Pumpkin growing challenge 2017

Reading up a bit, things have progressed since I did A Level Biology, even identical twins develop slightly different DNA profiles, as Mrs Scrungee has just confirmed as she saw this on 'Silent Witness' a short while ago.

 

Thompson and Morgan emailed me back to say they are from that pumpkin glad to hear you got yours sorted too mate let's hope we get some good size ones

 

Count me in.. bare in mind it's my first time growing them

 

My group homes usually get a pumpkin for display in the fall, and they leave it on the lawn. this past spring was at one of them and there it was a ton of vines growing and huge leaves. I pointed it out, and of course none of the staff had any clue what is was.

 

Nice one webmaster will be good to see how well they do

 

I started my seeds of yesterday in 10cm pots in greenhouse hopping that this nice weather stays and we can get them out in the soil sooner than normal

 

Blimey, did you not chit, sand or soak them first?

Daytime here in Cumbria has been very warm and sunny and the soil is warming up on top, but a couple of inches down its still only 5 or 6 degrees, I've made the mistake of planting too early before and even when I put my mini tunnels on them they still sulk in cold soil and then have a slow start to get away, I'd rather let them hit the ground running.

I'll sand and soak mine in the next few days, then get my tunnels up to start heating the soil a little.

Steve...

 

I've never grown pumpkins. Sounds like they need a lot of space though?

 

You can "manage" them Lori and confine them to a small space if you wish. Carefully lift vines to have them grow where you want them and cut the ends off when they have got long enough for you.

Steve...

 

I have a dilema.

I'll be away for several days at the end of May (chasing the Flying Scotsman in West Somerset) and can't decide whether to sow seeds so they'll be big enough to plant out before I leave, and hope they won't be frazzled under polythene covers during the day or frozen overnight (or perhaps both)

Or to sow them a week later so they'lll be ready to plant out on my return [

As I've got plenty of seeds perhaps I should sow 1/3 early and 2/3 a week later.