Is anyone growing pumpkins?

[4 chicks]

I'm growing pumpkins for the first time.they started growing fine but now they're small and not getting bigger. is there anything I can do to save them and help them grow?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Too late, I'm afraid. Pumpkins and squash (related cucurbits) are very intensive. They require enormous amounts of soil nutrients and copious amounts of water. Mine are finishing nicely. We'll likely have a ton to a ton and a half.

The patches that got the chicken manure and heavier irrigation are HUGE. Those patches with less of both, are considerably smaller.

 

[4 chicks]

Well, that's not good news!!! I will definatly use chicken manure it my patch for next year, thanks! Congratulations on your nice patch though!!

 

[HenFriend]

They need a good summer too, where I lived before we grew some in a plastic tunnel and they were huge. The last couple of years summers have been cool and wet and the pumpkins outside have failed, think I'll give up!

 

[4 chicks]

Well, I live in Illinois and our summer has been soo hot and soo dry!! I've tried watering them as much as possible but i guess not enough. They are good looking and healthy pumpkins....just small. Except some are still green.
Some one recommend adding some sugar to the water so I tried that today. Who knows..LOL

 

[kmatt87]

Too late, I'm afraid. Pumpkins and squash (related cucurbits) are very intensive. They require enormous amounts of soil nutrients and copious amounts of water. Mine are finishing nicely. We'll likely have a ton to a ton and a half.

The patches that got the chicken manure and heavier irrigation are HUGE. Those patches with less of both, are considerably smaller.

good to know.
my garden has failed the last 2 yrs. I think part of it is due to the soil quality (still a work in progress) and part of it is due to the heat.
I was going to do pumpkins for my kids next yr and give it a break from tomatoes, peppers, beans, peas, etc but i don't know if that would be a good idea now....

 

[DianaMallory]

I only planted a few, to dry lost most of them I have one healthy vine left that is thriving, blooming but no pumpkins on it!

 

[3forfree]

my wife always decorates the front of our house at halloween with straw bales pumpkins, mums and other things. The squirrels always get to the pumpkins and eat a hole in them every year. This year a pumpkin vine started growing in the bushes so I let it grow. It's about 25ft long right now and has 3 pumpkins about the size of my fist growing on it. First time that's happened.

 

[DianaMallory]

I only planted a few, to dry lost most of them I have one healthy vine left that is thriving, blooming but no pumpkins on it!

Finally I have 2 pumpkins on this vine! They are about the size of softballs, still very green I hope they make it!

 

[OkChickens]

Im planning on growing a few pumpkins and melon plants next year! What are a few tips to grow them?

Nate