Elroy's 2009 giant pumpkin growers diary, Growing pumpkins to the extreme

[EMorgan]

Hello all and welcome to another year in growing pumpkins.Its been a very cold winter here with temps getting to -30 below a couple of nights in january brrrrr.I been busy all winter remodeling our bedroom and still not really done since spring has come and I have to think growing pumpkins now.In the pic the snow is almost gone and much of it is gone from the garden just water standing.To the right of the pic I grew my 1,026lbs and my 975lbs last year and to the left I never got any pumpkins out of there since both split and its new ground as of last year.I will have better nutrients this year in the new garden.The garden closest to the camera I will grow my long gourds this year off to the far corner somewhere and the rest of the garden I will plant sudan grass.I still have a pile of composted manure in the background and I will spread that in about 3 weeks along with all the other amendments that I have.I do have my 3 seeds picked already and its the 1026 morgan and definitly my 975 morgan since that pumpkin went quite heavy with good genetics also I'm growing the 1385 jutras.The jutras seed will be planted in the new garden site or to the left of the pic.Still up in the air with the 4th seed maybe the 1161 rodonnis or a werner seed.I think I'll know more my next post which will be in a week.Elroy

Attached Image (Click thumbnail to expand)

[EMorgan]

Another shot of my garden just about snow free.I'm hoping to rototill in 3 weeks.Its been a rainy day today.I'm going to start my seeds started around april 22nd in doors.I hope to have my greenhouses up by may 1st and pumpkins transplanted may 3rd-6th in the greenhouses.I will have heaters this year set on timers to go on at dusk and turn off at dawn.Something new this year!I will be posting step by step on how to get your seedlings started since I have a few guys around my area that will be viewing my post on how to start the seedlings.Elroy

Attached Image (Click thumbnail to expand)

[EMorgan]

What a difference one week makes!Snow is gone,frost is gone and the garden is starting to dry up,even the grass starting to look green.Still can't decide on that final seed to grow.I could grow another jutras seed or a rose seed.I still do have another week to go.Looking at my soil test and it looks like I need to get more calcium in my soil and everything else looks a-ok.

Attached Image (Click thumbnail to expand)

[EMorgan]

Here are some of the seed starting mix I will get started.On the right is the organic choice potting mix that I have used the last year and again this year and worm castings are ausome!Mix 50/50 with the potting mix is how I do it.On the left is the mycorrhizal inoculant I use about 1/4cup into the seed starting mix sometime I add a little more and I also add some blood meal for some nitrogen boost something I did last year.I put a teaspoon of Rootshield in the mix for the control of root diseases and also Actinovate an organic fungicide I been using for a few years now.Just a teaspoon of that.Mix it all up and put them in 4inch peat pots.I soak my peat pots in warm water first then place your seeds in the seed starting mix and I always use heat mats to place under the pots and put a cover on and seeds will germinate within 3-7 days.I've also used a cooler in the past and it worked quite well.Place your peat pots in a cooler and add boiling water to a plastic jug with the lid off and place it into the cooler and refill it with hot water every so often after the water starts to cool off.Keep the lid closed to the cooler to keep heat and humidity in.Inside the cooler it should be 85 to 90 degrees while germinating the pumpkin seeds.

This post has been edited by EMorgan on Apr 14 2009, 12:41 AM

Attached Image (Click thumbnail to expand)

[EMorgan]

A closer look at the actinovate I've used in the last few years.If anyone ever has a problem with powdery mildew late season this is the stuff to have.I haven't had powdery mildew since 04 on my pumpkins and it also controls and suppresses root rot and many other diseases!

Attached Image (Click thumbnail to expand)

[EMorgan]

Here is my new garden site of last year just extended the sides by 2 ft and far over just extended it 2 feet longer on both pumpkin patches sunday.The garden is bone dry and we do need rain.The first 1 inch is just dust.Rain is comming though.Today I got a free truck load of compost from hawk ridge farms in Unity.Thank you Cris Bales for the pick up load!I'm going to bury all vines with this compost and spread it on top for a weed suppressant.It worked well last year so I'm going with it again this year!I'm going to start my seeds april 24th and I will have pics to post just 4 more days.I'm going with my 2 seeds the 1,026lbs and my 975lbs Morgan,the 1385jutras and the 1566 Rodonis.If the 1385 and the 1556 doesn't come up I will go with the 1161 Rodonis and the 1556 werner.Temps getting in the 70s this weekend I'm going to start to add all my amendmends to the patches and rototill it in all well.I will be on vacation next week so I will be putting up my greenhouses after my rototilling gets done.I will be posting in 4 days!Go Boston Bruins!Elroy

This post has been edited by EMorgan on Apr 21 2009, 10:03 PM

Attached Image (Click thumbnail to expand)

[EMorgan]

Here are my seeds I'm starting.I soaked the seeds in a wet paper towel for 15 hours.It was suppose to be 12 hours but never got to it until then.I soaked them in towels with seaweed solution with the seed inside and placed them in a tray under a heat mat but first I filed the edges of the seed so the moisture penetrates the seed better.My next pic will show how I filed the seeds!

Attached Image (Click thumbnail to expand)

[EMorgan]

Here is how I file the 1385 jutras seed before soaking them in a seaweed solution.After 12 hours I get my 3 inch peat pots ready and put holes all through it with a pen or pencil then soak it in warm water.Meanwhile in a bowl I mix up my organic potting mix with my worm castings half an half add 3tablespoons of blood meal and 2 tablespoons of humic acid 1/4 cup of seaweed and 1/4 cup of mycorrizal fungi from RTI.I also add a tablespoon of rootshield and 2 teaspoon full of actinovate.I only put 2 cups of water in since the worm castings had alot of moisture in it and mixed it all up and placed in the peat pots.I placed my seeds pointed end down in the potting mix until the mix just covers the seed,then put the peat pots in a tray with a cover and place them over a heat mat.Do not over water them or the seeds may not germinate.I will post more when my seeds germinate in 3-5 days.My season doesn't start until my plants are all up!Elroy

This post has been edited by EMorgan on Apr 24 2009, 11:47 PM

Attached Image (Click thumbnail to expand)

[EMorgan]

After 71 hours just shy of 3 days my first 1026 Morgan seed was comming out.The rest of my seeds has not came up yet!I put my amendments in the soil today and rototilled it all in and now my pumpkin patch is ready for the greenhouses to be built.I will post more on my greenhouses as time goes on.

Attached Image (Click thumbnail to expand)

[EMorgan]

Temps reached 90 degrees today as my son and I built the frame for the greenhouses today.We had to take frequent water breaks throughout the afternoon and I got a very bad sunburn also.We never attemped to put the plastic up since winds were very windy and also lost power due to the winds.I will try to put up the plastic on wednesday if the winds are calmer.The 1385 jutras seed came up in 4 days.Still waiting on the other 2 seeds.Elroy

Attached Image (Click thumbnail to expand)

[EMorgan]

The Rodonis seed came up in 5 and a half days but my 975 still never came up so as a precaution I filed another seed and soaking it overnight then I will plant it the morning.All the plastic on my greenhouses are up and now working on the irrigation inside the greenhouses.It is very dry so I'm going to mist inside my greenhouses on friday to keep microbes active.After another week after I spray my soil with agrow-k a couple days before planting I will put a weed mat down in the greenhouses to keep weed from growing.I did this the last few years and it works very well up until the plastic comes off then the weed mat comes off.

[EMorgan]

I have no pic and its been awile since I posted but it has been some odd hours for me at work so the the plants are still under grow lights.All my plants are doing fine except my 975 never germinated even the secound time so I tried the third time with several seeds and got one with a club root with a paper towel and planted it but broke the root and still planted it anyway and now its starting to break through the dirt.I have another 975 that I planted and it rooted in nice but has not broke dirt yet and is another club root but my PB was started a club root in 08 that grew my 1026.The 2 long gourd seeds just came up the 106 lovelace and the 111 lovelace now under grow lights.My 3 pumpkin plants are going in the greenhouses this weekend and maybe by tuesday my 975 will go in also.I will have pics soon!Elroy

[EMorgan]

My 1026 and the 1566 rodonnis went in the greenhouse this evening.Its a humid night and the plants will be ok for the night until I put my space heaters in sunday.I still have the 1385 jutras which came up ragged but looks like it will do fine.I have a 975 up and another comming up by sunday all under grow lights.I will plant my 1385 sunday and my 975 will go in when I can see my first true leaf maybe in a couple of days.I hope to plant my long gourds in by the end of next week! I'll have pics sunday night!Elroy

[EMorgan]

Here are my 2 plants I planted saturday night.Closest to the camera is the 1556 rodonnis and fartest back is my 1026 morgan.Its been a cool windy day with no sun so I kept the greenhouses closed all day.It was very warm inside!

Attached Image (Click thumbnail to expand)

[EMorgan]

Here is my 1385 jutras plant just got planted sunday afternoon.Plant had some yellowing of the leaves but its in the ground now and it will look greener as time goes on.I will plant my 975 in the same greenhouse as my 1385 soon.I put pvc pipes as stakes to support the frost blankets then I put a space heater under it to keep the plants warm.I have them on timers to go off at day break and go on at dusk.We're expecting frost tonight and monday night around here.

Attached Image (Click thumbnail to expand)

[EMorgan]

Here are my 2 long gourd trelises.I added an 8 ft 2x4 in between the trellises and attached both of them.The plants start gowing on both sides of the trellis and up and over the middle where I will pollinate the flower and allow the long gourd to grow down from the middle.Something new for me this year.I will work on the trellises more next weekend where the plants may go out by sunday.

Attached Image (Click thumbnail to expand)

[EMorgan]

here is my 1385 jutras plant.Its starting to take off now!

Attached Image (Click thumbnail to expand)

[EMorgan]

Here is my Rodonis 1566.Plant is looking better than a week ago!

Attached Image (Click thumbnail to expand)

[EMorgan]

here is my 1026 morgan.So far my best plant in the patch.I tried to get a pic from my 975 just planted saturday evening but the pic would not go through on here so I'll tell you about it a little.Plant is small about a week later than the rest of the plants but I'm just happy to have it germinated.I have another 975 planted right beside it for backup.The long gourds never made it out because of frost expected monday night.Maybe wednesday it will go out.

Attached Image (Click thumbnail to expand)

[EMorgan]

We had a freeze tuesday morning.Outside my greenhouse was all white from the frost but inside my greenhouse was a toasty 76 degrees because of my space heaters was running all night.It got to 30 degrees.Mid to upper 80s expected thursday and near 80 friday!

[EMorgan]

here is my 975 morgan a little behind from the rest of the plants.Plant in the background is another 975 but just a backup

Attached Image (Click thumbnail to expand)

[EMorgan]

here is my 1385 jutras plant.Plant is growing well and has a vine of 5inches

This post has been edited by EMorgan on May 24 2009, 11:40 PM

Attached Image (Click thumbnail to expand)

[EMorgan]

here is my 1026 morgan and vining out now.Plant has a 9inch vine and notice my first tendral

This post has been edited by EMorgan on May 24 2009, 11:55 PM

Attached Image (Click thumbnail to expand)

[EMorgan]

here is my 1556 rodonis now my best plant in the patch now has a vine of 11 inches.I first spotted tendrals this morning and vine is growing just slightly to the right of where I want it.Still giving the heat to all my plants and expecting another frost and freeze warning again for monday night.

This post has been edited by EMorgan on May 25 2009, 12:08 AM

Attached Image (Click thumbnail to expand)

[EMorgan]

here is my 975 morgan just beginning to vine out.It does have a vine of 6 inches.

Attached Image (Click thumbnail to expand)

[EMorgan]

here is the 1385 jutras plant now has a vine of 1ft 2 inches.This plant has been slow from the start.

Attached Image (Click thumbnail to expand)

[EMorgan]

here is my 1026 morgan now has a vine of 2ft 4 inches.The vine is going right where I want it to go.

Attached Image (Click thumbnail to expand)

[EMorgan]

here is my 1556 rodonis plant still the fastest growing plant in the patch now has a vine of 2ft 11 inches.This pic was taken late after my wife accidently deleted the pic from earlier.I had to bury some of the main vine today.Thurday as I was working in the patch I had to evacuate my house since my neigbor won't cooperate with state police and he said he had explosives and it ended with a 7 hour standoff.Luckily I was heading for work when it all started and it was all over when I got home.Storms hit saturday afternoon and bangor got some hail but bradford only got heavy rain.Sundays storm we only got heavy rain with some very windy conditions when the storms hit.

This post has been edited by EMorgan on Jun 1 2009, 12:28 AM

Attached Image (Click thumbnail to expand)

[EMorgan]

here is my 2 long gourd plants,the 106 lovelace.I will cull one of them as time goes on.

This post has been edited by EMorgan on Jun 1 2009, 12:42 AM

Attached Image (Click thumbnail to expand)

[EMorgan]

here is the 111 lovelace long gourds.I will cull one of them as the plants get bigger.I planted them a week ago and since its been so cold the plants hasn't changed much in growing.

This post has been edited by EMorgan on Jun 1 2009, 12:43 AM

Attached Image (Click thumbnail to expand)