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Mustang Oklahoma

For several years here in central Oklahoma I have grown pumpkins for the kids around here to carve at holloween. Last year I put in a couple of AG seeds in with the rest of the jackolantern seeds and got 4 pumpkins on one plant 40-50lbs so now I have the bug to grow some larger ones. From what I have studied so far the big ones seem to be in the northern states. I'm looking to buy some quality seeds and was wanting to know if there is a certain seed that would do better in my area. I was also wanting to know if they grow better in the north then they would in the south.

1/16/2014 7:04:26 PM

Concord, CA.

Boowaa,
Don't buy seeds, I'll send you some. Need an email address.
Your problem will be hot weather and keeping them from overheating.

1/16/2014 7:36:58 PM

Mustang Oklahoma

thanks
brazeal@hughes.net

1/16/2014 7:48:58 PM

Austin MN

Boowa ill send you seeds to email me at tanner.n.conway@gmail.com

1/16/2014 9:27:53 PM

Minnesota

Google Howard Dill, he is the guy who really got giant pumpkin growing rolling, and he was from Canada. There are just more growers from up north now, it is working its way to the south, and all over the world.

1/16/2014 10:13:43 PM

Mustang Oklahoma

I can see now that I'm going to learn a lot at this site with the knowledgeable and generous people here. The sun and storms here may be a problem but with the longer season I can start the first week in april and start over up to the third week in july.
I see a lot of work and time here and I have a full time job. I'm thinking maybe only four plants, what do you guys think.

1/17/2014 6:41:04 AM

BC, Canada

boowaa, I'm retired now and I cam barely find the time for two plants. I am always impressed by folks that actually work and have several on the go. Organization I guess. but you pose a good question.
How much time does a plant take?
I could easily spend half an hour a day per.
What do you other growers think?
The other side is a life story for me that took a while to learn, that is everything doesn't have to be perfect if you are enjoying it.
Welcome to the craziness and good luck.

1/17/2014 12:27:01 PM

Polson, Montana

I am also retired and recommend no more than 2 plants to start. I cannot keep up with more than that if I do the vine maintenance that I should. It is a great sport and will make you a better gardner overall.

1/17/2014 1:00:22 PM

Hinckley MN

Pap has posted elsewhere that in June it takes 20-30 minutes per plant per day at the peak of weed control, vine burying, and pesticide sprays. earlier and later in the season takes about half that. I have never put that much time in and the size of my pumpkins suffers for it.

1/17/2014 3:25:43 PM

East Jordan, MI

If you have a full time job, If you grow more plants, you will most likely not be as successful as doing fewer plants because the more you do, the less time per plant you have and the more likely to miss something very important until it is a major issue(at least for me).

1/17/2014 6:21:34 PM

Torrance, Ca.

That's so true Cecil. Working 70 plus hour week, 4 plants and 5 kids just don't work.

You spread yourself way to thin if your trying to grow the biggest possible pumpkin on each plant.

1/17/2014 6:46:51 PM

Mustang Oklahoma

Looks like I need to start with two plants my first year. Late last season I got some powdery mildew on my small pumpkins. In my search on this problem what I'm finding is treating it after the fact. Will spraying a fungicide every two weeks prevent this? What do you guys do?

1/19/2014 9:45:25 AM

East Jordan, MI

If you go to google, and type:
how prevent powdery mildew site:bigpumpkins.com

Google will search the site and you will get 265 results

I'm not going to post them all (I just showed you haw to find them --lol, but here are a few good ones:
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Attachments/Leaf_Problems_Summer_2011.pdf
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/msgboard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=164168
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/attachments/IntroToFungicides.pdf
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/msgboard/ViewThread.asp?b=6&p=314807
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/msgboard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=447589

1/19/2014 6:02:56 PM