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Denver, CO

Hi all!

So, I'm growing a Big Max pumpkin in a 4x8 bed. Not trying to grow the biggest thing out there, just something for the kids to enjoy. Everything was going just fine, one viable pumpkin started growing. Things were looking good.

All of the sudden, the vine itself just stopped growing, at all. Its been like that for several weeks now. I water almost daily (live south of Denver, Colorado. Its gotten dry). I've fertilized with Miracle Grow twice during this same timeframe. I do not really see any obvious disease or bugs. Its just not growing at all. Leaves that were small and had just unfolded prior to this period are exactly the same size, but still green. The plant itself looks fine to my (noob) eyes, just not growing. The pumpkin has either stopped getting bigger or is growing very slowly.

There are pictures of the vine here:

https://i.stack.imgur.com/EwRKi.jpg
https://i.stack.imgur.com/2T3Yb.jpg
https://i.stack.imgur.com/3jtki.jpg
https://i.stack.imgur.com/Igct3.jpg

Thank you for ANY help!
Justin

8/8/2019 3:36:39 PM

Germany

In my opinion it was a combination of lack of nitrogen at the early stages of plant development and a fruit which is now drawing all the power out of the plant.

8/8/2019 4:39:24 PM

Denver, CO

Thank for the reply Pumpking! Is there any way to save it if your thoughts were the cause?

8/8/2019 4:56:00 PM

Grittyville, WA

If the pumpkin is drawing all the energy consider that normal and difficult to change. The drying of the root zone can trigger the plant growth to shut down. You could water and fertilize lightly. Competitive growers add potassium and maybe phosphorous but they are generally just looking for pumpkin growth at this point. Some growers add nitrogen also but it can cause issues if dumped on to heavy . . .

8/9/2019 9:43:29 AM

Grittyville, WA

(Too heavily...)
It takes a lot of healthy roots and balanced soil and careful watering to push vines like the pros and not have the plants stop:)

8/9/2019 9:50:19 AM

Denver, CO

Thanks Glenoma, appreciate it!

8/9/2019 11:56:56 PM

Germany

Sorry, at this stage I can´t see anything that you can do to make your plant grow stronger (you would have to make the plant shift back from fruit growth toward vine growth, and that wouldn´t make too much sense). The best thing to do is to make the plant live the last couple of weeks of its life in a comfortable way, do the best things to keep it alive (decent watering but not excessive...look what the plant is asking for and if soil is dry, soil should be slightly damp, not wet; some mild additions of fertilizer with N and K, don´t add too much fertilizer because that wouldn´t help) and try to learn from this year´s experience and make a plan for next year (addition of some more compost to the bed, perhaps more room for the root zone, perhaps earlier starting date in order to have some more weeks for plant development, addition of some N-P-K fertilizer to the watering in June/July...depending on vine growth and what the leaves look like, deliberate pollination as soon as the plant is large enough etc.).

8/12/2019 7:01:18 AM

Denver, CO

Thanks again Pumpkin! Interestingly enough, the vine has started growing again. It does look like the pumpkin is done growing or growing extremely slowly. Maybe thats why the vine is at it again.

As you said, I'm treating this as a learning experience. I appreciate all the help!

8/13/2019 3:57:57 PM