 2 x 4s cut to exactly the height of the top of the ladder with small pieces of that plywood on the bases of them for support that won't sink into the lawn as the weight increases; screws through the upper plywood into each of them, with one in the middle as well. sounds hard but will be very easy---you'll be extending outward your presently 1-foot X 2-foot effective growing area. oh, and one support on each corner that is ALONGSIDE the ladder as well. more deets, i'm right here---eg

PS---let one or two of your vines grow outward and downward, and bury those when they reach the ground - the main vine is a little busy right now---eg

7/26/2020 8:46:37 AM

Fraser Valley, BC, Canada

For growing out and down that was my plan with the ladder all along, it’s just fighting me on the down part but I made a bit of progress this morning with the angle coming down a bit now. Not sure what you mean by “busy” main vines? Too much plant growth or? There is currently two females on the ladder plant I pollinated today, one on the main above where the now 4dap is. Thinking I terminate that one? The other is on a secondary. Secondary one is 5 lober, the new one on the main is a 4lobe.

The chain link plant with my now 6 day past pollination grew last night and started to bend down almost carriage tho not quite. I decided I need more vines in the ground and chose to lower that main vine and it was easy. Currently the tip and a good foot is sitting on a chair as to lower to the ground as is, is too stressful on the vine. But I will have it on the ground within the next week. I get 2-5 inches of growth a night on the mains. Last night was 4 or so and two more females showed up so those r 6-7 days out. I may have one of those on the ground by then.

7/26/2020 4:06:56 PM

Lakewood, WA

Soil testing is fun once you get the hang of it, it's nice to see how things are going with your soil.

Let me know when you are ready to start preparing your patch to grow AG's and I'm happy to share how to use the soil amendment calculator and all that.

There is already a ton of info shared on this thread and I don't want to give you an information-overload headache like the one I had going most of last year, ouch!

Much luck to you and have fun, Twins!

7/26/2020 5:07:27 PM

Fraser Valley, BC, Canada

What is AG?

7/26/2020 7:34:47 PM

Grittyville, WA

Atlantic Giant (jumbo pumpkin variety)

7/26/2020 8:15:05 PM

Syracuse, NY

hmmm...no response to the platform idea; i think there are too many drinkers at this party and not enough beer!---once these pumpkins get to be 30,50, 70 pounds they will probably become too big for this arrangement, unlike Long Gourds which are specially-suited for growing from way up high to down low. just one pumpkin per plant to have the biggest ones and two at the most but with no support added, the weight will tear the vines, in my opinion.
'busy' meant that it has a pumpkin on it, so, don't try too hard to get that vine to the ground - perhaps one or two secondaries. and, forget about setting fruits on those - a plant cannot grow all of them as giant pumpkins without diminishing the individual results.
keep your oldest pumpkin that i thought is right at the top of the ladder, hence the platform recommendation - the fruit would then grow out onto the platform and get as big as it can, IF it is supported properly - good luck---eg

7/27/2020 1:38:39 AM

Fraser Valley, BC, Canada

Oh that is what the seed is i planted, the package says Atlantic giant.

7/27/2020 2:44:05 AM

Fraser Valley, BC, Canada

Oh sorry i wasnt ignoring the platform idea, i was with family who forbids me using the internet while with them so i snuck off to the bathroom and they started getting suspicious lol.

I am handy, however my situation is my yard is not solely my own, so i cannot be going too crazy or some idiot (just because they’d love to ruin what i am doing) will complain and then i will have to remove it all. It is also why i cannot let it run the entire yard, only near the fence line. It is if i start constructing things, that will attract attention lol.

7/27/2020 2:49:45 AM

Fraser Valley, BC, Canada

As for the vines, i have started to lower some to the ground. Yes i hope the one on the ladder takes, but at the same time what if it doesn’t, then I’d like a backup. Where do you suggest i do that... let the main grow a bit then get one closer to the ground? It is already heading towards the ground, but only past the paint bucket platform atm. By this coming weekend it likely be ground level tho, and there is a female pumpkin on the vine tip that wont be ready likely till then or maybe a tad sooner with this really warm weather that started.

I did take some more photos for the diary but having issues with photos lately, the text will show in the diary but the photos dont. Some do tho, so you’ll see that i started putting some vines in the ground. I ran out of soil so i need to go get another bag, plus some baking soda... this humid weather gave me mildew on my leaves, or pretty sure its that. It’s under the leaves white blotchy circles.

The main with the pumpkin atop the ladder, i am not forcing it down just letting it do its thing and it turned on an angle. Planted two of the secondary’s in the ground today.

the chain link plant, i moved the main super easily (also has pumpkin on it) and rested it on a chair seat to let it grow more and i can then likely get the tip end in the ground by sometime this week. If i can manage a somewhat big pumpkin in my little area, i will be thrilled. It wont be prize winning, i know that lol, but if its anything close to 100lbs or more, for me thats big. Goal is for 50 minimum... for some of you i know thats not a good pumpkin lol. Between COVID and how this year has gone, i consider this a learning experience and a fun thing to do. I can take what i do wrong and right and next year plan things better. Like i may do better with gourds, now that i know they exist. I likely will try that next year.

7/27/2020 3:30:34 AM

Fraser Valley, BC, Canada

SUB, i love info overload, where i sometimes run into trouble is connecting the dots of things to do in order because i processed so much info at once lol. I know my soil doesn’t suck, our city has a lot of minerals in the soil but i think we have lots of clay too in parts. I did find sand near the fenceline when i was digging mixed in with whatever soil is there by default.

Our water that comes out of the tap, i have hot tub test strips and it shows the ph on the high side. I always end up having to lower the ph in the hot tub water.

7/27/2020 3:42:13 AM

Fraser Valley, BC, Canada

Tomatoes, corn, blueberries, blackberries, etc all grow really well here. there is fields of them randomly around the city, people flock here to hand pick or buy from the farmers markets. That may give you an idea of what my soil without amendments might be since those things grow easily.

7/27/2020 3:45:02 AM

Syracuse, NY

i'm having my own information overload, lol, chuckle, chuckle;
if there is nowhere for the pumpkin to sit that's big enough, it may tear away from its vine or else might topple the ladder itself - the support table would only be big enough to fit under what you may see as the Great Pumpkin in your case, complimenting the ladder. i'll of course look at this more after work---take care - eg

7/27/2020 1:48:30 PM

Fraser Valley, BC, Canada

So sorry pumpkin (giggling over here) i tend to ramble when excited, lol. But for those stuck at home like me, maybe I’m entertaining some of you? Chuckles...

I was in the garden for an hour this morning as vines grew a foot on both plants so one main is now only another foot from touching ground. (Chain link plant). The ladder plant main vine is resting on the the paint can shelf. What i realized today is as the pumpkin on top grows, its going to push up so i needed to lift the vine there first (which is easy the way it is now). Put a block of styrofoam like 5 inch thick. It’s in an S curve tech from going up and then going down. The most stress right now is there vine wise but i keep getting pumpkin growth, so I’m happy.

FYI reason why I’m so excited is I’m proving people wrong... they told me i didnt have enough space and couldnt grow it. But i am, just working with what i have, 60-80sq ft of plant space, but growing underground space is closer to 200.

7/27/2020 4:16:17 PM

Lakewood, WA

It sounds like you are having fun over there, Twins!

7/27/2020 8:08:22 PM

Fraser Valley, BC, Canada

I am sub. Last year I actually did watermelons but learned I didn’t start early enough so this year I did BUT weather went against me. My melons are in the ground but... well... have not even vined off. My tomatoes are doing amazing (6ft tall) and my pumpkins so far so good. If pumpkins don’t grow far enough I will be able to say I learned a lot worst case. Have to also remind myself I just got the cheap generic seeds so I don’t even have genetics going for me. It’s why I call it chain link and ladder plant as my seeds don’t have a name.

7/28/2020 12:04:31 AM

Lakewood, WA

Great name for the pumpkins!

Last year's weather wasn't the best for watermelons, not enough sun and warmth.

Nice job on the maters!

7/28/2020 2:23:14 AM

Syracuse, NY

it'll be OK to call them AGs and/or your last name will attach to the resulting fruits/seeds within once the fruits are chopped off at the end of the growing period. Ladder One or Chain Link are yes, original, though! - i'm less than cheery it appears, but, just gotta get to work---will comment more later tonight, i hope---later---eric g

7/28/2020 1:51:21 PM

Fraser Valley, BC, Canada

I did okay with my melons last year, for the time i had. If i had started them when i was supposed to, they’d have matured enough. I needed another three weeks and sept came too fast. That being said, they were ice box sized and smelled good and not rotten, just not quite ready for harvest so taste was way off. This year for my watermelons is a write off lol.

7/29/2020 3:51:17 AM

Fraser Valley, BC, Canada

Having issues updating my diary on this site last few days. Not sure why but images cause the most issues and didn’t used to. Either takes forever or times out with some syntax error

7/29/2020 3:53:28 AM

Syracuse, NY

while you're shopping, don't forget the self-tapping screws and a cordless drill, lol---eg---and your pre-cut 2 x 4s...yes!

7/29/2020 1:50:44 PM

Lakewood, WA

Sometimes the connection times out on this website and sometimes it's just a bit laggy. I just try again when that happens.

Funz on the Interwebs! Wheee! lol

7/29/2020 2:07:38 PM

Fraser Valley, BC, Canada

I have a drill :) it’s the wood I don’t have and whatever self tapping screws are. I have screws but I assume I don’t have those. I think my chain link pumpkin is stunted... still shiny but I swear it’s not growing or so slow I don’t notice. It’s 9dap and doesn’t look it at all. However the ladder pumpkin is taking off. If you saw my image I had it resting on the pot lid, lots of space. This morning it was almost stuck inside - grew that much!!! It’s 7DAP today. So yeah I need to work on getting something up there... and she’s beautiful... maybe the seed has good genetics after all lol. Praying she keeps growing. I’ve shaded her with a box, today and tomorrow is so hot for sun.

7/29/2020 6:01:29 PM

Syracuse, NY

self-tapping screws are ones that have a tip on each of them that is like a drill bit - they can tap into just about anything. AGAIN, you need to create a shelf for the pumpkin to grow onto. if you measure from the top of the ladder to the ground and then GET almost ANY boards that are cut to that length, PLUS the self-tapping screws (because a couple of them need to go through your (3-foot X 3-foot, because who KNOWS how big this pumpkin will get?) plywood into the top platform of the ladder, unless there's a rule against that), i was thinking that putting one screw through one corner of the plywood and into one board's end would enable you to stand up the plywood + the board and then super-carefully put the plywood under the pumpkin in place of the other stuff you have under the pumpkin. then, you could take a sash or another silky scarf and sort of tie it in place for safety and then put another ST screw down through the plywood in TWO or THREE spots into the top surface of the ladder. it WILL help to have at least made these 2-3 holes into the plywood FIRST, because the screw will otherwise go through the plywood and then the plywood will 'rise up' until the screw DOES go into the ladder surface, adding to the time it takes to be pushing down on the drill. then you'd have to do the other 2 corners of the plywood, AND put a piece of any SOLID, THIN material under each board end that is on the ground, like a coaster? - to avoid them sinking in...in the time it takes to show more pictures, you could have a platform for your pumpkin and never have to worry about what'll happen if it gets as big as it can - which, by the looks and DAP, has got me a bit jealous, lol! i have to get material under MY pumpkins, and that's always a dangerous venture---eg

7/31/2020 9:28:54 AM

Fraser Valley, BC, Canada

Pumpkin pal, yes i am SOOO happy with the way the pumpkin is growing. In fact I’ll be honest and say it’s scaring me a bit lol.... like what if it gets bigger than I thought or planned for... how would I even lift it out of my yard... I’m like in a set of row houses lol. It’s too small to be in the charts so I can’t even predict what is going to happen with it or approx size.

Thank you for the platform idea I have it all ready for tomorrow (or we’ll today now) just didn’t want to get bit by more mosquitos this evening as I’m reacting bad to them this year it seems. You’ve helped me kick my butt and Come to the reality I may have a larger pumpkin on board than I planned for, ha! I honestly didn’t think my small growing space was going to be able to do it. Need to make it to day 20 still... anything can happen.

We get rain next week... do I just throw plastic over the pumpkin? We have humidity too so air circulation is needed. Oh and the stupid squirrel who would love my pumpkin that keeps running my fence line argh.

8/1/2020 4:36:08 AM

Fraser Valley, BC, Canada

Why material? I tried to find sand and couldn’t but the platform is melamine coated so smooth enough that maybe I’m good as is? I have foam pad I can put under which I assume would be able to slide a bit with the pumpkin growth. I def don’t want water pooled under pumpkin

8/1/2020 4:39:25 AM

Lakewood, WA

You can use a sturdy blanket and a few helpers to move your kin out of your yard.

I've noticed the spiders are really prolific here in the last couple of weeks. I hope you didn't get bit by one, ouch!

8/1/2020 2:22:43 PM

Fraser Valley, BC, Canada

Yes I did get bit... small spider but it left me with fluid build up on the palm of my hand that swelled and made the whole palm of my hand itchy by day 3. Me being, well.... stubborn lol... I took a pin and poked it (yes it hurt) then soaked it. Needless to say a few hours later it was a drastic improvement and by the next day it was almost gone.

8/1/2020 4:01:55 PM

Fraser Valley, BC, Canada

Platform is done and pumpkin moved... did it by myself as I didn’t have help nearby or no one I trusted enough to do it with me. I was only going down half a foot and half a foot forward. Need supports for the sides as too wobbly if it’s hit or bumped into. Won’t fall over tho, but the shift could cause damage to the vines as they stiffen. I posted a photo but until it’s approved it may or may not be there yet when you read this.

Question... is it better to have the vine above the pumpkin slightly or to slowly use the weight of pumpkin to get the vine straight out and level with the main. There is a curve to the vine already and vine can be pushed back and up by pumpkin at the moment. Just thinking how I should do it as in another week or so moving it won’t be so easy I bet.

8/1/2020 4:11:42 PM

Fraser Valley, BC, Canada

19” cir today for 10DAP - is that good?

8/1/2020 5:45:57 PM

Syracuse, NY

i guess i'll be anxious to see the picture of the platform, but i DO appreciate your taking my advice about it! i don't think it's good to have anything under the fruit that the pumpkin will STICK to (like a vinyl car seat when you just got done swimming, etc.) so i, myself put some Owens-Corning/Dupont/whatever pink foam insulation (1/4-inch thick, two layers for fun) under a couple of my fruits to do ANYthing other than NOthing. in my case, once they get to the size of yours, they start to hit the leaf stalk that is AT the pumpkin stem, which i call the Protector Leaf (shades the fruit automatically, from day 0) and i NEED to be able to shift the fruit around; once THAT can be done, i am at ease and can adjust the fruit by TWO angles: the rotation of the fruit to the stem if it is crooked (the stem likes to be straight out from the fruit in all directions) and the rotation of the fruit to the VINE (same dealie-o); think of it as a clock - its TIME and its LEVELness to its wall. whooaaahh, deep. ultimately, later, i'll put 3'X4' or 4'X4' Rigid housing insulation under mine, probably one inch thick, as everybody has something that they use exclusively and most use a piece of plywood with paper mill fabric on THAT and then sand on top of THAT. use the search window on the home page here for all those things and there'll be a bunch of reading to be done. anything could be used for yours to keep from being tacky to the Melamine. will see how 'wobbly' looks i guess, lol = looking forward to your pix! PS---pumpkin looks super-happy and i dunno but all seems well for size @ DAP! eric g

8/1/2020 6:16:26 PM

Syracuse, NY

Twins - have a look at this lady's diary for examples - i was cracking up! look even earlier in it for other interests as well---eg

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=317003

8/1/2020 6:26:02 PM

Fraser Valley, BC, Canada

I did have a pic for my entry but it didn’t take so I reposted, argh. Been having that issue where it says image needs approving (all good) but then the post shows up without image, sometimes right away. Hopefully it shows up this time around. On top of melamine is blue foam pad, which I’ve seen others use. I need a tarp or something over it before we get rain Monday (tho won’t be a lot).

8/1/2020 7:15:05 PM

Syracuse, NY

don't worry about the pumpkin being covered because of rain. they are waterproof unless there's damage to the bottom of the fruit, although that has been widely discussed; i don't remember when the last one was for me that rotted at all and they are 90% of the time right in the dirt, since i don't get material under them in time - and the ones ON material? i can make a few holes in it if i think it'll be a problem; additionally, when you start thinking you need to shade the fruit with a white sheet? that'll do nothing, either, lol, but, that'll be then, this is now. once we get a look at your progress, we can see about tilting the platform a little, for drainoff of any water. or, that is up to you, of course---eg

8/1/2020 8:20:24 PM

Central NY

Yer ready to rock!..cover it with a t-shirt...keep the bugs from putting little chew marks in that sucker.

8/1/2020 8:59:03 PM

Fraser Valley, BC, Canada

Hope I’m ready to rock - outside rims of leaves today showing pale green, and I know that means nitrogen but I just did a liquid 30 spray of it like two weeks ago how can it be used up all ready lol. I blame the tree by the fence as it’s the best looking tree out of all of them in this section of homes I’m in. So again today I did a spray but wasn’t solely nitrogen, and I added a combo fertilizer. Hopefully the edges go dark green again tomorrow. I need a better liquid sol fertilizer I think.

8/1/2020 10:27:54 PM

Fraser Valley, BC, Canada

I don’t think it grew last night at all... was cooler but... I dunno lol

8/2/2020 9:42:58 PM