2014 Pumpkin Patch Thread

50938 Views 639 Replies 42 Participants Last post by UnOrthodOx, Dec 19, 2014

matthewthemanparker

Discussion Starter · Apr 27, 2014

Anybody started yet? Yesterday I tilled my garden and got it ready for planting. I live in south Georgia so risk of frost was gone a month ago. I plan on getting some seeds this week to go along with the seeds I saved from carving last year and plant Saturday. This is my second year attempting to grow with last year not going too well. I had a couple of pumpkins reach the size of baseballs and softballs but ended up turning to mush seemingly overnight. Crossing my fingers this year for at least a couple of good carving pumpkins this year.

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Col. Fryght

· #321 · Jul 10, 2014

kakugori said:
Aw, man. I have vine borers. And they're in almost every plant. So, I've been out with the boning knife and the Sevin, having at 'em. The plants are still looking pretty good overall, but there is damage...guess now it's just keep hunting and see what happens.

I am intensely jealous of you guys with your healthy looking plants!

I feel your pain brother. I have lost at least 6 to vine borers, and I have about 6 trying to survive grub removal surgery. It looks like at least 2 or 3 are making a comeback. You might want to consider adding a spray also that you can target the underside of the leaves and the stems.

It is tough to look at some of the great pictures, but everyone in this thread has been so supportive of me that my jealousy is momentary. Plus, I still have about 4 plants that are now actually full fledged vines. Yeah!!

WitchyKitty

· #322 · Jul 10, 2014

3

Okay, today's current pictures:

Flower Plant Leaf Ivy Flowering plant

Flower Plant Leaf Flowering plant Soil

Leaf Flower Plant Flowering plant Herb

I have a couple more pumpkins pollinated and starting to set...the vines aren't looking too bad, considering the strange weather we've been having, which is much cooler than normal for July. Most of my current baby pumpkins are on the potted vine on the patio...that plant is drinking up sooooo much water, it's crazy! Lost some leaves on my smallest plant, in the wooden half barrel, due to too much rain/moisture, but it still seems to be doing good and has a couple pumpkins. I never thought that one would even make it, since it's the one that initially was an extra and was broken! It's trying really hard! My biggest one is getting closer to the roof of the garage...I still haven't decided if I will nip the end when it reaches it, or if I will let it grow sideways along the roof line like I did last year...that was a royal pain to deal with, so I may nip it. It's crazy that this plant is so huge already, but still has no females bloomed yet, compared to my two potted ones. I see I will have the first female blooming tomorrow morning, though, so I'm sure it will start catching up now.

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killerhaunts

· #323 · Jul 10, 2014

Aaah! They got in! I have killed 3 squash bugs on my pumpkins! Two mating on my Big Max and one on my regular JOL pumpkins. I found eggs on my JOL and got rid of those. OMG I hope they don't kill my plants like last year! I hate, hate, hate them!

GhostTown

· #324 · Jul 11, 2014

7

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.

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kakugori

· #325 · Jul 11, 2014

Gah, so jealous, want pumpkins now.

I think I'm winning my guerrilla war on the vine borers, though. I don't see any more damage today, and all the leaves are perked up. My few female blossoms are sloooooooowly growing, and there's plenty of new buds and leaves. I'm gonna have to get out sometime when it's cool and get rid of some grass, though. /alwayssomething

WitchyKitty

· #326 · Jul 11, 2014

Yay, finally had not one, but two females bloom today on my main, large vine. Now it is catching up with the others. I was starting to worry this would just be one, big plant with no pumpkins! Last year, this in ground plant had dozens of JBLs just on it's own...I was hoping for a similar crop this year, too. Everyone is having so many bug issues...I'm super anxious about my three vines now. I only have three...and if this bug issue gets to me, I won't have any at all! I'm glad I kept up on checking for squash bugs daily and removing them early on...but it's a bit harder to hunt adult vine borers...as you guys have said, I haven't ever seen one before. They are like, stealth ninjas, apparently...I hope you guys all start having better luck with the bugs problems soon and your vines are safe!!

Mistress of the Abyss

· #327 · Jul 11, 2014

My little PP is coming along quite well!

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Mistress of the Abyss

· #328 · Jul 11, 2014

Wow after reading this post I was not aware of so many aspects to growing pumpkins! I am learning quite a bit!!

UnOrthodOx

· #329 · Jul 11, 2014

5

My sugar pumpkins are going to overrun the trellis.

And they are poppin out little ones great.

"JBL's" starting to climb finally, still dont have any set, though.

The story this year has been the lil pumpkemons though. Probably a dozen pumpkins already in the garden, and nifty little plants that don't take up tons of space. The bottom one starting to ripen, with the ribs going orange. Cute little buggers.

Finally, have probably half a dozen neons already. Man I love neons, they always do well for us.

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Col. Fryght

· #330 · Jul 12, 2014

I guess my old hose could not take the extra use. A couple days ago one 50ft section burst a hole, and I replaced it. Then today, the other 50ft section burst a hole. And since I was in hose buying mode, I picked up a 100ft of soaker hose. I plan to put that out tomorrow around the pumpkin plants.

I also watered the plants today using the Miracle Grow liquid feeder system, and I tossed a little more Sevin dust at the bottom inch of the base stem which was washed away. I am embarrassed by how much the cost of my raised bed pumpkin patch has escalated. But, I am having fun and a lot the cost is a one time sunk cost- I hope. :

WitchyKitty

· #331 · Jul 12, 2014

Well, the weather here is really taking a toll on my two potted plants. I'm starting to get some yellowing and some leaves are looking like they would normally near the end of their season. No other issues, just very confused plants. Our weather is way cooler than it should be...which is nice for me, but bad for pumpkins! Many days of cool weather, then one crazy, humid hot day, then back down to super cool weather...it's just too rough on them. Here's to hoping they hold up and make it!!

Saki.Girl

· #332 · Jul 13, 2014

finally a pumpkin

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WitchyKitty

· #333 · Jul 13, 2014

Just went and seen the seedlings I gave to my aunt...they are insanely huge, lol. I gave her 5 plants...she is going to have a TON of JBL's! I wish I had the space to grow them like that. Someday, someday...

WitchyKitty

· #334 · Jul 13, 2014

...aaaaaand I just found a small amount of powdery mildew.

Now, the battle begins for me. I was hoping to have another month before I dealt with this, but I guess the weather helped it to show up early. Sigh.

GhostTown

· #335 · Jul 14, 2014

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

UnOrthodOx

· #336 · Jul 14, 2014

Jack Be Little, a common type of mini pumpkin.

WitchyKitty

· #337 · Jul 14, 2014

3

Yep, I grow lots of Jack Be Littles...tiny, orange gourds, technically, that most consider a mini pumpkin. Here's some pics of some of mine from last year:

Pumpkin Food Calabaza Fruit Vegetable

Food Fruit Plant Local food Produce

Pumpkin Winter squash Calabaza Cucurbita Vegetable

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Col. Fryght

· #338 · Jul 14, 2014

Finally, I spotted and killed a vine borer. I keep a can of insecticide by the pumpkin patch, in case one of those evil vine borers ever showed up. And Sunday, I killed my first vine borer.

I caught him laying an egg on one of my vines. Hard to believe that this guy is in the month family. They really do look like they have a hornet like stinger, especially when it is extended while laying an egg.

I read on the internet (so it must be true) that one borer can lay up to 200 eggs. I am so thankful that I caught this guy.

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WitchyKitty

· #339 · Jul 14, 2014

Col. Fryght said:
Finally, I spotted and killed a vine borer. I keep a can of insecticide by the pumpkin patch, in case one of those evil vine borers ever showed up. And Sunday, I killed my first vine borer.

I caught him laying an egg on one of my vines. Hard to believe that this guy is in the month family. They really do look like they have a hornet like stinger, especially when it is extended while laying an egg.

I read on the internet (so it must be true) that one borer can lay up to 200 eggs. I am so thankful that I caught this guy.

Caught the culprit in the act, lol. Here's to hoping that will slow down or stop your vine borer issues now! Getting that one should help, at least.

WitchyKitty

· #340 · Jul 14, 2014

6

Had some more females opened on my main, large plant, today!! It's really going now! I took some pics of a few of my more fully set pumpkins, and pics of two of my three plants. (Plant number three is struggling right now, so I didn't take a pic of that one, but it has a pumpkin on it, which I did take a pic of, so it's still trying, lol.)

Flower Plant Leaf Grass Flowering plant

Flower Plant Flowering plant Leaf Ivy

Winter squash Summer squash Cucurbita Vegetable Pumpkin

Plant Yellow Flower Flowering plant Anthurium

Winter squash Vegetable Summer squash Plant Local food

Plant Summer squash Vegetable Winter squash Flower

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