The Pumpkin growing and carving challenge 2015

In the grand scheme of things it was this time last year but last week that I finally pollinated a female. But the weather was altogether different and I had much more plant behind it than I do now.

I'm not quitting just yet, but there will be a cut off point.

Steve...

 

Both pollinated 23 days ago, 9" and 10" diameter:






And pollinated 7 days ago (there was another from that day but a slug has taken a chunk out of it so it's a gonner):

 

Here's mine its growing on a side vine have two just pollinated on the main vine so see how it goes but at least I have something growing now

 

Nothing here yet, my third plant that I grow just to get male flowers from will be going on the compost heap this morning, the other two plants have until the weekend or best, the start of next week.

I've had no growth on the plants themselves for about two weeks now and we are getting temps as low as 5-6 degrees some nights, so I think this season is over for me.

Steve...

 

Thats such a shame @Steve R

The weather this year has been so unpredictable. Alot of the veg was just starting to come along nicely - been a bit chilly last 2 nights & now we've a long forecast of rain so I'm not holding out for anything ripening or growing much more now.

 

Biggest now 12" dia, with only a 2" increase in 5 days I'm not expecting a monster this year (probably more like the size of a Tesco Finest Halloween pumpkin), thinking I'm now wasting my time watering them every day (my marrows are still growing, but their rate of growth is slowing down all the time).

 

That's bigger than the one on my plant that's now spread over 20m2

 

& i still have nothing...will wait for the 2 squashes to grow that are mingled in with the plants & then pull the lot up.

 

What variety are you growing John?

Steve...

 

@JWK I guess that being away you didn't have a chance to train the main stem away from the pumpkin. I was thinking that if it's on top and rubbing against the growing youngster it might cause some damage that could lead to infection which could be avoided by carefullyinserting a piece of cloth between them.

At the very least it would prevent the appearance of the pumpkin being spoilt.

 

I think the stems are supposed to be more pliable during the warm part of the day, it looks a bit dangerous to me, even a piece of cardboard carefully slid between the pumpkin and rough stem would prevent it's appearance from being spoilt by large scar across the front of it.

P.S. This corrugated plastic protection sheet is really useful stuff, and slugs don't eat it