Caring for 1000 Pumpkins

[@BrettHoffmann]

we raised large gardens of pumpkins and sold them as a fund raiser for a local charity here in Wisconsin for the last 10 years. I would really try to stay on top of the cucumber beetles, with the large patches we would get them bad and they destroy the stems and leaves in a hurry. The deer, we found would leave the pumpkins alone until they were just turning orange and then it seems they would take a sample bite out of each one, just enough to ruin it. good luck!

[@onedazinn998]

Just thought I'd throw in that the best little pumpkin patch I've had was an experiment trying to make hugelkultur use of a rotted stump. We cut the grass, mounded the grass clippings over the stump, (a very nice hill) topped it with compost & lightly mulched over (your hay would have been fantastic). I planted 4 plants with marigolds in between. The pumpkin vines covered a huge area (1/3 acre) each vine ran multiple fruit, and we couldn't mow if we wanted to - I let the vines take over whatever they wanted. (we grew sugar baby pumpkins). When I saw you tilling I was like...noooo! :) I tried making perfect walkways with straw in my first garden...but even with cardboard under it, straw just feeds the soil and weeds & tough grass love to grow through it...though I did get one growing season of walkways. Second season it was gone of course - but I'd do hay/grass mounds for pumpkins again for sure - had no yellowing & I never watered them (Ohio rains). :)

[@candidethirtythree4324]

I grill the big pumpkins, I cut it into large wedges and brush it with butter while it is grilling, hubby likes his with salt and I like mine sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. It makes a great side dish with BBQ ribs. Squash is my favorite veggie, I like every kind there is but pumpkin is the best, so many things you can make with it. Hubby made a raised garden bed for my birthday and the first thing I wanted was pumpkins! Best of luck with your awesome pumpkin patch!

[@Camstro80]

Like the idea of sunflower and tomato, going to try that next year. Love the vids keep them coming.

[@smoothmove7566]

Everybody loves a good Pumpkin story. : )

[@kevinbaker6168]

Looks like your pumpkin patch needs a lawn mower. The mulching between the hills helps to keep down some weed/grass control. The best thing is it adds humus to the soil.

[@MIgardener]

This is just looking amazing!!!! You are totally going to have quite the patch. The good tilled soil will also be nice when the roots from the vines get down into that broken down organic matter.

[@SSLFamilyDad]

I am hoping so! Now we just need more rain!

[@MattVey]

Lots of hard work but likely very worth it. You deserve a great harvest!!

[@edemup44]

So much work! Looks like fun. Great job!!

[@graveyard_skeleton]

Nice!! Keep me updated on your pumpkin patch I really want to start a pumpkin patch like that and grow some white ones as well even Cinderella pumpkin

[@farmerfarmerja]

Not gonna lie I learn something new....this is great!

[@EastMesaUrbanHomestead]

Oh and I do love what you all are doing there !

[@salmonhunter7414]

Really like the sunflower idea. That should work really nicely. I am going try that next year. thanks.

[@augustreil]

Looking great, you are one hard working person !

[@joycemastaw910]

Loved the view from the drone. Looking good!

[@FLPhotoCatcher]

Tennessee Muskmelons are a good crop also... They are an heirloom variety, and are resistant to mildew, and are not bothered by squash beetles as much as other melons or squash plants.

[@adambutera4192]

Why not just mow the grass short near the pumpkins and tomatoes, and apply hay (and grass clippings) around the them? Seems like a lot of extra work to till and smother with hay what is essentially a nice grassy walkway.

[@SSLFamilyDad]

That would work but in about three weeks those walkways will be completely covered in pumpkin vines

[@mikee5208]

Man your pumpkins are looking good! Let me/us know how it turns out! I'm very curious myself on how to market pumpkins! it was one of the first crops I was looking to grow on my brand new old land! Lol good luck and God bless!

[@joemc111]

Great information.

[@Beecozz7]

Way to make it work, honestly I didn't think it would, you have favor! Thanks for posting! Cool drone footage! Have you read any Joel Salatin's books on farming yet? You will be glad you did!

[@SSLFamilyDad]

I have not read his books but have watched just about everything he has spoken or taught about on youtube

[@timschlesner2446]

Yes deer love some pumpkins and other types they won't touch

[@sugarpumpkinfarms4933]

Great video. I'll be watching for updates on the pumpkins and tomato and sunflowers

[@bighurk30able]

Good job buddy that's a good-looking pumpkin patch

[@MichelleM0704]

I like the idea of the sunflowers with the tomatoes. How did you plant them? Did you direct sow the sunflower seeds next to tomato seedlings or were they both transplants?

[@TheSaks40]

Best of luck with the pumpkins

[@soulstalgiarecords77740]

Very intersting way of farming - Totally Love Organic ways of doing things... May I ask, how many Pumkins did you eventually havest from this?

[@XBoysAtWorkX]

What about getting a round bale and then just unrolling it down the rows?

[@phxtonash]

Looks great! I wouldn't have done it any better. I think you did it just right anymore would have been a waste of time. Good luck on pumpkins!

[@jaredanderson7494]

I always have deer in my patch, damn things. Never have too much of an issue with them destroying entire crop

[@nickpopelka]

That tiller is earning its keep this year

[@rachealmata978]

Hi there! Question, how do you get rid of those borers that get into the stems and how do you prevent an infestation? Thanks so much from Texas 😊

[@salmonhunter7414]

I know the hay was waste hay it just a shame that it got rained on, but that is what happens sometimes. Take the good with the bad hopefully you nothing but good in the future.

[@Penguin_vrr]

Have any creeks or ponds on your property close to the patch? Get you a pump you can run off the pto of your tractor and water them pumpkins that way

[@SSLFamilyDad]

I wish, no water anywhere near!

[@nickpopelka]

Have to hammer in a sand point then use the pto pump idea down there

[@thistlecreekhomestead5475]

Such a hard worker.. You deserve a spectacular crop. Ty for posting!😄 Isnt pumpkin a natural dewormer?

[@SSLFamilyDad]

I believe it is, yes. We will be using it for this purpose also

[@jumpoffa5011]

Way to go. I have always advocate companion planting. I have 2 ideas for you. 1.) Get a food grade tote that you can convert into a water carrier. You put it on the back of your pick up. Fill it up and go water your crops. When empty you can remove it from your truck until needed again. 2.) You can do your pumpkin stand(s), but I would see if you can sell your crop to grammar school kids at school to take home and make Jack-O-Lanterns. Sell a medium size pumpkin say $5.00 each. 20 kids @ $5.00/ pumpkin = $100.00. That is just on class room. You can sponsor a pumpkin carving contest and the winner will get a prize for the best, scariest, or funniest pumpkin. It is better than waiting for the public to come to you and buy from a pumpkin stand. 🎃 🎃 🎃

[@mountainanderson5597]

Did you grow your pumpkins in rows? If so, how far apart did you plant each row and how far apart was each seed in each row?

[@SSLFamilyDad]

I did a playing video with more info on that, I did do rows of hills

[@MissTheresaDANCE]

Great video! Inspiring! Did you grow all of those from seed?

[@SSLFamilyDad]

Sure did

[@michaelripperger5674]

How far apart are those rows?

[@ChicagoCFH]

looking good

[@WetPaintBostik]

Whats the difference between using mulch and using hay...is mulch more for a backyard garden? If you didn't have any rain down hay what would you be using?

[@SSLFamilyDad]

That is a great question. I could use wood chips, grass clipping, or any other organic matter that would keep weeds down.

[@WetPaintBostik]

SSLFamilyDad so it just depends on what you have on hand?

[@SSLFamilyDad]

Correct, some people use cardboard or newspaper, or hand tools to go through and take out weeds

[@junaidkhan-vs7ot]

Did you leave all the five plants planted on a mound or did you thin them down? If not, Would they not compete for the nutrients and sunlight?

[@jonerikmedina1662]

What is your spacing and how many plants per mount

[@andrewsarles3520]

looks like a good spot to hunt in October?They won't eat the pumpkins until the fall September/October!

[@PopleBackyardFarm]

awesome pumpkin patch just subbed

[@tommartucci2886]

1000 pumpkins will overwhelm vine borers? Do your other plants deter them? Thanks, and good luck

[@SSLFamilyDad]

This big of a patch is all kind of an experiment for this year so We will see!

[@frrapp2366]

you need to make a carrier for the 3pt of your tractor to carry your water to your patch

[@offgriddlifestyle2544]

pumpkin pie 😋👍☺

[@SSLFamilyDad]

EXACTLY!

[@phxtonash]

off gridd life style you can't make pumpkin pie out of those pumpkins. You have to get this specific pie pumpkins. One year I try to make pumpkin pie out of regular pumpkin I didn't know any better and it didn't taste very good, better to feed the animals, or sell for jack o'lanterns. Thanks for reminding me I need to plant some pie pumpkins next year.

[@SSLFamilyDad]

We have successfully made some pretty darn good pumpkin pie and bread from Jack o lanterns:) pie pumpkin is definitely sweeter and more meat though

[@offgriddlifestyle2544]

PhxtoNash... even so the thought of pumpkin pies makes you day dream of a good pie .☺😋✌

[@Mrs-Lewis]

SSLFamilyDad oooo. Pumpkin bread! My mouth is watering! I would love to try that. I use the puree in my oatmeal. Pumpkin is very versatile and so yummy.

[@baileysconstruction7898]

That big liquid container you have would work great on a trailer with a 12v rv water pump and hose

[@yyt5568]

cool

[@bear9923]

DEER WILL EAT THE FLOWERS. I'VE HAD DEER (WELL FED DEER), WIPE OUT A 1 ACRE PATCH FULL OF FLOWERS TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

[@brentderksen]

Why don't you use that water tote you have to water, or is that only for maple syrup?

[@SSLFamilyDad]

I am using it now I just was waiting for a valve adapter to hook a hose to it

[@tubingpro]

Could collect rainwater in them giant containers you were gonna use for maple syrup

[@mio.giardino]

Wouldn’t it be easier growing the plants through made holes in weed cloth so it’s less work? Looks great and I hope you sell out 😊 🎃

[@SSLFamilyDad]

I could use black plastic or fabric cloth but I am trying a more natural approach this year to see how well It works

[@raypflomm6020]

You could try laying the hay down then digging an opening for transplants, unless you direct seeded...then I don't have a suggestion. The patch is looking good by the way. I really like how it is utilizing the odd shaped part of your field. It's a good use of space.

[@fllavour]

U sell them?

[@shadyman6346]

Large pumpkins appear smaller at a distance...

[@danieltaylor5542]

Linus will keep the deer out.

[@EastMesaUrbanHomestead]

Just a comment and don’t take it negatively. How come you didn’t just buy pvc pipe or drip line to make a watering system at the start? Drip line is not that expensive for a long term investment. Seems like a lot of work doing it like you are. Especially if you have 1k or so of plants selling them or half as you stated you would cover cost and have profit I am sure.

[@SSLFamilyDad]

Because I am dumb:) everything was so rushed this spring that was an afterthought. I will definitely do a drip system next year with a water tower ibc tote for sure

[@jksatte]

I had to chuckle at that. I was also thinking hey you can weed between the plants while you are watering. Kill to birds with one stone kind of thing. I hope everything goes really well, I'm sure it will. Janice

[@theweekendhomestead]

Just to let you know, deer really won’t eat pumpkins. We are surrounded by 1000s of acres of woods and we have never had deer eat our pumpkins out of our patch - looks awesome

[@sugarpumpkinfarms4933]

The Weekend Homestead we have deer snack on our pumpkins every year. What's your secret??

[@GratefulDiver]

Learned behavior + variability of population vs feed = they favor different things in different places.

[@yyt5568]

i will reach u to 1,000 likes ;)

[@Bandaid17]

I love watching your videos but the bouncy camera makes it difficult to watch

[@lechatbotte.]

One thousand pumpkins or one thousand pumpkin plants???

[@SSLFamilyDad]

1000 plants which will hopefully produce 1000 pumpkins

[@lechatbotte.]

Probably more. At least my pumpkin plants had more than one pumpkin per plant.