What to do with this pumpkin?

altagarden 5/22/2011, 11:48 pm

I have a pumpkin seedling that is ready to go out into the garden. Only one. It's my daughter's pride and joy. It's a Connecticut field pumpkin.

I don't really have room for it in the square foot garden. I don't have an existing garden bed to pop it into, at least not one in the sun.

If I just dug a hole in the ground in a sunny spot and filled it with compost and some bone meal will it be happy?

I have a hole where a (healthy) mungo pine once lived. Would the pine somehow have made the soil in that spot unfavourable?

I read if I was to put it in a pot I would need one about four square feet wide. I don't have one that big!

Any other suggestions?

And is it really going to take over my yard? That might be kind of fun. I don't care about the grass.

(As insurance, I am starting another one inside just in case there is a disaster with this one.)

**walshevak** 5/23/2011, 5:51 am

I've never grown pumpkins and this is my first year on any kind of melon, but I'm betting that the 4 sq ft pot that was recommended did not use MM. People seem to be growing squash in 2x2 boxes just fine. Unless somebody know something else, the spot where the pine was seems a likely spot, even if you just set a pot there. And yes it likely will sprawl all over the lawn unless trellised. If you don't mind the sprawl, go for it

Kay

quiltbea 5/23/2011, 12:05 pm

I think the tree spot will be okay as long as you pump in lots of composted manure into the hole first. That should increase the PH where you wnat it. Pumpkin is a heavy feeder.
Good luck,

Homew6kids 5/24/2011, 11:52 pm

Well, that sounds like a lot of space! I am growing corn in a 4x4 with peas growing up the stalks and baking pumpkins planted underneath. I have discovered that while you need space for the vines to grow, you don't need that much dirt, if you know what I mean. My squash and zucchini are all doing just dandy, and my watermelons are taking over. I took 5 gallon pots, cut off the bottom and sliced them in half, and then situated them in a sunny spot surrounded by bark/mulch. I planted my squash vines in Mel's Mix, and they are extremely happy and producing quite a bit already. (I was being stingy and didn't want to give up any of my SFG to something as rambling as a squash Very Happy

)

Anyhow, I think if you plant it in a bucket (or even, as you suggested, in an amended spot in the yard), you'll have fabulous results.

Good luck!

altagarden 5/25/2011, 12:11 am

Thanks for the tips

Homew6kids... why did you slice the pots in half? Do you mean so they wouldn't be as tall? Did you slice them lengthwise or widthwise? I have some bottomless pots about a square foot in width and 8 inches tall already.

Also how do you have time to garden with 6 kids? Smile

pattipan 5/25/2011, 12:17 am

How about an old tire? I know a guy who grew his record-sized pumpkin in one of these!

What to do with this pumpkin? Tire+pumpkins

You can also make them artsy & colorful like these:
What to do with this pumpkin? 4459_tire_planters

Do a google search for tire planters -- lots more ideas out there on the WWW. Smile

pattipan

middlemamma 5/25/2011, 12:44 am

I didn't know you could make tires PRETTY! ALL my pumpkins will be in yucky old ugly tires. Very Happy

Those are really cool Pattipan.

FamilyGardening 5/25/2011, 1:18 am

pattipan....those are the coolest tire planter i have ever seen.....cant wait to do a google Very Happy

hugs
rose

Homew6kids 5/25/2011, 11:28 pm

@Altagarden,

I sliced the post in half so they'd only be about 6 inches tall. I figured that was enough dirt for my pot if it was enough for a 4x4. Plus, if the plants needed to grow down into the dirt, they still could. I sliced them width-wise, so they are each about 10 inches in diameter and 6 inches tall.

And, as far as the kids are concerned ... I garden to get a moment's peace! (Plus, they are all so proud of me for growing them squash and watermelons : )

altagarden 5/26/2011, 12:46 am

Lots of ideas from you all, thanks!

My daughter bent over the stem on her little pumpkin plant today by accident, so I don't think we will be planting it anytime soon. Looks like a goner. She was sad for about three seconds and then said: "This will be good for the compost pile."

Good thing there is a back up seedling that has just sprouted.

Homew6kids 5/26/2011, 1:06 am

Don't count it out just yet! Those vines are remarkably resilient. I am surprised that I can slice up my squash to extract borers, and they still bounce back! Plant that pumpkin and see what happens! sunny

Sponsored content

What to do with this pumpkin?

What to do with this pumpkin?

Re: What to do with this pumpkin?

Re: What to do with this pumpkin?

Re: What to do with this pumpkin?

Re: What to do with this pumpkin?

Re: What to do with this pumpkin?

Re: What to do with this pumpkin?

Re: What to do with this pumpkin?

Re: What to do with this pumpkin?

Re: What to do with this pumpkin?

Re: What to do with this pumpkin?

Re: What to do with this pumpkin?


	Hello Guest! Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum. There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.