Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: goodegg on March 05, 2010, 18:08

Title: pumpkins
Post by: goodegg on March 05, 2010, 18:08

has ayone started growing their pumpkins yet just wondered

Title: Re: pumpkins
Post by: peapod on March 05, 2010, 18:08

will be starting mine later this month

Title: Re: pumpkins
Post by: mumofstig on March 05, 2010, 18:28

All my pkts say april/may.....so that's when I will sow them :)

I find that they get too big to keep indoors if they are sown any earlier.....and there will definitely not be any room in the greenhouse either :lol:

Title: Re: pumpkins
Post by: goodegg on March 05, 2010, 20:17

thanks for your replies i will sow mine shortly

Title: Re: pumpkins
Post by: bonfire on March 06, 2010, 01:00

Why sow now?  In my experience you will get the same number same size if you wait until May. You don't pick them continuously like courgettes so you are not getting more crops over a longer period. Am I missing something here? Can anyone explain?

Title: Re: pumpkins
Post by: Loubs on March 06, 2010, 06:59

Location would have it on this occasion.

Guernsey is way further south, and therefore an awful lot warmer & milder than Sussex.

Title: Re: pumpkins
Post by: lacewing on March 06, 2010, 07:36

Three weeks before the last frost. Plants will then be a good size for planting out. Pumpkins do not like being held back in pots

Title: Re: pumpkins
Post by: rugbymad40 on March 06, 2010, 09:42

I agree with Lacewing. Don't plant pumpkins too early.

Over the past two or three years I have consistently won our local shows prize for geaviest pumpkin.  I always plant the seeds in the greenhouse mid April.  The real secret to success is making sure the area you intend growing them on is well prepared, with lots of organic matter and some good old well rotted dug.

Last year my biggest pumpkin was 56lbs and I had a couple of others touching 30lbs.

Best of luck

Rugbymad40

Title: Re: pumpkins
Post by: sunshineband on March 06, 2010, 10:09

Another difficulty with sowing them too early and therefore (in most areas) having to keep them in under cover until frosts are past is that the plants just get far too big to manage OR stay in pots too small and growth is checked  :ohmy:

Title: Re: pumpkins
Post by: lacewing on March 06, 2010, 12:58

Quote from: rugbymad40 on March 06, 2010, 09:42

I agree with Lacewing. Don't plant pumpkins too early.

Over the past two or three years I have consistently won our local shows prize for geaviest pumpkin.  I always plant the seeds in the greenhouse mid April.  The real secret to success is making sure the area you intend growing them on is well prepared, with lots of organic matter and some good old well rotted dug.

Last year my biggest pumpkin was 56lbs and I had a couple of others touching 30lbs.

Best of luck

Rugbymad40

Not wishing to brag or anything, last year my biggest pumpkin reached 400lbs.

Title: Re: pumpkins
Post by: mumofstig on March 06, 2010, 13:04

I don't really understand the 'I grew the biggest pumpkin' thing. ::)

I just want to grow lots to eat through the winter :D

Title: Re: pumpkins
Post by: Rangerkris on March 06, 2010, 13:24

I like big pumpkins  :D  

We got some super seeds this year to try hahahahah

Title: Re: pumpkins
Post by: sunshineband on March 06, 2010, 14:48

I'm not sure what I would do with a really really huge pumpkin.  :unsure:

Have a mental image of Mr Sunny trying to chop it with an axe and then wrestle it into the oven  :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Title: Re: pumpkins
Post by: peapod on March 06, 2010, 15:00

Mine will be the lantern for an outside Halloween party, the filling can make the party pies  :D

Title: Re: pumpkins
Post by: lacewing on March 06, 2010, 15:27

Quote from: Rangerkris on March 06, 2010, 13:24

I like big pumpkins  :D  

We got some super seeds this year to try hahahahah

I have a feeling that you will grow a monster Kris.  :D

Title: Re: pumpkins
Post by: Rangerkris on March 06, 2010, 15:28

Lets hope so, got my fingers crossed got one seed each for the children