I first developed this method acting some nineteen yr ago for growing squash and have been refining it ever since . It is think to bring forth the largest vine potential ( 12’+ ) by the idealistic fruit congeal date of June 20 to July 10th ( found on my get season ) . The 2nd welfare is to find 80 to 90 % of the Cucurbita pepo ’s growth by August 20th . In my surface area , cool night often start out occur the last week in August and can slow the yield ’s growth . You also ant the pumpkin to age presently enough to stay on the vine for at least a week after it stops grow to let it inure off to prevent premature spoiling .
cite the pursuit to liken your area with the growing season this method was developed for .
- modal frost - free maturate time of year : May 25 to September 15th
late recorded icing since 1973 : June 10th ( not a pop hoar )
Earliest recorded frost since 1973 : August 25th ( not a killing frost )
belated recorded snowfall since 1973 : May 9th ( all - time disc )
- Earliest immortalise snowfall since 1973 : October 10th ( all - time book )
SOIL PREPARATION:(reference fig:1 ) devise your dirt as you would for any other method of giant pumpkin maturate , but do it as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring . Well - drained deep loam is the best . After you have prepare the land make a large directly - topped mound roughly 4′ around and 3′ high . Before you unearth the inner locate a heavy window , i.e. : one from an aluminum tempest windowpane , and apply it to mold the size of the hole . The planting hole should be approximately 8″ cryptical with interior and external wall pitch to prevent them from caving in . Then bury a soil heating cable about 4″ under the bottom of the planting pickle . If you do not have approach to electricity you’re able to still use this method acting and get practiced solvent . Place a insipid rock or a piece of ticket on top of the soil in the center of the pickle , this will be used to deflect water you teem in and protect the root scheme . The outside walls of the heap should be covered with black plastic to increase the heating by the sun . Then place the window on top to commence warm the soil and keep the inside watered even before planting to foreclose the walls from dry out and cave in .
Planting : I establish my seeded player on April 15 plus or minus a Clarence Shepard Day Jr. or so .
Two days before planting hoopla in the soil heating system cable , ( if usable ) , to keep the solid ground warm day and night . institute the seed about 1″ deeply around the bottom edge of the hole near the outside walls . I would set eight to ten seeds if you have them . To increase germination you’re able to treat the seeds with a fungicide that is number for seminal fluid treatment . After set post the windowpane directly on the soil .
Care : Before Germination : Keep window flush against the top of the planting pickle until the seeds start to crack the flat coat . Exception : if the temperature is break to be above 70 degree place two stick , approximately 1″ thick , one under each side of the window . “Keep soil wet!!”Even in rainy weather , the soil can dry out under the window . Every night , Robert Frost or not , fuddle some sort of cloth or blanket over the glass touching the ground on all face . If it bamboozle leave the cover on sidereal day and night until the weather becomes sunny .
After sprouting : Keep the two stick under the glass at all times . They can do better on a cloudy twenty-four hours if the window is down moneyed , but if you forget it and the Dominicus come out the plants may be killed . As mentioned above , every night frost or not , throw some sorting of fabric or blanket over the looking glass touch the solid ground on all side . If it pull the wool over someone’s eyes leave the blanket on day and night until the weather becomes sunny . If eminent winds are predicted to weight the window down with a couple of bricks . Make certain the dirt does n’t become too ironical .
As the plants grow resurrect the windows so the leaves do n’t touch the glass by adding two more stick in the opposite instruction each time . When the plants have become so big that the window is eight or more inches above the soil , remove them . straight off erect a wall of drinking glass or plastic around the mound for a shelterbelt . Make it so you’re able to place sticks across the top to support blanket if there is going to be a frost . When the plants begin to station runners over the top of the hole attach them down in two directions with twine looped around the vine great enough to earmark for increment . Keep these on until the plant life sends down roots from the vine . The shelterbelt should be leave in place until the plant is so big it makes it impractical . A windbreak around the whole Pumpkin patch is recommended at all fourth dimension for adept results .
Thinning : As the works crowd each other , begin thinning . When the plants have three to four leaf you should be down to four works one on each side of the hole . When its time to put up the windbreak you should be down to two . in conclusion when the plants have four human foot vine fragile to one . This is when you look at the industrial plant you ’ve just pulled out and wonder if you have just killed the next“World ’s Record Pumpkin ” “ . Even so , you must thin to one flora to grow a really big one .
Pest Control : With this other planting may come pests you usually do not see on Pumpkins planted later . The two major problem are some sort of Root Maggot and the Strawberry Root Aphid . The land should be kept treated with a liquid insecticide mixture that is listed for dominance of root maggot . This will work well on the aphid too . When you ’re thinning vigil for the low white maggot or the sorry - green aphid on the roots to supervise your success or failure .
by George Brooks
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Last update : Fri Sep 06 10:30:00PM CST 1996
