Pumpkin growing challenge 2017

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by Steve R, Jan 12, 2017.

  1. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    :wow:
     
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    • Linz

      Linz Total Gardener

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      :ouch1:

      I've sown 2, both up. Now thinking the space I've earmarked for them is really not enough
       
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      • Scrungee

        Scrungee Well known for it

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        Good news, Wednesday:

        First one through 3 days later. EDIT 1: Another came through last night.

        More good news, BiL has acquired a pallet truck.

        EDIT 2: Morning of day 5 and all 7 have now shown through
         
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          Last edited: May 8, 2017
        • JWK

          JWK Gardener Staff Member

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          Two out of three of the Matt's Monsters seeds have germinated, they took 8 days.
           
        • Scrungee

          Scrungee Well known for it

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          I reckon on 5 days in a heated propagator to showing through. After 5 days if, after a gentle exploration, there's no sign of a ròot from the seed and I need extra plañts, I'll write it off and sow fresh seeds. Just done this with several of my marrows and found 3 seeds had rotted and one had a very long thin root and obviously something terminally wrong with it.
           
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            Last edited: May 8, 2017
          • Scrungee

            Scrungee Well known for it

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            After receiving a packet of T&M Matts Monsters with damaged seeds and getting a replacent, I sowed 3 of the best ones, but all required some help releasing their seed leaves, one was so horribly distorted I've discarded it. No problems with the others.

            They've been intensively under lights to produce short strong stems and large healthy seed leaves, but now the first true leaves are showing it'll be a mix of natural light and growlights as I don't want distorted growth on the new leaves.

            Six remaining plants in 90 x 90mm pots

            pumpkins 12.05.2017.JPG
             
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            • Richard360

              Richard360 Super Gardener

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              Hey scrungee I sowed two of the mats monsters thrown both out one stem had ribbon vine where instead oh been round it grows flat
              And the second was really weak and pathetic growth I do have one that's growing really well at the minute from a different seed I'm hoping continue to grow at the same rate but who knows
               
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              • Scrungee

                Scrungee Well known for it

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                Only 1 seed from the 1st packet and 2 from the 2nd packet appeared worthwhile sowing, the others were only fit for the bin.


                They're don't appear to be quality seeds.
                 
                Last edited: May 12, 2017
              • JWK

                JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                My two Matt's Monsters yesterday. Growing OK but looking a bit yellow compared to my cucumbers and courgettes:
                20170513-P5130052.jpg

                Potted them on today. Compare the two Matt's Monsters on the right with a Winter Squash on left which looks stronger and more advanced since it has a couple of true leafs:
                20170514-P5140074.jpg
                 
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                • Scrungee

                  Scrungee Well known for it

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                  My Matt's Monsters are the smallest of my remaining 6 pumpkins, are growing the slowest, and producing the least roots, but will still grow the best of my 2 MMs (remember SteveR's pumpkin last year that grew so vigorously it filled a polytunnel, but didn't produce anything?).

                  My biggest, fastest growing pumpkin has, in 11 days from sowing/8 days from showing through the compost, grown on to need being potted up into a 150mm/6" dia. pot. It's 2nd true leaf is already bigger than one of my T&M's MMs first one.

                  pumpkins 14.05.2017.JPG
                   
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                  • Richard360

                    Richard360 Super Gardener

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                    IMG_3613.JPG IMG_3614.JPG Here is my best one compared to the mats a bit hard to tell as greenhouse is like a jungle at the min tropicals starting to move now but not warm enough on a night for them to go out yet

                    I will be planting pumpkin out this weekend before it gets too big to move
                     
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                    • Linz

                      Linz Total Gardener

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                      I fear something is going wrong with mine and I've ballsed it up by not labelling them. I'm pretty sure the top 2 are Dill's Atlantic and the bottom 2 courgette (but I only sowed 1)
                      20170514_153034.jpg
                       
                    • Scrungee

                      Scrungee Well known for it

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                      I'd guess the other way round, those with the speckeldyish leaves are courgettes, and those with the plain green leaves are pumpkins, and if you only sowed one courgette, did you sow any marrows, squashes, etc.?




                      Is the Matt's your lower image? I'm having to give mine more time under the growlights to prevent them from growing spindly. Meanwhile my best plant is now onto its 3rd true leaf at 13 days from sowing, a rate of 2 per week since showing through.
                       
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                      • Linz

                        Linz Total Gardener

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                        I sowed 2 diff melons and a gourd but they were labelled. That's what I'm worrying about, the white stuff..?
                         
                      • JWK

                        JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                        Looks like mildew - a bit early for them to be suffering with that.
                         
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