O/T Pumkins

samn40 · Aug 9, 2013

Trying to grow some pumkins here...never done this before.The plants are putting out real long..... runners? with many flowers and small pumkins. Just how many pumkins should I let grow on each runner? or how many pumkins per plant?
Also...what is the best time to pull and use sweetcorn? I think ours are ready to use, but my old mother says leave them for a bit, but I think she is too used to cow feeding! Our corn is always too tough unless we sneak an early cob without her knowing!
Sam

Greg1959 · Aug 9, 2013

We always 'taste test' right when we are in the field. Just shuck one back and start eating. If it's good and sweet and crunches when you bite into it...it's ready.

Also, we just feel the top of the cob and if it 'pointy' it's not quite ready. Otherwise, it the top of the cob is full and kind of rounded then it is ready to pick.

rd 2N in mo · Aug 9, 2013

Just watch the deer, they know when it is ripe

ShadetreeRet · Aug 9, 2013

Sam. it sounds like you answered your own question concerning when to harvest sweet corn. Just harvest it a little earlier than you have been. And, as Greg1959 stated, when the end of the ear is well filled out or rounded, it's ready. When the silks begin to turn brown it is beginning to lose it's tenderness.
Concerning the pumpkins, they do require considerable space, but it can be well worth it. Dad never did worry about how many flowers were on each runner, he just let nature take its course. However, if you pinch off some of the blooms, the remaining ones will generally produce larger pumpkins because the vine doesn't have to feed as many. Depending on how many plants you have and how many pumpkins you wish to produce, you can make the decision as to eliminating blooms or not. If you produce more than you can use, they also make good cattle feed. I wish you success.

old · Aug 9, 2013

When I do sweet corn I pick it as it turns yellow and the ends turn brown. If you let it go to long and the carnails (sp) start to get dents on the tops of them that is to far gone for eating unless your a cow.
As for pumpkins if you want real big ones cut most of the small ones off. If you do not mind smaller ones and lot of them leave them on.

donjr · Aug 9, 2013

Sam, just after the silk turns brownish, feel the end of the ear for fullness. When the ear is full, you won't feel too much cob, if any. It will be slightly rounded. That's when it's the best, and the kernals aren't quite bulging, but full.

gtractorfan · Aug 9, 2013

You can pinch the growing tip off the ends of the vines to stop them from growing further, otherwise I think they'll grow as long as the plant is viable.

495man · Aug 11, 2013

I just let pumpkins "grow" But I've chosen quantity or quality, plant many plants rather than worry about a few doing really well.

Weeds are the biggest issue, tend to smother out the pumpkins until the pumpkins take off and grow the large leaves and smother out everything else.

O/T Pumkins

samn40

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Greg1959

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rd 2N in mo

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ShadetreeRet

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old

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donjr

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gtractorfan

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495man

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