Growing a Giant Pumpkin When you Aren’t There

In this post, I’m going to update how the tiny patch 2.0 is looking after getting back from holiday.

What I had planned while I was away and what I would do differently in the future.

Growing during holidays

I’ve mentioned this in the past, but it can be a pain growing during the holidays.

I talked about it in this previous blog post.

What I had sorted beforehand

I sorted out the WiFi timer ahead of time. This allowed me to water while I was away.

I could have set up a schedule but prefer to do it manually depending on if there has been rain or not. With the wet start to summer we’ve had this makes sense to me.

I used micro irrigation most of the time. With the mister heads on stakes.

I also had this sprinkler set up and ready to go. Just before I left, this siphon filter setup had arrived from China. I was happy it turned up ahead of when it was expected.

It worked well when the water was easily flowing out the end of the filter itself.

I started hooking it all up the day before I was going away. When I finally did connect it all, the siphon filter wasn’t working at all. Probably due to the flow rate reducing due to the mister heads.

I ran out of time and it was better to have some water organised with no liquid feet being applied than nothing at all. So that’s what’s been happening as I’ve been away.

I’ve been manually turning the water on. Looking at the weather forecast at home. I also have a security camera I can access at home. It’s pointing out the front of the house.

I can’t see the pumpkin at all. But I can see if the weather report is accurate or not.

What I’d do differently next time

Like most things I would prepare earlier. I always have the best intentions of doing that but get stuck in the here and now working on things in almost real time.

I’m going to have to look at how I can make the siphon filter thing work. It might have to just be the irrigation pipe with nothing on it and just open ends with water pouring out.

I’ve got enough pipe to play around with that and I can still try and get it working this season.

Remote watering

There are other options out on the market now. I think they might work better. Firstly the fittings won’t be US threads and will join better.

Being able to add soil moisture probes could be better as well. Although I’ll need to see if I can find some reviews or what people think about those.

Camera setup

I was going to add a camera out the back to look at the pumpkin plant.

I felt I didn’t have time to set it up properly.

I don’t went the neighbours thinking it it watching them, so I’d have it located near ground level.

I do have a power source nearby Thanks to the pool pump. Using a $60 camera means it requires power and is also not made for the outside.

I’d want to make it all safe. And make an enclosure to house it in.

In conclusion

It can be tough when you need to go on holiday during the growing season.

I’m happy I had something setup for watering. But there’s always things to improve upon. These things don’t have to be big or major and they can fit in with your budget or what you are comfortable with,

How was the plant when I got back?

Well the main vine managed to grow an extra 1.2m out. Which was good to see.

There was also a pumpkin on the vine. It’s in an OKish location. But seems to be upside down with the vine growing over the top of it.

Interestingly this plant doesn’t seem to want to be putting out side vines like the plants usually do. So unsure if it is a lack of nitrogen / nutrients or something else is going on.

I’ll be making sure it is watered well and good doses of liquid fertiliser is applied.

That’s it for now. Let me know how your season is going by leaving a comment below.