GC Pumpkin Growing Challenge 2013

Not enough protection there for a well placed hoe....Muhahahaha...

Steve...

 

Here are my 'kins planted...



All four are in an area around 13 z 13 feet and eventually 3 will be weeded out. The next bit of bed along was dug and rotovated this morning ready for my "Jack o lantern" pumpkins, these are for storing for winter use, the bit of bed still covered at the extreme left will be dug over tomorrow and is for my butternut squash, also for storing and winter use.

Total bed size 40 x 13ft

Steve...

 

How do you know when you should weed them out? Is it when one plant really takes off and maybe others are struggling?

 

Exactly that, I'll leave them a couple of weeks and then weed out one maybe two. But if one really takes off I could take 3 out. Its a suck it and see approach.

Steve...

 

I know Steve its on the list of jobs for the weekend I am taking the plastic off so will be able to get in and weed fully its on a new plot so I have weeds growing every where its just keeping on top of them and having time at the minute
Thanks nfrost I have been trying to give it the best start I can

 

Steve good job I never pulled the pumpkins with the snapped stems they are all growing as if nothing has happened. I've got what looks like small runners growing out of some of my pumpkins too are these roots or are they to help anchor the vines? has anyone got any small flower buds on there plants yet? As I think I have.

 

flowers? and the root things?

 

Aye, mine look the same Allan.

 

But don't let it climb, because a heavyweight fruit needs to be on the ground!

Steve...

 

Hi Allan,
A little tip i got from a local pumpkin grower (nFrost) those tendrils are another source of getting the feed to the plant....i notice there is grass growing round your plants....just make sure when you feed it gets to the mother and doesn't get sucked up by it
I've got some flowers plus a baby pumpkin...Awwww....
Ey listen to me anyone would think i knew what i was talking about.....Er no clever remarks chaps

 

If you're going away on hols, even for a few days, as soon as you've left they will head straight for the nearest thing they can climb and you'll come back to find it entwined in something like chain link fencing and it will impossible to extract and it will then decide to set its only pumpkin about 2 feet above the ground forcing you to put a stack of pallets underneath it - this happened to me once, so if heading off turn it to face a safe direction.

 

I've got two baby pumpkins on one of my Atlantic Giants, thing is will the first male flowers open at the same time as the female ones??, only time will tell

 

actual pumpkins?! oh ruddy hell!