Trimming the pumpkin

So we decided to trim the pumpkin that's in the pot - although it's had lots of fruit so far but they're drying up after they get to a certain size - we'll see if limiting its growth helps.

A Contender?

The pictures a little blurry, but the pumpkin ain't.

Prunig your pumpkin

A few of our intrepid pumpkin growers have been wondering about pruning their pumpkins -- here's some information I found on that subject.

Pruning allow better management of your crop, andit will also encourage the plant to devote it's energies towards fruit growth.

The main vine should be pruned when it reaches ten to fifteen feet beyond the last fruit you are leaving on the plant. Secondary vines (or runners) should be trimmed when they reach ten to twelve feet from the main vine.

Trimming a vine is simple. Cut the vine at the end and bury the end by placing a shovelful or two of soil over the cut end. Burying the vine is recommended, but not essential. It will minimize moisture loss while the cut is fresh and minimize the possibility of disease entering through the wound.

After pruning the vines, you will likely experience a proliferation of new vines. There will be new runners off the main vine and new runners on the runners. This is the same as when you trim a bush or hedge row. The result is a bushier, healthier plant.

Continue to pinch off any new growth beyond the limits recommended above and the plant will turn it's energy towards fruit growth. A little extra potassium and a little less nitrogen will further encourage the fruit growth as opposed to vine and leaf growth.

If you don't trim the vines, the overall health of your plant will not be affected. But, you are not doing anything to enhance fruit growth which after all is the endgame. In addition, your patch will look unruly which may or may not bother you.....your call.

Happy growing!

Trying to give Alida a run for her money...

I do hope my brave little blossom is going to turn into a little pumpkin.

Time to catch up with our babies

Of our initial five babies, this was one of the first to leave the safety of the greenhouse. When we first planted him, our grape plant wasn't even thinking about spring yet. But now, the race is on and I'm not sure which of the two is going to be bigger. I couldn't believe it when I saw the yellow pumpkin flowers poking out through the tangle of grape leaves. I'd pretty much written that poor little pumpkin off -- but now I think he's absolutely amazing!

The second baby is gigantic. We placed him in our antique seeder/discer. He was supposed to share that space with petunias, and tomotoes, zucchini and cucumbers but I think they're all losing out to his need to grow.

The third baby to leave the nest was provided with a "nest egg" and she's the first to become a parent. Her little one grows a little bigger everyday. We just have to decide whether to limit her to one baby, as she's confined to a pot or whether to allow her to have as many as she'd like.

The poor fourth baby, who's home should have been the optimum place for a pumpkin to grow is the victim of too much rain...but Dan's seeds were strong...he continues to hang in there and produce flowers. Unfortunately, although I headed out to the garden to take his picture, the mosquitoes quickly chased me back to the safety of my deck.

Finally, more leaves and a flower

It took a while to take, but it's finally starting to grow. The special "tea" is working.

A even closer look, believe it or not that's 3 plants!

A little closer look at our 3 pumpkins!

Finally proof our pumpkins are growing