Pumpkin growing and carving challenge 2016

My pumpkin is only 5" diameter (an increase of 3") and the main vine has only grown a further 300mm in 10 days. At it's current rate of growth it'll be as big as a football by the end of the month. I don't reckon it's worth spending and time and money on any further feeding, it'll get the occasional water when I'm passing it That last bit sounds ambiguous, I meant if I'm walking past with a water can I'll water it.

 

There can only be one.




The nearest secondary vine removed to make room.



Notice the brown leaf edges? This is a sign of unexpected drought - the wall must be acting like a radiator and skewing my watering requirement guesstimates.



Yep, you've guessed it...




And, yes, I am watching and enjoying the BBC Olympic coverage.

 

Well Mr Q....I could be wrong but I think your enjoying this...:rasp:

The one on the right looks a bit like Jedward...

Steve...

 

Oh, what gave me away?

 

I think this may be the beginnings of a new sitting-down sport: the individual pumpkin time trial.



15th August 2016


48hrs Later

 

Looks like it's coming along nicely there and good growth in 48 hours

 

Here is my ugly attempt

 

One of my outside plants has looked quite poorly for some now, it's leaves turning yellow at the edges, I'll be pulling that plant this week. The second outdoor plant has a fruit growing on it, guestimation around 40lb ish.

The 3rd plant grown under cover in the polytunnel has completely taken over in their and I admit to have lost control of it, I now break vines and leaves just opening the door. Plenty of flowers growing on it still but after 8 failed polinations in a row and no fruiit set, I'm pulling the plug tomorrow and ripping it out.

I planted this one mid June, that is the time I would expect a plant to have grown to about 20ft and I should be polinating a fruit then. The plant was pot bound and sulking at that time also.





Anyway, I have decided to give it one last try next year at growing Giant Pumpkins so 2017 will be my last year whatever the result.

Steve...

 

Really sorry about your bad luck this year Steve do you think the unsuccessful pollination is because of the heat it been too warm in the tunnel the plant looks really good and strong

 

The plant got away from me Richard, I did not leave myself the usual walkboards or stepping stones to get in amongst it, consequently tertiary (3rd vine) growth is phenomenal. Due to this continued growth I think the plant is concentrating on foliage, not fruiting.

I've had many male flowers and continue to get them, but not many females. Just eight on the main vine and next to nothing on the secondaries, which is what leads me to believe the plant is still concentrating on foliage.

Steve...

 

Not sure at all ! Anne just said that if I am not back by lunchtime she will send in Ray Mears and Bear Grylls...and a couple of farmers with combines too ! lol

Steve...

 

I've pulled the plant now and all that remains is part of the main vine (main vine reached 40ft long!), I dug down a little next to the vine as I wanted a look at the vine roots.







As most of you know these pumpkins grow a root out from every leaf node, so these roots will be all over the patch, so in this case that is a root bed of 28ft x 18ft, I did break a few roots whilst digging these up so there would be more and possibly going deeper too.

Steve...

 

July 29th

August 8th

Today (August 22nd) my pumpkin is still only 6" diameter. I suspect it's going to die next week.