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Illinois

Hi everyone,

After four years of various mistakes, I've finally gotten my first giant pumpkin growing. It's 10 days in now. I started a six-lobe fruit at 11'. It's now at 22" circumference and still shiny. Last night it put on 4 lbs!

I've been tracking measurements every day and it's consistently growing 3" in all directions every evening. I'm wondering if there's a way I can boost this to four or five inches. I've been foliar feeding every other day with miracle grow and seaweed powder. I've buried a drip hose in the ground and turn the faucet on very low so it can drink all night (ground is moist in the morning but not flooded). Every few weeks I foliar spray with neem oil on a cool night and that has worked wonders for keeping the bugs away.

The entire plant is about 23' long. I have a second insurance pumpkin at 16' which I started three days ago. There's a third tiny female starting at the tip which might blossom later this week. I terminated the main and the longer vines (no longer than 10'). There are still many male flowers on the plant, maybe a few tiny female flowers as well which I haven't found (this thing is huge!).

Is there anything else I can do?

7/21/2013 8:58:30 AM

Illinois

Sorry, I put this on the wrong board. I've reposted in the new growers forum... please go ahead and delete this thread.

7/21/2013 9:08:42 AM