Giant Pumpkin

Growing The Pumpkin, 878 Bacheler 2014

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Pumpkin name: 878 Bacheler 2014 Rank: 13207 Pumpkin Damaged? No
Year Grown: 2014...... Seed: 1776.5 Debacco...... Pollinator: 1666 Holland 2013
OTT: 329.00...... Weight: 878.00...... Estimated Weight: 794.00...... Percent Change in Weight: 11.00
Weighed At: Yadkin Valley Great Pumpkin Contest
Color:
Variety: Atlantic Dill Square Footage Grown In: 410
Germinated On: 05/07/2014...... Set In Garden On: 02/17/2014......
Pollinated On: 07/07/2014...... Date Harvested: 09/25/2014 Days Old 80
Number On Plant: 1...... Growth Rate: Steady.......
Shape: ....... Stem Length: ....... Stem Thickness: ...... Uniform Shape: ......
Grew larger than 1500 :0
Grew larger than 1000: 0
Grew larger than 500: 0
Pumpkin Rank:13207
Total Pollinated: 0
Total Planted: 0
Grew Damaged: 0

Soil and Environment

Nitrogen PPM 0.00
Potassium PPM 0.00
Phosphorous PPM 0.00
Percent of Organic Matter: 0.00
Soil Type: Sandy
Soil PH: 6.70
Climate: HotandHumid
Frequency Of Watering: 0

Grower Information

Last Name: Bacheler
First Name: Jack
City: Clayton
State: North Carolina
Country: United States
Elevation: 341

Comments

This pumpkin (1776.5 D x 1666 H) was grown 20 miles east of Raleigh under hot humid conditions. It was a year characterized by significant rainfall and somewhat lower temps. than normal for this location. I utilized raised beds on 3-ft. rows under white plastic with drip irrigation and landscape cloth between rows. Wheat straw was placed over the landscape cloth between the rows. The middle 12 ft. of the vine along the main was shaded with 12 x 50 ft. 40% white shade cloth and the pumpkin covered with a common Quonset-shaped PVC/sheet dome with white plastic to shed rain. At each node of the secondaries (parallel with and close to the drip lines), the plastic was slit and the node area pinned down and covered with first amended soil and mycorrhizal soil innoculant granules, then with a small amount of wheat straw above that. This area was watered initially by hand to aid in initial root growth. Insecticide/fungicide apps. were 2x/week with a Stihl backpack mist blower. The white plastic with landscape cloth between rows eliminated weeds and allowed water infiltration between rows. Soil moisture levels under the plastic were relatively uniform. Some fertility was added by injecting 1 pound of Miracle-Grow via drip irrigation 3 times during the Aug-Sept period and by adding 2-3-1 fish and seaweed fertilizer approx. every other insecticide/fungicide combo spray, or weekly. Ground hogs are a big problem at my location; this problem was solved in 2013 with a silt fence of black fiberglass "cloth" and 2x4 inch welded wire fence put approx. 8 inches into the ground. Tending to the 3 plants in the 2,000 sq. ft. patch took approx. 3 hrs./day once the plants were vining well. This pumpkin was fun to grow - the vines were healthy, the kin walls uniform and thick and it lasted from the late Sept harvest until after Thanksgiving without any signs of rot. The Big Pumpkins web site and advice from fellow growers was absolutely essential for this 4th-year grower.

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