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Okla

Already over the 100 mark the past couple days. I am not near ready for the hot temps yet and these high winds we been having. I do not have my shade frame or misters setup yet and it is already HOT. I have three good plants in the ground but I am about a month behind when we set them out. With all the problems I have had this past year I might just say the heck with it this year. Disgusted in Oklahoma.

5/22/2005 5:36:16 PM

Sioux Falls, SD [email protected]

No! No! You can't quit!
Not with 3 healthy babies!

5/22/2005 5:51:12 PM

Sparta, NC

Hang in there Thomas. You'll be happy you did at the end of the season.

5/22/2005 6:25:50 PM

Sort of Sunny Sometimes, WA

"Could be worse. Could be raining." DON'T QUIT! Your little ones need you!

5/22/2005 9:03:56 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

geez

5/23/2005 6:24:14 AM

Roanoke Il

Thomas have a beer take 2 or 3 days off then look at it agin. things will look different. from a grower that has hung it up more than once its in your blood thomas.. mark

5/23/2005 6:48:15 AM

Claysburg , PA

Thomas, don`t quit . Things could be alot worse. I was just told by the farmer , whose ground I was going to use year this that he changed his mind and I`d have to move. I hauled 8 truck loads of manure and spread by hand . Alot of work for nothing. I`m planting at my house which only gets 4-5 hours of sun but still planting . So don`t quit !!!

5/23/2005 7:21:02 AM

Deer Park WA

Well it frosted hard here last night, I had the hoop houses closed but I may be out too. Geez is right, at least you did'nt get froze out...

5/23/2005 10:17:58 AM

addison Il

thomas i am a newbie grower and I thought things were bad in my patch too my hoophouse blew away and cracked some of my plants. bunnies or something has been chewing on my plants that have survived so far and to top it all of I think i may have bought seeds that were not ags at all at least not in size but all in all i have not given up becuase i want to see the end result its addicting and it can be sad at some times and you think why do it but just think of it at the end you will have something great you yourself grew a giant among giants and no matter what trials and tribulations we all face when you see the end results its pure pride so keep at it because if you dont try you might regret it later on your plants sound hearty so try because giving up is to me a big mistake if all else fails you can then say you at least tried
grow em big
curvy1

5/23/2005 10:54:17 AM

Montoursville, PA

I have some experience, of record. In spite, of all my past gardening experiences, this spring presented me with an aray, of challenges that were not easy, to overcome.

After many difficult moments and some failures I finally have two in the ground and begining, to look good. I would keep, on trying, even if they did not yet look good.

Our area just closed the coldest month, of April, in the history, of weather records. We also had record cold rainfall and flooding worse than ever, in the history, of my little half acre. About the only thing we missed out on was destructive high winds.

I lost three transplants, in one frame, and four in the second cold frame. The answer was, to use more hardened off transplants and more heat, in the frames with more blankets, on top, of the frames.

Whew.......am I glad, to see April and the best part, of May, behind us. I will have something decent, for my efforts, if mother cooperates just a little now.

Adversity is what offers the option, to quit or better yet, to learn and move on.

Hang in there and become a better grower, in the process. If growing these fool things was easy we would all be growing, in the top third, of the weight range. For some strange reason we all are not all doing that! The difference, in my opinion, is pure and simple experience.

5/23/2005 11:16:25 AM

Ga.

I think you guys/gals are missing an important point which hasnt been mentioned..Thomas had back surgery at the end of 04....I know for a fact that Thomas isnt a quitter,,but put yourself in his shoes..Sometimes it is better to wait til next year..T,,do what you need to do so you'll be ready when 06 comes around...
Jeff

5/23/2005 11:17:00 AM

Midwest

Well Doc now you know what us WI/MN growers go through every year !!!

5/23/2005 5:10:18 PM

Butler, Ohio

Hang in there Thomas. I'e fished my hoop houses out of the creek 2 times already this year, and lost my 1446 Eaton plant to the neighbors dog. It'll get better.

5/23/2005 6:45:05 PM

Rhode Island

HANG IN THERE THOMAS, YOUR DAY WILL COME

HAVING BEEN CONSUMED WITH THIS "HOBBY" FOR MANY YEARS I CAN TRUELY SAY MY SON AND I HAVE HAD JUST ABOUT EVERY GOOD AND BAD THING THAT CAN (AND WILL AT TIMES )HAPPEN

WE HAVE EXPERIENCED AS MANY LOWS AS WE HAVE HIGHS NOT COUNTING THE HOURS AND HOURS OF WORK AND RESEARCH

IN FACT IF WE HAD ALL THE MONEY WE HAVE SPENT IM QUITE SURE WE COULD PURCHASE A NICE AUTOMOBILE

BUT FOR ME, IF I HAD IT TO DO ALL OVER AGAIN I WOULD
THERES NOTHING LIKE THE SIGHT OF A PUMPKIN WHEN ITS STARTING TO PEEK ABOVE THE LEAVES, OR THE ANTICIPATION COME MEASURING DAY

ITS LIKE MY GOOD FRIEND AND RECENTLY RETIRED GROWER JOHN CASTILLUCCI SAYS " A MANS BEST HOURS ARE SPENT IN HIS GARDEN"

5/23/2005 9:12:25 PM

[email protected]

Good words Pap. Reminds me of a story.

In 1976 a Pennsylvania greenhouse owner was diagnosed with a stomach ulcer. His doctor told him he couldn't work that summer while he was recovering. A fellow nureseryman gave him some seeds. He direct planted them in a quarter acre plot next to his home. The founder of Peter's Professional Fertilizers tested his soil & recommended a fertility program. He had his greenhouse spraying stuff brought to his home & he proceeded to do what great gardeners do......he grew......Ed Ford beat William Warnoch's 73 year old World record by growing the 451 Ed Ford '76.

5/23/2005 10:21:26 PM

Montoursville, PA

And Dan Carlson grew one, of the largest, ever grown, on nothing but the application, of manures and the elements, of manures, in the ground.

5/24/2005 8:40:46 AM