[rugbymad40]

I'm growing a Pumpkin for the village show in September and have listened to all the tips and advice being handed out - both on this fantastic web site and on the plot.

One tip that kept cropping up - excuse the Pun -was the use of beer.  So, I have collared a supply of slops from a local outlet and set to task feeding the prize winning plants (I Hope).  Results seem good at present - but I have developed a reputation as a drinker now, because I leave the join three times a week with a gallon of brown liquid in a bucket.

Another tip which is worth considering is only allowing two fruits to form and then stopping the growing tip.  That way the plant puts all its energy into fattening the fruits.  The logic is there!?

Happy growing

[rugbymad40]

Just got back from the pub - Been there to collect the slops for the Pumpkins - only had a pint.
But while I was there someone who has heard I was growing a pumpkin showed me some pictures of the results he got a few years ago by feeding the pumpkin on slops.  76lbs and perfect skin.  The really fascinating thing was that it grow to that size in seven weeks!!  From pollination to croping for a local show - seven weeks!
That said mine have had fruit for three weeks now and at least doubled in size every week.
How are everyone elses giants doing?

[GrannieAnnie]

Does it work with melons??

[Eristic]

No! It has to be beer.

[GrannieAnnie]

No, silly, I meant can I water my melons with slops from the pub and have giant ones?

[GrannieAnnie]

Mmmmm, tipsy melon and fresh cream, sounds yum

[lentil987]

When do you think pumpkins are ready to pick - I dont mean the very big ones but the others on the plants. I have a couple of pumpkin plants and one plant has a huge pumpkin on it already (this one is destined to be my daughters halloween lantern !) The other plant has a few smaller pumpkins that look nice however I dont know when they are ready for eating. Does anyone know?

[Oliver]

How are everyone elses giants doing?

Her giant is about as big as a football. Has been growing for 8 weeks.
Fred (he is 93 you know) put a plant in about 4 weeks ago.  It has three fruits, two as big as hers, one as big as a tennis ball and dozens of arms. The whole plant takes up about one eights of his plot! Its just not fair. His marrow is aready 3 feet long.

I reckon some people just have the knack. Ho hum. Don't despair yet ...

As far as picking is concerned, we wait until all the leaves have died down then we harvest, dry off and store.  Some pumpkins get eaten straight away, but they generaly keep well throughout the winter.
In her experience pumpkins are usually ready sometime in September. Sometimes even later.

[milkman]

Ditto what Oliver says and beware the first frost - if a frost is forecast, pick your pumpkins and remove them to a safe place, or cover them in fleece otherwise they can very quickly turn to mush...

[Caretaker]

I have a small tip, but i expect you all do this anyway.
I first water the leaves one can of water, then one can on the roots.
Water rest of lotment then, water leaves again.
You can see after watering the leaves they look healther and brighter.
I would like to play them music but the other plot holders would complain.
Reg

[GrannieAnnie]

You could always give them earphones Reg!!!!

[Heather_S]

I have a small tip, but i expect you all do this anyway.
I first water the leaves one can of water, then one can on the roots.
Water rest of lotment then, water leaves again.
You can see after watering the leaves they look healther and brighter.
I would like to play them music but the other plot holders would complain.
Reg

I thought you shouldn't get water on the leaves of a plant especially if it's sunny because then it gets sunburn?

[Caretaker]

Sorry  :oops: forgot to add i water in the evening, well most times.
I started to grow the pumpkins for my girls and family to make faces and put a candle in like a family carve up, can't wait to have a go, shame we are not children any more.
Reg.

[sumo]

My giant pumpkin plant is rather pathetic. Some of the leaves have turned yellow and the flowers have mostly shrivelled up once opened. There are only 2 small marble-sized potential pumpkins, (one now, as the other has just fallen off!) I do water the plant, trying to keep water off the leaves and the ground is loam with lots of horse muck dug in. So where am I going wrong, and should I resort to beer? (for me, if the plant doesn`t start acting like a pumpkin) The weather here has been very hot and dry for about 2 weeks, but today there is quite a lot of rain.

[Heather_S]

Sorry  :oops: forgot to add i water in the evening, well most times.

Ahh I thought that might be the case. I was just making sure that pumpkin leaves weren't magically immune to that treatment. I should try that... the older leaves of my pumpkin plants are looking oddly a little yellow but the newer leaves further along the vine are still a lush green.

sumo - Don't feel too bad, my plant had heaps of male flowers seemingly forever but now I don't count my pumpkins until they've started fattening up. Sometimes they just don't get pollinated enough to make a pumpkin. I have cardboard "mulch" down keeping the weeds down and keeping moisture in.