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In your diary you say that the plant is key.
How big is your plant at 85% and how many days from popping the first true leaf is that?
When you get the plant growing that fast, how much length is there between leaves?
Do you let the whole side continue growing or just one or two side vines?
How many side vines do you have before pumpkin?
Do you terminate the main vine after pumpkin?

2/21/2020 3:03:26 PM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

So here are the answers per 2019 season
I started the seeds on the 26th of April went into the greenhouse end of first week of May. The plot for the plant was just over 500 sq ft. and I pollinated first week of July
I only let 1 side vines grow out everything else was terminated including the main which was terminated at 28 ft 3 days after pollination I had 12 sides on one side and 13 on the other with 2 after the pumpkin. Side vines were 10 feet on each side
My leaves where anywhere from 10 to 14 inches apart with a couple at 18 in the middle. My average growth was a foot for sides and main after they got rolling, Not much happened for the first couple weeks as the plant is pushing its roots down and not much in vine production. so a leaf a day. The temperature of my soil was 72 degrees when the plant went in and soil temp peaked at 76 right around pollination. after that I cut the heat to the roots, then turned it back on the 3rd week in August and maintained 72 to 74 degrees right to the end

2/22/2020 11:43:40 AM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

I kept the temperature at 68 degrees for the night right through from start to finish. My humidity was at 60 percent most nights

2/22/2020 11:45:46 AM

Grittyville, WA

Eddy great start to your diary. I think you said your pumpkin gained 10-12 inches ott avg? Do you keep any daily records if so I am curious what your largest daily gain in ott was, more specifically the largest single day circumference gain. I know you may measture weekly, but maybe it doesnt hurt to ask.Thanks!

2/22/2020 1:01:09 PM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

Actually I measured once a week for records But SOME days I would open the doors and I could see the gain, I'd measure, smile, fist pump, let out a HELL Ya and leave smiling. Best I had was 14 inches at day 24 BUT that's unofficial lol

2/22/2020 1:47:36 PM

So optimal air and soil temperature is a big part of what you have been doing?
Less than 600 sq ft is needed if everything else is optimal or close to it?

2/22/2020 2:47:21 PM

Thanks for answering.

2/22/2020 2:47:46 PM

Grittyville, WA

Wow. Nice stats thx.

2/22/2020 6:25:52 PM

Central NY

omg 14inches....awesome...

2/22/2020 6:39:22 PM

Grittyville, WA

Pork... Give tomatoes a break this year and let's see some Ice vs Chop 2020 WR Pumpkin Attempt Mania? Meanwhile down in land of the underdogs I grew the world's largest jack-be-little... I know that definitely puts me right up there with you guys!

2/22/2020 8:48:33 PM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

I played with soil temps right up to 80 degrees, didn't work so well.
The thing is, there is no silver bullet as I've said before. Co2 is useless on its own, BUT if you have the other 11 pistons firing then co2 takes away the miss fire and you run smooth.

2/23/2020 12:26:01 AM

As I watch some of the growers honing in on what is optimal for different parts of growing these things and the jumps in the weights that have been achieved already, maybe people should not be surprised at if there is a 3000 and maybe 3500 weighed in the next few years.
Look at what icemans' beast taped at last year.
What do you think people. pipe dream or not?

2/23/2020 6:33:46 AM

Colorado

Very interesting Eddy.

2/23/2020 10:21:02 AM

Georgia

Thanks for sharing specifics Eddy.

2/23/2020 12:43:29 PM

Anchorage Alaska

Nice , thanks always good to here, another northern growers experience

2/23/2020 9:07:53 PM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

Further to the story, I guess I shouldn't call it that but anyway
Yes my side vines were 10 ft I had a 20 ft wide greenhouse.
Yes I pollinated in July, on purpose. Why?? plant size trumps pollination date.
If you pollinate at 12 ft with 12 ft side vines in a Christmas tree pattern, you have 144 sq ft of plant. At the
end of the season your at 900 sq ft . Average that out to before and after pollination and you at 522 sq ft. ( ok this is my math)
When your plant is full at pollination, everything goes to the fruit, AND the fruit is the most elastic when its young so you can push the gains and when your doing 10 plus inches a day you have a better chance of it holding together down the road.
Honestly as much as I would like to think this is my idea, Its not, I need to give a shout out to the 150 sq ft contest.(Bart) Every grower will attest to crazy growth for a small plant. You pollinate at 150 sq ft so full plant. All I did was increase the footage. It works
I grew just short of 1000 on 150 sq ft. I talked to Ron W and his number were where I hoped to have them. Hope some 150 growers chime in

2/25/2020 9:43:36 PM

Torrance, Ca.

See you in a couple days and Daletas and I are going to buy you so many beers you spill the whole truth and nothing but the truth! lol

2/25/2020 10:53:16 PM

Team Canuckle Heads

150 sq ft plot

7 ft x 15 foot 11 inch rectangle with a 3.5 foot radius on both ends
4 ft x 6 ft pattern heating cable
heated the ground to 70 degrees F
Pumpkin planted 3 ft from end
I ran the first 8 side vines forward next 8 side vines backward going around both the radius and under where the pumpkin is going to grow 2 layers deep
I removed any small weak vines
Set pumpkin after a minimum of 16 side vines on the main
Terminate all growth in front of pumpkin but the main vine after pumpkin is set and then the main once I had a keeper
Buried all the side vines with a mixture of topsoil and well aged compost 50--50 with myko and kelp meal mixed in
Water and fertilize as if it is the same size plot as 750 sq ft
I did one leaf tissue test after the pumpkin was set and added what was needed by drench and foliar
I used both organic and water soluable triple 20
I hope this helps good luck this year
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2/26/2020 11:32:28 AM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

Thanks John that helps back up my theory. PLUS these plants will take only what they need so feed feed feed

2/26/2020 1:04:28 PM

Midway, UT

Eddy was super kind to let me ask him a bunch of questions on how he grows while at his place a little over a year ago after he grew the 2255. He is one of those growers that will tell you everything he knows to help you grow big. You can find the audio file for that conversation here: http://www.giantpumpkinman.com/2019/01/interview-with-2255-pound-pumpkin-grower.html

2/26/2020 1:57:45 PM

Central NY

Gold

2/26/2020 5:27:43 PM