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Aberdeen

My plant is about 10 weeks old and about 5 to 5.5 feet long. I seen the first two male flowers open this morning with a hand full of small pumpkins on the vines. First question is it time to switch to more phosphorus fertilizer, are keep nitrogen since the vine is still running? I have a bright green plant, but how can you tell if your adding to much nitrogen? Thanks for any info.

6/26/2016 6:59:35 PM

Central NY

Sounds like somthin not right... Are the leaves smaller than paper plates? We're taLking Atlantic giant right?

6/26/2016 7:21:36 PM

Aberdeen

Yes atlantic giant plant. This plant lost it's main vine early on, and a few leaves are small but most are as big as a paper plates. The plant is a 1432 northrup.

6/26/2016 7:37:04 PM

Central NY

Can you post some pics?

6/26/2016 9:17:58 PM

Pumkin#1 have you tried some of the advanced nutrient products? I do like to use Voodoo Juice, Tarantula, and Pirhana. I have listed the website to find the best prices. Tribe, as shown for the three above, help to expand the root system. Also try Essential Plus 101 for aiding micronutrients to stimulate root and plant growth. Also, have you completed a soil test? You might want to try pulling a soil test sample and send it to Western labs. Are you talking about 10 weeks old from the time you sprouted the plant or transplanted the plant? How are you watering the plant, how often and what have you fed the plant to date? What caused the loss of the main? You can try Christopher24's diary for the Western Lab information.
I really hope my information helps you!
http://www.best-deal.com/search/landing/query/nutrient+advance/s/google/koid/4865467581/gkaid/61679320/adid/2065500280/gkyid/25810318120/?query=nutrient+advance&gclid=CLnV5LPo080CFdgRgQodbpkEQw

7/1/2016 11:26:06 PM

Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

When you say pumpkins on the vines, do you mean immature females, on the side and main mainvines?

7/2/2016 2:15:21 AM

Aberdeen

BiddyGoat, at this time I'm using Raw NPK products: humic acid, seaweed, silica, molasses, compost tea, and a little cal-mag. The plant was 10 weeks old from sprouting. I sprouted the plant in a one gallon pot, and it stayed indoors / outdoors for about three weeks. Trying to apply humic acid etc. about every 8 days. I'm not sure what killed the main vine. I don't have a drip system so plant is watered via: rain, water can (when using humic acid etc.) and a hose.

Doug14, I think they may be immature females, smaller than a marble. I will say the plant looks healthy overall

7/2/2016 7:55:32 AM

50 Acres

I think it is just slow. It is regrouping inside changing your sidevine to a main. Just my opinion. JIM

7/2/2016 9:53:47 AM

Pumkin#1 can you provide some details on using silica? Are you attempting to break up clay and provide drainage?

7/2/2016 7:14:18 PM

I just want to understand what you are explaining. You are using "Raw NPK products", so this is anything with nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, but not necessarily organic products? Maybe you are using blood meal or bone meal? Humic acid provides stamina to the plant during seed germination and plant mass growing, but w/o alot of serious nutrients. It is good and I have also used it as well, but more of a defense during stressful changes in weather conditions.

7/2/2016 8:01:14 PM

Sorry for multiple messages, but the character limit is preventing my lengthy post.

7/2/2016 8:02:01 PM

Humic acid is good and I have also used it as well, but more of a defense during stressful changes in weather conditions. As for the molasses, do you mean a mix that consists of liquid kelp, molasses and worm castings? This I have read is used to add serious weight to the giant pumpkin after a fruit is established which I believe I read in many published articles by Dave Stelts.

7/2/2016 8:03:41 PM

I would recommend reading How to Grow World Class Giant Pumpkins The All-Organic Way by Donald Langevin 2009.

Finally, try to stick to one feeding method and schedule your first year.

7/2/2016 8:04:38 PM

I am providing a link to the method I used my first and second years from Holland's - check it out and let me know your thoughts.

http://www.hollandsgiants.com/fertprogram.html

Month-By-Month Suggestions

In May - Water the plants at the base as needed, alternating Soluble Seaweed Powder, Soluble Calcium Powder, and Soluble Fish Powder. When plants reach the 5th-leaf stage, do a combination of foliar applications and feeding directly on the soil or Grow-Mat in an area 2 to 3 times larger than the plant.
In June - Use 1-2 Tablespoons of BioGrow Endo Plus at each leaf axil when burying main vines and laterals. Add ¼-cup of Pumpkin Power in trench for each 3 feet of vine.
-Mondays (or 1 time a week) Soluble Seaweed Foliar Spray
-Wednesdays (or 1 time a week) Soluble Biomin Calcium Foliar Spray
-Fridays (or 1 time a week) Soluble Fish Foliar Spray up to June 10th – 15th Use Nutri-Aid Blossom Booster & Fruit Finisher 0-52-34 starting June 10th – 15th
In July - Use 1-2 Tablespoons of BioGrow Endo Plus at each leaf axil when burying main vines and laterals. Add ¼-cup of Pumpkin Power in trench for each 3 feet of vine.
-Mondays (or 1 time a week) Soluble Seaweed Foliar Spray
-Wednesdays (or 1 time a week) Soluble Biomin Calcium Foliar Spray
-Fridays (or 1 time a week) Nutri-Aid Blossom Booster and Fruit Finisher 0-52-34
In August - Use 1-2 Tablespoons of BioGrow Endo Plus at each leaf axil when burying main vines and laterals. Add ¼-cup of Pumpkin Power in trench for each 3 feet of vine.
-Mondays (or 1 time a week) Soluble Seaweed Foliar Spray
-Wednesdays (or 1 time a week Soluble Biomin Calcium Foliar Spray
-Fridays (or 1 time a week) Nutri-Aid Blossom Booster and Fruit Finisher 0-52-34
In September & October -
-Mondays, (or 1 time a week), Soluble Seaweed Foliar Spray.
-Wednesdays.(or 1 time a week) Soluble Biomin Calcium Foliar Spray.
-Fridays (or 1 time a week) Nutri-Aid Blossom Booster and Fruit Finis

7/2/2016 8:05:32 PM

**Note: this year and before fruit sets work on the plant's foundation and try to expand the root system.
You may be guessing on what the plant needs w/o completing a soil test, so try to consider testing your soil.

Many of the growers on this website are great minds and very helpful, so keep asking lots of questions. I am also learning!

7/2/2016 8:06:59 PM

N.c.

Hey Pumkin#1,
You will know if you have too much nitrogen as your female blossoms will not mature to the point that they will open. That is bad, so many people at this point of plant maturity will cut back on nitrogen. The Raw Soluble NPK products are great. Continue with the cal/mag and about 10 days after you have a pumpkin set you can resume your feeding. Some people never let up on their feeding program but if you are not experienced with fertilizing you will run a higher risk of your pumpkin aborting.

7/3/2016 7:23:06 AM

Hungary

Dear friends its my first maxima growht
Howarddill premium seeds Northrup 972

the litle pumkin have strange wrinkles on it.
Can anyone tell me what is this thing?
A issue or a genetic distinctiveness?

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/gallery/GalleryImg/DSC02104%281%29.jpg

8/7/2016 11:59:29 AM

Central NY

Doesn't look that much out of the ordinary although a tad wrinkly ... Post another pic in a couple of days

8/7/2016 1:27:03 PM

Hungary

You was right,the pumkin is growing and the wrinklyeness is natural.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Gallery/GalleryImg/DSC02135.jpg

8/11/2016 9:29:57 AM