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  • pumpkins..disaster!

    I bought Atlantic Giant seeds which were pretty extortionate for the 10 in the pack....and the dog ate one so we ended up with 9 planted, 6 survivors which we planted in the garden and the allotment. The 3 at the allotment were put in ground full of well rotted horse manure and grew like triffids. Unfortunately most of the flowers were male. We ended up with four pumpkins on three plants. One is the size of a tennis ball, one grew long then went all soggy and rotten, one is about the size of a turnip and has split (lack of water followed by rain like tomatoes do?) the only decent sized one is still well under supermarket size and is a most peculiar shape. The damn things grew like triffids, took up an entire bed virtually and didnt even give us one decent lantern let alone a giant one or two. Boo is most discombobulated as she is obviously dying to buy a real one but doesnt want to hurt my feelings. To rub it in that vine has now died and the pumpkin fallen off so it has had to come home where it is mocking me. The plants at home are in a well rotted dalek compost bin. two died and the survivor has crawled all over the hedge and into the chickens. fantastic leaves still going strong and about 6 golf balls. Two of them have been chickened. OK what did I do?????

  • #2
    also they grew the wrong way.Is there any way you can tell which way they will go when you plant them out?

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    • #3
      Not wanting to rub salt into the wound but............thought I would grow enough for the grandkids for halloween (5 grandkids of age to appreciate pumpkins) Managed to supply them and have four left!
      Grew three types and luckily it was the 'Halloween' types that did well..........the other types were a waste of space.
      Methinks its all to do with what variety prospers in your area and also how good a summer we have (which wasn't the best this year.) A couple of my other varieties are still growing and have tennis ball sized fruit at the mo.

      PS Just noticed your second post Baldrick. I managed to turn mine around gradually to grow the way I wanted them by bending the leader a bit at a time and pushing a cane into the ground to hold it in position. You have to be careful though as they snap very easily.
      Last edited by Snadger; 22-10-2011, 07:08 PM.
      My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
      to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

      Diversify & prosper


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      • #4
        something like opposite the first main leaf....
        don't worry, I had only the one real pumpkin this year, everything else was carp.

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        • #5
          I grew 2 and Hundred weight pumpkins one plant gave up early on and the second went on to produce a pumpkin just slightly larger than a tennis ball
          I gave some seeds to my niece next door and she ended up with 5 pumpkins the largest one being huge not exactly hundred weight but impressive looking.
          Location....East Midlands.

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          • #6
            OK thanks all. I will beg some seeds from plots that did well and try again next year.

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            • #7
              Originally posted by taff View Post
              something like opposite the first main leaf....
              don't worry, I had only the one real pumpkin this year, everything else was carp.
              hmmmmmmm.....caaaaaarp!!!
              <*}}}>< Jonathan ><{{{*>

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              • #8
                I have never had any luck with squashes - both carving pumpkins and culinary ones - tried for 2 years now and never had a pumpkin to show.
                Dont forget the weather has been very stange this year, which wouldnt have helped either. Infact Old Monty was saying HE'D had a bad year with them, so dont loose heart!

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                • #9
                  It was a poor year for squashes here: none of them did well

                  Also, don't give them too much nitrogen (like a compost heap) as you'll get lots of foliage at the expense of fruits
                  All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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                  • #10
                    There's a right and wrong direction?

                    And thanks, two-sheds, you've just shed light on what may have happened to Gladys. Bruno's baby is still waiting to be sacrificed
                    Horticultural Hobbit

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by horticultural_hobbit View Post
                      There's a right and wrong direction?

                      And thanks, two-sheds, you've just shed light on what may have happened to Gladys. Bruno's baby is still waiting to be sacrificed
                      yes, over the path and the potatoes leaving an empty pumpkin patch is absolutely the wrong direction!
                      Too well fed then :-(

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                      • #12
                        a bad year for pumpkins???

                        Not in my patch - the squashes weren't great but mainly because they got crowded out by "the beast"



                        We've brought it home to protect from the horrid peeps that nicked last years...
                        Attached Files

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                        • #13
                          wow awesome!

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                          • #14
                            No such joy here, sadly. I am determined though, that next year I shall have a Pumpkin to be proud of!
                            Garden Chris

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                            • #15
                              Same here Baldrick, terrible disappointment. I supplied the pumpkins for carving last year for my grandchildren, so decided to grow more and different varieties this year, a couple of which were given to me by another grape. I had one, very small, Blue Moon to show for my efforts. Win some lose some, it'll not stop me trying again next year.
                              Granny on the Game in Sheffield

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