Pumpkin

Hey guys I have started off a couple of pumpkins off on the window at home and just wondered when people would plant them out do you think I should start hardening them off now and I was thinking of putting them under a cloche

 

Trouble is, one frost and its gone...and if the nights are too cold then it will sulk. My pumpkins get planted out start of June...I've not even sown my seed yet.

Steve...

 

Thanks steve I was also wondering this, what wya do you normally grow them? directly into the ground? and is spacing a big deal for size? I was thinking a large pot or half barrel? any little tips would be great

 

I've not sown courgettes/squash family yet, either. We always get some chilly nights at the beginning of June and I don't want them hanging round getting pot bound waiting for the weather to warnm up. Cloches would definitely help, though.

 

My plan is to start off the seed on my windowsill, them move them to the plastic greenhouse and then in to final growing position (mid June).

I'm growing Atlantic Giant, just for fun really.

 

Started mine off about a week ago and they were up within days, they're about ready to be potted up now and grown on in the greenhouse for a few weeks before being planted out in June

Could have sown them a bit later I know but they're just a bit of fun for me so we'll see how they get on

 

This was one of my pumpkins ready to plant out on May 30th last year, 3 weeks after sowing, so I'll be sowing my pumpkins (+ marrows, courgettes, etc.) today or tomorrow

 

Probably a silly question: Was it grown in a greenhouse?

 

Started in a heated propagator indoors (only because my greenhouse was rather full), after germination moved to my heated greenhouse where it was under growlights for some of the time, then an unheated 1.8 x 2.4m polythene greenhouse (but with emergency heating if required) and finally an unheated polytunnel before being planted out in June after the danger of frosts had passed.

 

I am also growing artic giant as a bit of fun me and dan the man are having a bit of a bet on biggest pumpkin do you think it would be ok in a in heated polly tunnel it's in a 150mm pot but getting big and would like to pot it up into a bucket if I wait till end of month to plant out
What you think guys sorry to be a pain but I have been looking after them for a few weeks now

 

I would consider potting into a bigger pot (not necessarily a bucket) to avoid getting rootbound. Bit of a fiddly job, don't damage it! It'll use up a fair bit of compost too.

 

Thanks I have potted it up tonight into a very large pot used loads of compost like you say but I have one of massive block type bags so don't mind hope it will be happy in there for a few weeks now it was not too bad to pot up as its pretty big now lol it's rocketing along

 

You will be eating miniature pumpkins in no time mate

 

Fancy running a competition on the board? I can see a few are growing Altantic Giant. Could be fun.

 

We have run two pumpkins challenges the last couple of years but I did not start one this year as there are already a few challenges up and running. We could get one going again if enough people are interested.

Here is the biggest I have grown to date..@ 120lbs



And here it is carved for haloween..it sat on our lawn at the front and the local kids loved it!



Pete beat me into second place that year with one of 160lbs IIRC.

Steve...