Pumpkin - The sequel

entwisi · 17-08-2008, 18:32

We posted some time ago about Siobhan growing a pumpkin.

Here are some update piccys(taken on my mobile believe it or not! they are quite impressive

) and a question

Should/Can we cut the large stem that is growing out across the garden to help it concentrate on pumpkin growth?

Now

flashy · 17-08-2008, 18:35

wow thats coming along brilliantly Ian, what a lot of leaves for just one pumpkin

pipinfort · 17-08-2008, 18:40

I am sure that if you want Pumpkin mximus you would be better cutting off the excess so it can concentrate on growing the main one, i think it was on Jamie At Home, he was talking about strawberries but i think he said it was the same for most things for concentrated growth.

Retlaw · 17-08-2008, 18:50

Nip the end off the stem and remove those flowers they are male and not needed now, dont remove too many leaves as they are for needed for what little sunshine we are getting. Feed the plant with good tomato fertilizer.

Retlaw

grego · 17-08-2008, 18:59

Good photo's Ian

entwisi · 17-08-2008, 19:00

We've been feeding it twice a week with tomato fertiliser. I'll take tehend back 5 inch or so and nip it there. We weren't sure if it would give 2 pumpkins but each female flower just dropped off.

entwisi · 17-08-2008, 19:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by grego

Good photo's Ian

Aye, all the pictures this thing(e90) takes are superb and the video capture beggers belief.

you'll notice a lot of my posts have teh old posted by mobile device, guess what I use

andrewb · 17-08-2008, 19:11

*has flashbacks*

entwisi · 17-08-2008, 19:42

I'm surprised you remember!!!!!

Retlaw · 17-08-2008, 19:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by entwisi

We've been feeding it twice a week with tomato fertiliser. I'll take tehend back 5 inch or so and nip it there. We weren't sure if it would give 2 pumpkins but each female flower just dropped off.

Thats because they were'nt fertilised, bad weather and not many bees around, next time take the male flowers off, and use them to fertilise the female flowers.

Retlaw

entwisi · 17-08-2008, 20:01

i did with one, it still droped off

TBH as long as we get at least 1 'good' sized one that she can use come Oct 31st we will all be happy bunnies.

West Ender · 17-08-2008, 20:22

I'm very envious! This year my male flowers have all had a "low sperm count" and there's been little or no pollen on the stamens. I've used what bit there was, to fertilise the females, but every embryo pumpkin has rotted and fallen off.

The rest of the plant looks spectacular. The leaves grow in twos along the vine and it's about 7 ft long and looks so healthy. It's blending in with my garden (next to the palms and the pampas grass) and makes a great display but - no pumpkin.

entwisi · 17-08-2008, 20:34

heh, I've been artificially 'porking' teh flowers as you suggested

So when do they start changing colour?

West Ender · 17-08-2008, 20:44

How big are they? I've only ever kept one so it could grow big. They usually start to ripen when they've grown as big as they're going to.

entwisi · 17-08-2008, 21:05

I used my hand to give an idea of size, its coming on lovely, I hope we get somewhere near what I bought for 99p from tesco last year