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Location

Message

Date Posted

Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Hello, I was wondering how often I should fertilizer ..also how often I should water my giant Atlantic pumpkin plant.

Using a small soil warming cable and I keep a ceramic heater about 4' away -at night-

Been using fish fertilizer 2-3-0

Below is a link to a pic of five days of growth on the one plant (1416 MacDonald)

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=254342

Thank you in advance
Joe

5/1/2016 8:50:17 PM

Austin MN

Hi Joe early season like now I fertilize once a week with mycos and azos to help the roots than a fertilize once a week with actual NPK based fertilizers. As for watering it really depends on the weather I do about a gallon a day at this stage.

5/1/2016 10:00:00 PM

Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Thank you for the info, sounds good.
Aside from the fish fertilizer I have ..I also have some 10-50-10 that I think I'll use also, switching of and on one a week

The weather has been really nice lately, almost 70f outside and I keep the greenhouse at about 75-80f


You experienced growers might get a laugh out of this ....but last year I heavily fertilized everyday ( I didn't know what I was doing ..lol)
Also I overwatered something awful and my pumpkin grew to about 10 pounds and quit growing altogether : /

Not going to make that mistake again :)

Thank you again for the info, that helps me a lot!

Kind regards
Joe

5/1/2016 10:45:42 PM

Austin MN

I'd not use any 20-50-10 that is heavy chemical I'd milk it out on an organic diet and only use chemical fert when needed or once a week but in light amounts. You don't want to burn the plant out. I am using a 100% organic program this year and still hope for over 1700#

5/2/2016 12:16:40 AM

Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Ok thanks..good to know

I think I'll stick to my fish fertilizer

5/2/2016 12:32:46 AM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

Early in the season I like to keep watering to the minimum to keep it going. I want it to put out a huge root system in order to get water and nutrients. I try to get my soil nutrients balanced before planting. Nitrogen is a variable, because heavy rains can leach it out. As long as leaf color is OK I don't add any. But if the leaves start getting light green I will add some N. Just not at pollination time because too much N can cause new pumpkins to abort.

5/2/2016 8:19:46 AM

Central Illinois

Water more in a doughnut shape, start about 1 ft away and water out to 3 ft so the roots move outward,one week later water even farther out but only if it needs it check your soil before watering use half strength 10-50-10 for about 3 weeks to help with root development. Then switch to a higher N fertilizer for vine growth

5/2/2016 12:02:53 PM

Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Thanks so much!

5/2/2016 7:20:22 PM