Cinderella rode the ball in a carriage that her imaginary godmother had made of pumpkins in the garden. Fairy tale, yes, but giant farmers gourd (max pumpkin) is able to routinely grow pumpkins the size of a small car, if not the size of Cinderella’s horse-drawn carriage! In fact, the world record for the heaviest squash ever grown was set last year in Italy and Weighing in at 2702 poundsWhich is heavier than some compact cars!
If you’re looking for a fun gardening activity for your kids or grandchildren, planting giant squash can be the one thing that keeps kids engaged in the garden all season long, as the process can be great for kids and adults alike. Even if you’ve already planted pumpkins in the garden, here are some tips that will help you get more fruit in your garden this season.
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Genetics Key Size
Genes are the key to growing large-sized squash. To grow a giant gourd really worth View Circleville Pumpkin Acclaim, one must grow a variety of giant Atlantic squash. Seeds for this type of pumpkin are widely available online and I’ve also seen them available at local garden centers this spring.
Modern genetics of monster squash dates back to Farms in Nova Scotia, Canada, who spent 30 years raising giant squash. Every world champion squash came from the seed that farmer planted.
Many other pumpkin varieties can also produce large pumpkins over 100 pounds, which may not break any world records, but should be large enough to break the record in your area!
Lots of sun, water and space are required
Growing large pumpkins requires a location in full sun, receiving no shade at any time during the day. Large growing area is also key to producing large squash, so allow at least 500 square feet per plant for vine growth. Growers that produce record-breaking pumpkins allow up to 1,200 square feet per plant!
Large amounts of water are required to grow large squash, so be prepared to water frequently, keeping the soil moist at all times, but not soggy. a drip irrigation system Or a soaker hose is helpful in keeping the soil moist but avoid overhead sprinklers, as wet foliage increases the incidence of diseases such as powdery mildewAnd the leaf spot and leaf pests.
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Cultural requirements of the big gourd
While many monster-sized squash growers use hand pollination to increase the number of seeds that develop and the potential for larger fruit to grow, natural pollination by bees and other pollinators will work well for most gardeners. To maximize fruit size, it is best to initially allow only four to six pumpkins to develop per plant after pollination when the fruit begins to develop.
Once the pumpkin is about the size of a volleyball, it is best to remove all but one pumpkin per plant. The less competition for nutrients and space, the higher your success rate in growing a large pumpkin.
Large pumpkin vines require 1 pound of nitrogen, 1.5 pounds of phosphorous, and 3 pounds of potassium per 500 square feet of growing space. This amount of fertilizer must be provided by several applications made at planting and after pollination and fruit fixation.
The site you are planting should only be used once every three years to reduce infestation by insects and disease. Scheme Cucumber beetles Bacterial wilt and aphids can transmit viruses, so be aware of these early and late pests. Prepare to manage it if it arrives in large numbers. Once a bacterial or viral infection occurs, there is no way to stop it. Other insects such as squash bug And the Squash vine borer It can quickly damage pumpkin vines, so always check the plants and be prepared to use cultural and chemical pest control methods when needed.
Provides extra TLC for larger fruits
Because of the squash’s large size and rapid growth, vine training and root pruning are important. This will prevent the leg from cracking and splitting. While the pumpkin is the size of a basketball, the vine is bent 80 to 90 degrees away from the fruit. About 3 feet from the fruit, arch the vine back in the general direction it was heading. Cut the roots 3 feet on the vine. This will allow the vine to easily move upward as the pumpkin grows.
To reduce the possibility of damage from soil-dwelling insects and large pumpkin skin rot, you can place a thick piece of cardboard or a piece of plywood under the pumpkin so that the skin does not rest directly on the soil.
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As the fruit increases in size, shade it with a piece of cloth, burlap, or an old bed sheet to prevent burns and reduce overheating. Providing shade will allow the skin to remain more pliable and the fruit will be less likely to split. Harvest the pumpkin at the end of the season before the first frost. Some large pumpkins will not turn the bright orange of a jack-o’-lantern type of pumpkin, but they will appear pale yellow to red-orange when ready to harvest.
For more tips on growing large squash in the home garden as well as tips on growing regular-sized squash and squash, go to: go.osu.edu/growingpumpkinsandsquash.
Mike Hogan is an associate professor at Ohio State University and an instructor at OSU Extension.
hogan.1@osu.edu