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Location

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Date Posted

San Jose [email protected]

I thought it would be kinda neat to see all the rookies (especially since i'm one) post a bit about yourself, how you got into this silly hobby/sport, where you live, bla,bla,bla

I will do so later, I just wanted to get it started.

GROW-EM-BIG

Gary

6/9/2005 10:47:43 PM

Central Oklahoma ( [email protected])

Well, my name is Jon Navarro and I am addicted to growing pumpkins. Just kidding my wife is, My wife and I have been growing pie pumpkins for a couple of years and I was driving down the road one day and noticed that a guy I kinda knew had a huge pumpkin in his garden. I could not help it I stopped one day and took a look at the pumpkin plant. He had got the seeds from his brother in law and he had bought them at a seed store. Anyways the pumpkins he had were about 120 pounds and mine were like 6 to 8 pounds. I could not believe how big they were. So I came home all in a frantic wanting to learn more about Dill's Atlantic Giants and I put giant pumpkins in Yahoo search and here we are. After hours on top of hours on top of hours on this web site and other sites, I just had to give it a shot. Oh yeah, We thought that it would be cool for the kids to grow some big pumpkins, but now that we have the plants growing we dont let the kids in there. Thanks to the nice people on this site I recived some good seeds to grow this year and hopfully I will be able to return the favor and give a rookie some seeds next year. Jon

6/9/2005 11:46:39 PM

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Started inocently enough. Carve pumpkin, save seeds, plant seeds in spring, kill plants a short time later. The following year I found Dill's Atlantic Giant Seeds at Wal-mart, planted those in a new garden with the intention of growing a 400 pound pumpkin to potentially use as a boat in the Annual Windsor Pumpkin Regatta. I live 20 minutes from the site of the Regatta, and the Dill Farm. Sometime midway through the season, when I had a couple of 10 pound pumpkins set, I got hit with Powdery Mildew. A little research into that brought me here, I learned that my pumpkins were going nowhere fast, but ended up with a Danny Dill pumpkin for the Regatta, and a large collection of decent seeds. 3rd new garden in 3 years leads me to now, with a couple of Companion plants trying to fight off a horrible spring and throw me some bright orange pumpkin boats. My wife loves pumpkins too, loves visiting the Dill farm, and even suggested giving our daughter the middle name "Pumpkin". So now I'm a giant pumpkin growing father of one Neela Pumpkin, with a loving wife that thinks I'm nuts, but at least supports me in my efforts.

6/10/2005 6:15:09 AM

Berlin,mi.([email protected])

I got started in 2004 with a seed that I got from a local grower. It was a 885lb. pumpkin.I only had the one seed and grew it to 570lbs.I did many things wrong because I did not know about BP.com when I got started.This year I dove in head first and things are going very well so far.I probably have bit off more than I can chew but I think I can manage to grow some good size pumpkins.I have set my goal at 700 lbs.I think I should be able to reach that, anything beyond that will be a bonus.I would like to thank everyone on this site for all the info that they have shared it has helped me understand what needs to be done to obtain the results that I am looking for.I wish everyone good luck in 2005 and hopefully I will have some good seeds to share with everyone for next year.

6/10/2005 6:42:01 AM

Butler, Ohio

My name is Mike Conrad and it all got started in the spring of 2004 as a bet between my dad my brother and myself to see who could get the biggest pumpkin and we would all take them to the Bellville street fair. We got some Big Max and AG seeds from the store...doh! got em planted and the Ag seeds never even came up. I ended up withan entire backyard (and part of the alley and the neghbor's driveway) full of pumpkin vines and a 94# big max pumpkin. About 3/4 of the way through the summer I found BP.com and became a student of the site every night throughout the entire fall and winter. I read diary after diary and studied picture after picture to see different techniques. I contacted several nice growers who were more than happy to send me some of their seeds and now I have 3 pumpkin plants taking over the backyard (quite possibly the alley and neighbors drive again by the time it's all over) and am hoplessly addicted to it.

6/10/2005 3:38:23 PM

Lexington, Ky

I didn't know any better.....

6/10/2005 4:42:27 PM

Sophia WV

I too am a rookie to good seeds and plants hope to be the rookie of the year!!!!

6/10/2005 8:44:57 PM

[email protected]

Third season growing AGs....we're still rookies here.

6/10/2005 9:25:33 PM

addison Il

reading the paper and seeing a local grower near my hometown growing a big pumpkin was an eye opener for me never did get to his house when he was offering seeds so when me and sis moved to a new house with a huge huge lot a little bit of country in the middle of addison il well I new we could grow some pumpkins for sure. so I got on the net and ordered seeds from 3 different companies which i now know as open pollinated or generic seeds but at the time I was queen of my realm. getting grow lights tilling patch and dreaming of big ones, when they sprouted i was amazed they were so large and when i was posting a question on another site someone recommended i go to this site so im here to stay lol. found out where the growers are in my area and even visited with the guy who got me hooked and boy his plants make mine look like midgits i guess thats why they say go with genetics but as for my plants there will be no culling no saddness im doing well for a newbie and even if i only grow a small pumpkin you better belive i will be at the weigh off mabye just to make fun of myself for the heck of it and of course to meet pros. I am a new member of the illinois pumpkin growers association and forever a giant pumpkin loving gal watch for me to post a pic regardless of the size of my pumpkin lol

6/10/2005 11:06:48 PM

Olympia, Wa

I got started with the jackolanterns. I was searching looking for patterns to carve when it took me to this site. I have been hooked ever since!....
2nd yr growing...last yr my prize was a whopping 290lbs. but I didnt know half the stuff I do now and I thank all of you on B.P. for supplying me with more info. than I care to read at times...but I'm hooked now and am sure Giant pumpkin growing will be my favorite summer past time for years to come!
I know my kids sure do enjoy me sharing my little knowledge...when we are in the patch!
I learn something new almost every week here...and if I have a question...."the family" is here to help!

6/11/2005 1:15:08 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

My nameis Wayne Moore and I moved to KY. in fall of '03 with AG seeds from a MI. grower. Could not get any of them to sprout in spring '04 but was already hooked. Found generic seeds at local nursery and tried to grow last year. Patch eaten up by Powdery Mildew before I knew what it was. That problem led me to BP.com. Spent last fall and winter learning from generous folk on this site. Collected some decent seeds and now have plants growing well. Hope to make goal of 500# this year, but one of the things I learned already is that one of the four key ingredients is GOOD LUCK...if I make my goal that will be nice, if not...like the gov of cal said...I'll be back!!!! Peace Wayne

6/11/2005 8:24:54 AM

Benton Ky

I got started growing pkins when I picked up a pack of big max seed at my local coop. I planted 2 and just let them go . I grew a 47 lber. I found some nc giant seed the next year, but burned them up with to much manure. Last year I found bp.com and got some good seed and I am hooked now.

6/11/2005 9:10:04 AM

Rhode Island

BEEN GROWING FOR 15 YEARS AND STILL CONSIDER MYSELF A ROOKIE
MET SOME OF THE NICEST PEOPLE AND HAVE FORMED LIFE LONG FRIENDSHIPS THROUGH THIS HOBBY

I WILL CONTINUE TO GROW UNTIL I CANT GET INTO THE PATCH
( OR THE BEER KEG IN THE PUMPKIN SHACK ) LOL

LIKE IVE ALWAYS SAID A HUNDRED TIMES " BAD PEOPLE DONT SPEND THEIR TIME GROWING PUMPKINS"

6/11/2005 1:16:03 PM

[email protected]

Good words Dick.

6/11/2005 1:55:01 PM

Marion,IN

My name is John and this is my first year for AG's. I grew big max last year and both grew to 115 lbs. The year before I had one abot 110 and another about 80. Any help is always appreciated. I have received some great help so far. My vine is over 2 feet now on my 2 plants. I will be traveling to Germany next year for the World Cup soccer tourney and hope to meet some of the growers over there.

6/12/2005 10:10:37 PM

Follansbee, Wv

First year AG grower, long time gardener. I started growing because my youngest daughter asked me to grow her a really big pumpkin. How could I say no?

6/13/2005 4:59:12 PM