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Osseo, MN

I am a brand new grower for the first time. I got a plant from a co-worker and hope to get the best out of it I can as a complete novice. My co-worker should be available to mentor me some, but I also am looking to get advice here. I need things in layman's terms also. If I sound dumb about growing a giant pumpkin, it's because I am. First things I'm looking for:

Transplanted two weeks ago and am sending soil sample for analysis this weekend. What should I be doing in the meantime? What preventive pest control and fertilizer is safe to use this early? how much? How often should I water? When should I add worms and what kinds?

These are a few basic questions I have so far. I am not able to talk as much as I want with co worker since y'know... we're working. Thanks in advance for any and all advice.

6/6/2018 10:45:21 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

One of the first things to consider is to don't over do anything. There is always the temptation to over fertilize and water. Until you get your soil test, it wouldn't hurt to use just a little Miracle Gro or similar fertilizer once a week. A good rule of thumb for water is 1 inch per week rain and added water combined. You could start applying a systemic soil applied insecticide any time now. While your plants are small, sprinkle on garlic powder, not garlic salt, as an insect repellent. Scout for bugs and spray contact insecticides if you find them. And read the message boards and grower diaries to see what others are doing.

6/6/2018 11:25:54 PM

Dillonvale, Ohio

2 good chemicals to have are Seven (liquid) and Daconil. IF you spray them now, use half strength, and only spray them now if you have to. I haven't used Daconil yet and my plants are pretty good size

6/7/2018 8:09:17 AM

Dillonvale, Ohio

Something else to do is get multiple sprayers. 1 for insecticide/ fungicide, 1 for fertilizer, and 1 for herbicide. Label them! Walmart sells a 1 gallon sprayer for $5.

6/7/2018 8:16:23 AM

Central NY

When should you add worms?...did Qtip tell you to ask that?...wind protection is a must...we also always keep the growing tip of the vine protected until the plant starts to take off...even then we always keep a chair over the main vine tip and move it while the plant grows...welcome to the site and good luck!!...the last new guy from Mn grew a state record ...you live in the right place

6/7/2018 12:14:05 PM

central Nc

"When should you add worms?...did Qtip tell you to ask that?" For some reason I can't stop laughing at this.

From my vast 2 months of experience, I would add cover the stump. A WET May taught me the hard way.

6/7/2018 12:52:50 PM

Osseo, MN

Thanks so much for the advice! I found out that I need to cut back a little on the watering and plan out my growth route. I will probably need to expand my patch as well. I'm not going for a state record my first year, but I hope to be the envy of Halloween pumpkins for miles. I did grow up in the "Halloween Capitol of the World" after all. Also, I'm not sure who he Qtip is you speak of, but I have a feeling I will find out. My co-worker mentioned adding worms, I dunno... Maybe I work with Qtip. XD

6/7/2018 6:15:17 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

I think I know who this is...I don't remember mentioning worms. Todd, you will do fine. You have found the best place for information on the net. Qtip is a regular here...He is Chris Qualley and his first year out, grew the mn record. He did have the previous world record holder as his mentor though. Another of the company pumpkin growers lives just down the road from him. I will let you know who she is. We have someone to spy on the competition.

Your biggest issue right now is space. You told me you only are working with 100 sq ft right now..hopefully over the weekend you will be able to figure out a direction you can expand. If not..it is going to be a season of creative vine management. Keep asking your questions here. The pumpkin growers on this site are usually very good about helping those just starting out. See you monday.

6/7/2018 7:46:14 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

Also, on monday i will bring in some merit75wp. This is a systemic pesticide. Soon the SVB's, squash vine borers, will be arriving. Time to prepare for them. I will also bring in some Eagle 20 EW. This is a systemic fungicide. Weather, Insects and Disease take many growers down to zero pounds. Before you can grow big...you need to be able to get one to finish line. It is hard to give you much info in a 3 minute conversation. Keep on this site and pick the brains here. Good bunch of friends here.

6/7/2018 7:56:23 PM

Central NY

Ooohhhh...you work w bnot..??..,yea...he had us all using milk last year ...better watch that guy...lol...wuurrms...jeezuz bob...

6/7/2018 9:37:34 PM

Colorado

Get ahold of bill foss or qtip theyre in your area. Nothing like seeing plants and set ups in person-it will save you lots of mistakes.

6/8/2018 12:55:51 AM

Oak Grove, Mn

I swear I am innocent on the worms...unless biologicals was understood to be worms. What I talk about biologicals it is in reference to microbiologicals such as mycorrhyizae fungi.

Qtip is the one you really have to look out for, he will have you burying your vines with Dinty Moore canned soup and watering with gatorade.

6/8/2018 6:47:49 AM

Upa Creek, Mo

I heard SoCal grower on here deposits worms weekly through some advanced porous drip tape that can only be bought at a store in San Dimas. Jk. You can add worms in the offseason along with compost to really get the soil going. But, I bet you are thinking of fungi for now.

6/8/2018 7:41:50 AM

Mn

Welcome Sawjaw - the 3 most important things about growing giant pumpkins 1) add 2 gallon of worms per week. Worm freshness is key. 2) Dinty Moore stew, don't ask questions just trust me. 3) Come visit my patch. I would say 3 is probably the most important and you should hold off on 1 & 2 until you swing out. You will learn more in a hour or two at my patch than you will in several days/weeks on the internet. I am in Otsego. send me an email if you're interested - we can talk about how weird bob is too :) chris.qualley@yahoo.com

6/8/2018 8:53:26 AM

Torrance, Ca.

That's how we do it Q!


Good man!

6/8/2018 9:37:10 AM

Osseo, MN

Lol. This is great! I just bought 2 cases of Dinty Moore from the local grocer! Thanks Qtip!! Lol.

I think I misheard you about the worms Bob. My bad. There a lot of noise going on at work.

I asked my gf if we could expand and she did not seem excited about it... Wish I had my own yard. It's okay though. I'll make do.

I have some ants and weeds to sort out already. Not worried yet though. Thanks for the help so far everyone. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day for me. I'll keep you all posted. Another co-worker we work with that took one of bnot's plants already killed it, so as far as I'm concerned I'm winning. Lol.

6/8/2018 9:52:27 PM

Osseo, MN

Another question. When I submit my soil sample. Should it be the agricultural soil test or the AG pumpkin soil test?

6/8/2018 10:07:20 PM

Arizona

Go with the pumpkin test. Keep the soup on hand to eat when till up more area and are living in your patch. If it all works out and you don't eat the soup you can trade it for stuff on here in the winter. Good Luck!

6/9/2018 12:20:18 AM

Osseo, MN

So, here's the update. I have talked with bnot some more at work. I have not sprayed for insects or diseases yet, Following his lead on that. I have done some weeding and put up temporary wind protection for last nights storm. I will be adding more permanent wind protection this Friday and will begin repellants and fertilizing. I am dropping soil test in the mail tomorrow, so I won't know what nutrients to add to the soil yet for a bit. Hopefully my soil is decent already.

Figured out the worm conundrum. As bnot stated, it was microbiologicals, to include earthworm castings, so I'm not totally crazy.

My biggest handicap is that I live 45 minutes away from my pumpkin patch and cannot be there everyday. I still think it will be a good effort for first year. The goal with 100 ft2 and a late start is 200 lbs.

P.S. My plant's name is Elvis.

6/12/2018 7:41:16 PM

Osseo, MN

Quick question About my soil. I did not end up getting the soil sample in because I had too much else going on and spent all my money on other pumpkin stuff and bills. Elvis is growing nicely, but I am just wondering if there is a basic element I need for a soil that is hard and clay-like when it dries. Without an official soil analysis I'm unsure what can help. Any advice?

7/2/2018 11:50:23 PM

Osseo, MN

I'm out of worms and sick of stew... Now what??? XD

7/17/2018 10:25:28 PM

Central NY

Add a bunch of compost in the fall...4”... till it in really well...that’ll get ya headed in the right direction....

7/17/2018 10:54:15 PM

Syracuse, NY

more-frequent, deeper waterings---then, it won't be hard and clay-like (unLESS it dries); perhaps look into all that above about worms---i don't know of anything to be done that can presently loosen-up your soil and i have never bought or used them, but, if they can get into the soil and do their thing? probably worth a try, if you don't OVER-water them--eg

7/18/2018 2:09:19 PM

Central NY

...Too much water in clay soil will make Elvis leave the building...just sayin

7/18/2018 3:59:54 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

I know Todd has asked me about clay but I am somewhat clueless on this. I grow in about pure sand. I had remembered about adding compost..a bit too late at this point. Hoping he posts a picture of his 2 day old set. I think 200 pounds is definitely possible in 100 sq feet with a mid July set. What do you think? I suspect someone new has become addicted to this hobby.

7/18/2018 6:56:50 PM

Syracuse, NY

okay, thanks, 'chop--eg

7/18/2018 10:23:14 PM

Syracuse, NY

then again, your soil looks fine (i dunno crap about soil, but i have eyes) and your plant looks great! seems kinda 'dark and sandy' to me by what you've buried any vines with, and ANY soil, when it's dry, will seem to have BEEN impossible to grow in when it was moist, from OUR perspective. personally, i think all is well---eg

7/18/2018 10:40:57 PM

Osseo, MN

I have recently been mixing the hard topsoil with a potting soil 50/50 with burying nodes. The soil actually looks rich when damp and loosens fairly easily, but when it's been dry for a couple of days its almost like concrete. Googled this condition and it recommends lots of gypsum for clay soil, but without a soil test its impossible to know how much. Also, since most of my plant is in the ground already. I'm going to just let it ride.

7/18/2018 10:59:47 PM

Plymouth, MN

I'm not far from you and my soil was about 4 inches of decent loam over clay. I'd beef trying to improve the garden the past few years with a bag of compost or peat moss here or there. This spring I went all in and added 2 yards of composted horse manure and the quality of the soil is dramatically improved. Better drainage and water retention, easier to work, etc. There's not much opportunity for big changes this year, but plan for next.

7/18/2018 11:35:31 PM

Syracuse, NY

yeah, what he said, and also, when it comes to a soil TEST, i'm not sure that once you know what to add to the soil to loosen it up or improve its tilth that that will be the same as what is needed to meet with recommendations for growing pumpkins, per the Nitrogen/Phosphorus/Potassium and micronutrients and such---so, even if you had the best soil in the world for TEXTURE, you may still have to add amendments otherwise, that might NOT improve the texture, but will improve fertility. kinda like volts X amps, HP versus torque, and others. i know this seems about as necessary as being given an Owner's Manual for a PENCIL, but at face value, it may help you or anyone reading it down the road, lol---yes, a soil test will tell you the fertility of it, and of course, that'll be beneficial, as i hope our answers and suggestions are---eg---well, i read my reply and yours again and seems we're on the same page, lol, screen maybe---one thing i DO know is: try not to use relatively new horse manure, especially with a lot of straw in it (i know most growers are like "Pffft...as if?!") but when it's all you can get for free, well, i paid very little for it and got all i wanted, along with some 1-2-years-old stuff; i, also, wanted to merely get something into the soil to loosen, improve and add OM to it, but the straw and newer manure REALLY fluff up the soil to where i had to till it about 3 times and about 2 weeks later, just before planting, once more, in several select patches. contrary to popular belief, i have had FEWER weeds in this soil than in my other patches, and after a once-over with Roundup equivalent? even my 'last-chance' plants are growing right along in it---good luck!---eg

7/19/2018 3:39:54 AM

Osseo, MN

Next year I'll be able to amend the soil quite a bit. I will get it prepped asap for maximum results. I would assume that the soil test will reveal some things that contribute, but I also want to test my water too. I'm not sure how much that plays in to how the soil reacts, but I'm sure it does to some extent.

Also, I'm putting up pictures of a couple leaves near the base of the vine. there's a little burn or scarring on a few leaves. I'm not alarmed really and have been pretty consistent with fungicide and pesticide, just curious if these things can be identified.

7/19/2018 9:48:05 PM

Kentucky, U.S.A.

I was fortunate to have need of a trac-hoe this spring, so I made use even though it was a bit muddy and dug as deep as I had time to in the main area of where the plants would go. I removed a bunch of large rocks and let it sit till I could work it with the tiller. I have the best stand of four plants I have ever had.

7/28/2018 10:20:16 PM

Osseo, MN

I bought a soil pH test meter yesterday... Am I official now? XD

8/3/2018 9:36:38 AM

Central NY

lol ...you are!!!

8/3/2018 11:21:23 AM

Grittyville, WA

Looks like sunburn to me with some of the usual necrosis. I hope you have pumpkin insurance to pay for her doctor visits... we’ll see if any real pumpkin doctors are on call— I’m still in med. school...
I have only one plant doing that I thought it was from excessive heat and sun on the leaf maybe it’s a nutritional issue... normally they can withstand intense sun.

8/4/2018 5:11:28 PM

Osseo, MN

As long as it's not a fungal issue, I'm less worried. I have it a healthy dose of ferts yesterday and or rained quite a bit. I think water is more of an issue that nutrients, so i will adjust. Thanks.

8/4/2018 6:28:24 PM

Grittyville, WA

I have two plants with sunburn issues now... Not really sure its just sunburn i think its nutritional also. Email me if you want to compare test results... We could figure it out. I could use the same place you use or western labs... either way i would like to compare notes with you and get some real info on that leaf issue

8/6/2018 2:53:34 PM

Osseo, MN

You want to both send a tissue sample? I was under the impression that tissue samples came from multiple leaves and this is only happening on two of mine. I do know that it has responded well to the fertilizer application and the rain. Soil is still damp even and the pumpkin is starting to grow at an increased rate. I'm willing to bet that it was reacting to lack of nitrogen and then the sun burned the weak spots. The parts that did not burn are turning greener and the entire plant has perked up. I will still email you too coordinate a plan on testing. :)

8/7/2018 11:50:14 PM