1325 Pumpkin first Measurements

Today I put a tape on the 1325 pumpkin for the first time this year.  This is the latest I've ever done that.  It is ahead of last years pumpkin, but that doesn't say much, because last year's pumpkin slogged along for the first half of the season.  I'd say this year's weather has been comparably as bad as last year's.  So at this point I don't know what I've got.  Really, nothing typically matters until around day 28 after pollination and then you typically see what that plant is made of.  My pumpkin last year didn't really start doing okay until about day 36 last year.  I think the cold delayed everything and getting my potassium a little low delayed growth by a week or more last season.

I haven't named this pumpkin yet.  Wasn't sure if it was going to be my keeper, but I won't have the 2nd female on the main vine ready for another 4-6 days and this one seems to be doing okay.  I'll pollinate the 2nd one and keep my eye on both however.

Tent City in the Pumpkin Patch: Brrrrr

For the 2nd year in a row I'm dealing with freezing temperatures in June.  The 2051 plant, which my son is now going to take over, is about 4-5 days past due from being removed from the hoop house, but with three days of freezing temperatures we couldn't remove it, so the side vines are smashed against the sides and a hole for the main fine was cut and it is about 3-4 feet outside of the hoop house.  Self pollinated a female on it yesterday.

Created a tent city to keep the plants in the outdoors from freezing.  The greenhouse got two propane  heaters.  Also, foliar seaweeded the plant because I read once that seaweed can help reduce frosting a little.

Yea! I'm a Pumpkin Grower Again

Did the first pollination of the season at about 11 feet today on the 1325 Johnson plant.  I'm going to see if another female will come along in the next week and then decide which one to go with.  This one is a little early for the weigh-off date and I'd like to let the plant get a little bigger before going with my keeper, but we will see what happens.

Vine Growth, Pollination & Pumpkin Growing

Today I gave the plants some blood meal.   Part of the regular nitrogen fertilization I've been doing. The difference is that blood meal is a nitrate form of nitrogen which the plant reacts to a little differently.  When there is a lot of vine growth the nitrate demands are a little higher in the plant.  Blood meal, which is a good source of iron, is also an excellent organic source of nitrate nitrogen. 

In about a week, I'll be pollinating the first pumpkin of the season on the 1325 Johnson plant.  It is about at 11 feet.  I'd like to let this plant get a little bigger so I'm hoping for another female at about the 13-14 foot range, so I can get the vines filled out a little more prior to the pumpkin taking off.  Eddy Z talked about how he thought that to be important, because it gives enough plant to really drive nutrients to the pumpkin.  That is a theory I've also had for a number of years, but it is sometimes easier said then done.  You don't always get to choose when the females show up on the main vine, so pollinate them all.