So, let see, first we have the wind tear up the plants, then the hail tears up the plants, then the 100+ heat cooks the plants, then more hail, and all sorts of ailments inbetween … then, and if we are lucky, we end up with a decent pumpkin. I’ve grown in Washington, Michigan, Nebraska, Maryland, and now New Mexico. But growing here is like no other place for sure. If you are wondering why anyone would grow AGs in NM, well I live here. And if that isn’t a good enough answer, all you really have to do is look in the mirror!
Well, anyway, I decided to do a diary this year, not because I wanted to growz-em big and compete. Yea, growz-em big is the utopia, but my intent is to show that you don’t need 1000s of sq ft per plant to grow them. Last year I grew 5 plants in about 45 sq ft of dirt. I did intend to thin them out, but didn’t, and they were crowded, but they all grew and grew pumpkins. I did this by just growing the mains, no secondaries so I could grow them side by side. This also didn’t give me the luxury of pollinating three and picking the best, rather I had to say "this plant’s pumpkin goes here", and "this plant’s here", and "that plant’s there" (and I did miss the mark on one).
I’ll agree that is not the best way to growz-em, no argument here, but it is the best way for the space I have. And that is my whole point: if you don’t have space, you just have to make the best use of the space you do have and don’t let the lack of space deter you, rather be creative. Basically, if there is a will, there is always a way. So this pic is of last year’s patch.
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