Giant pumpkins are in the ground!!!!

pickeringchris · Jun 22, 2012

Just thought I'd give you guys an update. So I have been nurturing these plants since April 25th. My 6 pumpkin plants are filling out fast. They cover about 3-400 sq' of space each. . This is ideal pollination time. I have females on 3 of six plants pollinated and the other 3 will be in the next week. During the first 20-30 days of the pumpkins life the plants will continue to fill out and I will terminate all vine growth at around 700 sq'. June and half of July require an extreme amount of work training, pruning and burying vines. 20-30 hours a week easy.
The other pic is my long gourds. They are just reaching the top of my 12' high trellis.

. In a few weeks I will be pollinating gourds on those plants. They grow for about 20-30 days and the world record is 137". I'd be happy with 12' even.

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Cheers.

creekbend · Jun 23, 2012

Best wishes. I sincerely wish you the best and hope that you grow the winning record.

whistlepig · Jun 23, 2012

My neighbor grows these to show at fairs. His biggest so far is 800#. He came in second place that year. The work that goes in to these giant pumpkins is tremendous. Far more than I ever imagined. I have watched my neighbor grow them.

pickeringchris · Jun 23, 2012

whistlepig said:
My neighbor grows these to show at fairs. His biggest so far is 800#. He came in second place that year. The work that goes in to these giant pumpkins is tremendous. Far more than I ever imagined. I have watched my neighbor grow them.

Insane amount of work. My best placing so far has been a 4th and that was with a 1065 pounder. At one weigh off last year in Ontario there was 30 pumpkins over 1000.

pickeringchris · Jul 18, 2012

Hey Boys,

So we are getting to the fun part. The plants have almost completely filled up their 750-900 sq' plots and will be completely terminated (cut all vine growing tips off) in the next week. I have 6 pumpkins ranging in age from 22 days to 27 days and from 100 to 300lbs.

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