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San Diego

I'm about 42 days post-fertilization and my weight gain per day is starting to drop. Any good tips on what I can hit the plant with, if anything, to boost the gain, or at least keep it from dropping fast? Thanks!

8/5/2015 10:31:44 PM

Central NY

not sure if I would know anyway, but how do the leaves look?.. (Assuming you haven't had a tissue test done ).. Do the leaves show any deficiency?.. Tough question to answer ...

8/6/2015 3:26:11 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Porkchop is right. I found that the hard work we do early that keeps the leaves and plant healthy is what brings the good 45 plus day numbers.

I'm sure someone will chime in on what you could add.

8/6/2015 4:26:59 PM

San Diego

I have two plants. The leaves look fine on one. The other is suffering from PM even though I've been spraying pretty consistently. I know I can't stop the slowing growth, but thought there might be a good tip for the best product or nutrient combination to use. I usually just hit the plant with some extra fertilizer and hope for the best. But you're right, it's probably more a product of earlier plant care and weather.

8/6/2015 8:55:57 PM

Central NY

Yea.. Def not sure what would help but it's good to learn what types of fertilizer to use during the different phases of the grow...rooting phase-growing phase -flower setting phase-initial fruit growth phase-slammer phase-finishing phase.... Each phase wants a different blend of food.....they will grow nice with just a balanced food..ie 20-20-20...but to get fat they need special diet at special times...

8/6/2015 9:27:02 PM

San Diego

Kevin,

my belief is that it is more important to get your soil balanced, rich in organic matter, ph, etc. It takes time to get soils in great shape and alive. I have always had the philosophy that the plant will do it's thing if the soil is great, along with a little balanced fertilization. My plants usually have their best gains between day 25 through day 45, but each fruit cycle is different too.

One year I can have a fast starter that has poor back end growth, or a slow starter that has much better middle growth, so genes play a role as well. But I don't think there is a magic bullet to jump start a fruit. Others may have different opinions than mine, which is fine. But for my patch in my climate, this has worked best.

8/7/2015 1:28:04 AM

San Diego

Ps, how are your maters Kevin???

8/7/2015 1:28:29 AM

San Diego

Thanks for the reply Team Faith. I think you're right. I think you mean to ask KC Kevin about maters?

8/7/2015 12:08:40 PM

Upa Creek, MO

Once I get past there is a SoCal Grower, SoCal Kevin and a KC Kevin from SoCal, I'll chime in.

8/7/2015 12:30:41 PM

Torrance, Ca.

lol Luke!

8/7/2015 5:25:12 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

where are the HH for this question????

8/7/2015 6:56:35 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

very simple question ? What keeps them going???

8/7/2015 6:57:55 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

this site is so full of information.....

8/7/2015 7:00:30 PM

Torrance, Ca.

The HH's keep it to emails and phone calls because they don't want to get bashed if they say something someone else disagrees with.

8/7/2015 7:03:17 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

you have got to be joking!1 People refer to this site every day for advice and growing tips and get absolutely nothing in return!.

8/7/2015 7:09:05 PM

San Diego

I get a lot of information from this site and always appreciate any opinion. I've always thought of this as a friendly community where people can disagree in a collegial way. I am no heavy hitter and if any want to give me a tip I am grateful.

8/7/2015 7:17:49 PM

San Diego

lol, wrong kevin! My bad. Donkin, btw, there are no heavy hitters in san diego and there is a reason for it, really hot southern climate. Things work a little differently down here. And the philosophy that I used was taught to me by a heavy hitter many years ago.

8/7/2015 7:25:10 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

Chris. I think you mean keep it to themselves?

8/7/2015 7:55:02 PM

Upa Creek, MO

Donkin, technically to "get a return", something must be invested. Please tell us what you have invested in this site? Have you contributed once from a monetary standpoint or even helping other growers. You grew 1811 and you don't publicize what your fert program was. I completely respect you as a grower, but don't start demeaning a site that you frequent daily but don't contribute anything to anymore. I really wish you luck, but all this drama is why people don't post. I had to tell myself the same thing a couple years ago after an ignorant post to a respected grower.

8/7/2015 7:59:27 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Very good point smallmouth!

Team Faith, 1100 pounds down where you live in that climate is a heavy hitter fruit in my book! Your over a 100 degrees more days then not and getting something over a 1000 and keeping it until weigh off takes sooooo much work!

8/7/2015 8:25:11 PM

East Jordan, MI

Porkchop answered the question best in the second post.

You have to know what the plant needs (via a test) for the best possibility of affecting change.

I have found once the pumpkin weights start on the downhill of the growth curve, it is usually too late to change things.

And day 45 to day 50 is usually where we see the down turn start. This is normal for us, but in a cooler climate the upswing starts later and therefore is later before the down turn starts.

8/7/2015 9:55:22 PM

Mission Viejo, CA

Sorry I am late to this party! Jim, I've got plants about 18" tall but no megablooms yet. The timing is pretty good for a late October fruit if I can get one going.

Heavy Hitter is relative. Our conditions are not the same as Napa, Vermont, Ohio or Rhode Island. Jim, you are the reigning champ and have won our little weigh-off multiple times. You have a County record! That makes you a HH. Chris Dunn is on a great path and is soaking up knowledge. He's got his biggest yet and is also an HH here in Socal. Tom Rogers is going to get there too. Its all good!

8/13/2015 1:59:22 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Really its up to the pumpkin at around that time....some want to quit...others want to keep growing... I know nothing to kick it back into gear..... I do know that once the temps dip at night...(In Colorado we get a cold front come in...dips to lower 40's).... even if it warms back up...the weights don't climb back up... Wish I knew the secret...of course...even the force cant make them start again... Im no heavy hitter... just an observant grower.

Thanks Luke for telling it like it IZ....

8/13/2015 4:07:18 PM