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Mn

I have been growing two years now in MN. My first year i grew a 729.5 pound pumpkin one one pit full of old cow manure. I ony fertilized maybe 8-9 times with miricale grow and 3-4 times with Neptunes Fish/seaweed. This year i only ended up with a few 400+ pumpkins. I see all these top growers spending 100$ on watering systems, fertilizer, and pesticides. I'm really wondering weather it's really worth spending all this money on these pumpkins. If it is I'm SOL, And i may have to down size on the number of plants i grow (4plants) or even quit. I highly dought that i will quit though. So what does it really require to grow these things as fare as manure, ferilizer, pesticides, and watering systems? Is there a easier way?

11/10/2005 9:18:33 PM

Puyallup, WA

There are no shortcuts to success! It is very common to have a bummer of a 2nd year. Rededicate yourself to improving your soil. In case you haven't discovered it yet....it takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears to grows these monsters! Are you willing to pay the price?

11/10/2005 10:34:00 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Stan is incredibly correct. This hobby is not the easiest of gardening pleasures. In order to compete at the highest level you must spend lots of time and some money. The bummer is bad years are very common and serve to thicken the grower determination.

Growing takes an enormous amount of time. You can save some time with the use a watering timer and drip irrigation system setup with multiple zones. Then consider investing proper spraying equipment to reduce the time spent on the foliage.

I have never found a short cut for vine burying and pruning. This is the sweat equity part of the program that pays dividends in October.

Soil preparation is seldom easy either. You must sample the soil for about $30 bucks each test. Then study the internet to make an uneducated stab at corrective measures most don't really understand. Hunt for local suppliers of these exotic amendments that are not in wide spread use for ordinary vegetable gardens. The list goes on and on.

I am now in my fourth year and still learning. There is at times a fealing of an endlessness to this hobby. It's an amzing test of skill and desire to grow one these giants beyound the 500 pound level.

11/11/2005 6:45:36 AM

Mn

I think I might have had a suddan moment of panic when I wrote this message. I think I understand why i wrote this post. I guess I felt that I had come into this sport when it was starting to wain.

11/11/2005 8:42:29 PM

Midwest

MN, I've been growing for two years now and my 'fish story' is 208 lbs. You might be discouraged about not beating your first year. I think you did great with a couple of 400 lbr's. Can I say that I believe growing something consistently is really hard to do. I pass by farms and see how their corn is knee high by the 4th of July almost every year and how green and hardy the poll beans look even after no rain for 2 weeks. Sometimes I think that they must have some flawless method which rarely fails except when there are really bad conditions, like 2005. Sometimes, all we want are perfect conditions which in turn produces perfect results. You've probably worked hard at finding great seed, amending the soil and now you have growing skills you never had before. You must fine tune those skills into a lean, mean growing machine! I understand how anyone can panic when it doesn't turn out a year here or there. Especially when it costs so much. But, your doing great by what I see. Invest some more, it's going to pay off eventually!

11/14/2005 1:12:44 AM

Montoursville, PA

Along the way I suggest you read the Dan Carlson interview or night he devoted to answering questions on this site.
.....That will bring anyone down to simple basics. When the soil and the grower equal the seeds potential it will happen.

11/14/2005 4:04:14 PM

White Bear Lake, Minnesota

Adam, I think you are on the right track with the aged cow manure, like your first year. Maybe a soil test if it doesn't break the bank, and then leaves, compost and other organics. I don't think a fancy system is necessary to grow a big one, as long as you are able to score some good seeds. Others have grown big ones with less than what you had to work with. But then, what do I know, my biggest so far is only 345 lbs. Grow em big and have some fun.
James

11/16/2005 12:56:13 AM

Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

Alex,
I think you should decide for yourself what you want to put into this hobby. In terms of money and time, etc.
I've grown for two years, with a low input (compared to many growers here) program. I'm planning on a similar program for next year, with a few adjustments. These two years I've ended with a 615 and 678.5 DMG lber. I was thrilled to break 500 lbs. my first year.
I'd love to break 1000 lbs., but if not that's O.K. I'd like to think sooner or later, I'll plant a "silver bullet" seed that will surprise me. I've seen that some growers have broke their personal best by 400 or 500 lbs. in one year. Is it experience, the seed, better soil, luck, or a combination of these?

11/22/2005 7:05:00 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Doug,

All of the above. But soil & pest control are the most limitting factors. The best seed (genetically) will die just as easily as the worst seed if a Squash Viner Borer goes untreated. Likewise, a major nutrient deficiency will also not descriminate between differing seed quality.

It really doesn't cost much to add manure & leaves in modest quantities every fall unless the grower is stuck in the middle of a major metro center.

11/22/2005 10:29:56 PM

Piqua,Ohio

I have found That the only things more money replaces is time if you have the time and dedication all can be acheived relativly at low cost.

12/14/2005 9:11:40 PM

Mn

I'm all better I have nearly every thing I need. I just have to dedicate myself more to growing.

12/14/2005 9:47:32 PM

Eugene,OR

When someone grows a 1000+ pound pumpkin it is not because they are lucky. It is because they have done all of the right things. It requires know-how, work, and cash...probably in that order of importance. If it was easy and inexpensive to grow a 1200 pumpkin everyone would be growing them. It also would not be any fun, because it would not be a challenge.

12/14/2005 11:00:35 PM

Ontario, Canada.

I agree with Steve, but would add a couple more items. In addition to soil & pest control, I would add time and automation. The two go hand in hand together. Automated anything. Such as irrigation which can gain free time for the hobbyist. Setting a timer to water six times a day is a major benefit. Spraying, vine burying, pruning & pollinating are time consuming. There are many folks out there who do this full-time. I'm a part-timer and it is a challenge to keep up with the work load of family, day job & hobby. Many growers take breaks of a year or more then return to growing to overcome the hectic summer's

12/15/2005 9:47:29 AM

Montoursville, PA

Wow do we get surprises, in this sport or what? My first year grow went to 710 and then I became unable to do what it takes, to maintain the plants, for a proper grow.

I know beyond a shadow, of a doubt, the patch is ready. My age and 90 degree days, with 90 percent humidity, knocks me down, to iced tea, a fan and the desire, to do work I can no longer perform when it is needed most. If my health and the weather show me decent opportunity, to work, I shall surely get the desired results....but then maybe just maybe the plants would not grow their best, in cooler dryer weather.

On the brighter side I have had the pleasure, to start three or four growers that appear, to be, on the verge, of growing some surprises. I try to use lots of KISMIF...KEEP IT SIMPLE AND MAKE IT FUN. It however is a bit difficult to make a hoe handle into something simple and fun. :))) I attempt to grow two plants a year. Last couple of years that was more than enough, for me, to handle.

I have a little theory picked up, from those who grow large numbers, of plants. It is simply this. If it takes ten plants, to get one great pumpkin I am nearly halfway there, by growing two a year. If I get it done, in this my fourth year, I may still be, in a pretty good average success ratio. :)

12/15/2005 12:27:11 PM