OK, things are looking pretty good so far with 2 pumpkins pollinated and growing. I've increased the watering and placed a couple of milk jugs filled with water for a drip system.

The first pumpkin is now a little larger than a softball. I'm not sure if I should have done this but I severed the tap root next to this pumpkin to give it room to grow up. I also put a piece of slate under the pumpkin to keep it off the ground.

Questions I have:

When should I start shading the pumpkin?

Is it just as important to water at the tap roots as it is at the main root?

Thanks for any pointers. I'll be doing the AG next year!