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Abbotsford, B.C

I have been wondering about this as I have been watching the diary posts. What makes the heavy hitters grow such large pumpkins, on such a consistent basis? What if so and so's pumpkin plant hadn't been torn up by that freak storm? What if this growers plants hadn't been chewed up by an unknown pest that destroyed their vines? The potential of Atlantic Giant species is very great, yet we so often have accidents, whether it be a board falling over and snapping the tip of the vine, or a freak storm in August, or a deer coming and destroying your prize pumpkin. Now when you compare your perils with those of the heavy hitters, do you really think that they don't have similiar dangers? After some thinking, I have come to this conclusion as to the main factor as to what creates a heavy hitter. Prevention of accidents and dangers before they ever happen. Stop that wind before it ever arrives at your plants with sound windbreaks. Work as hard as you can to keep the pests from getting to your pumpkin before they devour your plants, not contending with them once they've invaded your pumpkins. The list of things goes on and on.

6/19/2005 1:14:44 AM

Abbotsford, B.C

Now, I know that that isn't the only thing that makes a heavy hitter. But it certainly factors pretty high up there. Other important points are dedication, how often your able to care for your plants, budget, where you live, and a host of other things besides. Luck is also very important to be a succesful grower. But when you live within a few miles of a heavy hitter, you grow similiar, if not some of the same, seeds, and your soil is also in similiar condition, you are both dedicated to growing giant pumpkins, there isn't too great a budget problem, and you both suffered the same storm, or the same pests, you have to wonder why the heavy hitter's plants survived it so much better than yours. Because he (or she) was prepared for possible dangers, with plants well protected from possible dangers. All comments on my theory are welcome.

Cameron

6/19/2005 1:15:09 AM

Deer Park WA

They have the experience and percerverance (sP) to do whats needed as well as the best of seed stock. How many world records have came from growers with only a couple years of experience? These folks have it down to a fine science. Watering, soil, fertilization or lack there of, as well as the right latitude/longitude, weed and insect/critter control. The fact is anyone who seeks world records is an athlete that trains hard and is totaly devoted to the quest. Best of luck, and yes there are so many pitfalls along the way. P.S luck certinaly has a part in the equasion.

6/19/2005 3:24:00 AM

Key West, FL

like the boy scouts say, be prepaired. I think being prepaired and preventing bad things plays a big part is their success, they've also had lots of experience, and are framilar with the problems they face and are experienced in fighting them. Rock and Shelly Rivard have a 8ft electric deer fence around their patch. You can bet they aren't going to have a problem with any deer now.

6/19/2005 3:48:17 AM

Alaska

Total Plant Care! Leave nothing to chance! Expect the un
expected! I too have an electric fence that keeps the moose out. No they are not always around but why take a chance. All pest seem to have a season, certain times of the year when they can become a problem. Why wait? Start a prevenative program before they arrive. I truely believe the heavy hitters spend allot of time in the pumpkin patch looking and scurtinizing each and every vine. They know just how hard to push. It's quite obvious when something has gone wrong but to know when everything is going just right, isn't so easy. I think most folks just plain shoot themselves in the foot. I know I have! I'm sure most folks work a nine to five job and their patch (garden) time is limited. Maybe one day when we can spend way more time in the patch we too can become Heavy Hitters. Later Scott.

6/19/2005 4:32:06 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Okay, let's summarize...Experience, Preparation, Prevention, Dedication, and the variable...Luck. Sounds simple to me.!?!? Now if I can only get a pumpkin to grow!!! Good Luck to all. Peace Wayne

6/19/2005 7:32:14 AM

Long Island,New York

Location, Location, Location.

6/19/2005 8:41:07 AM

Midway City, California

The number of plants a heavy hitter starts with is large. The number at the weigh off is small. The number of plants over 1000 pounds is smaller and most weigh off do not have 10 pumpkins in the top ten over 1000 pounds.

Conclusion: Grow a large number of plants and your chanches of a big one will be better.

6/19/2005 12:57:52 PM

Commack, NY

John, i couldn't disagree more. Craig Weir does not start with a large number of plants, and look what he's done.

6/19/2005 6:17:40 PM

Greene R.I.

grow only the amount of plants you can take care of.i grow four plants a season. i could easly fit three more plants in my yard,but the four i grow get a great amount of T.L.C. two to three inches of water a week during dry spells, keeping on top of pruning and buring vines.if you can,t take of a large # of plants you will never break 1000lbs!lots of growers in R.I. grow 6 or less plants . what is a heavy hitter? good luck all!

6/19/2005 8:45:55 PM

Somers, CT

I am pretty sure it is because of great preparation strategies and a good eye for detail. Plants groomed for perfection. Knowing what can and will go wrong and how not to let it. How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice...

6/19/2005 8:46:45 PM

Rhode Island

what makes a heavy hitter ?

1. picking the right seeds
2. soil thats well balanced and drains well
3. patch is in the ideal location or he corrects it
4. commitment to excell
5. not afraid to work hard and seek advice
6. not making the same mistake twice
7. not afraid to spend additional money on tests as needed
8. experience
9. network with other successful growers
10 more experience

there are a lot of growers out there that dont necessarily have the title of "heavy hitter" , and their efforts will go unnoticed because their weights are over shadowed by others come weighoff day

unfortunately, a lot of these growers have battled problems for years and due to no fault of there own have never been rewarded buy the pumpkin gods for their effort

also you have some heavy hitters that will only show up at a weighoff if they feel they can win, so these type are called heavy hitters but are they ? immagine if everyone only showed up when they thought they could win ? there would be no weighoffs

pap

6/19/2005 10:08:06 PM

San Diego

there is atleast a partial correlation between having more plants equaling a better shot at a big one. If you grow 5 plants, you can have one plant go down catastrophically from mosaic, stump rot, a wild animal, mutation, etc and you still have four plants left to grow out a nice fruit. If you have just room for one plant a year, the stakes are much higher. One big problem and a world record is over. besides this, I would say climate, money, experience, seeds, soil, a lot of dedication and time spent in the patch, and luck!:) Jimmy

6/20/2005 12:23:03 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Many of the consistant growers (aka "Heavy Hitters) do not grow more than 4 to 6 plants unless they are blessed with ample land and time!! Many Pacific Northwest Growers only have room and time for a few plants and certainly do not have acres and acres of giant pumpkins (Tom and others excluded).

6/20/2005 1:15:35 AM

Mocksville, NC

Jack Larue, planted 23 plants, got a 1420 out of it. And Al Eaton grew 5 plants got a 1446. I know they both worked very hard. So... I just don't know.
I think Pap said it best.

6/20/2005 8:39:13 PM

canal winchester ohio

I don't know how many Jack L. planted last year but from the large pac of seeds he sent me he had the following pumpkins
Larue 1420.5 04
Larue 1205.5 04
Larue 1160 04
Larue 1157 04
Larue 1052 04
Larue 1003 04
Larue 969 04
Larue 961.5 04
Larue 952 04
Larue 951.5 04
Larue 873 04
Larue 836 04
Larue 831 04
Larue 816 04
No matter how many you plant, that IS impressive...................Paul

6/20/2005 9:11:40 PM

Puyallup, WA

....and you missed his 1109!!!

6/21/2005 1:12:22 AM

Deer Park WA

Got the 1109 LaRue in the patch along with the 1205 LaRue and they are doing great! Thanks for the 1109 plug Stan I can't wait to see what the fruit looks like from her an awesome cross!

6/21/2005 1:34:50 AM

Puyallup, WA

If I may be a bit frank....most people will not "pay the price of success"......in any field of interest. The expertise in our field of growing AG's comes through years of hard work. We all want to bargin with the price of success. I see it happening on this board all the time!

Now, sometimes one can just get lucky in their first year.
It happened to me(3rd place first weigh-off), so I thought that I "knew it all". The following year .....nothing, zip, nada! What a humbling experience. That fall, I started duplicating the actions of those that were successful. Sure, I still have "bad things happen" to my plants....but I am doing the same things that Geneva, Joel and Jack do.....Well, you can't do them all because there are slight differences in their techniques....and hopefully someday, I'll hit 1300#. Every year, I learn how to do something better.....one has to keep "growing" in this sport if you want to win!

6/21/2005 1:38:53 AM

Puyallup, WA

Gadberry...I'm growing the 1109 and it's mother the Handy 1247. The 1247 has given me nothing but grief! The 1109 is doing well. We'll know a lot more in two weeks after those "babys" get pollinated!

6/21/2005 1:43:15 AM

Mocksville, NC

I was talking about the two heaviest ,not all the pumpkins they ended up with. Al also had more than one. I respect both of them very much, and yes they did go the extra mile, and the words PAP said in his post was almost the same thing Jack, and Al said at the California seminar.

Roger:)

6/21/2005 1:23:57 PM

Chico, Ca

I think many folks would do better by doing more listening and watching what the heavy hitters are saying... and doing. So many people jump on the hottest new trick without weighing the consequences first. you may not need to nuke your patch with brand XXXX chemical. look at what you have and only fix things that are broken. if some new radical technique comes out, give it a year to see if it is something you really need to incorporate in your regime.

I have seen so many people in the monkey see monkey do routine. they screw things up that were not a problem in the first place. must work because so and so did it. maybe it did for them.... but it is detrimental for you.

people ask me advice all the time. I usually recommend small changes not radical ones. they don't listen then whine about their predicament. can't help those who don't listen and follow through.

stuff happens to everyone... it is how you react,learn, and ultimately apply your knowledge that over time makes you better... reasoning skills is what I call them. thinking is not a lazy mans sport. many of the heavy hitters I have met have mastered the skills of temperance and observation

6/22/2005 2:43:24 AM

Rainbowlake Alberta

Its funny the night I read this was the night I got frost, Expect the unexpected. When I went to bed that night it was 4C. New rule of thumb. If temps are 7 C in evening cover up. So thats where experience comes in. A lesson learned.

6/22/2005 8:08:08 AM