Pumpkin growing challenge 2017

The backup I planted got ripped to shreds about ten days ago by the wind.

I went down to re cover my one remaining plant last night as there was hail in the forecast and I found the main stem is split on that one.

It is still growing and all nodes are buried to help it, but I am not expecting great things from it now.

Probably just as well I am taking a break from Giant pumpkin growing next year.

Steve...

 

Steve mate totally gutted for you I hope you can still pull it back can not believe you luck this year mate

 

In case you're wondering, I've been using home-made liquid feed on the plants.


Filtered to remove weed seeds and then bottled for convenience.


- Juice of Worm;
- Wee of Grass;
- Pong of Nettle.

Pong of Nettle and Wee of Grass are both used for the Nitrogen content. I use Juice of Worm mainly for the Potassium and Phosphorus content since our composting worms have been fed a lot of banana skins and stale nuts over the past year.


The same feed mixture has been used on the tub orphan.

 

Looking very green and lush there misterq your feed looks to be doing great I use nettle tea on mine and confray tea too

 

It is very disconcerting to associate something very foul smelling to a word for one of my favourite beverages - it must be the work of evil coffee drinkers.

Henceforth, the comfrey version shall be called "Bad Odour of Comfrey".

 

Nettle tea? Is a nettle a type of thistle? Do you use a chopper or?

 

@JWK aha, we have some of those - found that one out the hard way! So, they are useful. Good one to know. Thank you

 

Nettle Tea - For lush green growth.

Comfrey - For all fruiting and flowering plants.

Method to make tea is the same for both.

Cut at the base and squash into a barrel or bucket, bruising or cutting it up speeds the process.

Cover with water and leave to steep, stirring once or twice a week, should be ready in about 6 weeks, you will know its ready as the water will be very dark and it will stink.

Water this liquid down to the colour of weak tea of coffee to use. If storing the liquid in bottles leave the cap loose for gas to escape as it will continue rotting down, you do not want those bottles exploding and that stink covering everything.

After draining the barrel/bucket, sludge can go on the compost heap.

Steve...

 

Thank you @Steve R ! I will be saving some of the 2 liter plastic bottles and getting started soon.

 

Everyone's banging on about comfrey tea on my site.. need to get on it I think!

Major problems with my pumpkin.. it's looking a sickly yellow and stalled in growth.. tried giving it a feed and it looks even worse. The other one was eaten by something :(

Is it too late to try again? Not for the challenge but for carving with kids?

 

I spotted this earlier today:



About 70cm along on the main vine, not ideal but a bird in hand...


A viable suitor.


Some Yin-Yang coupling.


Cross prevention.



Fingers crossed, people.