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Growth Control

Hello All:

This is my first year attempting to grow a giant pumpkin. I becamed hooked
last year when a friend gave me a seed and I tossed it into a dirt patch,
and to my surprise I got a very large plant and a few big pumpkins (50
pounders) for Halloween. So I've been learning all I can ever since. I am
one of your quiet suscribers. I haven't learned enough to be advising
others
and hate to repeat questions that I've seen the heavy hitters answer
repeatedly.

So far my year is going well. I have 3 excellent plants going along. I have
taken the approach of trying about 70% of the guidelines I have learned
here. And let me tell you it is working. I have reached the 7 day marker
for my first 10 pollinated and their sizes are excellent. I am close to
what I have read you all mentioning... 13-15 inch circumference at 7 days.
I have however reached a BIG problem. To my surprise this morning I
measured pumpkin #6 and it was slimy on the bottom. I peeked underneath to
find it split open, and of course it's measurement of 15.75" is great but I
obviously have a problem.

#6 just sprouted overnight. It was ranked 6th in size two days ago, and
today it took the lead but an blew engine. So I can only assume that I am
too hot with the fertilizer? I have 5 other pumpkins set on this plant and
2 of them are 15" and 14.75" respectively. I do not want to loose them. How
can I help this plant out. We have had hot weather the last 3 days and I
have been watering more than usual but not using any fertilizer (no
fertilizer since 10 July). I've been watering about every 3rd day with 
water soluble fertilizer at half strength.

My questions are:
Am I too hot with the fertilizer, is the weather too hot (90 degrees) and
the pumkin was only shaded by leaves, or is my plant just growing too fast?

Did I go wrong by upping my watering when hot out. I was using approx 35
gallons per plant/day and I am now at 50?

Any help is greatly appreciated. I just hope the bull didn't just run me
over.

Thanks,  Jim
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