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Rockville, Maryland

Hi everyone,

I've been lurking for a while now, and want to share my pumpkin growing experiences. This’ll be my 6th year attempting to grow giant pumpkins on a 100 square foot patch in Maryland. I haven’t had much luck:

2011-Attempted to grow a prizewinner, but it died from Squash Vine Borers a month after pollination. The only
year I’ve even had a pumpkin.

2012-The pumpkins seeds never sprouted.

2013- Finally got Atlantic Giant seeds (981 Companion
2012, 808 Nieuwenhoff 2012, 807 Dill 2012), planted them late to avoid Squash Vine Borers, even pollinated a flower, but a groundhog came and ate all the leaves and the vine tips during the night.

2014-Used the same Atlantic Giant seeds, and tried to protect the plants better, but rabbits snuck in and ate the vine tips and young leaves.

2015-Tried again with the same seeds. Put up even more netting. Once again, wildlife ate the plants before they could even flower.

This year, I’m hoping to expand my patch a tad bit, to 120 square feet, and to spend money getting a tall chicken wire fence to replace the bird netting fence. Every year I’ve amended the clay soil with 10 bags of topsoil. I’m also thinking about getting myself new seeds and other goodies this year, but am jaded by the precedent of the five previous failed seasons. Here’s a picture of my patch: http://imgur.com/bQkGWhW

I plan on starting my seeds when I get home from college in mid-May. My foremost goal is to actually have a pumpkin, preferably over 100 pounds, but if I get anything I’ll be happy. I’d love any advice.
Thanks a lot!

4/28/2016 10:56:12 PM

South Hero, VT

See if you can find a grower nearby to help you this year.

http://greatpumpkincommonwealth.com/MAGPG/contact.html

4/29/2016 7:17:33 PM

Cincinnati,OH

Sounds like you need a lot more effort in pest control, whether it be fencing or extermination.

4/29/2016 7:29:27 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Hi, the MAGPG club seed pack has several seeds from pumpkins over 15 16 and 1700 pound pumpkins in it this year. Also 3 really good orange pumpkin seeds. I grew up in Howard county and I lived in Gaithersburg for a couple of years. That area is tough with critters cause it's so boxed in. Send us an email and I'm sure we can help you out. Midatlanticgpg@gmail.com

4/30/2016 8:53:17 AM

Rockville, Maryland

Email sent.

5/4/2016 7:19:31 PM