High Hopes!
Growth from July 5-6
The saying “I have high hopes but low expectations” is the foundation I have built my life upon. It’s definitely the mantra we have for our first year growing a giant pumpkin.
We. Have. A. PUMPKIN! We’re the typical new parents- checking on it too frequently, showing strangers eleventy billion pictures that allegedly all look the same, making sure it’s not too hot, not too cold, getting fed frequently….
When the fertilization took and the pumpkin started to grow Mother Nature laughed and turned up the heat. TERRIBLE for pumpkins. Jon surrounded the pumpkin with frozen water bottles to drop the temperature and discourage the plant aborting the pumpkin. As if the frozen water bottle rotation wasn’t enough Jon bought a fan just for the pumpkin. Yes, that’s right, a personal fan for the pumpkin.
You may think that’s too far, but what I’m realizing is too far has basement.
He also covered the pumpkin with a plastic table to shield it from any falling limbs, wind, hail, etc. He wants to put up another shade cloth to further block the leaves/fruit from sunburn (bet you didn’t know pumpkins can get a sunburn! I didn’t either!). He sends me YouTube videos showing the different shelters other growers have made around their pumpkins. “I wouldn’t do that, that seems a little too far”. See above: I have a feeling the plans for the shelter are already drawn up.
Now that the heat is on and the rain is gone we’re having to water it several times a day. I’m so glad my break coincided with the heat wave! How much to water is also pretty tricky. Under water? It can stop growing or worse, shrivel up and fall off. Over water? It will split or rot. Water too much with an overhead sprinkler? You have to keep your eyes on fungus.
Let’s not forget pests. The devil works hard but squash vine borers work harder.
Squash vine borers (SVB) are the devil’s minions. The squash bug (it’s actually a clearwing moth) lays eggs on the underside of squash leaves, the eggs hatch and the larvae feed on the inside of the vine, killing the plant. In our house we’re pretty much catch and release when it comes to bugs. I try not to kill anything outside because it’s their house. But SVB? Forget those things. I turn into a mafia boss when it comes to their “disposal”. Over the years of gardening I’ve lost more zucchini, watermelons, hard squash and even cucumbers than I like to count to those wretched creatures. One day you have healthy plants and the next you have a split, dried up vine and wilted leaves. I’ve been checking daily for those jerks and so far I think only one plant has them. The vines on the pumpkin plants are long, healthy and Jon’s been burying them as they grow I think we’re going to be ok! SVB are active in June and July. Fingers crossed we miss them.
Our next obstacle is our vacation this week. Our kids (who are grown) will be here and are being left a detailed list of instructions on how and when to water the pumpkin patch. Jon’s a “little” nervous- I don’t think he was this nervous leaving our infant children with a babysitter. Will we facetime? Will we ask for pictures? Will he want the kids to read it a bedtime story and of course it will be “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown”? Again, there’s no such thing as too far.
