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Minnesota

Oh boy, SO now I've got 6 set on 6 plants and my families annual 1 week vacation is 8 days away.. I was only going to grow 2 this year... All my babies will be between 14-24 days old so I think I'm in Deep crapola....
I'll have water set on timers.. Extreme slack on mains, Pesticides, Insecticides, Fert will be applied prior to leaving.. Fencing is up and secure... Anyone else ever done this.. I'm having an anxiety attack.. I need a Valium....

7/19/2007 12:14:23 PM

Knopp, Germany

what is vacation?

7/19/2007 12:50:44 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

These plants are not like pets. They will take care of themselves. Take your vacation with you family. Again they are only pumpkins. This is from somebody who learned the hard way.

7/19/2007 1:07:30 PM

Nauvoo, Alabama

LOL thats funny.
WE have to go to Missouri end of Aug for Sons Army Basic Ceremony but only for 4 days which will be 4 weeks after pollinations. But also our north state fair is Sept 12th. I love my son more than the pumpkins.

7/19/2007 1:08:17 PM

Northern Arizona

I have never canceled but last sept. I went to MT for 2 weeks for some hunting and man did my garden suffer.

7/19/2007 1:17:58 PM

[email protected]

You may question my dedication but I'll side with Shannon. Family comes first, then pumpkins.

I'm covering my growing partner this week, he covers for me in August. If we plan correctly, the first week of August is fairly easy going in the patch.

7/19/2007 1:22:45 PM

Omaha, NE (N41-15-42 )

Yes, family is more important.....BUT.... that doesn't mean you can't wield influence on when those vacations take place. I try really hard to avoid vacations between June 15th and July 15th.

7/19/2007 1:54:00 PM

Coupeville WA

You'll have a great time with your family. That is the important thing
Speaking pumpkins: you're SCREWED... Every year that I have gone away for more than 2-3 days during this time of the year, I have come home to dissapointment. That's not to say that you won't fair better than I did, but I know exactly what you are going through.

7/19/2007 2:03:29 PM

Georgia

I canceled my yearly vacation this year which I take and now I regret it. All my freinds were up there and I missed out. A plant will be fine for a week. Just schedule your sprayings accordinly. When ya get back youll just have to do some extra work. You might need to clean up some vines but thats it. I have one patch which I only visit Once every friday night and I bust my but on the weekend. That patch has way bigger and better pumpkins then the one I tend everyday.

7/19/2007 2:11:55 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Pumpkins are family, how dare you suggest otherwise.....lol.....Get yourself a pumpkin sitter sounds you have done a lot of preparation, I think you be fine, youll have some vine management to do once back but you will be amazed on the growth that has occurred. Enjoy your VAC and your family.

7/19/2007 2:14:51 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Oh and yes I didnt go fishing because the temps were 100 here and I stayed home to water.......

7/19/2007 2:15:30 PM

Ray, North Dakota

I'M LEAVING FOR VACATION THIS WEEKEND....and I have two plants that will open when I am gone.

Gonna teach the neighbor kid about "The birds and the bees" with pumpkins.

Gonna be a hot bugger in N.Dak this weekend too.

7/19/2007 2:33:04 PM

[email protected]

Take vacations in the winter, NO STRESS , I agree with the Wiz, these things are family, and eating pumpkin seeds is canibalism.

7/19/2007 3:16:03 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Each year I take the week of July 4th off, so I can get drunk, wake up and pollinate in the morning, and then go back to bed.

7/19/2007 3:28:01 PM

Puyallup, WA

Serious pumpkin growers ought not take a vacation from May 1st through October 13th.....or there will be Hell to pay when you return. Everytime I take one, something BAD happens....never fails! Plus... it takes me two weeks to catch up caring for the plants and pumpkins. Besides, all you can think of while you are gone is, "What is happening to the patch?"

7/19/2007 4:12:40 PM

Midwest

Can you be serious? Don't cancel life because of a pumpkin. Is it gonna thank you for all the great times you had on vacation with it? OrangeNeck, you've done all those preparations. Now, go have some fun with your fam!
Greg

7/19/2007 4:23:13 PM

Midwest

You know, that was too harsh. Sorry. I see you're point. Hope you have a great vacation and you're pumpkins are healthy and big when you return.
Greg

7/19/2007 4:32:35 PM

southwest MO

You can vacation anytime from Nov. to March... Go then.

7/19/2007 4:45:13 PM

Murfreesboro, TN, USA

I say recruit a pumpkin sitter. Create a schedule of events that you want them to follow. Pay them if necessary, but take the vacation. If you train whoever is going to sit your pumpkins then you will have a plesant surprise when you return to the patch. You may have some additional work but you will be ready for it on your return.

I used a pumpkin sitter when I went on a ten day vacation in early June and I had no problems on my return. All my plants were alive and thriving. That is all I could ask for. Naturally, I called a couple of times to get an update of their progress. I also recommend a backup in the event something happens to the primary care giver. Good luck and have a great time on Vacation!

7/19/2007 5:23:04 PM

Wood River, IL ([email protected])

My family and I are going on a Disney cruise in September no matter what. Even if I'd have something huge on the vine. I'm still going that pumpkin could blow up with me here in the patch, just as easy as it could with me on the Disney Magic.

FAMILY COMES FIRST, and I'm sorry "Wiz" pumpkins aren't family.

Kenny

7/19/2007 6:23:48 PM

Rhode Island

your family will always be there --- pumpkins only grow for a few months --- lol
send um away on there own --- you will be better off in the long run--- no need of laying there in some strange bed wondering what the babies are doing

7/19/2007 7:58:49 PM

Massillon, Ohio

i vote vacation!!!!!!

7/19/2007 8:14:52 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Joe,
How far away are you going? If not too far, you could always drive back one day to check on them.

7/19/2007 8:19:32 PM

Ohio

I take my vacations before May or after October, every pumpkin grower does this dont they?,LOL. But,,, I dont let this hinder my wifes vaction time, if she wants to go during pumpkin season then she goes.(without me) If she doesnt go, I make her go anyway.((peace and quit with no kids for 2 weeks is a dream come true, RIGHT GUYS?)).

7/19/2007 9:29:16 PM

Buffalo, MN ([email protected])

Joe go ahead I'll watch your pumpkins for you from here.
Bill

7/19/2007 9:38:57 PM

New Castle, Pa.

You are venturing into very dangerous territory! Carefully think it through. Pumpkins??? or Vacation ???? From my past experience of two years at growing pumpkins verses twenty nine years of marriage,I'd take the vacation. Kids grow up too fast and a happy wife is priceless.

7/19/2007 10:43:20 PM

sevierville, Tn

My Vacation time is the annual weighoff in October, that way no worries, just strange looks at the pumpkin in the truck bed !

7/19/2007 10:58:14 PM

So. Maine

Playing in the pumpkin patch IS A VACATION !

7/19/2007 10:58:33 PM

Puyallup, WA

Truth of the matter is that most "so called growers" are not willing to pay the price of success in the field of giant pumpkins. Perhaps you can "get away" without something BAD happening....I NEVER have! This is a full time "second job"...I even have to take time from my "regular" job to spend time in the patch. I am not "ragging" on folk who take a vacation. What I am saying is that the vast majority of successful (1000#+)growers do not leave their patch for one week in the summer. If you can get a knowledgeable person to watch the patch while you are gone...more power to ya!

7/20/2007 12:53:03 AM

Massillon, Ohio

TIME OUT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i just checked out your diary in detail, and realized, YOU LIVE AT A VACATION TYPE LOCATION!! wowsers on the lake, house, barn you've got going there. i must now rethink my vote.

LOL (kidding i'd still go if i was you).

7/20/2007 11:26:58 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Greg, (Christrules), just for the record- I am a bachelor and live alone. Only my liver suffers from me not taking the family on vacation. If I had kids, they would come first.

7/20/2007 12:30:59 PM

Minnesota

Wow, It looks like a tie!!! 14 Vacation, 14 I'm doomed if I go.. Well then. I have a plan in place.. Doug, On Wednesday the 1st of August I'll pick you up at 6am. We'll then go get Bill in Buffalo and spend 5 hours in the patch in Hutch. I'll even pull you and Bill waterskiing when we're done!! Should have you home in time for dinner!! Please bring your patch notes in case I'm doing something wrong!!! (No cameras Please!!! lol
Actually We will be approx 100 miles away. I am going on vacation and I will like it. (Sleeping in an uncomfortable bed dreaming about my pumpkins) I will then make 1 trip for sure back perhaps 2 depending on my anxiety levels!!
Your insight into what family really means is priceless, I wasn't really threatening abandon either my family (Human) nor my Pumpkins (Still up in the air if they're family or not Wiz) Just was curious as to the reactions.. They are priceless!!

7/20/2007 1:04:37 PM

Washington

Take the vacation, they will either do well or not even if you are here. We have taken a week away for the past few years and still have had some pretty good sized pumpkins (last year 1315). This year we are going to Alaska for 2 weeks in August. The plants will be in good shape when we leave and we know that we will have a lot of work when we come back but we enjoy getting away. Our daughter will check the vines for stress and our water system is on timers so the rest is up to nature. My only options for vacation are summer or Christmas break or spring break. So we wait until after all pollinating is done and then go have a good time.

7/20/2007 4:32:59 PM