team -pumpkin seminar 1 so, you want to grow a giant pumpkin... march 15, 2008 1pm presented by:...
TRANSCRIPT
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Team-Pumpkin
Seminar 1
“So, you want to grow a Giant Pumpkin”...
March 15, 2008 1pm
Presented by: Bart ToftnessMatt DeBacco
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Bart ToftnessCurrent State Record holder!
http://team-pumpkin.org/coppermine/displayimage.php?album=1&pos=1
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Matt DeBaccopersonal best 983 pounds
Photo by DeBacco
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Teammate comment:“Team-pumpkin was a great support for me in my
first year of serious growing. I found the advice to be honest and practical and it was easy for me to apply in my own growing situation.” -John
http://team-pumpkin.org
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How do I grow one of those pumpkins?
Select a growing area
Do a soil test (and amend your soil)
How to build a cold-frame
Germinate your giant pumpkin seeds
Pruning and fertilizing the plant
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Growing area:a backyard
Photo by DeBacco
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These plants can really grow!
While you are planning where to plant remember, each plant can take up to 500 to 1,000 square feet!!
500 sq. ft. is ~23' x 23'
I have had a plants vine grow 12” in one day!
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Can you spot Matt?
One Plant!!!Photo by DeBacco
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Large patch layout...
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/DisplayPhoto.asp?pid=4799
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Once the area is selected...
Mark the corners with stakes and then till the planting area.
Make sure the soil is not too wet when you do this, because tilling wet soil will cause it to clump and destroy your soil structure. http://www.landscapingyourself.com/images/tiller.jpg
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Some exceptions You can let your pumpkin plant grow over
grass, but the overall size will suffer.
If you do select this option, be sure to loosen up the soil where you put the small plant to allow the roots to spread.
http://jamesranch.net/images/why-grass.jpg
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592.6 DeBaccogrown on grass
Photo by DeBacco
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Now that your yard is tilled...
This is a good time to take a soil sample, so you know what you are growing in.
It is important to take many small samples from random parts in your growing area.
At least 12 cores (6” to 10” deep) should be taken and put into a clean pail.
Photo by Bart Toftness
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Now what?I have a pail of soil.
Mix all of the cores together to get a consistent blend. This represents your average soil.
Then take about a 1-cup sample out of your pail and send it to a soil testing lab.
Recommended labs:Umass: http://www.umass.edu/plsoils/soiltest/brochlink1.htm
Uconn: http://www.soiltest.uconn.edu/
http://www.dsrtweyr.com/hops/hopspix/siteone02.jpeg
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Why soil test? Do not guess, soil test.
A balanced soil will allow the seed to show its true potential.
You will know how much and what type of nutrients you need to add which can save you money on amendments
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As you wait for your soil test results to come back...
Now is the time to begin planning how to protect your small seedling, before you plant your seeds.
Commonly called a cold frame. Think of it as a small or temporary greenhouse.
Once you have your small plants you want to be able to just go outside and put them into your cold-frame.
http://www.fairfieldchamber.org/brochure/Mailbox.jpg
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Early Season Protection
It can (and should) be simple.
Examples:
Old windows hinged together Plastic-covered wire mesh
Photo by Bart Toftness
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Season Extenders
Photo by Bart Toftness
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Early Season Protection
Keep in mind that pumpkin plants are very cold-sensitive.
Make sure you protect your plants, or you will go out one morning to black and dead plants.
http://boomerphoto.com/blog/images/070828-080.jpg
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Do not wait on building your cold-frames
Once you have small plants, be sure to get them into your protective structure very soon.
Also, by setting up the cold-frame ahead of time this will also help heat your soil up and will give your seedling an added bonus.
For more information: Go to http://www.team-pumpkin.org/hoophouse.html
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Extreme Cold-Frame
Photo by DeBacco
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Fully Functional Garden
Photo by DeBacco
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How do I turn my seed into a plant?
There are many different methods to starting, but make sure you have these conditions:
Moist, not wet soil Warm environment around 85 degrees F Constant conditions
Photo by Bart Toftness
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Seed starting equipmentShould be around May 1st
Lamp, with a light bulb for heat
48-quart cooler to help maintain aconsistent environment
4” Peat or Cow Pots to start seeds in
Water
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The Germinator
A simple cooler, with a lamp in it for heat, ~85 degrees F
Photo by DeBacco
Photo by DeBacco
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Hopefully in 3-7 days, I see green!
Put your seedling in the ground as soon as you can see the first true leaf
May 4th-10th
Photo by DeBacco
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Now that I have a growing plant, what do I do?
If possible guide it in the direction you want it to grow with bamboo stakes.
Be careful with the main vine; only move it a little every afternoon once the vine has become warm.
This will reduce the chances of kinking or worse, breaking the main vine.
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Proper vine trainingJune 6th
Photo by Bart Toftness
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As your plant grows, keep it pruned
Allow only the primary (main) and secondary (side) vines to grow
Think of a Christmas tree
Main vine is the trunk Secondary vines are the branches that
extend out at right angles
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Proper vine training
June 24th July 1st
Primary (main) vine and secondary (side) vinesPhotos by Bart Toftness
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Pruning and training tools
Use bamboo stakes to guide the vines in the direction you want and either pinch or use pruning shears to cut the excess growth.
Keep at it everyday or every other, so that your vines will not get crossed.
http://www.hydroempire.com/store/images/bamboo.jpg
http://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/772/298537.JPG
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A properly pruned plantmid/late June
Photo by DeBacco
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Pumpkins have male and female flowers
This allows you to pollinate (cross) different pumpkin plants to generate the next great pumpkin seed.
More details on this topic in Seminar #2
To make things simple... Let the bees do what they do best.
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Male and Female flowers
Photo by DeBacco
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All Pumpkins are female
Male flowers = pollen Female flowers = immature pumpkin
Pollen + immature pumpkin = fertilized growing pumpkin
Ideal time for pollination is early July
http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/38233000/jpg/_38233051_pumpkin.jpg
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What do you use for fertilizer?
Focus on organic fertilizers.
The use of Miracle-Gro or 10-10-10, is not recommended because the build-up of salts can occur leading to reduction in yield over the long term.
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What do you fertilize a growing pumpkin with?
Foiliar applications:
Agro-K http://www.candjfert.com/Giant%20Pumpkin%20Program.html
Soluble seaweed Fish emulsion http://www.hollandsgiants.com/fert.html
http://www.spudman.com/bguide2008/logo/agro-k.jpg
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Adding biology to your garden:
Use of mycorrhizae beneficial fungi to help your pumpkin plants' roots scavenge for nutrients and protects them from pathogens
This is a more advanced technique, and will be discussed more in Seminar 2
More information: http://www.reforest.com/brochures2.htm
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Watering Methods Overhead watering: can be used, which is
easy to set up, but it wets the leaves and can increase the chance of disease.
Hand watering: time consuming
Drip irrigation: time consuming to set up, but a time saver in-season
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Drip Irrigation system
Photo by DeBacco
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Weeding Keep at it throughout the season.
You can use plastic over the patch or a loop hoe to help keep the patch as weed-free as possible.
http://www.dailyweeder.com/wp-content/uploads/weeds-2.JPG
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Harvesting There are many different methods used
but keep these ideas in mind...
1. Be careful2. You can never have too many helpers.3. Bring it to the Durham Fair!! Regardless of size
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Bart's simple Tripod Method
Photo by Bart Toftness
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State Record!!
Photos by Bart Toftness
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Another pumpkin lift ideabasically an engine hoist
(with some modifications) on a trailer
Photo by DeBacco
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Past Durham Fairs
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/DisplayPhoto.asp?pid=4550
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/displayphoto.asp?pid=169&gid=1
http://www.team-pumpkin.org/
Photo by Bart Toftness
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Be sure to have fun!!
http://team-pumpkin.org
Photo by DeBacco
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Good Luck to everyone!!!
Hope to see you all at the Durham Fair this year!
Check out...
www.Team-Pumpkin.org
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Ashes to Ashes
Photo by Bart Toftness