2014 Pumpkin Patch Thread

51062 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

· #601 · Sep 2, 2014

My guys are fading fast. Just a month ago I had about 7 Big Max's nearing 40 inches in diameter. I lost one two weeks ago, and another this week. Plus I have two more whose stems are getting mushy so I am sure that I will lose those also. I have 4 that still look good, and three more that are growing beyond softball range. I think I am going to refrain from posting growth rates, since it has started to turn into more of an obituary column.

WitchyKitty

· #602 · Sep 2, 2014

Jackyl48 said:
One thing to try for the white mildew/fungus is a 9 to 1 ratio solution of water and 2% milk.
Meaning, mix 9 ounces of water to 1 ounce of 2% milk.
Bigger amounts can be made, for every 9 ounces of water used add 1 ounce of 2% milk.
Why use 2% milk? I have read that the low ph in the milk is what kills the white mildew/fungus.
Spray it on the leaves at night after sun starts setting and it is not as hot.
Spraying during the day will just dry up your solution and won't have even time to do it's thing.

Yep, this is what I use. I add a pinch of baking soda to it, as well. It helps to slow the spreading to other leaves, but doesn't kill it. You need stronger stuff for that.

UnOrthodOx

· #603 · Sep 3, 2014

Deadna said:
I am losing the battle with mildew on my snake gourd vines
I have alot of gourds that are 4-5 feet long...do I need the vines anymore? I know I am supposed to harvest after a frost kills them but they probably won't make it till then.

Depends on what you want to do with the gourds. General rule on pumpkins or gourds is that you want them to harden off, this means the stem needs to get nice and hard. Sometimes it will change color, sometimes not, depends on variety. The skin of the fruit will also get tougher. Once that's done, the plant is done with that fruit and has moved it's energy off to others. In gourds especially, the plant transfers some enzymes to the fruit that help it dry properly. Now, if you're planning to dry your gourds and save them for bird houses, craft projects, or just for years to come, it is considered best practice to leave them out in the field to dry. Let the vine die away to crispy brown nothing before you even think of harvesting. Usually November. If you just cant, and need to remove the vines and want to dry the gourds, consider putting them on a pallet, and choose a WELL VENTILATED area. Air movement is critical, and outside is often best. Rain won't delay the drying, despite being counter-intuitive. Gourds also like to grow mold, THIS DOES NOT MEAN IT IS ROTTING. It's a normal part of the drying process. Getting soft is rotting, and remove it ASAP.

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Shadowbat

· #604 · Sep 3, 2014

WitchyKitty said:
Well...are the four you have left then, at least, nice pumpkins??

One of them is, but he's a bit lop sided. The others, well, I guess they'll be decorative pieces. lol

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Deadna

· #605 · Sep 4, 2014

UnOrthodOx said:
Depends on what you want to do with the gourds. General rule on pumpkins or gourds is that you want them to harden off, this means the stem needs to get nice and hard. Sometimes it will change color, sometimes not, depends on variety. The skin of the fruit will also get tougher. Once that's done, the plant is done with that fruit and has moved it's energy off to others. In gourds especially, the plant transfers some enzymes to the fruit that help it dry properly. Now, if you're planning to dry your gourds and save them for bird houses, craft projects, or just for years to come, it is considered best practice to leave them out in the field to dry. Let the vine die away to crispy brown nothing before you even think of harvesting. Usually November. If you just cant, and need to remove the vines and want to dry the gourds, consider putting them on a pallet, and choose a WELL VENTILATED area. Air movement is critical, and outside is often best. Rain won't delay the drying, despite being counter-intuitive. Gourds also like to grow mold, THIS DOES NOT MEAN IT IS ROTTING. It's a normal part of the drying process. Getting soft is rotting, and remove it ASAP.

Alot of good info! I want my gourds to dry and paint later but the plants seem to be dying and the stems are yellowing and turning mushy so I don't think I'm going to get the brown crispy vines. They are on a 6 foot arbor and so far the stems are holding the weight of the gourds,I think I will try to lay the gourds across the top lattice for support and circulation. Otherwise the plant just looks bad and I can't wait to do a cleanup job but I'll hold off. Thanks!

UnOrthodOx

· #606 · Sep 8, 2014 (Edited)

Well, we pulled half the regular patch, and most the minis/sugars last night.

The sugars were quickly deteriorating to where I was getting worried they might fall off the trellis and break the pumpkins.

We were also getting some slugs in the main patch again and I didn't want a repeat of the scene last year there.

So, the sugar harvest. There's still a couple that were on more healthy vines.

About half the regular patch. The rest we got up on buckets and stuff so the slugs couldn't get at them.

We have several more of the lil pumpkemons(striped) out there that werent ripe, and probably twice that many jack be littles on a totally separate trellis that is more healthy. Thing on the little pumpkemon ones is they seem to start turning more green as they dry out. The one we picked for Talia a month ago is turning more green. Funny little pumpkins.

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WitchyKitty

· #607 · Sep 8, 2014

I love seeing all the harvested pumpkins and gourds!

WitchyKitty

· #608 · Sep 12, 2014

Hmmm...where did everyone go?? Did anyone else start harvesting? Anyone able to salvage anything from their crops this year?
So far, my harvested JBL's are doing good...I haven't lost any to rot yet, that I've noticed. I was worried because of having to harvest early. It seems bringing them inside the house after harvest was, indeed, a good idea. They are all still sitting in my window sills...I haven't decided when I will put some of them outside yet...probably when I buy my larger pumpkins at the end of the month...(I am so scared of them getting stolen...)

kakugori

· #609 · Sep 12, 2014

I'm at the try again next year point. My vines are toast, my few remaining pumpkins are small, and several have been snacked on by our groundhog. I give up.

UnOrthodOx

· #610 · Sep 13, 2014

We'll be harvesting my uncles' patch on the 21st if all goes to plan.

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craftygirl

· #611 · Sep 13, 2014

My pumpkin patch was a bust this year. A lot of the plants got mildew and then a bunch of my plants just stopped growing. I had a bunch of bees that looked like they were doing what bees should be doing but I don't think many of the plants were being pollinated. My JBLs are doing ok I should have a few of them for Halloween.

Col. Fryght

· #612 · Sep 16, 2014

kakugori said:
I'm at the try again next year point. My vines are toast, my few remaining pumpkins are small, and several have been snacked on by our groundhog. I give up.

I understand where you are coming from kakugori. I hope to see your posts next year.

WitchyKitty

· #613 · Sep 16, 2014

Well, for the few of you that got some pumpkins and gourds to grow, I hope to see pictures!
For everyone else who had bad luck this season with their patches...I hope next year will be better for everyone!!
This was just an awful year for pumpkins, it seems, for many. I wonder how the large pumpkin patches around here did? I guess I will find out at the end of the month when we start going to them to buy our larger pumpkins...if they had a poor season, as well, then there won't be a good selection and/or prices will be sky high...

UnOrthodOx

· #614 · Sep 18, 2014

grilling up some of the smallest sugars to make into cookies.

yes, grilling.

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Shadowbat

· #615 · Sep 18, 2014

WitchyKitty said:
Well, for the few of you that got some pumpkins and gourds to grow, I hope to see pictures!
For everyone else who had bad luck this season with their patches...I hope next year will be better for everyone!!
This was just an awful year for pumpkins, it seems, for many. I wonder how the large pumpkin patches around here did? I guess I will find out at the end of the month when we start going to them to buy our larger pumpkins...if they had a poor season, as well, then there won't be a good selection and/or prices will be sky high...

I was looking at the 4 "survivors" from this years battle. They will be good decoration. We always go to the pumpkin patch anyway, so I'll pick up about 4 - 5 big ones for carving there.

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UnOrthodOx

· #616 · Sep 19, 2014

We harvested the rest of the main patch at our place. Half dozen more pumpkins. About a dozen more minis as well. But, this one really stands out. Volunteer out in the corn, so no idea of variety, though it strongly resembles the ol zebs I used to grow, but really just the perfect pumpkin to me. My preferred shape, deeply ribbed, nice color, and good stem.

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WitchyKitty

· #617 · Sep 19, 2014

UnOrthodOx said:
We harvested the rest of the main patch at our place. Half dozen more pumpkins. About a dozen more minis as well. But, this one really stands out. Volunteer out in the corn, so no idea of variety, though it strongly resembles the ol zebs I used to grow, but really just the perfect pumpkin to me. My preferred shape, deeply ribbed, nice color, and good stem.

Very awesome pumpkin!! That's the shape my husband usually picks out to carve each year.

Defenestrator

· #618 · Sep 19, 2014

UnOrthodOx said:
We harvested the rest of the main patch at our place. Half dozen more pumpkins. About a dozen more minis as well. But, this one really stands out. Volunteer out in the corn, so no idea of variety, though it strongly resembles the ol zebs I used to grow, but really just the perfect pumpkin to me. My preferred shape, deeply ribbed, nice color, and good stem.

That really is just about perfect!

Jackyl48

· #619 · Sep 20, 2014

I have recently learned about Beneficial Nematodes. These will help in killing the vine borer grub/worm and other pests.

UnOrthodOx

· #620 · Sep 20, 2014 (Edited)

um...nematodes would only be effective on the overwintering population of squash vine borer pupa, and would do nothing to the grub. Basically if you don't have them in the ground already, it's too late for this fall and your best bet would to be to seed your ground with the eggs in the early spring right at thaw, but you'd only be killing any in your immediate area, and since they have a range of a mile or more, that's of questionable usefulness. Squash bugs, maybe. Borers...I don't see it.

I'd suggest green lacewings (target the eggs) and trichogramma wasps (target the grub) as your first line of defense. Both are available for import from various online suppliers, and be sure to have a proper habitat to support those populations (basically tall grass or corn around your patch, or other wind breaks to let them hunt properly).

Of course all these preclude the use of chemical control. A nice systemic pesticide might very well be the best choice for borers, especially if you're not planning on eating the pumpkins.

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