Allotments 4 All
The Show => Pumpkin 'tastic => Topic started by: Andy H on April 08, 2005, 21:04:23
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These 2 emerged 4 days ago from the soil...
(http://publish.hometown.aol.co.uk/andya2b/myhomepage/pumpkin8-4-05%20001.jpg?mtbrand=AOL_UK)
(http://publish.hometown.aol.co.uk/andya2b/myhomepage/pumpkin8-4-05%20002.jpg?mtbrand=AOL_UK)
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OMG!
i think i will wait another month, at least
groovy pictures.
what varieties are you growing?
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Atlantic Giant again. First attempt last year and had 80lber so trying harder this year. :D
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so it's a jack-o-lantern pumpkin rather than one grown for flavour?
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Thats corrcet, just nice to see how big I can get one in UK and it looks good on the plot too ;D
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Presumably you estimated weight Andy H. My son has just sown his atlantic giant seeds. Any advice - manure in soil but no more left unfortumately to plant out into. What about watering/feeding.
Thanks for any info
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best to saok seeds first for 3hrs in tepid water, can file them too,on the edges.
Last year I put big layer of manure on compo heap and planted them into that, plenty of water and can use tomato feed too.
Also added wee! :o Male only,watered down about 10:1
beer is apparently good. if you can get dregs out of drip trays from local pub/club etc then water with that.
let vine grow to 20ft or more.
there are ways online to grow the vine and let secondaries grow etc, but cut off the other bits(can`t remember the name) and cover with soil.
will try to find online info about it because gonna try it this year.
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Sowed my seeds yesterday, but I was a bit concerned to hear Monty on GW last night telling us not to bother planting them before the end of May. Hey ho. I'm not going to dig them up.
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Mmmmmm? Not sure but have heard it more than once?
Maybe someone knows the answer on here or that I may be wrong.
Becky said it`s cos she wouldn`t go and "squat" on the compo heap :o
Well it was put into coke bottles and watered down and delivered to the said heap in that format!!!
Just had to remember it wasn`t Iron Brew :-X
I think it may be something to do with certain enzymes kick-starting the compo process.
Andy
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Seems the question is answered in
The Basics---Liquid Gold
and
The Basics---A question of sex
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They are good ... was going to start some of mine this weekend ..or next to give them 3 ish weeks inside before the frost starts. ;D
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I love pumpkin, squash so easy peasy and those great big plants make it look like you have worked your socks off!!!
I am growing Winter Festival, new variety to me, now I am a billy no mates (living on own) this is a smaller variety. Hasta la Pasta, new spaghetti squash, to go with all my tomatoes, peppers and herbs. Both T&M.
I have also sent off to see if I can get freebie seeds from the Gardeners World seed trial. Got lucky on the dahlia trial and got two free packs to try.
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Growing like the clappers they are! They are now all in my heated greenhouse to try and slow them up a bit. Depending when they were sown, some are on their 4th true leaf, others just their first.
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Hi
A friend and I have set up a wee competion for our children so we planted them last week .I still have to dig the bed for them in my allotment. Some have just started sprouting . 1st time i have tried growing them .
Mags
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I take it you mean wee as in little? with so much talk about the stuff im traumatised. Ive developed a bit of a psychological problem Andy H hoped he wouldnt mistake his for Iron Brew and mine looks like Lemon Fanta, now i dont know what it should look like.
With all that aside i was always on the understanding that you shouldnt sow pumkins and squash's till the end of May as they will grow before then quite happily but will come to a standstill after a while and not fruit. But with every book i have contradicting each other about the subject i would rather take my advice from this website, which is what it was designed for.
PS dont forget to watch out for the free pumkin seeds in the next issue of GYO magazine.
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:DI think clearer would be more healthy!
Must have over indulged in something ;D
Carrots maybe :-X
I think there are many views about growing different things, got to take into consideration where you are in the country too!
I think we are always too eager and early but was lucky last year ;D
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growing now ;D
(http://publish.hometown.aol.co.uk/andya2b/myhomepage/pumpkin01.jpg?mtbrand=AOL_UK)
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Picked off about 20 fruits so far today and left 5. got rid of weeds and tried to see where main vines were :( Really confusing!
Seem to have 3 main vines going and one rear with the biggy on it so far...... Any advise would be appreciated.
(http://publish.hometown.aol.co.uk/andya2b/myhomepage/pumpkin02.jpg?mtbrand=AOL_UK)
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Now it`s a football size :D
Anyone else got any going?
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Andy you could be well in the running, mine are pathetic! Not a fruit in sight yet :'(
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For my first pumpkin growing escapade, I have 3x Spooktacular plants. I'm hoping for something come Halloween.
The one in the allotment, transplanted out about 10 days ago, has a 2" baby fruit on it! Bit staggered when I came across it, by accident, yesterday.
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It is about basket ball size now but alas, may have to terminate it and let another grow as parts of skin show signs of hardening so will never be huge I think...
Wonder if cut off now will help vine growth?????
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Haven't got a clue what variety mine are, as I kept the seed from the bairn's lantern last hallowe'en. What I can say is that although there are no sign of any fruits yet, the plants look nice and healthy and are beginning to spread. So hopefully soon I'll get some fruits (vegetables??) on them.
How many should I keep on the plant to expect reasonable sized pumpkins and should it be the first few that I keep. Sorry for the basic questions but it's the first attempt at these.
Thanks for now
Wayne.
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I don`t know what I am doing but I read for a giant you should let the vine grow about 15ft then let fruit develop then let vine go another 10ft or so!!!
Keep fruit shaded or the skin will harden,stopping the growth,like mine just has >:( so may let another grow soon...
Where are the pumpkin experts out there???
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well I have 3 vines about 12ft each and a big pumpkin with hardened patches on skin, should I cut it off now? Is it too late to get a big one from a "new" fruit?
Help!
Cut it or leave it........
Just installed drip feed of water tonight hoping to stop the leaves wilting in the hot days..........
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'fraid I don't know, Andy.
...my Spooktacular 2" pumpkin, is now stunnimgly tennis ball sized, but it doesn't get any shade because the leaves do not cover it.
So I guess it isn't going to get very big. All I would like is something suitable for a little 'un for Halloween.
:(
Bummer.
Has anyone ever physically erected 'shade' over their pumpkins? Something like heavy windbreak netting on 4 sticks?
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mine is covered over with that black stuf that supresses weeds!
About 3 vines all about 12ft long and the pumpkin is growing from the back vine I think.
Now it is bigger than vollleyball size but wonder if to cut it off and let another grow as there is slight hardening of the skin in places?
Don`t want to wate another year finding out! Where are he experts....................?
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You might find some experts on these sites! Both American I think, but they are the hugest pumpkins ever!
Mine has not even produced a fruit yet this summer, but I live in hope! ;D
http://www.backyardgardener.com/pumkin.html
http://v.webring.com/hub?ring=giantpumpring
Hope this help DP
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I planted my seeds into well rotted compost but they haven't shown yet ???
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i was just gonna let them get on with it and see what there is to harvest later in the year. i hope i dont have to pinch, punch or otherwise - i wouldnt know where to start :o
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Last year I let mine run rampant, and it produced one huge fruit, so I am going to do the same again this year, no mollycoddling on my patch! ;D
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I have browsed sites but dont seem to cover problems like that.
My drip system fell over luckily going the other way to pumpkin but threw many gallons over cabbage and marigolds :-\
set it up again tonight dripping about 2 a second.
The soaking yesterday has stopped the leaves sagging on the edges so must be good. Will try and get piccy from mobile phone
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(http://publish.hometown.aol.co.uk/andya2b/myhomepage/pumpkin13-7-5.jpg?mtbrand=AOL_UK)
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(http://publish.hometown.aol.co.uk/andya2b/myhomepage/vines2date.jpg?mtbrand=AOL_UK)
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WOW Andy, well done!
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Impressive Andy! Looks as though they are doing brilliantly. Climbing mine up a trellis like DP's and they are doing well, but not as good as yours. Congrats on a fine pumpkin. :) busy_lizzie
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Cor Wardy they look healthy!
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Cor, good stuff!
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I reckon my pumpkin is as big as last years already which was 80lb, heres hoping it still grows as hardening on skin already...
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Our yellow jaune de paris pumpkins are doing spectacularly well. We have three large fruit all over volleyball size (although the variety is a flatter type) and all looking very impressive.
Golden hubbard squash performing less impressively with one fruit.
Baby boo has one baby pumpkin still green.
Butternut squash just forming fruits.
Getting there....
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How is it going Andy, have you hired a JCB yet?! ;) ;D
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This is the second one, the first was cut off and put in cold storage as there was a funny bit on it. taken about 3 weeks back.
(http://hometown.aol.co.uk/andya2b/myhomepage/pumpkin01.jpg?mtbrand=AOL_UK)
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Gave it to the guy at flower shop by crem, he had last years and is growing one this year. Thought the best use for it was to use as display model for smaller ones, last year someone begged him to sell it.
All previous pumpkins were blown up at halloween :D
If I do one this year I will try to video clip small enough to email ;D
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Grown for size not taste(Atlantic Giant)
Not enough room in freezer anyway after the million lb of runners and 100+ sweetcorn ::)
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know what you mean Andy, one of my big boys rotted off underneath :'( couldn't throw it on the compost, so more blinking chutney today! The funny thing is we don't actually use chutney that much! ;D
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The small one picked today :D
(http://publish.hometown.aol.co.uk/andya2b/myhomepage/pumpkin%20small%202005.jpg?)
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and the big one ;D ;D ;D
(http://publish.hometown.aol.co.uk/andya2b/myhomepage/pumpkin%20large%202005.jpg?mtbrand=AOL_UK)
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Wow! That is a big 'un :o, you must be proud!!!!!!!!!
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Bloody Nora!!!! Has Cindereela called you yet???? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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That is impressive! I was scrolling down thinking the first was very decent until I saw the other one. Wow! Do you know how much it could weigh? :o busy_lizzie
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I can`t publish the weight yet cos thursday it is going in a guess the weight compo with the donations going to alzheimers at east surrey hospital. and the guessers can also BID for the pumpkin. Getting it weighed tomorrow(sat) at local post office! I will let you all know, wonder if the organiser at local club will accept bids from A4A? Any offers for the pumpkin?
If agreed, then can arrange delivery on meet halfway sort of deal perhaps?
Definately think it beat last years 80lb, time will tell..........
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..and here's another veggie on my list of next years, fingers- crossed hope-its-a successful
sowing.
I sowed my pumpkin seeeds in a pile of manure but nothing came up!
Children were very disappointed...
Debs
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Just start them in compo in pot till bigger then transfer to manure pile I reckon.
Not an expert but try the atlantic giant seed. Will try to remember to post when other half does the seeds and when I transplant next year, must be more patient with letting the vine grow before allowing fruit to grow, had 2 about this size off one plant!
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sorry thats what I meant, compo being compost as in the stuff in a bag you buy. :-\
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50p a guess and £20 prize money raised £19 profit. Cricket club donated £75!!!
M in Law rounded it up to £100 for alzheimers unit at east surrey hospital.
The pumpkin weighed 130lb 8oz