[WitchyKitty]

At a little before sunrise, when i did my watering, put fresh water in the birdbath, changed the hummingbird food, ect., I went ahead and harvested the last gourd. (Yeah, if I stayed out there once the sun comes fully up...poof! Combustion.🔥☀🌡)
It's mature enough, the outside is hard as a shell...but the reason I left it on the vine, so long, was that the dead blossom never fell away, even at maturity, and the gourd has a weird sideways stump bottom, now. I ended up having to remove most of the flower, myself, then let the remaining little bit dry in the heat before I had to harvest it, this morning. Has anyone ever had that happen? Here are a couple pics so you can see the odd, not flat bottom. I'm concerned that blossom end will rot...
(These gourds were what I got the most of...none of them got full green striping no matter how long they stayed out there...most stayed mostly creamy colored. Very weird.)

The vines are completely shot. I want to tear them down, as they look hideous and are attracting even more bugs...but I have that one, single mini left out there that is getting so close to possibly maturing, at least, enough to early harvest. There were squash bugs all over it, so I power sprayed them all away with the hose and then put one of my tomato/fruit mesh pest protector bags over it. I don't know if the smaller bugs will try to shimmy their way in through were it closes around the stem, but I figured it couldn't hurt to try! I just want to get that last little guy across the finish line!!!

I still have my two Sugar Pies out there...that vine is near done for, too. I just want to give them as much time as possible before I harvest them, as I'd like them...well, at least the one that wasn't nibbled on, to last to Thanksgiving for decor.
As for the nibbled one, I've continued trying to make sure it stays dry and have reapplied more fungicide to it after the last rain we had. Some of the smallest bites look like they may be scabbing over, but not sure about the larger bites. I'm hoping the longer I leave it out in that sun on the vine, the better chance it has of healing enough to survive for awhile.

 

[Kdestra]

No clue what type of pumpkins these are or where they came from. My best guess is that they're cross pollinated between a Fairytale & Queensland Blue??? Hopefully they live because I really like them.

 

[Kdestra]

The terracotta pumpkin army is marching along with a few harvested minis & gourds.
Im weird I like to keep the dried up vines on the pumpkins.

 

[Happy Masked Guy]

The terracotta pumpkin army is marching along with a few harvested minis & gourds.
Im weird I like to keep the dried up vines on the pumpkins.

View attachment 781858

I think it looks awesome 😎

 

[Kdestra]

I think it looks awesome 😎

Thank you.

 

[Col. Fryght]

SUNDAY MORNING TALE OF THE TAPE

I don't mind admitting that I am losing some energy. It really is a long season, which I think is something that is relatively unique to pumpkin growing. It is such a marathon compared to other endeavors like growing tomatoes. I will keep measuring, but the die is cast. My biggest pumpkin is about 200 pounds behind 2018.

Both of my pumpkins are oozing out sap from the stem. I don' think the stem situation is fatal. Maybe it is the pumpkin trying to cool itself off like a radiator cap blowing off steam. Totally TOMA, if you can figure out that abbreviation. The first word is "talking." I will go back out this morning and scrap off the goo and use isopropyl alcohol to clean the area and also apply sulfur.

No sense in complaining about the weather, but we went to the pool last night at 7pm and it was disgusting in my opinion. The water was so warm that it felt like I was part of a soup. My wife thought it was great and I kept thinking of germs. I have no rationalization for my feelings, but I don't feel that way when the water is cooler.

Hang in there everyone.

P2 estimating 211 lbs. which is a 25lb. increase for the week.

P2

 

[MCR]

SUNDAY MORNING TALE OF THE TAPE

I don't mind admitting that I am losing some energy. It really is a long season, which I think is something that is relatively unique to pumpkin growing. It is such a marathon compared to other endeavors like growing tomatoes. I will keep measuring, but the die is cast. My biggest pumpkin is about 200 pounds behind 2018.

Both of my pumpkins are oozing out sap from the stem. I don' think the stem situation is fatal. Maybe it is the pumpkin trying to cool itself off like a radiator cap blowing off steam. Totally TOMA, if you can figure out that abbreviation. The first word is "talking." I will go back out this morning and scrap off the goo and use isopropyl alcohol to clean the area and also apply sulfur.

No sense in complaining about the weather, but we went to the pool last night at 7pm and it was disgusting in my opinion. The water was so warm that it felt like I was part of a soup. My wife thought it was great and I kept thinking of germs. I have no rationalization for my feelings, but I don't feel that way when the water is cooler.

Hang in there everyone.

P2 estimating 211 lbs. which is a 25lb. increase for the week.

P2

View attachment 781992

I hear you about it being a marathon rather than a sprint. I've definitely seen the oozing from the big growers and the only other thing they seem to do (in addition to what you're already doing) is get a fan on there. Either blowing directly or some will run a duct up to point at the stem.

Keep on trucking! Only a few more weeks to the finish line. 🍻

 

[WitchyKitty]

Pretty sure I know what TOMA means, lol.
It may not get as big as you want, but that Pumpkin looks large and nice, to me!!

 

[Hauling Horseman]

Unfortunately we have decided to start ripping out our vines that appear to be dying off anyways. Right now, our only successful plants/vines are our 1 big max and our sweet sugar pie. Our females aren't even making it to pea-size without dying off first on all the other plants. We wanted to give the area back to our dogs to run in. In doing so, my gf got stung twice by bumble bees...poor girl. She's ok though, we hadn't even considered the bees when doing this yesterday morning. Was a rather big 🤦‍ moment haha. So yeah, we are gonna gradually clear out the area where we have had zero success and focus on the big max and sugar pie. We will just have our fun at the local pukkin patches like we usually do. Its been fun regardless!

Happy Halloween 🎃!

 

[MCR]

Quick update:

Funky: Got really gnarly after the rains last weekend so we cut from the vine and put out on the front lawn with the pretty-end facing out for the kids to see. Will cut it to weigh, then toss it when I have some room in the green bin. (Cross-over photo with 2023 Autumnal Beer thread).

Blobby: Still putting on weight but slowed down from last week. Up to 169 lbs OTT. I'll take it and fingers crossed this one makes it to the end.

Third pumpkin up to 81 lbs but not in any hurry. Weird hyper-lobed shape.

 

[Mayor of Haddonfield]

SUNDAY MORNING TALE OF THE TAPE

I don't mind admitting that I am losing some energy. It really is a long season, which I think is something that is relatively unique to pumpkin growing. It is such a marathon compared to other endeavors like growing tomatoes. I will keep measuring, but the die is cast. My biggest pumpkin is about 200 pounds behind 2018.

Both of my pumpkins are oozing out sap from the stem. I don' think the stem situation is fatal. Maybe it is the pumpkin trying to cool itself off like a radiator cap blowing off steam. Totally TOMA, if you can figure out that abbreviation. The first word is "talking." I will go back out this morning and scrap off the goo and use isopropyl alcohol to clean the area and also apply sulfur.

No sense in complaining about the weather, but we went to the pool last night at 7pm and it was disgusting in my opinion. The water was so warm that it felt like I was part of a soup. My wife thought it was great and I kept thinking of germs. I have no rationalization for my feelings, but I don't feel that way when the water is cooler.

Hang in there everyone.

P2 estimating 211 lbs. which is a 25lb. increase for the week.

P2

View attachment 781992

I totally agree about the marathon. In the spring, I start all excited, and tell myself I’ll faithfully pull the weeds, and fertilize religiously, and water when it needs it. Then the heat of summer takes over, the weeds go crazy, and the insects get to the part of the patch I can’t get to. I did very well with watering, and fertilized well in the beginning, but as the season goes on I start to lose the excitement, and I’m ready for the end. Had I had results this year, like I did last year, then maybe I’d be more into it. Your pumpkin still looks great, Col.

 

[Kdestra]

I totally agree about the marathon. In the spring, I start all excited, and tell myself I’ll faithfully pull the weeds, and fertilize religiously, and water when it needs it. Then the heat of summer takes over, the weeds go crazy, and the insects get to the part of the patch I can’t get to. I did very well with watering, and fertilized well in the beginning, but as the season goes on I start to lose the excitement, and I’m ready for the end. Had I had results this year, like I did last year, then maybe I’d be more into it. Your pumpkin still looks great, Col.

2023 is going to be remembered as: Year of the Weeds!
I'm not sure which is worse: Milkweed Vine or this other hell-spawn vine thing. Speaking of insects - SVBs may have taken out a few vines but I took out several of them along the way.

@Col. Fryght & @MCR Your massive pumpkins are an inspiration.

The Gizmo vine is dead so the rest were harvested. Since I'm a glutton for punishment ~ I'm already planning a space for them to grow next year.

 

[MCR]

2023 is going to be remembered as: Year of the Weeds!
I'm not sure which is worse: Milkweed Vine or this other hell-spawn vine thing. Speaking of insects - SVBs may have taken out a few vines but I took out several of them along the way.

@Col. Fryght & @MCR Your massive pumpkins are an inspiration.

The Gizmo vine is dead so the rest were harvested. Since I'm a glutton for punishment ~ I'm already planning a space for them to grow next year. View attachment 782061 View attachment 782062

Those gizmos are awesome!

 

[Kdestra]

Those gizmos are awesome!

Can always send seeds if you want them.
I'm really happy with this year's gizmos. They're much larger then last year's. I think it's because of all the rain & I used Jack's Bloom Booster 10-30-20. Next year's gizmo setup is going to be my best yet.

 

[WitchyKitty]

Unfortunately we have decided to start ripping out our vines that appear to be dying off anyways. Right now, our only successful plants/vines are our 1 big max and our sweet sugar pie. Our females aren't even making it to pea-size without dying off first on all the other plants. We wanted to give the area back to our dogs to run in. In doing so, my gf got stung twice by bumble bees...poor girl. She's ok though, we hadn't even considered the bees when doing this yesterday morning. Was a rather big 🤦‍ moment haha. So yeah, we are gonna gradually clear out the area where we have had zero success and focus on the big max and sugar pie. We will just have our fun at the local pukkin patches like we usually do. Its been fun regardless!

Happy Halloween 🎃!

Yeah, you don't want to pull vines in the morning when the bees are still around looking for open flowers.
I hope your Big Max and Sugar Pies do well!!!
Every year is different, so don't let it deter you from growing, again, next year! Regardless, it's still always fun to go to the pumpkin patch!🎃

 

[WitchyKitty]

I've started pulling dead vines. Everything is harvested except that one mini Hooligan pumpkin. I see it starting to stripe, and that vine is pretty much wasted, so I hope I'll be able to get it just a bit more mature!! That vine needs to come down!
I'll get some pics taken at some point, soon. I'm just so dang busy!

Good luck to everyone in getting those pumpkins to the finish line!

 

[Col. Fryght]

Pretty sure I know what TOMA means, lol.
It may not get as big as you want, but that Pumpkin looks large and nice, to me!!

Sometimes, I just want to make it real clear that I have no idea what I am talking about. 😉

 

[morganmac]

I don't have much pumpkin news to contribute, but I do have a frog update.

After joking all summer about the two tree frogs living in sin in my deck planters...we have maybe a dozen tiny baby frogs EVERYWHERE on the deck. 🐸

We've started leaving the porch light on overnight to attract bugs for them to eat.

 

[Kdestra]

I don't have much pumpkin news to contribute, but I do have a frog update.

After joking all summer about the two tree frogs living in sin in my deck planters...we have maybe a dozen tiny baby frogs EVERYWHERE on the deck. 🐸

We've started leaving the porch light on overnight to attract bugs for them to eat.

That has to be the cutest thing every 🐸 ❤ 🐸 ❤
Now you need to build them a pool

 

[Kdestra]

After neighbor's tree crashed & trashed my back garden I decided what the heck ~ toss some more gizmos into busted box. If they make it: "great" if not: "oh well"
Low & behold there's 2 babies out there this morning. They should be harvestable in mid/late October.