| Author |
Message |
    
Pumpkinbond
| | Posted on Sunday, March 16, 2008 - 04:58 pm EST : |   |
think this might be a female flower?
Pumpkinbond
- north carolina,
Zone "?"
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Growit
 Supporting Member
My Favorite Photo
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| | Posted on Sunday, March 16, 2008 - 06:08 pm EST : | |
They look very healthy now. The perlite should help a lot with drainage as will the extra holes in the sides. As far as the climbing thing goes I am with DJ. Some up some down.
Growit
- Hants UK,
Zone "8/9"
|
Heirloomgardens
Supporting Member
My Favorite Photo
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| | Posted on Monday, March 17, 2008 - 07:01 am EST : | |
Yes, the little one with the yellow bulb at the base is a female flower.
Heirloomgardens
- Massachusetts,
Zone "5b"
|
Pumpkinbond
| | Posted on Monday, March 17, 2008 - 05:53 pm EST : | |
pumpkins are looking good I think, the only issue is going to be the battle with heat, the new leaves cant take all the light this thing is putting out so I'm going to move the light close to the window where it can be cooled better and where it hits the big leaves directly as opposed to the small ones, growth is fantastic at least 5-6 inches per day, they seem to be handling the water all right and whatever was messed up with the leaves still appears but does not seem to kill the leaf. I have one vine climbing at the moment and it seems to be doing well with that, then two that are in the ground. growing in the tub. I am going to have to get a new tub at the rate these guys are going, we will see I suppose, any questions or suggestions as always are welcome, thanks for the help,
Bond
Pumpkinbond
- north carolina,
Zone "?"
|
Tomcat85
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 - 04:17 pm EST : | |
I'm really impressed with all of this...can't wait to see where it goes!
Tomcat85
- W. PA,
Zone "?"
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Pumpkinbond
| | Posted on Sunday, March 23, 2008 - 07:57 pm EST : | |
SO I went away for 2 and a half days and I got absolutely insane growth, like probably over a foot, they are REALLY starting to suck up water now I gave them two gals before I left and its bone dry in there. Ok so the one I started to train vertically has been doing the best It grew incredibly over the weekend and has been training itself without my help now. The other vines have been slowing a bit the one to the left side of the tub is still growing strong and the one on the right side has all but stopped. The one which I trained vertically also grew a BIG female flower that looks like it could be a potential momma. I think the strain of the direct light on the vines going forward is too much for the developing female on it, it hasnt grown a bit and Im beginning to think its an abhort. I need a better way of dealing with the heat like maybe giving them some shade or moving the light, I would do it now but the climbing vine is really thriving under this condition. Im going to have to start training the climbing vine towards the window or something because if it keeps going up it will be out of the range of the light within the next day. Ok, so now that there is a viable growing female we need to start thinking exit strategy here, I have no idea how fast these things are going to flower but I'm going to try and force it by throwing them in 12 12 here pretty soon, I will be blocking out the window with black tarp and completely sectioning off my room so that I have my half and the pumpkins half and then I can properly put them in 12 12. This creates several problems however. With the room sealed this way heat will be retained much easier and temps are already very high as it is and with venting cut off from the outside I will have to use AC entirely I will do some experiments in the next few days to see how this will effect the temps in the room. Anybody have some ideas for a good fertilizer for the flowering stage? the kind I have now is way to high in nitrogen. OH and I need to develop a way to get this pumpkin to grow in the air, I was thinking a net like structure if anyone else has an Idea I would love to hear that too. WHOOOO... thanks all hope everyone had a happy easter.
Bond
Pumpkinbond
- north carolina,
Zone "?"
|
Growit
Supporting Member
My Favorite Photo
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My Time
| | Posted on Monday, March 24, 2008 - 04:39 am EST : | |
Can't suggest a brand as I don't know what you can get over there but you need to up the phosphorous and down the nitrogen for fruit set.
Looks like your room has been well and truly overtaken by this experiment. Love it!
Growit
- Hants UK,
Zone "8/9"
|
Loretta
Supporting Member
| | Posted on Monday, March 24, 2008 - 09:18 am EST : | |
The other vines slowed down most likely because they are growing roots.
Some people use stockings to tie up their pumpkins and gourds.
Are you sectioning off the room because you want the pumpkins to have 12 hours of darkness?
You might look at Tomato-tone by Espoma. I would call the company first and see what they think about an indoor application though. I don't see fertilizers recommended for pumpkins specifically but there are plenty around for vegetables.
Loretta
- NJ,
Zone "6"
|
Suzyqt1968
Supporting Member
My Favorite Photo
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My Garden
| | Posted on Monday, March 24, 2008 - 11:34 am EST : | |
Lookin' Good!~
Suzyqt1968
- Washington,
Zone "7-8"
|
Periwinkle
My Favorite Photo
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My Garden
My Time
| | Posted on Monday, March 24, 2008 - 12:03 pm EST : | |
I'm lovin' this thread. Look at that female flower--Wo! You just might have it!
My question is, is this your dorm room? If so, what will you do when semester ends?! :)
And triple major.....Oy!
Denise--Northern Wisconsin, Z3b |
Pumpkinbond
| | Posted on Friday, March 28, 2008 - 06:18 pm EST : | |
WOW, today was perhaps one of the most joyfull of my life, today I made plant sex. I was so nervous but I think everything has worked out allright. A TON has happened in the past five days so Im gonna post a bunch of pics to catch up. In five days the plant has grown over two feet up, its around 9 feet off of the ground. The young girl you saw in the pictures turned into a woman! she was about five inches long before she broke open this morning. Thankfully her Romeo caught up just in the nick of time and opened before her. I pollinated around noon when the flowers had opened up enough that I could get to the Stigma. The pollen fell off just fine and I think I got every segment with atleast some pollen, time will tell if I have done my job correctly. The main concern I have right now is cooling the flower, extreme heat can cause the ovary to abort. WE DONT WANT THAT!!!!! So, Iv'e propped my fridge on my microwave and threw the fan in there and it seems to be working pretty good. I threw in some fun pictures just for the heck of it. horizontal growth has pretty much ceased but the vertical growth continues up! the issue now is providing those leaves with ample light to grow. I put the 4 foot shop light I used in the beginning up on the top of the structure and angled it towards the plant, I don't doubt it will soon outgrow its reach but its a temp fix until I get some compact fluoros that I can tape to a wall. WHEW! Whatever happens you guys I wanna say thank you. This has been quite the journey from the little babies in the closet to the 9 foot big momma today, you all have been there through everything and I don't think that me nor my plant would have made it without your meticulous help and encouragement. Thanks you ladies,
Bond
Pumpkinbond
- north carolina,
Zone "?"
|
Pumpkinbond
| | Posted on Friday, March 28, 2008 - 06:22 pm EST : | |
The pictures in the previous post are the male flower last night,the female flower last night, two of the male in the early morning hours and one of it just 4 minutes later
Pumpkinbond
- north carolina,
Zone "?"
|
Pumpkinbond
| | Posted on Friday, March 28, 2008 - 06:29 pm EST : | |
the previous posts first four are of the male. you can see the anther there all ready to be plucked! The female had the unfortunate task of trying to blossom right next to the main stalk and an adjacent leaf, not to mention being 5 and a half or so feet in the air but in the last picture you can pretty well see the stigma there with all its perfect little segments.
Pumpkinbond
- north carolina,
Zone "?"
|
Pumpkinbond
| | Posted on Friday, March 28, 2008 - 06:36 pm EST : | |
I used an exacto knife to slice through the petals of the male instead of peeling them off so that I did not disturb the pollen as much, second is the, wait, turn your eyes! you perverts!the rest are self explanatory I think, the fridge experiment turned out to be a disaster, apparently the back sides of fridges give out just as much heat as the inside does cold, and I thought I was so clever. When I came back to the room it was 92 degrees. I just hope it didnt damage them. ALLRIGHT NATURE ITS UP TO YOU NOW DO YOUR THING!!!!!!
Pumpkinbond
- north carolina,
Zone "?"
|
Loretta
Supporting Member
| | Posted on Friday, March 28, 2008 - 08:52 pm EST : | |
Look at all those buds. How many pumpkins are you going to try to get going on this vine? At some point, once the fruit is set, are you considering clipping it?
Loretta
- NJ,
Zone "6"
|
Growit
Supporting Member
My Favorite Photo
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My Time
| | Posted on Saturday, March 29, 2008 - 03:10 am EST : | |
Looking good and love your narration with the pictures. I am becoming so attached to your project. It is like a little soap opera developing lol!
Growit
- Hants UK,
Zone "8/9"
|
Pumpkinbond
| | Posted on Sunday, March 30, 2008 - 08:52 pm EST : | |
The past two and a half days have been nail biting fun. I have kept close watch on the pumpkin checking for imperfections, shriveling, anything that may indicate an abort. Nothing as of yet has occurred. I learned how to crochet today so that I can make a little net to support this thing in. it is about the size of a giant plumb at the moment and has grown in size since I pollinated. As you can see the male flowers have started popping up everywhere. I am trying to think of a way to get light to all of the leaves but it is not an easy process. Ive got the shop light on top of the planks and set the vertical vine to growing on a new chain towards the corner of my room. fingers and toes crossed here, but all looks good so far, thoughts and ideas as always are welcome. Ill post sommore pics after we are out of the red zone,
Bond
P.S Saw that bumble bee flying around my room this morning, hope thats a sign of good luck!
Pumpkinbond
- north carolina,
Zone "?"
|
Pumpkinbond
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 02:45 pm EST : | |
heres some more pictures of the pumpkin, I created a little pouch today out of some corduroy material then attached fish hooks to two of the sides to give it something to rest on, I cut a small hole in the bottom to give the place where the flower used to be some space, I pulled it taunt on on end to get the pumpkin to move to a horizontal so that the nutrients can flow better into the pumpkin and so that (as it gets heavier) there is not any stress on the vine. everythings looking good so far,
Bond 
Pumpkinbond
- north carolina,
Zone "?"
|
Periwinkle
My Favorite Photo
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My Time
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 05:58 pm EST : | |
Fantastic. Come little pumpkin, you can do it!
Denise--Northern Wisconsin, Z3b |
Pumpkinbond
| | Posted on Friday, April 04, 2008 - 03:24 pm EST : | |
HAPPY HUNDREDTH POST!!!!! Ladies and ladies, we have pumpkin! It is official, its no longer a female flower, it grows bigger and bigger every day and I fear that my current system of suspension will soon not be enough to contain it. I think I will cut out an even larger swatch of material to put under it for the upcoming weeks. I must be out of my dorm before the 26th of April which means that it has 22 days to grow, I have no idea how long it will be able to sustain growth but time will surely tell. The plant itself has begun a slow decent. The old leaves have started to crumble on the edges and the growth in all directions has ceased. It appears to now be putting all of its energy into growing the pumpkin. I gave it a healthy dose of flowering formula 15-30-15 yesterday with its watering, but the root structure has entirely occupied the tub. It will be so cool to cut this thing open when all is said and done. Ill post back in a week or so, so you can see big time growth. The pumpkin is about the size of an elongated softball or so. Any thoughts on suspension would be greatly appreciated,
Bond
Pumpkinbond
- north carolina,
Zone "?"
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