RE: virgin pumpkin grower

The best part about talking to your pumpkins is that it helps them put on
weight and get BIG and round. Talking to your wife has different results.
Both are benificial. I enjoy hearing from everyone. Good weather and luck to
you all. 


Steve Haberman
Insurance Management
959 E 4th St.
Marion, IN 45952
Cell: (574) 551-5601
Email: shaberman@insmgt.com
Fax: (765) 664-0761

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pumpkins@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On Behalf Of
Scott G. Manke
Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 4:42 PM
To: pumpkins@hort.net
Subject: RE: virgin pumpkin grower

My wife offered to tend to my pumpkins while I was gone for the weekend,
then she declined and looked at me funny when I told her that you can't just
water them, you have to talk to them too.  Glad to hear that I am not the
only one.

As far as Pumpkin to soil contact, avoiding it will help you avoid rot or
disease and also pests.  I have mine placed on a piece of pink Styrofoam.  I
have heard of folks making it a day at the beach for their prized fruit by
setting them up with a bed of sand to help drain away excess moisture.

Pinching and training vines is something difficult at first, but truly in a
few days you will see the benefits to limiting the length and number of
secondary vines.  My main feeder doesn't get much more than
4-6 feet from the fruit before I pinch it off.   I have read much on the
benefits of burying the vines, but I am also guilty of letting that detail
slide.  I need to get out to my patch so I can build a blind and bury the
rest of my vines!

Chris, have you taken any measurements using the OTT method yet on your
pumpkins?  Tracking these measurements should help you to determine which
pumpkin has greater potential.
(http://www.backyardgardener.com/weight.html)

I too am a first year grower of Giants, third year growing pumpkins at all.
I seem to learn something new at every turn, this is great.

Good luck to you all!

Scott


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pumpkins@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On Behalf Of
Steve Haberman
Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 3:19 PM
To: pumpkins@hort.net
Subject: RE: virgin pumpkin grower

I would pinch my vines to allow for fruit growth. Bury them in soil to
prevent loss of moisture. As for the choice of pumpkins.....Have you ever
played poker? Watch them grow for another week or so and then choose. If you
are careful you can manipulate the vine at 90 degrees on the large fruit,
even if it is a little bit each day. Try covering the friut with a canopy of
burlap or white plastic so your fruit is not hit by direct sun. It
helps....trust me. Good luck! I talk to mine a lot it also helps. Your wife
may think you are insane but I think everything deserves a bit of praise now
and then.


Steve Haberman
Insurance Management
959 E 4th St.
Marion, IN 45952
Cell: (574) 551-5601
Email: shaberman@insmgt.com
Fax: (765) 664-0761

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pumpkins@hort.net [o*@hort.net] On Behalf Of
dave oldfield
Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 2:58 PM
To: pumpkins@hort.net
Subject: virgin pumpkin grower

Hello

  I wondered if I could ask for your advice. I am e-mailing from Cheshire in
England using my husbands e-mail account. I am a virgin pumpkin growier in
need of help.

  I am in a competition for pumpkin growing the final date is the 17th
October 2008. Each competitor was given a seed to grow and cultivate.
Well I planted my seed and started it in the greenhouse (its cold over
here) but the plant soon grew too big, so I moved it carefully outside.
A vine sprouted and shot off down the garden and is now about 12 foot long/
It had
3 pumpkins on it, but one aborted.

  I now have two, one is bigger than the other but the stem is short and not
at a good angle the other is smaller but at 90  degrees. Should I keep the
biggest? Also should I put something under the pumpkins or just let them sit
on the soil? Finally what do I do with the vines, I now have two, and they
grow feet everyday, should I chop them off or cover in soil.

  Help!!!

  yours a complete - know nothing pumpking grower (but loving it!!)

  Chris Oldfield
  Chester
  Cheshire
  England


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