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Georgia

Just something I was thinking about. Ive always been preety decent at gardening and farming growing up watching my grandpa and other local farmers. Im just getting into competive gardening and grew some Atlantic Giants from a generic seed last year and was on a tight budget and did fairly well from 350 to 400 pounds nothing great. But I see some people that spend thousands of dollars and will only grow the most known expensive proven seeds out there and have elaborate watering systems and some probally even have outsiders tending their patches even paid help. To me I just hope that the hobby of giant pumpkin growing doesnt mean who ever has the most money will grow the biggest pumpkin because that just doesnt seem what its about...or is it??

12/19/2006 2:44:28 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Must be in the Orange Belt and have lots of money.....lol
LongBeard just got his new Xmas present Brand new Stihl mist blowanator....$500+ bucks....Nice! But one cant argue, money can buy devices that can help grow big, still takes dedication, good seed, good dirt, and good weather and good luck. Hopefully this year Ill have a majority of those.....
Grow'em BIG

12/19/2006 2:58:35 PM

Belmont, NH

Money does help. But enjoy the hobby/obsession for what it is. Do the best you can each year and add to your collection of support equipment and knowledge to produce a personal best each year. If you try to grow a 1500lber the first couple of years you will probably become very discouraged. Compete with yourself. Refine your techniques and let every year be better than the last. There is more dedication to the patch involved than money. Good luck in 2007.

12/19/2006 4:37:36 PM

Ontario, Canada.

I wish I had several pieces of equipment to make the back breaking work easier. At times it gets hard to turn over the soil but burring vines is done by hand anyways. The mist blower, tractor with bucket and tiller are 20k options that I don't have and most likely never will.

Drew Papez is a good example of a backyard urban grower who is highly successful. He grows only a couple of plants in his backyard with little mechanical resources and the knowledge of good experience. He is a hitter who continues to enjoy big fruit.

I spent a good buck the first three years chasing all sorts of soil additions and really waited for a couple of years while my soil came around. The trend has been to the organic side over the past few years and most of the manures can be had cheaply. We have proven that you can save money on spraying programs with tees and home made fungal preventatives. A couple of dollars for a few modern insecticides is well spent money. Set up a good irrigation system with water barrels and drip lines and bingo your now a 1,000 pound grower.

Good seeds can be found all over from literally hundreds of growers too. Most will beat down your door offering their progeny a chance in the Garden of Eden.

It will always be the sweat equity that gets you to the top. The Money & equipment can help but its not the only answer. I just might have the seed for you. Send me an email and we will get you started on the road to a larger giant.

Good Luck and Good Growing

Russ Landry

12/19/2006 6:44:11 PM

Georgia

Good posts and its just something I think about sometimes when growing veggies and especially pumpkins. I always give a lot of my veggies and pumpkins away to co-workwrs knowing how much work I put into them and I just dig that they all appreciate them so much and even say that I must spend a lot of work growing them and money which I do..I get dirty as a swine in slop. I wouldn't give a pumpkin away or a veg that I wouldnt buy myself. I would just hate to think that this hobby which I believe is gonna be BIG...isn't about love well hell obsession of just growing the great pumpkin, one that Linus would be proud of. I just believe that hardwork and mothernatures help will produce the granddaddy of them all.....not money.

12/19/2006 7:02:22 PM

Mastic Beach, New York

it takes time..i loaded garbage cans with compost and dump them in the patch..now have a 4yd dump trailer..makes life easier..to help fund my hobby,i sell my pumpkins..take this year at the weigh off my pumpkin was sold when the weight was said.

12/19/2006 7:03:12 PM

Georgia

I hear ya billy and this year Id like to add a few things to make it easier. I bought two sprayers for my four wheeler to replace a couple handheld sprayers its tough when you have to use 5 or 6 of them. I still do the old timers way of making all my compost in a pit in the backyard turning it with a pitchfork but as I get older thatll probally change but its the way gramps used to do it so for now I'll keep on.

12/19/2006 7:12:09 PM

Belmont, NH

If it was easy it would not be much fun. For me anyway. I have some nice stuff but not all the fancy "stuff" to grow them with. There is a certain amount of genuine satisfaction acheived from doing it the hard way. It's like the feeling you have when you look at that pile of wood all split and stacked as you walk back to the shed with your splitting mall in your hand.

12/19/2006 7:38:24 PM

Georgia

I couldnt agree more BHooked which arent we all hooked its a wonder anyone puts up with us. The hard work and sacrifice which we all put in tending the gardens is crazy but I love it and we probally all do considering its December and were still talking pumpkins.

12/19/2006 7:46:52 PM

Carrollton, Ga.

hi jason,
this is doug adams from carrollton, georgia. do you know what your line up is going to be this year?
good luck and grow a big one. what town to you live in or near.

take care,
doug

John 3:16

12/19/2006 7:57:42 PM

Addison IL.

Right on for the dicussion. I have always felt that it takes heart and hard work too grow a big one . Good weather is a plus too besides all the money can't always buy you a big pumpkin .

12/19/2006 8:49:17 PM

Commack, NY

billy you should at least give G the credit he deserves for brokering that deal for you :)

12/19/2006 9:17:54 PM

Clinton, Iowa

Sorry I just gotta add my 2 cents worth...Like always you'll end up with a wordy buck and a half's worth!!!
Anyways Petersen and I spend and average of about 100 bucks each year on fall prep..I'll break it down...
$28 for a fall soil sample
$40 for dinner for the guy and wife who hauls the manure in during the fall.MANURE IS FREE!!!
$20 for diesel for the above mentioned hauler
and we travel arond the town picking up bagged leaves and most of them are already mulched...
Bependign on the soil test we might add 20 bucks worth of Gypsum If needed (calcium)
That is our fall prep..
the fall plowing is a trade...My buddy plows and in return I kill and process a deer for him and his family..works out great!!
Anyways then we have your basic sprays..warrior T or cross check...Pretty reasonable anymore when you split it and share cost with others...
Maybe a 100 to 200 bucks when you add in a couple fungicides. But these can be used for several years so dollar cost averaging really makes it pretty cheap.
that is about it and we still spray with a hand help pump...Marc and I both use one...other then that pretty much does it..
As far as seeds goes...Plant a 1030 Armstrong.You'll be happy!!! Cheap and a real decent seed that seems to hold together pretty darn well ..For us atleast
DAN

12/19/2006 9:36:18 PM

Clinton, Iowa

Oh yea we till with a couple hand tillers..Mine is a front tined run of the mill 5 horse power variaety.. Petey and I bought a second rear tines one for 125 each...so now we can till in less then half the time..last year was the first year we had it...
DAN

12/19/2006 9:38:10 PM

Mastic Beach, New York

Thats what friends are for...thanks G! thanks scott for blowing up..Rob thanks for not growing this year..everyone's covered..lol

12/19/2006 9:57:52 PM

southwest MO

Lets not forget the great equaizer -- weight. That is what draws me to this hobby. There is no subjective eye of a judge, or giant amounts of money, like there is with so many other things. That cuts way down on the politics and klicks so to speak. Just a bunch of folks helping each other do what they love.

You can get as crazy as you want automating things with pumps, tanks, shade srtuctures ect... Or you can keep it simple and take what mother nature gives you.

I enjoy fenceing the patch, building a water system out of pvc, making a 50 gallon batch of tea, designing new shade structures for pumpkins ect... Its ALL part of it for me. I save my money and do these things with it when and where I can.

Good luck to everyone!! If you pay somebody to raise your pumpkins disregard everything I said!! .

12/19/2006 11:07:39 PM

Warwood

Folks,
The real secrets and tricks of the trade are from your top growers like Mr. Carlson and Mr. Petersen. They're telling the truth and nothing but the truth. There are no magic secrets to this. Learn and read all you can on gardening and soil care. All the other stuff could be considered fine tuning, just fluff, money, or glitter. These guys are for real. It's a lot of hard work but ask some of your best growers and they know there is no substitute for hard work, love of pumpkin growing and using a lot of good organics like manure & leaves and compost. Get a soil test. Take good care of your plant, keep weeds pulled, only compact the least amount of soil possible, prune as needed, bury vines and water depending on your soil type, usually lots of water, depending on soil-type, around 1-11/2 inches a week (counting rain water). Don't over water though. Put your plant to bed dry as much as possible. Be aware daily to twice daily of any insects, look on top and under leaves, look at any changes as signs to possible needs of the plant whether it be a necessary pesticide needed that is particular for the problem, don't over do anything. You may see certain signs yearly in your area and need to think prevention. Look at the overall health and color of the plant as a guide to adjustment and God given intuition. There are so many seeds that haven't even been planted yet that may hold the key, believe it! Be knowledgable and use as much common sense as possible. Learn all you can from top growers and find common denominators of these growers. Ask questions. ABOVE ALL LOVE IT! Don

12/19/2006 11:18:46 PM

well stated Don

12/19/2006 11:55:30 PM

Commack, NY

thank you billy! LOL

okay, here's my .02 worth....when you first get into this, it can be very overwhelming. the deeper you search, the more complex things get.....forget all that. Growing a giant pumpkin isnt any different than growing a tomato. (1) make friends with as many growers as you can. There is no substitute for experience (although hard work is always helpful) (2) Get some free seeds from some of the generous growers here on bp.com for the mere price of a self addressed stamped bubble mailer. (3) get your soil in top condition by first getting a soil test, then adding what you need (4) the only "technical" advice i will pass on is a fungicide/insecticide program is a must....(5) grow only as many plants as you can take care of. Sure there are plenty of guys out there who grow a dozen or more plants, but the ones that are successful at doing that have been at this game for a long, long time. Even though giant pumpkins arent any more difficult to grow than a tomato, they require more work than one. I think the worst thing in the world is to over extend your self. Others might say you have better odds if you grow more plants. Although that is true in one sense, if you cant take optimal care of them all, then really what's the point. (6) get your hands on the how to grow world class giant pumpkins books.....makes a great holiday gift and is packed with useful information that is easily referenced. (7) the rest is up to you......take it as far as you want to. All of these things you have been reading are from years of trial and error. What works for some, doesnt always work for all.

12/20/2006 8:54:56 AM

Rhode Island

jason

Getting back to your original statemenmt concerning your question about whoever has the most money grows the biggest pumpkin?
Nothing could be farther from the truth.

While its a fact that the longer you stay in this hobby the more equipment and such you may accumulate its also a fact that with out hard work and dedication a great seed ,location and equipment means nothing. The harder you work the luckier you get sort of thing.

There are just as many successful growers in this hobby that have a little as there are those that have a lot.

Fortunately for us, competing at giant pumpkin growing is one of those hobbies you dont need a lot of money to get involved with. Its a hobby where by the main ingredients are seed,soil and sun rather than social standing, portfolio and home address.
All the money in the world cant buy the excitment these things give off during there growth cycle.

I will agree that you do need some budgeted funds because fungicide and/or insecticide sprays plus some soil ammendments are a cost that must be addressed.

Good seeds, information, friendships made because of this hobby however can all be had for free.

Pap

12/20/2006 9:05:21 AM

Roanoke Il

Jason, Dan and pap and Scott made great points, It is still true that you can get great seeds for the cost of a bubble pac. With hard work and alittle luck you can grow a monster...but like and other sports as the prize money goes up and the sport gets bigger money will most likely ruin giant pumpkin growing like it has happened to other sports. I sure hope it doesn't ... mark

12/20/2006 9:54:49 AM

Georgia

Good posts to all of you guys. Mark I sure hope that this hobby doesnt get spoiled by means of cash but I still think we got a bit to go before that takes place. We will just have to hope George Steinbrener doesnt sponsor any pumpkin growers. Hey Doug outta Carrolton Georgia I live near Blue Ridge and Im not sure what my line ups gonna be Im planting 14 plants this year so Im just not sure yet. I like a lot of Beachys 2006 crosses so i might go with some of them and im still trying to get a hold of some good seeds as well as backups.

12/20/2006 10:33:59 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Gonna need a green wallet fo 14 plants....If each plant gets 30 minutes...thats a 7 hour day...just spraying 14 plants is tough enough..GrowEmBig!

12/20/2006 10:55:20 AM

Georgia

Alexsdad I know its gonna be tough. I grew twelve plants last year which they were just from generic seeds but I tended them like they were champs and I spent every free minute I had but it was tough. My girlfreinds tending my other veggies but I also have one garden just for peppers so I stay busy. Trying to prepare now to make it a little easier next year I want to get a hold of all my supplies this winter.

12/20/2006 11:27:14 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Same with me, this year looking at 12 plants in three different places, Only two at home, and they will get priorty, but I will have help at the nursery and garden event center, Wife is taking over the veggie garden for me, so I hope to have some successes this year......
Grow'em BIG

12/20/2006 1:42:33 PM

Georgia

Preety much the same deal here Wiz. Im planting twelve at my sisters house and two at my house. Those two will get the most attention and will probally share a lot of beers with me. Good soil there but Im the hills so its challeging growing on a slope but Im still gonna do it again it worked allright last year.

12/20/2006 1:50:05 PM

ordinary,VA

save money this year im going with just 8 plants.
4 will be grown in Joe Pukos patch & 4 will be grown in Quinn Werner's patch.

can i trust you guys not to tell Joe & Quinn :)

12/20/2006 3:25:20 PM

Mt Vernon Ky

you got to pay if you want to play just like any other sport/hobby how much do we spend on hunting fishing golf and so on just my 2 cents
vic in ky

12/20/2006 4:56:26 PM

Georgia

I agree you gotta pay to play just like hunting or whatever hobby. But you can take a urban hunter and he can buy every gadget and every tool for his hunt but still come back with a little spike,while some good old boy equipped with the bare essentials can leave the woods with a 12 pointer. I just dont think money can make up for being blessed with a good green thumb and a strong back.

12/21/2006 11:08:57 AM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

So what are ya tryinng to say? You first state that those with the most toys are growing bigger, now you post that hunters without toys are getting bigger bucks?......what are ya most aggrevated about?....lol
Toys make it easier, the growing part is up to you, prep well, learn from those more successful, dont worry about keeping up with the jones, who cares if they have all the toys?
Have fun, make friends and once again, dont worry about what others have, too many people like to blame the weather, the, ferts, the insecticides.....we can control all of that, i've seen people grow in greenhouses, lets face it, the real excuse why we screw up is us....lol...just my own opinon.

12/21/2006 12:06:23 PM

Georgia

I agree about not trying to keep up with the jones youll never win.Its like owning a Hummer 2 its useless and just silly. Being involved in a lot of sports and having many different hobbies in my life Ive found that competive gardening especially pumpkin growing seems to have the most sharing and helping group of peers around.

12/21/2006 1:25:59 PM

Utah

GOOD SEEDS - GOOD SOIL - HARD WORK & GOOD LUCK.
...That's all it takes... is up to you on how you get there.

12/21/2006 5:16:48 PM

North Smithfield, RI USA

Rumor has it that The Donald going to grow one in 2007 !!!

12/21/2006 5:30:54 PM

ordinary,VA

LOL, I hear Rosie has bigger patch to grow in than Donald:)

12/21/2006 5:34:08 PM

southwest MO

You can shoot a monster deer with dumb luck... But it will only take you so far in pumpkin growing.... I hear the Donald is bringing in the big boys from the east coast!! LOL

12/21/2006 6:14:31 PM

[email protected]

Modest budget results are attainable. Have been for years.

Great seeds can be had for FREE or the price of a bubble envelope, a stamp & a nice note.

Likewise most physical soil amendments if you know who & how to scmooze.

Tillers can often be borrowed of bartered for. Beer helps.

Chemicals, fertilizers & inoculants can be a joint club purchase from a real wholesale supplier to save money. Coffee & Beer both help when schmoozing the chemical supplier ;o)

Most people already own a garden hose & despite some of the fancy irrigation equipment that some folks use there have been some mighty fine pumpkins grown with a simple occilating lawn sprinkler (less than $20). Heck I used a $2 sprinkler from a yard sale for years before I stepped on it & finished it off.

A $550 Stihl mist blower is nice but a $35 Spray Doc works fine if you're careful to cover all the leaf bottoms.

I'll agree that the fancy & often expensive toys might make the job easier or quicker but they are not required for growing a big one.

12/21/2006 7:29:38 PM

West By God Virginia

" I hear Rosie has bigger patch to grow in than Donald"

LOL I bet she does.

12/21/2006 7:36:58 PM

ordinary,VA

lol

12/21/2006 7:44:50 PM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

They're both full of enough crap to fertilize all of our patches. It just keeps flowing out every time they open their mouths. Just wear a good high pair of rubber boots & we'll be fine.

Phil

12/22/2006 6:31:22 AM

North Smithfield, RI USA

Trump's gonna grow one that weighs more than Rosie and drop it off the roof of his real estate in NY !

12/22/2006 7:15:47 PM