School pumkin project

[Percy T]

Well, here I am again jumping in with both feet.

Ok so a wee while back, when all my seeds arrived and whilst I was in the grip of GYO fever, I suggest to my grandchildrens schools that they might like to grow a pumkin for halloween.

good idea you may think, well thank you I though so too.

Except................................................................


I have never grown pumkins before and didnt really consider the requirements of these veg, just though it would be fun for the kids.

So, I have two pumkin seedlings just appearing above the surface of the soil (in a large pot) and am very surprise how big they are.

I thought the kids could take turns to take it home at the weekend to look after it and during holiday, not sure if this is going to be possible, the post I have read regarding pumkins suggest they are very big plants that sort of spread.

Ok so this is what I need help with.

1. how big are these plants going to get?

2. can I plant them in say half an 60 litre bag of compost for the schools?

3. how can I suggest they water them during holidays and weekends?

4. how much room will need to be allocated for them?

5. Can they be grown in the classroom or do they have to be outside?

sorry for all the silly questions.

[shirlthegirl43]

I grew pumpkins for the first time last year and two plants covered an area 8 foot by 5 foot in the garden even with quite harsh trimming. They will deffo need to be outdoors and will not really be mobile. They require a lot of water if you want a good size fruit. Sorry, probably not what you wanted to hear - any chance that the school kids could just come and visit your lottie or garden to see the pumpkins growing? Also, I planted mine on a pile of well rotted manure covered with some multi-purpose compost for looks and buried a 2litre pop bottle top down with the bottom cut off so that I could get water to the roots. Good luck with them.

[TPeers]

Silly question in return - what variety of pumpkin? If you planted Atlantic Giant you have no hope of moving it! The pumpkins, if well looked after can be the size of a wheelbarrow!

Generally I would say that you won't be able to trundle the plants around - despite the garden thuggery aspect of the foliage, the stems are quite fragile!

Does the school in question have summer holiday activities, if so it would be possible to access to water. Alternatively can you get the school caretaker on board - he/she will be in the school through out the holidays and may be prepared to water for you.

If it is important to be able to move the plants my best suggestion would be a small variety like 'Becky' (each fruit is about melon/watermelon size) and plant it into an old wheelbarrow. It will probably outgrow the space and you would have to feed the plant every week but I think that might give it the best shot. (No more than one plant per wheelbarow!)

You would need a series of children who all live within a reasonable trundle of each other but since I assume this is for Primary or Junior level children the catchments are generally only a circular mile.

As to a source of old wheelbarrows - ask your local builders - if you tell them what it is for you might even find a sponser who might contribute something to the school!

Good luck, it sounds like fun and I hope it works out!

Terry

[Percy T]

Thanks for the help chaps & chapess's

the pumkins are spellbound.

one of the schools is a preschool which doubles as an afterschool club so will be open during holidays but not at weekends.

The other one is a primary school and I do believe that they have a caretaker and hopefully will come on board.