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Vermont Green MTN State

Howdy all!
How high up do long gourds usually grow? And when do they start having gourds?
Thanks
Doeski

6/7/2005 3:25:59 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Hmmm I would say about normal growth 15 feet... April grows them up a tree and they reach the top of the 30 foot elm. They normally don't start gourds until late july - early august. They are pollinated at night by moths.

6/7/2005 4:18:59 PM

Montoursville, PA

Vermont........let's see now...maybe 12 to 15 ft. up and another twenty out over an old apple tree. They start having gourds when they are ready and produce thirty to over a hundred inches of gourd.

If you are making a tower for them make it very sturdy. because they need an arm or trellis type arrangement to gow up on and out over on.

From the time they start to crawl up they need about sixty days to produce. If possible permit only a single vine for the up grow to the trellis arms or bottom of the apple tree.
Then let it have flowers and produce the gourds. Take off all but two or three of the best ones after you have a foot or two of gourd. By this time you can pretty well tell which ones want to do it just by looking.

I did my first last year and got an 86" one while a friend of ours had tried for many years on the old apple tree. Last year was his year....106" for a new Pa. State Record and one of the longest ever grown. He grew them up a support onto an old dead apple tree. I grew on a live tree and had some competition for the leaves.

We both foliar fed once a week with our own witches brew not much different than we grew our pumpkins. So fish, kelp and molasses certainly were in the brew. We both used some of the AGRO- K pumpkin program foliars. We both had aboutthe same amount of milldew problems.

This year, off the record, I am going to use Llima Bean Tea and whoop his butt.

6/7/2005 4:24:25 PM

New Hampshire

Lima Bean Tea?????? OK Doc tell me about this brew

6/7/2005 10:19:52 PM

Butler, Ohio

Yes, we're all ears, what is Lima bean tea?

6/8/2005 5:39:42 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

LLAMA BEANS come on you guys what would Lima Beans Give you...LOL

6/8/2005 9:24:55 AM

Butler, Ohio

we're not sure, but I think Doc's either got something up his sleve, or he's pulling our leg...lol :)

6/8/2005 4:54:13 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Have you guys ever seen Llama manure it is like giant rabbit turds.

6/8/2005 7:04:39 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Grant McGregors fruit was a world record 114.5" long. Do the math and add 50% should be about 13.75 feet of vine.

6/8/2005 7:22:30 PM

Montoursville, PA

Give me one or two more days, to play. Indeed Llama Beans. My first batch was a wizzing success. Want to repeat a couple, of batches, before I run off at the mouth. :))))

6/8/2005 7:38:18 PM

Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, Germany

114.75", Russ! LOL

6/9/2005 10:04:21 AM

Vermont Green MTN State

Thanks Guys!

6/9/2005 12:07:23 PM