First year with actual fruit!


I must admit, I am a novice with no delusions of a giant pumpkin.  I will be happy if an average pumpkin grows THIS year!
 
For the past 2 years our family has thrown it's rotted Halloween pumpkins behind the garage.  A vine always grew, but never flowered.  This year (Fall '98) a store bought pumpkin disintegrated next to the house in a pile of mulch.  When a vine grew in the spring we decided to water it. 
 
Now in Aug. '99 and we actually have 4 pumpkins on the vine! The smallest pumpkin is the size of a marble and the largest is currently the size of a full grown canteloupe.  We Have The Fever!  We want these pumpkins to grow!
 
I am concerned about insects because the leaves closest to the disintegration site (I'm assuming the plant rooted there) are yellow and eaten up.  I am also concerned about moving the plant because it keeps creeping into the driveway and I'm afraid I am crunching too many vines when I push it back.
 
What totally basic things should I be doing to ensure the healthy growth of our pumpkins?  I'd hate for our "Big Boy" to become bigger than a basketball only to be knawed at by bugs.
 
I read some articles at the web site and much of it is over my head.  This talk of pollination and so forth...  We've just been tossing rotten pumpkins!  But something has worked this season and I would like to be educated so I can keep the pumpking going for posterity!
 
Thank You,
Kelley Connell


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