What are the basic needs to start growing giant pumpkins?
- Pumpkin patch
- Seeds
- Fertilizer
- Water
- Sunlight
- Good luck
PUMPKIN PATCH. Choose an area of your garden that’s big enough. These giants must be at least 2 meters apart measured in any direction. Vines can grow up to 7 meters in length and the more space available the better. Your patch must be situated in a spot where the plants receive full sunlight most of the day. Try to choose a site where the plants are fairly protected against wind. Although these giants grow in enormous plants, they are very brittle and breaks easily in a strong wind.
SEEDS. Obtain seeds from the biggest pumpkin possible for a good start. Every season keeps only the best seeds from the biggest pumpkin for the next season.
FERTILIZER. Commercial fertilizers will be discussed in a future posting. For the basic requirements use as much cattle, sheep and horse manure as possible. Add chicken manure to this mixture and your pumpkins will have sufficient nutrients to grow them into big and healthy plants.
WATER. Make sure of an ample supply of available water through out the season. Giant pumpkins are heavy drinkers and must be watered every day for 6-7 months.
SUNLIGHT. Position your patch in such a way that the plants receive at least 6 hours of full sun a day. Remember plants use sunlight to produce food through its leaves.
GOOD LUCK. Yes you need an enormous amount of luck. If heavy rain falls just after you planted the seeds, there is a big possibility that the seeds will rot and not germinate at all. High winds and sleet storms could ruin your crop totally. An unforeseen plague of grasshoppers can munch your whole crop in a matter of hours.
Keep to the basic rules and you're on your way to grow a pumpkin to be proud of.