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New Jersey

I just want to start off by saying that I truely enjoy this website and and all of it's members alot. Everyone has posted some very good questions and answers to help us all reach our personal goal of growing The GREAT Pumpkin. But I myself have never seen any references to Organic farming or gardening technique's in helping one achieve their goal. I don't know if this is still an uneasy subject matter for people to grasp, but there is alot of good information, especially on the net to help us get that extra edge. This natural way will help the tiny microrganism's do their job.
Help our beloved pumpkin's grow. Compost preparation, herbal and manure tea's will ensure nutritional stability. Learning some of the moon and solar cycles can and will go along way to growing world champion pumpkin's and produce for that matter. If we break from our old ways to try new techniques, we may even find a new secret to unlocking the mystery of growing the fruits and vegetables that we all NEED to live a healthy lifetime. Please put down the harmful chemicals and poisons that you are using on this great earth . It's not natural . It will only hurt us in the long run.

3/10/2001 1:35:23 AM

Western Pa.

Blue,

How big of a pumpkin have YOU grown organically? I don't know of one other grower that grows these giant pumpkins completely organically, and for good reason. I'm sure we all utilize the benefits of manure and organic fetilizers,but we are trying to grow Giant Pumpkins, these are huge plants with huge needs. I don't favor the ABUSE of insecticides, but we are outnumbered by our enemy, and I believe don't stand much of a chance without using some. (Several of these "poisons" are actually made from plants.)
This isn't a perfect world in case you haven't noticed, why haven't you mentioned the grand scale of pollution caused by industry and greed? While you are growing your "organic" giant, what about your neighbor that is dumping his motor oil and antifreeze onto the ground? Life is sometimes bitter, but don't try to take down us "little guys" who derive pleasure and enjoyment from our "escape" hobby. ANYBODY OUT THERE ON MY SIDE?

kilr

3/10/2001 11:20:49 AM

New Jersey

Well kilr, actually my first try at growing pumpkins, was without chemical fertiliser. Everything that I did for my plants was in accordance with the cycles of the moon and sun. Pest deterence was initiated by way of herbal pesticides and the good old hand picking method. I can honestly say that my first try was not with a giant variety like Dill or the Atlantic seed, but with a smaller 100 lb stock. My largest was 89 lbs. Not bad for my first time and with mediocre weather patterns for the south jersey area last year. I figure that if I start small and work my way up the ladder, and learn the techniques required for growing the big ones, I will eventually achive my goal. The first Organically grown Giant pumpkin. This year I have seed stock from 302 to 600 lb pumpkins. Maybe this year I will step up the ladder, and then again maybe not. It's all in learning process. So If you wish to grow them your way , that is fine. I just offered some opinions for growing them the natural way, that's all. Everyone has their own little secrets for producing large pumpkins. It's what keeps us growing. I figured since this is a club to HELP each other,
I could do so . Well that's all for now .
Happy growing,
Blueray

3/10/2001 1:12:50 PM

derry n.h u.s.a.

HI KILR&BLUE,
Well,I'm a big fan of Malithion 50\50 and a couple of fungicides that i rotate in my spraying program.I also use lot's of manure,some grub-ex in the spring tilled into the soil.And guess what i still have plenty of worms in my soil and havent found any dead birds in my patch and my cat is still alive. (He like's to sit under the leaf's and catch birds).But i also follow labeling directions and don't over due it with what ever i'm using.So until someone show's up with a 900+ lb. pumpkin grown 100% organticly at a weighoff. I will continue to grow these monsters the way i,ve been growing them.The best of luck to all in 2001
John G...

3/10/2001 1:40:16 PM

canal winchester ohio

BLUE, I can not speak for the others but I choose not to grow organically because the AG pumpkins seem to have no immune system whatsoever. They seem to be able to get sick and die overnight. If you do want to grow organic I have some seeds from a squash I grew 3 years ago 353 lbs. It unlike the AG seems to have a great immune system. Have passed seeds out to friends who really do not know how to raise them and have gotten 300-400 lb fruit. The only down side is the fruit is cream to green grey mix. If you are interested in some of these seeds e-mail me back and I will get some out to you. Good luck in 2001 PAUL

3/10/2001 2:31:10 PM

CT

Blue,
We(I)need people like you around. I have 2 small children and do not want them in a heavly treated patch. I have used rotenone and Sevin and a general veggie dust from time to time, but I try to keep these applications to a minimum. (once a month)
Captan is a possible carcinogen, and dursban and is being taken off the market. They are also changing the formula of various grub mixes to take out diazinon.
Please post some organic growing techniqes so I can keep the chems to a minimum. If I didn't have young ones I whould use a lot more chemicals but until they are grown I will not.
I already have my Praying Mantis egg sacks on order and will be buying Milky Spore soon. What else can I do?
Those of you that want to go ahead and USE WHAT YOU WANT I just think a blend of methods is what would be best for me.

3/10/2001 4:17:26 PM

walton n.y.

wow!this could be a very heated subject too much of most anything isn't good if chemicals are used properly negitive problems should be kept to a minimun the problem i have found with organic growing is that companion plants,reflective mulches and benificial insects don't wipe out insect problems they just reduce the damage to an acceptable level(so you can have a portion of your harvest) i personally haven't had much in the way of insect or diesease problems that couldn't be controled by 1 or 2 sprayings of sevin but you other folks might want to check out www.gardensalive.com they sell all kinds of organic stuff like fish emulsion seaweed extract, beneficial insects,and botanical sprays and the prices seem fair i've ordered stuff from them and have been happy with their service and products

3/10/2001 7:40:36 PM

Glenn Springs S.C.

I am trying the first time this year to grow AG's so I don't have any growing tips but I did grow up next door to a 600 head dairy farm I stayed there every chance I could. Every spring people lined up to get manure for their gardens as I still do today, the owner always said he bought high priced fertilizer to grow his crops, fed the feed to the cows ,the cows couldn't digest the fertilizer so the gardeners hauled it off for free. So I don't know how " organic" some things really are .

3/10/2001 8:47:34 PM

Connecticut, USA

Be sure to check out the NEPGA newsletter articles. There are a few that contain tips about organic growing.

Type in the word "organic" in the Site Search box at the top of this screen and hit the go button to the right of it....

Organic Methods for Squashing the Vine Borer By Paul Hollings, Medford, MA

and

Bugs Borers and Beetles By Wayne Hackney

have some insightfull information in them...

3/11/2001 8:46:28 AM

Deer Park WA

Hi gang, Sorry to enter this topic so late, I just finished busting out a 300 additional yards to site #3 of a hard pan clay (construction site). I believe Blue has a GREAT point though we should all try to protect our environment. I just bought 3 = 75'X 3/4" soaker hoses made from 65% recyled tires for site #3! Mean while my 32 year old Ford Bronco sat in the driveway and slowly driped motor oil into the street.
I wish I could afford to buy a new truck, and still remain a Republican. Maybe after G.W Bush and friends finish Rapeing the Alaskan outback he can use the Big Oil Money proceeds to send me a new truck?

3/11/2001 10:00:42 PM