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Washington State

Ok well I already have several pumpkins on the vine. I am totally confused about polinating the female and male flowers. Do I need to if I already have pumpkins on? I haven't ever fertilized them. What should I use and how do I do it. I did plant some kind of seed that said it would yeild a giant...should I break off all other pumkins from the vine and only leave one? I have two of those plants going in the one plants pumpkin is yellowish? How do I help that one? I sure appriciate anything someone takes the time to tell me...I am excited to see just how big a pumpkin my husband and I can grow. These are actually his babies (he picked out the "Giant Size Pumpkin"seeds, and it would be fun to fertilize and help them get really big without him knowing!!! Thanks for helping a newbie!!

Stephanie

7/28/2003 1:08:34 AM

Buffalo,Minnesota

The bees will do it for you if you let them. I would wait and see how many pollinate, and then pick a couple of them that look good after 10-14 days.

7/28/2003 1:28:01 AM

Washington State

A few of the pumpkins that are on, are a pretty good size. So THEY are already pollinated, right? Could you please tell me about fertilizers and the do's and don'ts? And I saw a picture where someone has put their pumpkin on something instead of just laying on the ground, are you suppose to do that? Does it prevent something, or help in some way to get a big one? Sorry for all the questions...thanks for your time!!!

Stephanie

7/28/2003 1:34:53 AM

Montoursville, PA

Stephanie......You are exactly where I was last year at this time. OHMEGORSH..... where to start. 1. Get a copy of Don Langenvin's book.."HOW TO GROW WORLD CLASS GIANT PUMPKINS". 2. If your leaves are a nice green and you have fruit relax and do nothing but keep the major weeds out of the patch. 3. Pick the two nicest ones and cull the rest now and as they appear.
....Grow these two in your natural garden with no special efforts. You should be pleased.
....Read the book and poke all over this web site including the chat board where you will learn as much as you can learn and likely more than most want to learn. It is all here but it takes awhile to get used to a thing called Pumpkin Talk. By this time next year you will have a dandy growing if you choose to follow our leaders. Lots of us will help along the way.

7/28/2003 10:01:24 AM

Washington State

Thanks sooo much for the quick answers!!! You mention nothing of fertilizers?? I have been reading all the different postings and one thing everyone mentions is fertilizing. Can you give me anything on that? So does Borders books carry this book or do I need to order it online somewhere? Will only a pumpkin from a "big" pumpkin variety grow to huge proportions? Or will any pumpkin do that if I pick all the others off? What about the lifting it off the ground thing?? How cute little beddies for my pumpkins!!! Thanks again docgipe!!!

7/28/2003 10:48:09 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Warning: Growing Giant Pumpkins may be addicting! Okay youve been warned so If you continue to read on I won't feel so bad...Pratice this year on what you planted...If they are Atlantic Giant seeds all the better if not Plenty of good seeds right here...see seed list that are free but for the cost of shipping. In the meantime Doc gave ya the basics get the books learn to train the vines etc...
ferts are tricky what goes well on a 500-600 sqaure foot plant might be to much on smaller ones..especially if you do not have a soil analysis done...you could be actually doing more harm then good. soil out of balance is worse...
good luck...Grow em Big! Chuck

7/28/2003 11:15:04 AM

BEEP BEEP BEEP........giant pumpkin warning in affect for washington state from now until October 31st...severe affects can occur such as addiction. You have been warned again.

Stephanie I just emailed you because I saw a different post you made, but hey, here's another one, yes it can be addicting.

The book...my local Borders didn't have them in stock, but they said they could order them for me. Also, there's a link on this site to Amazon books to order them online, or go to www.giantpumpkins.com that's the author's website.

fertilizer...once your pumpkins get about basketball size, you can start using fertilizer that's high in the last number. fertlizers have 3 numbers on the bag which represent nitrogen-phosporus-potassium, or N-P-K.

and like the others suggested, snoop all around this site and soak up the info.

i'm warning you again, its addicting. some of us call it obsession.

7/28/2003 11:51:24 AM

Montoursville, PA

OK Stepha....we gave you fair warning. You have ask two questions, maybe three. Few make it past four without being horribly hooked. You still have a small chance to withdraw with honor. If you continue you will slowly become known as one of dem nuts what grows big pumpkins. :)

Another approach might be to rip it out and start building a real healthy bed for next year. Wow could you ever if you can stand the thought of loading and handling horse manure or cow excretement. Up to grade eight in school I thought that is how girls smelled. We were all farm kids. Why I didn't run into a pretty good smelling city sweetie untill Jr. High. Now at 66 I remember my third grade sweetie pie who's dad kept goats. She was truely a little different.

I'm not suggesting that you have to do this but you do if you want a big one. We have more and better soaps today. A little perfume finishes the remake job. :)

Now I shall go hide behind a big tree while all the girls shoot at me. ]:o)

7/28/2003 3:12:30 PM

South Hill, Virginia

I get spam all the time with the same subject as this thread.

7/28/2003 3:38:51 PM

Montoursville, PA

Yep.........unfortunately. How do you stop the negative you are getting? Me to.

7/28/2003 5:41:30 PM

Washington State

This is all too much fun!!! But doc I am afraid that I couldn't pull up the pumpkins I have now...my husband would shoot me!!! I am hoping to pull one over on him and fertilize his plants so his pumpkin dream might come true!! I have to get this book!! I love you all...great new friends!!!

Stephanie

7/29/2003 2:00:10 AM

She's hooked. She's a goner. Bye bye.

7/29/2003 10:33:29 AM

New Brunswick

docpipe...how could you even suggest to this new grower that she pull out her plant....that is awful...why some of us have trouble even culling one plant out of 3 or 4! *grin* . You just keep growing Stepha..and don't you even think of pulling out your hubbys pumpkins. My hubby ran over the end of one of my main vines and he had to make a hasty retreat. It would not be advisable for you to kill hubbys pumpkin plant. na da na da un unh...never ever ever. Just hang right in there...lots of time this fall and next spring to prepare a better bed... and as for fertilizer, I have grown A.G's for three years now. I have used 15 35 15 Miracle Gro and though my largest was only 192 pounds a couple of years ago, it was still large enough to take third in a local weigh off. Heck, last year my largest weighed only 140 pounds and it still took third! I , too am wondering if I should shift to 20 20 20 fertilizer...but am still just using the Miracle gro which I apply once weekly at the rate of 2 tbsp per two gallons of water per plant. Keep reading the other posts maybe you and I too will find out which fertilizer we should be using. As for water...water heavily daily and be consistant, do not skip a day. As for the pumpkin book, it can be bought from www.veseys.com My pumpkins are resting on soil and grass. Some place stuff under theirs but I don't mess with mine. I have not had a problem so far.

7/29/2003 9:41:45 PM

Deer Park WA

Stepha, nice to see such keen interest in this hobby! Don't over fertilize, bury all the vines, prune off suckers, keep the plant moist and you should do very well. Welcome aboard fellow grower!

7/30/2003 12:42:49 AM

Montoursville, PA

I would not suggest anything I have not done. Anything to get the biggie into a better patch medium.

My coach suggested that I rip one out last year. After two or three weeks of consideration I did. That was a good decision for me. Worked on the 2003 patch condition for two whole months and then some. What a difference that has made.
Today I am at day 20 and am well over 100lbs. A monster in the making. Last years worthless start was stuck at 30 -40 pounds. Pix going into diary later today or tomorrow.

Don't do it Stephany!...I can see the headlines now. ANGRY HUSBAND CRACKS WIFE'S SKULL WITH PUMPKIN.

7/30/2003 9:02:30 AM

porterville, calif.

She has swallowed the whole hook, line and sinker , no turning back now Stephany !!! Good Luck Grow em Big

7/30/2003 3:18:38 PM