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Roseville, CA

Hi - this is my first year and I have 3 plants with 1 set pumpkin on each. They have been growing pretty well but I don't think I am watering properly. I have a soaker hose around the base and down the main vine, but I also water w/ a sprinkler. But the ground under the leaves doesn't seem to get very wet. So I have started watering at ground level. What should I be doing? Also how do I measure my pumpkins?

Any help would be appreciated. Thank you all.

8/2/2011 10:41:55 PM

Granite Bay-California

Hey T, Im over in Granite Bay. This is also my 1st year, maybe we should meet up and check each others' patches out?

LD

8/2/2011 11:01:04 PM

Muddy Waters

There are lots of ways to water,best not to get leaves wet,you will get powdery mildew sooner,last year I slid a plastic pipe with holes drilled every 12 inchs a 1/8 hole,12 foot pipe,in between secondarys & duct taped the end,or glue on an end cap.lol then stuck the gareden hose in for a few minutes & soaked the ground,this is a poor mans method!this year I robbed Peter to pay Paul & bought drip tape system!Good luck keep your leaves dry,lessin your in a drought!If it aint raining might not hurt to get wet every 2 weeks!Just my opinion not necsesarly fact!Dont keep plant soaked you will have problems.thats a FACT!

8/3/2011 6:14:45 AM

Roseville, CA

Thank you. Very good advise.

8/3/2011 1:37:31 PM

Roseville, CA

LD - Have pumpkins growing? How did you get involved with growing?

8/3/2011 1:38:27 PM

Granite Bay-California

Nothing pollinated yet, got a month late start do to a plant that was growing to fast so I started over. I got a friend down the street who's been growing for a few years and has had several over the 1000 lb mark.

8/3/2011 11:12:34 PM

Roseville, CA

WOW! I'd be jazzed to have one that size. I don't know if mine are growing fast or slow. I have nothing to really compare it to. Glad I found this site. My largest is about 88 inches around and probably 165 lbs. Wonder if I am doing okay. How much should they grow a day?

8/4/2011 12:19:18 AM

Granite Bay-California

Depends on what type seeds you planted, the soil and what you're pumping them full of. I've got mine on calcium, seaweed, fish and some other goodies.

8/4/2011 1:39:22 AM

Placer County, California

Omg my little pumkin is so pathetic over here above auburn. Its barely bigger than the ones in my big patch that I got my seeds from the$ dollar store. Am I supposed to be pruning leaves yet? I've only got one fruit so far.I think I will fertilizer this week. I've just been letting nature take its course on everything out here.

8/9/2011 10:35:05 PM

Roseville, CA

I haven't been fertelizing. Only had the property about 5 months before it was time to plant. I am unsure what is needed because I didn't do a soil test. But as most of my tips continue to point upward, even after I nip off and bury (yes, I am reburying the same tip day after day).
I measured last night and they continue to grow. Just hit the 30 day mark yesterday. Gaining 13lbs per day on one and about 20lbs per day on the other. At least that is what the 'measuring tape' I bought says. :) I hope it is accurate or under. LOL I don't think that is bad for a first time grower.

8/10/2011 9:56:45 AM

Ottawa Ontario Canada

with the water i think you should try not to use city water as they put chemicals in the water to reduce beneficial microbe fungi for pumpkins which could help pumpkin growth so don't use water from city use from mother nature catch rain in buckets and rain barrel and test ph level with pool kit I am lucky to have 200 foot well drilled try to get collected rain water less acidic to counter act the acid rain that falls on pumpkin or you could get water from river or lake with seaweed and make compost tea that works wonders for pumpkin growth as the lake water is loaded with fungi... i hope this works as im using this method right now cant wait 1st year growing thanks all youtube -Aaron's pumpkin

8/13/2011 2:55:18 AM