Category Archives: Patch
Patch Update 25/01/2012 – A late update
Hi guys, how is everything going out there for you?
This update is about 5 days late, due to Youtube of all things not being very helpful, and taking forever to upload the video, and when it finally does update, it says the video was deleted. So, an early start this morning made sure that the video was uploaded, and here is the post finally up on the website. The video editing software I use was also giving me grief as well, so no actual intro title on this video.
Also it wouldn’t let me draw on the video, like … Read the rest
Christmas Eve Update
Hiya
I thought I would get this update in before Christmas and before I head off around the different places catching up with people.
It has been a strange old end to the year, but I am looking forward to next year, with more stuff happening on all fronts, I am sure it will be a busy one.
Weeds, weeds, weeds
You don’t check on the patch for a little while, and it soon becomes hard to spot the pumpkins for the weeds, well for me it wasn’t too hard, but it sure was crazy seeing the growth of the … Read the rest
Patch update, Life update
Hi there
Firstly I must apologise to not updating this since November the 13th. That is totally slack of me, and I am now on track for more regular updates.
A couple of things contributed to the long gap in between posts:
- Work has been pretty busy with the lead up to Christmas and New Years, and having a stock take thrown into the mix also adds to the busyness.
- I had a weeks holiday down in Wellington
- At this time of the year I organise something else on the internet, and it takes up a massive amount of my
Patch Update 13/11/2011
Hi guys
This is just an update on the patch here at www.giantpumpkins.co.nz (I forgot to post it on the day, so it’s a few days late)
The plants aren’t looking the best, and I’m not too sure why, but I do think it is something to do with the peat pots I used this year. Having seen a huge amount of plants grown in plastic pots last weekend, and having used them last year, I am sure the type of pots I used had some sort of effect on growth on the seedlings. Maybe I need more constant water … Read the rest
Patch Update 30/10/2011
Hi there, an update to what I have been up to lately.
I finally got the ground dug up, it was very hard, and was great to get the local farmer in to plough it all up for me. Hopefully everything will be all good, not much digging will occur from now on, so hopefully the soil can get back to normal without too many disruptions to the microbes in the soil.
Here is a video so you can check out the size etc:
I’m a little behind in planting, but am further ahead then I was last year, and … Read the rest
The Importance of soil
So what is the most important thing for growing giant pumpkins?
Is it location?
Is it the seed used?
Is it which way the vine grows?
You could say yes to all of the above, but one of, if not the most important things to realise is the importance of the soil, and getting it right.
The Soil Food Web
To begin to understand how the soil can impact how your pumpkin can grow, in fact how anything grows, you need to learn about how beneficial good soil is.
The term soil food web is given to soil to describe … Read the rest
Location – Where to plant your giant pumpkin
Hopefully you have an idea of where you are going to put your giant pumpkin this year.
As a general rule of thumb, the more space you have the better, but don’t let this put you off if you have a small garden. I’ve grown in a very small area a few years ago, and grew a nice sized pumpkin.
One of the biggest things to think about is where the vines will run, and if there is enough room for this to occur, also keep in mind if you are planting near or around animals, you don’t want them … Read the rest
49 Days in the ground
Hi there, the plants have been in the ground for 49 days so far, and it has been a total of 80 days since the seeds have been planted. This is about the time I am going to think about using a higher phosphate fertiliser,and start thinking about shade protection for the pumpkins.
Due to the conditions and the location, they haven’t had much water, but seem to be doing really well. There are currently 6 small pumpkins forming, 3 on each plant.
Check out the video below to see how they are doing
As mentioned in the video, the … Read the rest
Seedlings? What seedlings?
Everything seems to be running behind schedule this year.
The patch only just got plowed and ripped up yesterday, which I cant really complain about as the farmer guy did it for free, and when he could fit it in, this is what it is looking like:
All this isn’t really that important if you don’t actually have a giant pumpkin plant.
My seeds all seems to be on the go slow at the moment, although I know of two that are just about to emerge from the soil. This is somewhat of a worry, as I really should have … Read the rest