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Canada

Whos all growing them? mine are currently 9 ft tall and growing about 3-4" per day, I currently have them tied up on 12 ft posts but by end of week i will need to attach another 6 ft as they are growing really fast. lots of flowers but NO fruit yet, My fathers 4 plants are around 14 ft tall ( he gets more sun then I do ) with lots of flowers but NO fruit and his are growing like crazy are these plants a late season harvest plant . like do they grow like crazy all year then set fruit later on?

hows everyone elses doing?

Dave

7/3/2005 12:11:10 AM

Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, Germany

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=12&p=118242

Wow, 14ft tall this early in the season!?! They might easily end up at 25ft.!

Right now mine are 9ft tall and also growing about 3" per day. I also have lots of flowers (three trusses per plant so far) and the first fruits are set.
Maybe you want to shake your plants (or only the flower trusses) a little every day. This helps with pollination.
I never have problems with fruit set even without shaking and I am sure you also won't have problems.
The fruits are egg shaped, stay quite thin but get longer.
Last year we had lots of rain and cold temperatures. I just checked my records from last year and at the same time the plants were only 6ft tall and they still got to 18ft.

Also, the top leaves on the plants will always look like they are somewhat wilted. But this is normal and is not a sign of water deficiency!
You should also keep a close eye on pruning out the side shots as they take away lots of energy. Sometimes the plant also splits its main stalk into two identically strong stalks in a Y like shape. One of the two stalks should then be terminated.

Good luck to all!

Martin

7/3/2005 4:33:37 AM

Follansbee, Wv

Mine are at the 7 foot mark. They have lots of fruit on but some are showing signs of blossom end rot. I don't think the pH is low, so it must be the Blood Meal I gave them at transplanting. A little too much nitrogen ... and I should know better :)
I am way behind in pruning them, or they would probably be much taller. Maybe this year I will go for fruit volume and next year go for height. My neighbors are already marveling at them, and now understand why I built the weird frame ;)

7/3/2005 9:02:14 AM

Massillon, Ohio

mine have fruit but not nearly as tall !!!!

7/3/2005 11:50:18 AM

Canada

ya my father always thought the plants were dieing as
the top leafs were always upside down and kinda wilted
but so far they just keep growing,i'll get some pictures up later this week

Dave

7/3/2005 1:00:17 PM

Cincinnati,OH

Mine is at 6' while the rest of my tomatoes are at 4 1/2 feet.

7/5/2005 12:13:55 PM

Massillon, Ohio

martin, i'm glad you commented on the wilty leaves...i was pouring the water a few weeks ago thinking it was too dry !!

7/5/2005 2:00:44 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

The wilty leaves were throwing me for a loop also..lol

7/5/2005 10:57:24 PM

Follansbee, Wv

I asked Martin about the wilty leaves in chat a few weeks ago. Until then I was also drowning the poor things. By the way, 8' tall now.

7/6/2005 8:06:45 AM

Ohio

I Thought my sky rocket plant was a gonner 5 or 6 times only because I would forget about the plant and not water it for a week or so,its in a spot in my yard that is easy to forget about, but your right they keep on growing.My plant has fruit on it aswell at about 10 feet but really its only standing 5 feet because I run the main vine up and down the stake once.

Brooks

7/25/2005 6:11:11 PM