re: 2023 Spring Garden Thread

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Wow the pumpkin vines… I planted my seeds a few weeks ago and I just can’t get them to grow past having a few true leaves. Had the same problem with squash in the spring… they just wouldn’t grow.

Fertilizing with 1/4 strength miracle grow every 2 weeks. Any idea why they aren’t growing?

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What varitety are you growing? I'm not sure what could be your issue. I couldn't get butternut squash to grow worth a darn this spring, but the pumpkins that I put in the same spot are blowing and going.

I'm growing 3 varieties. 2 extra large varieties (Captain Jack and Gold Medal), and a smaller one (sugar pie). The sugar pie variety is the one in the foreground in the picture and is the one with the female flower with the bee. It is growing like crazy! The 2 large varieties are struggling a little more in this heat. But they are growing ok. I grew Connecticut Field last year and they were similar. Struggled a little bit in the heat, but they eventually got going.

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I fertilized them a second time last week. Also pruned the lower branches yesterday. I'm wondering if I should "cull" peppers as well? The Big Jims on this plant turn red when they aren't much bigger than a jalapeno, now. The first group of them that I picked were about 8" long.

I thought maybe it was because they are in a pot but the plants I have in the ground are doing the same thing.

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I think a lot of the times the first set of fruit are larger because they mostly grow on the main stem. The fruit on lateral branches tend to be smaller. Maybe some strategic picking of some of the smaller peppers might help the rest gain some size.

Also try feeding them weekly with a water soluble fetilizer. Something with higher P & K and low N.