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Kansas

This is my first year growing so this is all new to me. I have noticed my main pumpkin vine has some yellow striping on the vine, the pumpkin seems to be growing very fast from the size of a grape to a oblong tennis ball in 10 days. Is this normal or something I need to worry about???

6/15/2012 5:31:06 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

It could be a genetic thing. A lot of genetics if the vine is yellow the pumpkin will be orange

6/15/2012 10:25:09 PM

Kansas

Thanks a lot for the info! Is my growth typical at this point or is it growing to fast or is that possible???

6/16/2012 3:00:33 AM

East Jordan, MI

the yellow striping on the vine is of no concern, just genetics.

A pumpkin going from a grape to a tennis ball size in ten days is not too fast either.

I'm assuming it is pollinated. You ask for "typical" growth at this point. It depends on a lot of factors. Weather, water, soil, nutrients, genetics, plant size, plant health -- I'm sure I missed something.

A large, healthy, perfect plant can put 1-10 inches a day on a pumpkin, starting anywhere from 5-20 days after pollination and be "normal".

If it is growing and shiny enjoy the experience and try not to worry too much about how you are doing compared to others.

When selecting which one to keep, I usually pollinate 2 or 3 on the main and take notes each day. Then I try to compare multiple pollinations on the same plant against each other at the same day ofter it was pollinated. Then I try to pick the best one based on shape location, and growth. And finally before I cut an older one off I usually wait until the younger one is at least 10-15 days old to make sure it is not going to abort, and I cut the older one off in two slices, half one day and half the next -- that's how I do it. Good luck and ENJOY. It's supposed to be fun.

6/16/2012 8:59:23 AM

milford, CT,

If it is a keeper it will be a volleyball soon..then a beachball,hopefully by day 30 a beanbag chair, then a VW Bug by seasons end..LOL

6/16/2012 12:11:16 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Good stuff cntryboy!

6/16/2012 4:20:23 PM

Kansas

Is it strange that it's the only pumpkin On the plant???

6/16/2012 11:41:58 PM

East Jordan, MI

That depends on how big the plant is, it's age, and if it is healthy. You don't say how big the plant is or it's age. Sometimes a small stressed out plant will produce a female very early. Not sure if that is what is happening for you or not.

Typically the plant will start producing females when it gets about 8-10 feet vines. Once it gets to this size, a healthy happy plant should start making female blooms on every tip as the vine it is on gets big enough to support a fruit and in general terms this "normally" occurs at every other to every third node until it has some growing pumpkins.

Nutrient availability especially P will affect flowering.

Is the plant producing male flowers and do they look normal?

6/17/2012 5:39:31 AM

Kansas

My main vine is about 12ft and the other about 10 the leaves are about as big as the top of a 5gal bucket. The flowers are giant and very yellow their are lots of them. Their are quit a lot of them where the main vines meet the root stalk that stand straight up and down. I have not had and yellowing leaves or holes from bugs of any kind. Im using a slow drip watering system with miracle grow mixed kinda weak and then Adding some shake and feed calcium. They get about 35gallons every 3 days.

6/18/2012 1:12:47 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Its just a tween plant..More females will be coming

6/18/2012 1:27:15 PM