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Knopp, Germany

how do you manage to do it?

In 2003 I grew 6 plants and was able to get 4 pumpkins over 600 pounds, without splits. Last year I thought I would only grow 4 plants so that I could maintain them better, and all 4 pumpkins split on me. This year I am going to grow 5 competition plants, and probably one for pollination flowers only. I know that with 6 plants, I basicly had no other life after work in the evening if I wanted to do a good job of maintaining them all.

So how many do you grow, and how do you manage them?

1/7/2005 7:29:17 AM

Ljubljana, Slovenia

2002, the first year: 1 plant
2003: 1 + backup
2004: 1 + 2 backups

This year I move so I guess I’ll grow 2 backups.. anyway, last year the backup smashed my PB and Slovenian record.. unofficially since it was stolen :(

1/7/2005 8:43:35 AM

Nova Scotia

when i was a kid i did 8 one year. but not having to work made it easy. this year now that i'm back in nova scotia, i'll try 4 on my farm but i live 45min away in the city so i'll have an aoutomated water/ fertilier/ pest/ fungicide system and hope that 6 hours every saturday is enough.

1/7/2005 9:12:05 AM

Itzetown City

In 03 I was going with 3 plants and got a 321,5. In 04 I was going with 7 plants and got 165, 207 and 237.
OK, after the event, I´d probably take the false seed, it were the false weather...., LOL.
In 05 (my first year of early retirement, I hope for a lot of time to spend in the plot) I´ll go with 7 plants again. Who knows.....LOL

1/7/2005 9:17:26 AM

Deer Park, WI

This is gonna piss off Drew but we can worry about that later-

Last year I managed 9 plants, and while that kept me quite busy, i did find myself twiddling my thumbs on occasion. Since i have the space, we're upgrading to 12 plants this year.

Im lucky enough to have an enthused wife without a summer occupation. We're both going to pour our hearts into this year's garden.

How do we do it? Its all about the right tools and time management. Obviously weeding is the #1 time constraint, and I've found God's gift to gardeners: the action/stirrup hoe. This tool allows you to knock out 400sq ft of small weeds in 10-15 minutes. Thats nothin! So long as you rotate thru your plots, doing one-two each night, you can stay ahead of the weeds.

Vine burying and pruning also suck up a good amount of time, hence the advantage of Every-other-secondary pruning!!! Use it to your advantage folks...half the vines to bury and maintain, still produces 1000+ fruit.

Watering is done on a timer ($15 at walmart). The sprinkler is turned on in the morning before i head to work for 1/2 hr, I get home from work and move it to the next plant for another 1/2hr. Before you leave the garden for the night, set it up on another. Rinse and repeat. Keep rotating thru your plants.

Amidst all this work, I still found time to get my daily run in, eat supper, and chill out on the couch for half an hour. Im sure the lack of children plays a huge role in the amount of free time available. But when the little buggers do show up, they are gonna learn how to garden!

1/7/2005 9:19:31 AM

canal winchester ohio

LOL @ Joze !!!
You have no idea how children change things Hoss. The wife that was gungho about helping you is now flat out tired from being up all night with the baby & then working all day. Your time out in the patch is no longer "your" free time, it's "time your not inside helping with the baby".
Now this is written mostly with tounge in cheek, but it does give a little insight to how things change.
ME...I do a few plants, my boys are now 10 & 7 and are starting to become a big help............Paul

1/7/2005 9:40:09 AM

Montoursville, PA

Getting older and retired has it's benefits. Hee Hee! I still only do two plants. I can spend half hour, half day or all day, in the patch, to my hearts content. Keep working on it. You guys will hopefully get here some day. :)

Grandchildren are fun. They come. They go home. They are great to play or work with, Never the less it is pay back time for the kids who brought them, to this world. Grandparents get to enjoy more.

1/7/2005 10:11:41 AM

Pocatello ([email protected])

I have 5 kids and don't know how I do it. (My wife does a lot.)

Every year I start out thinking I can do 5 or 6 plants, and
eventually end up with only 3 or 4.

The stirrup hoe mentioned is best garden invention ever. This
little $10 tool can save hours and hours, and can make or break
your season. You gotta have one, it's a no-brainer. I'm back
to thinking that maybe I can do 5 or 6 plants, because last
year I got a stirrup hoe for Father's Day and it has opened
up a lot of time for me.

I have a New Year's resolution, go to bed earlier and wake
up with the sun... get out and do most of my work in the
morning when there is nobody around to disturb me.

1/7/2005 11:05:09 AM

Cornelius, Oregon

I manage 18 plants in this patch on Good Lane. Each are the same shape, close to home and once you get them on a schedule, it is workable. During hell month-2 months from july 1st through aug 1st or later as the plants are growing and you are working on the fruit and pollination and weeding, and vine burying there is no life outside of the patch. Work the 8 hour job and come home to 8 hours of gardening. Weekends are great because you can catch up and the plants that crap out on you aren't looked like as failures at that point, it means less work...

1/7/2005 11:08:51 AM

Lexington, Ky

I must admit that before joining this forum, I had intentions of acres of giant pumpkins. Sure has been an eye opener on how much time, effort and care that you guys put forth in this endeavor. My admiration goes out to those who raise multiple "children".

As a first time giant grower in '05, I think one plant will be perfect for me. I'd hate for a mistake on my part to result in the failure of a prized pumpkin.

Thank you all for your enlightenment.

1/7/2005 11:19:59 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

1320 I would plant more than 1 if you have the space. The probability of a pumpkin making it to weigh off time is somewhere around 60% I believe. Shannon

1/7/2005 11:24:03 AM

Lexington, Ky

Thanks Jim, I can probably manage two. You won't believe this but there is no County Fair or weight off in this small town. I'm attempting to grow for the sheer pleasure of it!

1/7/2005 11:43:18 AM

Clinton, Iowa

Well I did 4 or 5 plants basically the past couple years..in 2004 I went to 6 and made them a tiny bit smaller and started one a month early for a state fair project!! which I might add we did fairly well on!!LOL!
anyways I also made a huge step..I got a partner....and a great partner he is...and I want to clearify to everyone.Marc is a "pumpkin" partner. LOL!! with 4 kids and other interest.6 plants are or would be to much for me..others maybe have the drive to live and breath pumpkins...I have other interest...Marc pretty much handled everything on Monday nights.. I did stuff on wednesday and come weekend..we usually worked them together.. we would chat and talk pretty much nightly and come up with strategies... Be we worked the plants about every 2 days on average...I handled the tilling ahead and we weeded as we went....after mid August I think we caused more harm then good when it came to weeding so we basically let it go as it went...Results form the 6 plants was pretty good...
1432... 1086 est...1016.5.....930.....872 State fair record 60 days old....798 secondary side vine late set fruit.....add it up and look at the average weight for 6 plants...1022#..I would take that every year!!
That is how We managed it....I can honestly say with Both Marc and I having outside interest whether it be fishing of family....this was the most enjoyable year I think I have ever had...it seemed I did less then past seasons and had the best results....
Good luck to all in 2005

1/7/2005 11:46:14 AM

Follansbee, Wv

As many of you know, '05 will be my first year for growing AG's. I am going to try 6 plants, besides my regular vegetable garden. Fortunately for me, my office is my house. If I don't have any calls, I can spend the entire day in the patch. Many days I finish my calls by lunch time, so I have the rest of the day. I still have three of five children at home, but they like to help a little so it's really great to spend the quality time with them in the garden.

1/7/2005 11:54:39 AM

huntsburg,ohio

Paul hit the nail on the head.I've done 12 plants for years.Now i have a 2 and 1 year old cutting back to 8 this year and still don't know how i'm gonna do it.You wait joe you'll see,you too brett.Jerry
PS i couldn't even hardly be on chat last night because i was trying to keep my 2 year old from stuffing my irrigation tubing down the basement drain!!!!!!!!

1/7/2005 11:59:19 AM

Northern Cambria, Pa.

We have been going with 4 plants mainly due to water supply but also time limitations. This allows us time to hand water and generally take better care and to know each plant better. Small problems are noticed and taken care of more quickly before they develop into larger ones. It comes down to a question of quantity versus quality. Personally, I would rather have one very good one than a dozen average ones. Even with 4 plants, we have little time for other things in the summer.

1/7/2005 1:39:58 PM

Itzetown City

I guess I know that guy, how many plants he´ll grow next year?

http://mef.contrived.org/gallery/Pictures/dilema

1/7/2005 2:36:10 PM

Eugene,OR

In 2004 I started with 13 plants and after culling 2 ended up with 11. This fall I expanded my patch so I have room for 18 plants. 2004 was my first "serious" year of growing AG's, and I learned a lot...so I am hoping that this year I will be more efficient. My plan is to concentrate on my 8 most promising plants, whichever those turn out to be. I also plan to enlist the help of an assistant this summer to help with weeding and other "non-technical" and time-consuming tasks.

1/7/2005 2:47:41 PM

Belgium Europe

I'm gonna grow 5 plants next season... 2 pumpkins in greenhouse and 2 pumpkins and 1 squash outside.I think with rigorous pruning and providing easy acces to each part of the plant i can do it with 1 to 1.5 hour a day.

1/7/2005 3:57:17 PM

[email protected]

Two here at the house 20-24'W x 70'L
2-3 at the school patch (maybe).
Two at a Super Secret Squash patch in a co-op effort.

1/7/2005 4:41:45 PM

Massillon, Ohio

i've settled in at 6 and i think it is a perfect ammount for me

1/7/2005 4:43:49 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

One for me in 2004(my "first" year), ended with a 615 lber.
Next year I plan on 3-5 plants.

1/7/2005 6:07:12 PM

Cincinnati,OH

1st year 1 plant, 2nd year 9 plants. This year I'm thinking 3 or 4.

1/7/2005 6:09:54 PM

Mt.Pleasant,Iowa

I grew 6 last year and only 2 made it so this year 12 and maybe 6 will make it.

1/7/2005 6:17:17 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

1ST Year - 1 plant
2ND Year - 2 plants
3RD Year - 4 plants 2 @ home & 2 across the street.

With a young child, time is always a challenge.
Trying to find a balance is key.
A little plant neglect I think is good. (within reason) Ever thought you have loved you plant to death? (I cared for it so well now why did the fruit go and split on me?)

Even with all that, sometimes the wife just gets pissed anyways.


If I had the space I'd do 8 plants, all back to back.

1/7/2005 7:29:00 PM

Omaha, NE (N41-15-42 )

I ended up with 7 plants last year (started with more, but that's another story) 3 plants at home patch, and 4 plants at a remote patch. My wife decided to give birth on June 30th, which really put a crimp in the season, and I ended up having to abandon the remote patch. I'm gearing up to try again this year with 4 plants at a larger home patch at 4 plants remotely. I'm starting our 3 year old with his own plant this spring as well. He's helped out with foliar feeding the past two years, and is ready to graduate to the big leagues. Hopefully, our little one will be walking soon, and she'll get some pumpkin chores as well. If any of you are with OSHA, I deny everything!

Last year I bought a dosatron fert injector, which really made feeding easy. Bought myself a mist blower for xmas and will be using timers to do most of the watering and feeding. I'm self-employed, so I have some control over my schedule as long as my wife doesn't realize I'm not working as much.

1/7/2005 7:48:37 PM

Amherst, WI

6 plants is about right for me, I can take good care of that many, and still have time for the young'uns and my wife.

1/7/2005 7:53:42 PM

Butler, Ohio

I grew one plant in '04 my first year. Gonna go with 2 this year at my house and probably 3-4 at dad's place. He has more room plus he retired last year so he has more time. lol. Gonna be an interesting year for me this year with a 1 year old and a new baby due at the end of July. Whew!!

1/7/2005 9:56:26 PM

Deer Park WA

I prefer 1 or 2 plants as they get the best care, but have learned (the hard way)that to have the split Gods smile on you it is not numericaly responsible and so have settled on 5 plants with a couple stragglers here and there...

1/7/2005 10:12:18 PM

No Place Special

10 competition plants for me in 05'. My kids will be 6.5 and 2.5 yrs old this summer, much more time for me. It was a little rough last yr and VERY bad the yr before. The wife was upset every time I went to the patch. I got creative and found things to entertain the kids at the patch. Sprinklers to play in, mud and dirt, sand box, corn field and so on. ANYTHING to keep them occupied while I could weed just one plant. Usually had to hose them off when we got home though.

1/7/2005 10:29:09 PM

Taber, Alberta

Mike, I know how it is My son was 4 and my daughter was 1 1/2 this past summer, and for a lot of the summer, the only way I could even get to my farm patch was to take the kids along. The farm cats kept them entertained for quite a while, until my daughter discovered that Daddy would get quite funny if she started picking off the female flowers just getting ready to open.

Back to the topic at hand, last year I started with 1 at home and 6 at my farm patch. Too much to do in too little time. 2005 will only see 2 well kept plants out at the farm and the one at home. Hopefully, my kids will be a little more cooperative! LOL
Alan

1/7/2005 10:51:10 PM

[email protected]

I went with 5 plants last year, and now I am cutting back to 4, or so I say now! May do a watermelon. I give each plant app. 500-600 sq ft, and it seemed to work well last year.

1/7/2005 11:27:51 PM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

2003: 4 plants
2004: 3 plants
2005: 3 plants

1/8/2005 3:30:18 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

2003 = 21 plants
2004 = 11 plants
2005 = 7 plants

1/8/2005 6:12:20 AM

Brillion Wisconsin

Last year I had one competition plant and four in the test patch.

One word of advice to folks just planting one or two plants. Don't make the same mistake I did. I pretty much had all my eggs in one basket with that one plant. When it split and I was out of the race. To start this year I will double plant each site and cull the weeker of the two plants.

I will also start my plants at opposite ends of the patch and grow them towards each other, like I did in 2003. If one plant keeps aborting fruits or has weird flowers/leaves you will still be in the game with your other plant.

What is boils down to is the more plants one has the better the chances of showing up at the weigh off with a intact pumpkin.

The down side is a lot more work to try and give each plant the same undivided attention.

seed starting is only 114 days away, good luck to all in 2005...Dean o

1/8/2005 9:27:57 AM

Ontario, Canada.

I will grow from 10 to 14 plants at two sites. This year I will use the Landry-Ailts Benchmark 2005 growth chart to determine quicker exits from poorly performing fruits and by the end of July I hope to concentrate on only the fastest growing plants and pumpkins. This should save large amounts of time and resources.

1/8/2005 9:49:04 AM

[email protected]

Going with 15 plants for size and 5 more as pollinators.
I have 10,000 sq ft. and half will be under cover.
Kids are all grown up and in fact my daughter is my partner
Self empoyed, so my time is quite open.
Eddy

1/8/2005 11:14:35 AM

Indiana

about 150-160 plants again this year. 14 will get taken care of between dad and I. Maybe more out in the field if the weeding isnt to bad.

Tom

1/8/2005 11:34:40 AM

Cologne Brescia Italy

I have 7500 sq ft. ready for 18 plants, I'll have great work, in 2005 season all plants covered for the hail
I hope will can do it

1/8/2005 11:36:03 AM

Woodburn, Indiana

8 Competition.

1/8/2005 1:12:12 PM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

4 Plants for me, along with 3-4 watermelons.

Phil

1/8/2005 4:03:32 PM

Ontario, Canada

probably about 5 giant along with a couple of acres of field pumpkin for sale

1/8/2005 4:50:58 PM

San Diego, CA

I've never grown AGs before (although I've grown other maximas for culinary use), so I think I'll try starting off with 4 plants for my 1st year. Plus my usual veggies & herbs.

1/8/2005 5:24:05 PM

Warwood

I am going with four this year at 400 sq. ft. I generally start 2-3 and go with the best one after mid-July. That's why I haven't grown a lot of big ones. I used to grow 600-900 sq.ft. but want to at least improve my chances starting 4 this year. Craig Weir usually only grows 1-2 plants as well and he does, you know, very well! I'd say to try a few and then give that good one or two the red carpet treatment.
Many growers are beating the 1000+ barrier with plants 186 to 400 sq.ft. especially if you have dynamite soil. DOn

1/8/2005 7:30:09 PM

porterville, calif.

Im going with 6 and 2 squash

1/8/2005 7:49:54 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

With 850 sq. ft. I'm going to squeeze 2 plants in again this year at home. One plant will be given a larger area and the other will be grown on a slightly modifed flag pattern.

1/8/2005 9:15:54 PM

Hensler North Dakota

5 orange and 1 squash at home and 4 to 6 going out to new growers around town.

1/8/2005 9:25:13 PM

Walkerton Ont

growing 10 this year, 5 - 6 competiton plants, 2 sqash, it all depends on how much money i have come end of april, need a car first

1/8/2005 10:11:51 PM

Rexburg, Idaho

I've done 5 plants the past three years. Looking to go to 7 this season. The kids (12/10/7) are getting into it and want their own plants this year.

1/9/2005 12:16:34 AM

Vancouver, White Rock, Canada

Room for just one plant for me on about 350 sq ft. May try to grow one for pollination purposes additionally. Haven't decided yet.

1/9/2005 1:14:30 AM

Western NY

i may be reaching beachy numbers this year

1/10/2005 8:58:32 AM

Montoursville, PA

Only plant two. When one goes bad out comes the tiller and the axe. My rule of thumb indicates I may finish a nice one within each three year cycle.

1/10/2005 12:19:53 PM