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Ma

Wow I'm new and thought this is the place to get great info with so much info out there I'm looking to develope a plan starting from earth conditioning to final picking can anyone help out a new grower.

-Thanks for any help.

1/16/2007 6:32:09 PM

San Jose garysand@pacbell.net

welcome chicken, first I would order "how to grow world class giant pumpkins" 1-3

while you wait for the delivery, read these message boards there is an endless amount of info, from seed starting, soil prep, fertilizing, watering, shade, misting, and on and on, it is all here, do word searches read diary's.

There are lots of friendly helpful people on here, more than willing to help, but you should do some home work, then ask more specific questions.

Read lots,

Grow em big

Gary

1/16/2007 7:12:15 PM

Montoursville, PA

To grow one of these pumpkins you need a patch about twenty by thirty feet. That would be more or less average. Do you have a garden that large up and working? Could you go twenty five by sixty to grow two?

1/16/2007 7:16:02 PM

Ma

Grarysand thanks for your reply I will follow your advise thanks again.

1/17/2007 6:45:28 PM

Ma

docgipe I could get a spot 25 x 60 I would like to try 2 just to increase my odds of getting a good one. I thank you for your advise.

-Chicken

1/17/2007 6:48:29 PM

Montoursville, PA

OK....soon as you can like middle of March even, Hit it with the tiller. Do not skin the grass off. That's good to go in as are the weeds. I have personally done this and grew in the same year. We have other locals that did this too.

No fresh manure this spring. See if you can locate a pile of aged horse poop at a riding stable. Some farmers have aged piles of cow manure. If you are sure it is three or four years old get up to three pick up truck loads and pile it along the edge for use when tilling. Mushroom compost costs big bucks but could be an alternative. A Ford 250 will haul about a yard and a half heaped up. A 5' X 9' trailer will haul about the same.

If you can find black rotted leaves you could add a heavy sprinkling over all this spring but do not heap them on. You may add a bunch of coffee grounds any time you can find and get them on the patch.......even over the snow.

If you can find it put one five gallon bucket of foul droppings but no more in each starting area circle we call the nursery.

Locate and use if possible one 50# bag of organic 4-2-4, One 50# bag of kelp meal and 20 lbs of Ironite granular.

Locate and purchase two gallons of Black Strap Molasses. Doctor about five ounces into the tilling process in each starting area. Do this the first three times you till early this spring.

If you can do this and then follow planting and plant management as coached here you will be most pleased with your first year's achievement.

1/17/2007 8:04:55 PM

Montoursville, PA

Warning!! Stay away from early Spring grass clippings. They may contain weed killing chemicals you do not want in the patch. By the first of May grass clippings as a rule will be OK. If you know they are not coated with Weed and Feed type chemicals you may use them tilled in or later as a light mulch.

1/17/2007 8:15:58 PM

Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

The last post from Docgipe, was right on the money. I ussually wait three mowing's after I have applied fertilizer/weedkiller. One trick I do is mow a little shorter say 1.5inches instead of 2in and put the weedkiller right on. Also When u use a spray bottle, right on it with permante blaxck marker. what it is. other wise u may forget about it and use it for folage spray.

1/17/2007 9:05:11 PM

Ma

docgipe
Captain Cold Weather

thanks for the help you've offer me info I couldn't find anywhere else.

1/20/2007 12:43:10 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Legs, best info available is here. Keep askin questions!!! Go thru past diaries...lots of great info. Visit chat and introduce yerself. Try the "search" on the home page, although it sometimes leads to a "TON" of info to sort thru. Peace, Wayne

1/20/2007 3:29:35 PM