Fertilizer Program & Growing Guide

Written by Joel Holland

This is the complete fertilizer schedule that Joel Holland used to grow the 2017 WORLD CHAMPION PUMPKIN of 2,363 pounds!

When going for a record you can "turbo-charge" the program below by increasing the granular applications by 25% and applying each foliar spray every 5 days instead of once per week. When time is short, foliar products can be combined. Soluble Seaweed/Soluble Fish Powder can be applied as one spray or Soluble Seaweed/Calcium Concentrate combination.

PLEASE NOTE: The addition of Kick-A-Poo Joy Juice and Blossom Booster and Fruit Finisher 0-52-34 has really helped perfect our Fertilizer Program. The use of Biogrow Endo Plus at each leaf axil on the main vine as well as the laterals has also pushed giant pumpkin growing ahead in a positive direction.

Initial Soil Preparation

Previous Fall (preferred) Early Spring - Get a soil test done. Add organic matter, compost, manure and/or plant cover crop. Make needed pH adjustments. Add nutrients in the Spring, based on the results of your soil test, such as Kelp Meal, Langbeinite and Steamed Bone Meal Granules.

Starting Seeds - Soak seeds in a solution of ½ teaspoon Soluble Seaweed Powder in 1 quart of warm water. Mix 1/2 cup of Biogrow Endo Plus in each 1 cubic foot of seed starting mix.

Preplanting: Work in 3 to 4 pounds of Pumpkin Power in an 8 to 10 foot circle at each planting site. Also, work in 3 pounds of SPRING WAKE-UP! to each site. The Pumpkin Power will provide healthy early season vigor and feed the primary nutrients for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium (NPK) plus calcium for up to 3 months.

Planting

Planting - Mix ½ cup of Biogrow Endo Plus into each 1 cubic foot of soil excavated for planting holes. Water the seedlings with a Soluble Seaweed/ Soluble Fish Powder combo in warm water. Mix each at half the normal rate. The instructions for mixing are on the labels of the products.

Month-By-Month Fertilizing Suggestions

May

Water the plants at the base as needed, alternating Soluble Seaweed Powder, Biomin Calcium Concentrate, and Soluble Fish Powder. When plants reach the 5th leaf stage, do a combination of foliar applications and root-drench in an area 2 to 3 times larger than the plant.

June

Use 1-2 tablespoons of Biogrow Endo Plus at each leaf axil when burying main vines and laterals. Add ¼ cup of Pumpkin Power in the trench for every 3 feet of vine.

    July

    Use 1-2 tablespoons of Biogrow Endo Plus at each leaf axil when burying main vines and laterals. Add ¼ cup of Pumpkin Power in the trench for every 3 feet of vine.

      August

      Use 1-2 tablespoons of Biogrow Endo Plus at each leaf axil when burying main vines and laterals. Add ¼-cup of Pumpkin Power in the trench for every 3 feet of vine.

        September & October

        ADVANCED PROGRAM

        Use 1 tablespoon of Soluble Amino Acid Bio-Activator for each 1 pound of other fertilizers applied and add 1 tablespoon per gallon when foliar feeding with Seaweed, Fish, Blossom Booster, etc. Apply 2 pounds of Soluble Humic Acid-86 to each bed before final tilling in the Spring. Water in Soluble Humic Acid-86 2 to 3 times during the season along the vines or spray over the plant and water in.

        Using Natural Wet with all foliar sprays will increase the effectiveness by breaking down the surface tension of water. In addition, the natural Yucca plant extract has many valuable properties.

        ** If pumpkins are on a very high growth curve or if the stem cracks or sag lines appear, consider cutting back on water and fertilizer.