[Biddy]

Does anyone have a secret weapon in growing great pumpkins?  I've never grown them before (only got our allotment in February) and wanted the kids to be able to say at Halloween - we grew that.  They are the hundredweight ones - 4 are planted in the ground and I've put 2 in large individual pots just to see which will grow the best as I've no idea. 

I had a bit of nightmare at the beginning with the seeds not taking but then ended up with 14 plants so I've given some to my allotment neighbours and so it started 'who can grow the biggest pumpkin'!

The ones in the ground are in full sun all day (although I did have to shade them the other day as it looked like the sun was killing them off!) - the ones in pots are in the shade.

Any growing tips greatfully received!

Andrea

[aelf]

i watched a programme on growing pumpkins and it seems it's down to how well you feed them. But if you overfeed them when they are small, the plants keel over. Seems you have to build up the concentration and volume of what you feed so the plants get used to it. Feed includes well rotted manure and tom/comfrey feed (and loads of other 'secret stuff'!)

I do grow pumpkins but don't overdo the feed - I have to share it around the plot - but I get pumpkins about the size of medecin balls (remember them?) and they do for me.
Hope that helps