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Maine

My pumpkins have been in the garden for a a few weeks and are still alive but don't seem to be vining out. The are growing slowly and adding leaves and buds but the plants appear clustered..almost as if they were still potted...they probably only have about 6 leaves per plant... any advice?

6/21/2015 1:17:48 PM

East Jordan, MI

Is it more than one plant?
How many is a "few weeks"?
How warm is the soil?
How much are you watering?
How wet is the soil?
Did you put down a lot of unfinished OM?
Have you added any Nitrogen?
Did you by any chance plant peat pot and all?

6/21/2015 3:03:19 PM

Maine

thanks for the reply. Its all 4 of my plants... I didn't plant peat pot and all but I didn't shake up the roots when I transplanted as much as maybe I should have? I planted them around June 1st and our weather in Maine has been on the cooler/dryer side. I'm am watering with a drip line for a couple hours daily. I put down a load of manure o the patch last fall and turned it in this spring... I haven't added nitrogen or tested the soil. This is my fourth year growing giant pumpkins...so still a novice with much to learn! I'd welcome any of your thoughts/advice....

6/21/2015 6:20:55 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

You don't want to shake up the roots. You want as little root disturbance as possible. I punch a whole bunch of holes in the bottom half lower half of peat pots before filling. I have all kinds of roots coming out at planting time. You have to keep the peat pots soaked, and peel off the top part until you get to where roots are coming out. At three weeks after planting, they are just getting ready for a growth spurt. It takes time to establish the root system. Cool weather slows them down. I started using hoop houses a few years ago and they give the plants a quicker start by warming the soil. I try to set them up 3 weeks before planting. You can get the plants going faster with a little nitrogen. Some growers use blood meal. I use one scoop of Miracle Gro tomato food in 2 gallons of water per week for 3 weeks.

6/21/2015 7:55:48 PM

East Jordan, MI

if soil is cold, they will take a while to get started. when it warms up they will start doing better.

a couple of hours daily with drip seems excessive for small plant, you should only need a gallon or two every two days unless your soil is super sandy. They don't need to be wet, just damp and water out away from the plant too, so the roots have to reach out to get the water.

If the manure didn't decompose before you turned it in this spring your N make be locked up breaking it down. When it warms up this will remedy itself over time.

I agree with Iowegian, you want as little root disturbance as possible upon transplant and around the 3 week mark they should start picking up and coming out of their funk.

6/21/2015 9:08:50 PM

Maine

Thank you so much iowegian and cntryboy for all the info. We are just about at the 3 week since transplant point... so perhaps I also need to be patient a little longer. I think I will add in some blood meal and see if it helps!

6/22/2015 3:40:01 PM

Bethlehem CT

Suebber, I agree, just give it some time. That plant will take off when the weather warms up, then you will have your hands full burying and training it. I would rather a grower leave his young plant a little on the dry side, (a couple hours a day seems like too much water.)

6/23/2015 6:54:27 AM

Central Minnesota

Plants don't need much water, pumpkins do. Get that soil dried out and you will be fine.

6/23/2015 9:31:45 AM