Re: Slow Pumpkin Growth

Stephen,
Get some liquid lime at a local garden center or Landscape supply house. It's used for hydroseeding and you will mix it 7.5 oz. per 1000 sq ft. This will get your ph up in a hurray.
Also just be patient on that Cox1048 and Brown1007 plant. Mine started out slow but soon kicked in. I've only got one pumpkin per plant now. Brown is about 150lbs... Be patient, Jim - NHGPGA


From: Stephen Smith <unclecb@ureach.com>
Reply-To: pumpkins@hort.net
To: pumpkins@hort.net
Subject: Slow Pumpkin Growth
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2003 03:31:24 -0400

Hi List,

I currently have three good sets on two vines (1048Cox x
1007Brown cross) that are about 950 sq ft. in total area.  I
have attempted to get rid of most of the male flowers the past
couple of days based on information in an archived post.  I have
started pinching the tips on the secondaries and burying them.
I may let the mains continue to grow but pinch off any new
secondaries.  I may also stop the main growth at some point.
Undecided on this.

My pumpkins look good but the growth is reasonably slow (11
inches at 10 days). Of the ones I have culled, the pumpkins are
solid with no soft spots and nice long stems.

My patch conditions are as follows:

No soil test but I have an idea that the ph level is low (have a
soil meter that may or may not be accurate).  The meter says the
ph level is around 6.0.  I would like to get a soil test done if
anyone knows of a place where the test can be done fairly
quickly.

My hi temps have averaged 87-92, lows 69-72, the last two weeks.
 The weather forecast is about the same for the coming week
though we may get a few more showers and be in the upper 80's
for hi's--lows about the same.  We have had a rather rainy
summer but the rain has dropped off.  I water overhead only to
cool the plants around mid day.  I drip irrigate with soaker
hoses about once every other day.  I have to use cooler water
but I try to do this around 9 each AM after the sun is on the
patch to keep from cooling off the ground too much.  The plants
seem to respond well as I have had little wilting.

My soil is not compacted and the root growth appears to be very
good.  I am using Neptune's Harvest Fish Fertilizer once per
week.  Not using any other fertilizer other than a 13-13-13 that
I put out at the first of the season.

My leaves are good color.  Pest damage is minimal.  Mainly
squash bugs but they seem under control.  I am using Sevin about
once per week to keep the squash nymphs and the cuke beetles in
check.

Any observations or suggestions to bump up the growth rate would
be appreciated.  I am considering increasing the Neptune's
harvest to more than once per week.  Increasing the soil ph is
also being considered.  I am also wondering about the soil
potassium levels.

Thanks!

Steve Smith
Harrison, TN

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