[GhostTown]

I'm finally joining in on a pumpkin thread this year. We've bought our starters, but have been waiting for the last couple of threats of frost to pass.

It's been many years since I've battled the squash bugs. Seems like a proper time to take another run at it.

 

[GhostTown]

Howdens are what I planted. I really didn't know what that meant, it's just what was on the shelf in the nursery I bought them from.

 

[GhostTown]

I'm going to follow you guys.I want to try and grow my own next year but I have no idea where to start. Any advice? Thanks!

Start with seeds. If you need further advice, I recommend reading this thread.


My plants are pretty good sized. I need to get some pics up.

 

[GhostTown]

The earth looks like a watermelon in those pics.

 

[GhostTown]

Mine are all doing great. I just can't get off my lazy butt to take pics and upload them.

 

[GhostTown]

I just discovered eggs on the back side of some leaves.

 

[GhostTown]

The first two are the big plants. They seem to be doing great. No signs of bugs.

They even have several of these on them:

The two smaller plants I didn't take a full pic of, but they have these on them:

Even saw this guy:

These are what some of the leaves look like:

What to do?

 

[GhostTown]

I hate bugs.

 

[GhostTown]

I keep getting these guys, but they finally yellow and shrivel. Is that a sign of something going wrong?

I got rid of the squash bugs and my plants are huge and healthy otherwise.

 

[GhostTown]

It just means the pumpkin aborted. Happens for many reasons, most outside your control.

Didn't get pollinated, they'll abort. If the vine already has one, they'll abort a bunch to grow the one that's set. If the weather is too warm (I think it's a nice cool night temp they like more than a specific day temp, but don't really know), they tend to abort a bunch, probably all sorts of other things.

Cool, thanks.

 

[GhostTown]

These pics are about a week old.

 

[GhostTown]

These photos are from this afternoon. There are three other smaller ones

 

[GhostTown]

Once they finally set, they really took off. Kinda fun. Have to watch for beetles everyday though.

 

[GhostTown]

It's been so many years since I've had pumpkin plants that I forgot just how big they get. Pics do the biggest one no justice because I couldn't get the whole thing in the shot.

Couple new guys to show, too.

 

[GhostTown]

Sorry to have to ask, but what does JBL stand for?

 

[GhostTown]

My largest pumpkin is turning orange already. Hope I can keep it from spoiling before October. When it's ready, I'll wipe it down with a light bleach solution I guess. Then keep in the cooler garage.

 

[GhostTown]

 

[GhostTown]

Harvested 4 on Saturday. Have about 8 or 9 more on vines still. More possible to set this week.

 

[GhostTown]

Dang, and I thought I was doing well.

 

[GhostTown]

My count is currently at 14. Two of them cooked down and in the freezer for pumpkin soup (et. all) already as they were a bit soft. I'll cook down any others that show signs of softness. I still have 5 on the vines, though the leaves on my remaining vines are beginning to turn white with mildew.

I'm very satisfied. Don't know if I'll do it again next year as the three plants I had took over my flower beds, bushes, and small trees, but it was a great time.