Giant pumpkin question - Page 3

Barbee · May 6, 2009

This thread makes me want to try some giant pumpkins! I saw some seed at Lowe's and almost bought them. I think I'll stop in there next week and buy them.
How much room should I allow per plant?

veggie babe · May 7, 2009

Chelle and Amigatec,
My giant pumpkin is up, although only one seed made it we are excited. I had already replanted so who knows what we will get.

Barbee Lowe's is where I bought my seed. Chelle mentioned atlantic giant and since then I have read about these pumpkins they seem to be the one everybody talks about.

neva

gardenfrog · May 7, 2009

I don't want to seem ignorant or anything like that, but even with a 10 gallon container, wouldn't you still need a lot more root room to support such a huge plant?

Barbee · May 7, 2009

You surely can't grow them in a pot?!?
I was planning to put mine in the ground. Make hills and plant 3 seeds per hill like squash. I guess I figured giant pumpkin, giant vines?
Hopefully someone who has grown them will chime in

Amigatec · May 7, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barbee

This thread makes me want to try some giant pumpkins! I saw some seed at Lowe's and almost bought them. I think I'll stop in there next week and buy them.
How much room should I allow per plant?

Most people recommend at least 500 sqft per plant. I planted 3 in 1000 sqft and it will be tight.

Here it is taking up half of a 1000 sqft patch. This patch is 25X40 feet.

Amigatec · May 7, 2009

You can't grow them in a pot. The roots of these plants can reach 25 to 30 feet, and at each leaf node the plant will put out another root.

Barbee · May 7, 2009

Amig, I'm impressed! Looks like you have sand under the pumpkin? Is that to keep it from rotting or?
Ooooh I can't wait!

veggie babe · May 8, 2009

bad news, something ate the giant pumpkin sprout last night.

good news, I planted another hill with 5 seeds.

neva

Barbee · May 8, 2009

My hubby stopped at the local seed joint last night and picked up a variety called Big Max. I guess that's what I'll be planting.
Amig, looking at your photo again, I can see that you're using the sand to hold the pumpkin up so it doesn't break off the stem. Or I think that's what I'm seeing

Amigatec · May 8, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barbee

My hubby stopped at the local seed joint last night and picked up a variety called Big Max. I guess that's what I'll be planting.
Amig, looking at your photo again, I can see that you're using the sand to hold the pumpkin up so it doesn't break off the stem. Or I think that's what I'm seeing

Well it's a little of both. The sand gives the pumpkin something to move around on as it grows, and yes it was wanting to roll over the stem. As the fruit grows you have to watch the vine so that doesn't happen. It grew so fast it got away from me before I knew it.

Amigatec · May 8, 2009

My main vine is on the ground and running now.

I am using bamboo skewers to train the vine.

Polar_Lace · May 8, 2009

veggie babe,

To protect your new seedlings, use some caging around it; like a screen. Wire mesh or some window screening cut to size. Protect them from the top too, crows like the taste of them for some reason. So do squirrels.

~* Robin

KLorentz · May 9, 2009

This year we have Big Moon and Dill's Atlantic Giant for the big guys.Also have one pie and about three Jack O Lantern types.Halloween will be intersting.

Kevin

Amigatec · May 14, 2009

My #1 plant is about 3' long now, and I have started burying the vines now.

[IMG]

[/IMG]

Barbee · May 14, 2009

You bury the vines? Is that to develop more roots?

May 6, 2009	#31
Barbee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 1,818	This thread makes me want to try some giant pumpkins! I saw some seed at Lowe's and almost bought them. I think I'll stop in there next week and buy them. How much room should I allow per plant? __________________ *Barbee*

May 7, 2009	#34
Barbee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 1,818	You surely can't grow them in a pot?!? I was planning to put mine in the ground. Make hills and plant 3 seeds per hill like squash. I guess I figured giant pumpkin, giant vines? Hopefully someone who has grown them will chime in __________________ *Barbee*

May 7, 2009	#37
Barbee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 1,818	Amig, I'm impressed! Looks like you have sand under the pumpkin? Is that to keep it from rotting or? Ooooh I can't wait! __________________ *Barbee*

May 8, 2009	#39
Barbee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 1,818	My hubby stopped at the local seed joint last night and picked up a variety called Big Max. I guess that's what I'll be planting. Amig, looking at your photo again, I can see that you're using the sand to hold the pumpkin up so it doesn't break off the stem. Or I think that's what I'm seeing __________________ *Barbee*

May 8, 2009	#42
Polar_Lace Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Z8b, Texas Posts: 657	veggie babe, To protect your new seedlings, use some caging around it; like a screen. Wire mesh or some window screening cut to size. Protect them from the top too, crows like the taste of them for some reason. So do squirrels. ~* Robin __________________ It's not how many seeds you sow. Nor how many plants you transplant. It's about how many of them can survive your treatment of them.

May 7, 2009	#32
veggie babe Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: east texas Posts: 686	Chelle and Amigatec, My giant pumpkin is up, although only one seed made it we are excited. I had already replanted so who knows what we will get. Barbee Lowe's is where I bought my seed. Chelle mentioned atlantic giant and since then I have read about these pumpkins they seem to be the one everybody talks about. neva

May 7, 2009	#33
gardenfrog Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Shelbyville, IN Posts: 343	I don't want to seem ignorant or anything like that, but even with a 10 gallon container, wouldn't you still need a lot more root room to support such a huge plant?

May 7, 2009	#36
Amigatec Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 208	You can't grow them in a pot. The roots of these plants can reach 25 to 30 feet, and at each leaf node the plant will put out another root.

May 9, 2009	#43
KLorentz Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Stryker, Ohio Posts: 995	This year we have Big Moon and Dill's Atlantic Giant for the big guys.Also have one pie and about three Jack O Lantern types.Halloween will be intersting. Kevin

May 14, 2009	#44
Amigatec Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 208	My #1 plant is about 3' long now, and I have started burying the vines now. [IMG][/IMG]