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Pumpkin finishing or does it have time?
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Posted by
williammorgan 6b (
My Page) on
Tue, Jul 24, 12 at 11:27
| I don't have the exact date the seeds were sown but figure it was some time in April. I lost a lot of pumpkins to the slugs, snails, caterpillars etc. So I really didn't keep track of when and what was replaced. The vine this pumpkin grows off of started taking off mid June. My photograph probably makes it a little more orange than it really is. It's either a Prizewinner hybrid or BigMax. Both have this type of flesh before ripening. It is growing still and did so a little over night.
Can anyone tell by the color if it's finishing up? It has been getting a little more yellowish orange over the last few days. My own feeling is it probably dates from mid to late April which might give it about another month.
I would like to see it grow bigger. Not easy to grow pumpkins in the backyard because of space and lack of good soil all over the place. It has some siblings growing in my greenhouse though which can pack the calories on much faster. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Pumpkin finishing or does it have time?
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| It still has time. You've accurately described the challenge with these pumpkins, they're pretty much always some shade of orange. The best indicator I have is when the pumpkin loses most of its gloss. When they are ripe they become almost dull. All pumpkins/squash/gourds have a nice gloss when they are young that they lose when they are ripe. Another decent indicator is the tendril next to the pumpkin, when it starts dying and turns completely brown the pumpkin should be ready to pick. |
RE: Pumpkin finishing or does it have time?
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| Learn something new every day. I thought that when my pumpkin turned orange, it WAS ripe....at least by Jack-O-Lantern standards. I have a couple of pumpkins growing this year and am a little alarmed at how quickly they are turning orange (probably due to the heat.) Don't want to hijack the thread, and I think this ? is appropriate to the discussion. What is a ballpark length of time that a pumpkin can stay on the vine after turning orange before it rots? Thanks. |
RE: Pumpkin finishing or does it have time?
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| I think you are confusing the subject. There are different kinds of pumpkins. The one above is a Cucurbita maxima, most jack-o-lantern types are C. pepo. If a pumpkin starts off green and turns orange then yes when it is fully orange it is ripe. However the above pumpkin starts off a yellow-orange and ripens to a red-orange, since it never has a green phase you can't determine ripeness based on it changing colors. There are C. pepos that start of yellow-orange as well, like 'Jack be little' for example. There really isn't a good ballpark time for how long they can stay on the vine after ripening. It depends on what pest/disease pressures you have and if you do anything to treat/prevent them. Weather is also a factor. If you have a field of ripe pumpkins and a huge thunderstorm is coming all that moisture could negatively impact the ripe fruit by spreading various fruit rots. If I had to pull a number out of thin air I'd say 2 - 3 weeks. |
RE: Pumpkin finishing or does it have time?
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| Thanks for the info Trev. Yeah 2-3 weeks could be it but I'm thinking back to another I grew, same type and I picked in I think in September(late)or early Oct(we get freezes often times around the 10th). I also tend to start my pumpkins at the same time, too early. I'm sure it was done long before that but I let it turn to a fiesta orange color if you will. That kind of answers Ed's question too who isn't hijacking this thread because all input and speculation is welcome. Pumpkin can take some cold and can certainly stay outside for long after the frost. That's what I find here but I should clarify by frost I mean soft frosts. We certainly get diseases in the NE with Fall rain. It would be difficult and probably not worth trying to prevent the powdery mildew. Pumpkin is growing a bit and another I saw grow today. It actually grew from the 4 am thunder till the afternoon. That Pumpkin is sheltered(somewhat)and has a 4 foot carpet to sink it's feet into.I have high hopes the other one just hits a vein and explodes. I have to be optimistic ;) |
RE: Pumpkin finishing or does it have time?
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| Ok, thanks. Definitely learned something new. This year I have 2 Connecticut Field pumpkin vines. One in a container, and the vine is growing on top of 18" x 18" brick colored pavers. The other is in the ground, but the existing ground cover is gravel mulch. Both plants are less than 8 weeks old, and both have a soccer ball sized pumpkins on them that are beginning to turn orange. I'm sure the hot sunny weather, and the hot pavers and gravel are making them ripen fast. Green last week, half orange this week. It's really amazing...I was worried about having a ripe pumpkin by October, because we only put these out in early June. Today I wrapped a piece of cardboard in a white trash bag and put it under each of them to try and slow things down. Hopefully we can let them sit on the vine for at least another month or so. Thanks again. |
RE: Pumpkin finishing or does it have time?
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| I want to say I grew the Connecticut Field last year and they can finish pretty fast at 110 days. Don't know if other factors kick in the ripening like light but if they're turning orange they wont be long. The kind I'm growing start yellow and turn orangish then pale orange. Post some pics. Those pumpkins often grow only the size of a soccer ball. If you don't see any growth as they turn they're ripening. If they do ripen They still can stick around until Halloween. Others might know better than me the best place to store them. I've often left the pumpkins outside and they do fine. |
RE: Pumpkin finishing or does it have time?
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| Good looking pumpkin and nice pic of it! I have tried growing pumpkins before and they often get in trouble w/ fungus before the very end. I think if it doesn't get the fungus, you could keep it growing to get bigger. Although April/May might have been a bit early for planting them unless your frost date is earlier than ours around here! You could try putting some straw under it to help keep it more fungus free and I've heard of some people lifting it up and putting a piece of plywood under it, also. I've always wanted to try growing the "giant" pumpkin!! Maybe next yr! lol! This yr I am growing mini pumpkins and also some neat looking gourds!! They are coming in now and I hope they're not coming in too early. |
RE: Pumpkin finishing or does it have time?
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| Ok, so here they are. These pics were from 3 days ago. They don't look too orange here but trust me, there is a little orange showing, more than last week, and there is even more in the last 3 days of 90 degree heat and sunshine. I've grown some big Connecticut Field pumpkins (20-25 pounders) in the past, but these don't look like they'll be more than 10-15 pounds tops. Not sure if they are still getting bigger/heaver. Hope they hang on for my 5 year old's sake. October seems a long way away. |
RE: Pumpkin finishing or does it have tiime?
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| Other pumpkin. Is there a way to upload 2 pictures at once with this new upload system, or do we have to use the old way to get more than one pic per post? |
RE: Pumpkin finishing or does it have time?
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| Oh wow! That is cool that they are gowing on your patio! Or whatever that brick is! That green one at least ought to last til Oct. Some Amish around here have some large air conditioned or they are cooled somehow w/ generators to keep their produce and fruit in, especially fruit like apples, pears, pumpkins, peaches especially when they have come in a little on the early side. Just try to keep your pumpkins cool if they are coming in a little early!! I guess by where you live, you were correct in when you should have planted them!! Best of luck w/ them. I am sure you'll get a couple of them at least for Oct! |
RE: Pumpkin finishing or does it have time?
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| I can differentiate Ed, you've got a little more time. The main problem with where they are is they can't suck up anything too good. I don't have ideal conditions myself. I have mine fish emulsion and then I watered right around the pumpkin but not on top or to disturb the leaves too much. Right where the pumpkin starts is a shoot going through the ground. It's a straw. At risk of attacking the sponsors on this site don't give it koolaid but give it the fish stuff. Compost would be sloppy there and would not work because it's best to work below the surface however the Alaska fish emulsion could give it a boost. Not too much. You can mix it up but it's a bit easier if you just give it a squirt and then water. I take the nozzle right off and just rinse it in. Stinks like you can't imagine but it's got high nitrogen and trace minerals. There are some other ways to fertilize but some find it offensive or gross. You can also sprinkle some slow release stuff. I prefer Espoma products. Fish emulsion in my experience works best until you've got great soil. I've got way too many beds a waiting. You've got some time I think. Ct. Field doesn't grow too too big. I don't want to get your hopes up but I am most definitely in favor of encouraging 5 year olds to garden. 1 container of Fish emulsion is $8 at home depot if they have any. It stinks but bnot after you wash it in. That 8 bucks to me is worth the investment. Don't go too heavy though it can burn in high dozes. Dont get any on your shoes or under your finger nails...it really doesn't come off. |
RE: Pumpkin finishing or does it have time?
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| I'm always pushing things Liz. I'm impatient and know my weather can turn to yuck in August. Pumpkins have fairly good storage times. I don't worry too too much about that. The pumpkin I have and pumpkins I have were all started early and experienced cold despite a warm spring. My yard with trees all around is like 100x120 or something. I'm damn proud with a 40 lb pumpkin in this clime. I used some tricks but I got things done. Give me an open field and I could do a whole lot better. |
RE: Pumpkin finishing or does it have time?
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| Thanks everyone for the encouragement and suggestions. Will update results. Thanks again. Ed |
RE: Pumpkin finishing or does it have time?
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| Still growing, grew a little today over the past 2 or 3 hours or so. I have her some melted fish emulsion ice cream as a treat and washed it down with well water. Oh it's no 300 lb'er to be but it is growing on a lawn and even right now as is it is a big pumpkin for where it is located. You can give it all the fertilizer you want but if that tap root below the connection can't get down into the ground it wont do much. The top soil is only about 6 inches deep I think. Calling it top soil is a stretch though. I'm hoping the fish emulsion being almost like mud will allow the nutrients to stick aound a bit longer than say the koolaid fertilizers. |
RE: Pumpkin finishing or does it have time?
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| If it keeps on swelling like it has been and tolerates the feedings I think now I pass my own backyard record of 40 lbs. It's probably 15-17 lbs right now. Key word my record. Still not sure which variety it is. It's not too too uniform so I think it might be BigMax. |
RE: Pumpkin finishing or does it have time?
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| I've been wondering about harvesting my pumpkins too. There are two, one more coming maybe. The garden is too small for a pumpkin plant, so I trailed it out of the garden and down the alley. I hate to pick it because local walkers, neighbors and kids are enjoying it so much. Can it wait another couple of weeks? I don't seem to be having a problem with pests, but not sure what is going on underneath of course; it's on a styro meat tray. (PS This is a volunteer from last year's purchased Halloween pumps.) 
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RE: Pumpkin finishing or does it have time?
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| I've left ripe pumpkins on the vine. I've cut them and set them aside no problems. Nice pumpkin btw. There is a lot of time if you're thinking of jack o lanterns so keep it out of the sun is about all I can say. It looks very dry there. Others probably know more about the only thing i know is nature wants it to rot to form new pumpkins. |
RE: Pumpkin finishing or does it have time?
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Love the pumpkin thread!
I planted big max on June 6th. No pumpkins yet but I have some flowers that are going to be blooming soon.
I was wondering, with the fish emulsion, how often to feed the pumpkins? I fed the whole garden with it a few weeks ago as well as applied all purpose fert granular around each plant. I currently had four plants. |
RE: Pumpkin finishing or does it have time?
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| Gotta be a little careful with the fish emulsion because it can kill in high doses. I've got an established pumpkin so I'm going to take a chance. It's not going to rot anything and if the pumpkin stops so be it. If it wants to eat like Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors who am I to argue? If it grows overnight or grows again from 9 am to noon like it did today I might feed it again. Don't copy me though...I know my pumpkin is going to finish in a month or less...I like to experiment. Really depends on how it reacts. Also I have time to water it several times a day. So I'm basically flushing out the fish food several times a day. |
RE: Pumpkin finishing or does it have time?
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| What if you just use the recommended dilution in a sprayer? |
RE: Pumpkin finishing or does it have time?
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| You can't use fish emulsion in a sprayer it has too much sediment. I often give a few squirts into a juice container and fill with water and shake until James Bond would be satisfied...okay not that much shaking and some squirts are bigger than others. Overnight my pumpkin grew less and it's been fertilized 2 times this week. So over fertilizing might prove to be a waste. If the plant is young it's not going to have the roots to handle too much fertilizer. I've used other types of fertilizers as well. Those can be much stronger. The fish emulsion isn't very high in nitrogen compared with fertilizers with urea in them or some chicken manure product. I've killed seedlings with fish emulsion though by taking a container basically empty, filling wit water and pouring over the top. You don't want to spray fish emulsion on the leaves. You might not want to spray it to begin with if given the chance the spray might come your way and ruin your whole day. |
RE: Pumpkin finishing or does it have time?
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| Haha I used a dial and spray from ortho and it worked just fine :) regarding it spraying my way that would suck it smells bad! |
RE: Pumpkin finishing or does it have time?
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| Exactly that's why you don't spit into the wind, you don't pull the mask off the lone ranger and you try to keep fish emulsion off of your fingers...;) I wouldn't dare use a spray bottle. i have a well and it has 20 gallons per minute with no sort of shut off or regulating the flow...it would be a fish emulsion bomb blowing up in my face. It breaks brass nozzles. I usually water with my thumb which is fine because I'm not looking to water forever. |
RE: Pumpkin finishing or does it have time?
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| Well, I found out why my pumpkins were ahead of schedule......It wasn't due to my superior gardening skills (:-)), or the weather. It was STRESS from squash vine borer larvae. I dug out about half a dozen of the suckers from both plants. Bummer. I then flooded the area with insecticide, but the vine was pretty well shredded. Not sure if they will survive. The weird thing was that the container pumpkin had more larvae in it than the pumpkin growing in the ground. Live and learn. I haven't grown pumpkins in a while, so I know what to watch out for next year. |
RE: Pumpkin finishing or does it have time?
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| I think my pumpkin is slowing up. Photo is deceiving because it's really a little more orange. That assumes of course my eyes aren't a little more white. In any case the death march I think is on. There is a coolness in the air. Last year almost all my vines rotted thanks to a hurricane and several other storms. I do have another perfectly round one in my greenhouse. Basketball size right now. I have several other younger pumpkin vines elsewhere. So i might have things covered. I was trying to create a Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown Patch. In many ways I've accomplished some of that. I've got vines up the wazoo. Sorry to hear that Ed. Pumpkins are fussy plants I think. They want the best compost you have and then some but they want it not too dry and not too wet. If they get the latter any bug can bore in like a fist through a wet paper bag. They want deep rich soil with an almost shredded wheat infestation of organic matter. I don't think i'll make 40 lbs on this pumpkin. Holding out hope on the other. Backyarders have it rough when it comes to big pumpkins because rarely do they have deep soil with lots of compost to spare. |
re:help!
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| This is my front yard Big Max almost a wk ago..the vine is dying quickly...it is about 43" in diameter...est. weight is about 40+lbs...slowing down in growth...main vine has been crushed...weather getting cold in eve, hardly any day sun reaching it...on plastic cake plate...no pests, yet...alittle oranger...threats include upcoming frost,critters,neighbor hood "let's steal it'" little people..lol...Question-Can I harvest now and what to do if I harvest to keep from rotting? I thank you kindly for any help. I love this baby I've nurtured from a seed in my pot from mid May. Nancy |
help!
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| This is my front yard Big Max almost a wk ago..the vine is dying quickly...it is about 43" in diameter...est. weight is about 40+lbs...slowing down in growth...main vine has been crushed...weather getting cold in eve, hardly any day sun reaching it...on plastic cake plate...no pests, yet...alittle oranger...threats include upcoming frost,critters,neighbor hood "let's steal it'" little people..lol...Question-Can I harvest now and what to do if I harvest to keep from rotting? I thank you kindly for any help. I love this baby I've nurtured from a seed in my pot from mid May. Nancy |
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