A little late for my first post, I'm a new member here that wasn't fully read up prior to the growing season... But here it goes.
This year with Covid-19 changing our plans, more time was made available to grow some veggies at the plot I have rented the last few years. The extra time I had allowed the garden to expand as well, now covering 20' x 40'.
While searching various locations for seeds, I came across a pack of Dill's Atlantic Giant Pumpkins and decided to have a go at growing a monster.
Three plant's were started in Pots, two of those were planted in the ground on June 6th, under my makeshift cover.
With so many varieties of plants in such close proximity, pests are of the greatest concern to my growing season. Multiple types of cucumber beetles, squash bugs, and aphids have been my opponents this year... So far so good.
I accidentally snapped this one off two days later trying to adjust the position of the stem. Lucky for me three more female blooms followed shortly after.
I've gotten plenty of zucchini but this is by far the largest so far (2 lbs), and my first half bucket of pickling cucumbers.
Two pumpkins started growing on the main vine, this is the one I ended up keeping a few days later.
Here is my current giant hopefully with plenty more weight to put on.
July 28, 2020. Approximate weight 100 lbs. 21 days since pollination
August 5, 2020. Approximate weight 140 lbs. 28 days since pollination.
Garden not looking too bad, definitely looking forward to the sunshine this week.
Nature is neat!
August 12, 2020. Approximate weight 250 lbs. 35 days since pollination.
This past week has thrown some new challenges my way....Squash bugs have infested the several acres of community garden plots, I try as I may with a Murphy's oil and water mix (1:40, extremely effective at killing all sizes) new bugs are constantly on the plant.
On top of that, my main pumpkin stem and all of my squash plants have what I believe Squash Vine borers. Headed out again to try my hand at plant surgery... Wish me luck.
Tomato and pepper plants are looking great, started harvesting more tomatoes than I can handle, Jalapenos and Bell peppers. Also got several sweet corn cobs this past week.
Surgery on the pumpkin vine the other day was successful... I think. However the damage from the storm that rolled through Ottawa yesterday and the damage from the squash bugs to the leaves will definitely hurt the growth of the pumpkin.
I spent the morning staking up leaves on the entire upper portion of the vine. Most of the vines that were buried were completely ripped up from the soil.
Half of the corn stalks tipped over as well as a few cherry tomato plants. Some rebar and twine will hopefully solve that problem.
Well growth has nearly stopped completely thanks to the vine borer. It has maybe grown 4" in the last 3 weeks. It was a fun first year trying to grow a giant.
Sept 1, 2020. Approximate weight 275lbs
Vine borer got into the pumpkin
Garden overview Sept 1, 2020.