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Ga.

How many first year growers do we have in here???I'm one!!

8/12/2001 10:24:33 AM

Omaha, NE

Two! I am a first year grower also.

8/12/2001 11:11:50 AM

Myrtle Creek, Oregon

Hi Jeff,
I grew my first Giant Back in the early 80's but did'nt realy try to grow anthing big, I did get a 120#er.I gave the seeds I had to my Dad after I got a divorce, ( I got custody of the seed's.) He grew 2 larger than the one I grew and bolth of them got a blue ribbon in the Idaho state Fair.
Last year I had a hard time getting started the only thing I could get going was a 76#er and a 56#er.
This year I got started a little late but not to bad, but still it looks like I may only get 103# or maybe a little larger.
Next year, with the help of the great people on this site, and if I can get some decent seed I will do better, But yes I still feel as if I am a first year grower.
H-K-J

8/12/2001 11:26:02 AM

Charlotte, North Carolina

I'm a first year sucessful grower, a few years ago I tried growing one but the plant only went as far as a couple feet so I quit growing until this year.

8/12/2001 11:26:47 AM

Long Island

First here

8/12/2001 12:56:59 PM

Greencastle, PA

me too.

8/12/2001 2:17:15 PM

Grants Pass, Oregon

I to am a first year grower. I had to cull off Hercules since the heat stopped him from growing. I weighed him on a scale and he weighed 160 #. But I still have two more growing. One is an est. 113# and the other is 85 #.

8/12/2001 4:02:03 PM

Saskatoon, SK

count me in

8/12/2001 4:21:23 PM

Ga.

good luck polka dot!!

8/12/2001 5:14:32 PM

Napa,Ca.

Definitely a first timer. Mine are done. Got two at about 140" OTT and they stopped. Need better seed. What do you all recommend for California? I'm in the Napa valley.

8/12/2001 5:59:48 PM

Grants Pass, Oregon

Thank you Jeff352. It really bummed me out to have to take him off the vine though. I thought I would cry.

8/12/2001 6:48:15 PM

Ga.

only one I have is a baby.

8/12/2001 6:56:15 PM

Myrtle Creek, Oregon

polka dot.
I only had one growing and the heat stoped it at 104#.
If I get some good seed I will try again next year only It will be in the new pumkin patch.
what does that tell you Yes I will try again next Year.
Good Luck and grow a big one.

8/12/2001 7:21:10 PM

Walnut Creek, CA

I am a first year ag grower, one plant two pumpkins one is at 125# and one is at 90# the 90# pumpkin will end up bigger than the 125# since it is growing much faster. I was very kindly given seeds by Stew McKinely from Lake Elsinore Calif. and it definitely changed my whole summer of gardening! It is a blast growing these monsters! I am going to the Half Moon Bay Weigh-off, and will make a point of meeting Joel Holland and lots of other wise folks. First year grower and definetly not the last! Would really like some different types of seed next year since I will have a different patch that will be big enough for two plants.

8/12/2001 8:02:22 PM

Kuna, Id.

First time also. Have three set on 154 ott,135 ott,and my two week old at 73 ott. If it was'nt for this page I know I WOULD NOT be as far along as I'am. There are alot of helpful people here. I have learned alot.Thanks to them. Ken

8/12/2001 8:06:34 PM

Sloughhouse, CA

I'm a first time grower. Tried some a couple of yrs. ago. I have four plants 10 pumpkins. The seeds came from Len in New York. Thank you again. I will enter mine in the Elk Grove Fall Contest. When the Nut Tree closed down in Vacaville, Elk Grove is the local official weigh in. When I get the info. i will put it in the net.

8/12/2001 8:14:05 PM

St. George, NB Canada

First year. My wife brought the seeds home from her garden club. Goals for this year: 1. learn 2. beat my wife's pumpkin. So far so good. Bill C.

8/12/2001 9:05:14 PM

Tipp City, Ohio

This is my first year also, My largest is about 104 lbs that I have been giving a lot of attention to. I did find one in my patch that I did not know about, It weighs about 85 lbs. Not much difference considering all the fun time I have put into the larger one. Tom

8/12/2001 9:27:06 PM

Lebanon Junction , Ky

first year fo me.but not the last.

8/12/2001 10:18:53 PM

Newville/PA

This is my first year growing AG's. And I have to say i am not doing so bad. My biggest pumpkin is 230'' OTT which is an est. 255lbs. I don't think that is bad for a first year grower.

8/12/2001 10:53:33 PM

Britt, IA

First timer here also, too much fun . plants started taking over the yard I hand pollinated and now have fruit set, but have lost 1 vine it turned brown and mushy from the root. It now appears to be happening to another vine that has friut set. HELP what is it???

8/13/2001 2:49:34 AM

Omaha, Nebraska

Wowzer,

Im in western Iowa... Omaha Area. I bet you have the Squash Vine Borers.

8/13/2001 2:52:16 AM

Omaha, Nebraska

Start spraying insecticide or fungicide... although it may be too late for you .

8/13/2001 2:54:28 AM

Edmonton, Canada

I'm a first year grower as well. I've already gotten hooked!!!

8/13/2001 11:07:22 AM

South Hill, Virginia

This is my first year as well. Definitely a learning experience. I hesitate to call myself a "grower" since about everything in my patch has stopped growing. I still got a chance to get a 300 lber to the fair if I can ride it long enough. I'm hooked......can't wait till next year.

8/13/2001 11:42:34 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

first time grower here...had to trim back all the vines the garden was way to small...they are just starting up again. hope I can get a fruit set before sept.

8/13/2001 1:04:41 PM

Wantagh, NY

First time for us, too. Having dealt with SVB's, persistant fungus, drought, 10 yards of manure dumped into my driveway (oops)and keeping the roofer's from dropping shingles into the patch (another story)I can't think of a better way to spend my summer nights and weekends. Not much in the way of results this season... but just wait 'till next year!

8/13/2001 2:58:31 PM

St. George, NB Canada

You know, when I told my wife my the pumpkin has only grown a half inch in five hours, she rolled her eyes and laughed! Do you suppose some people just don't understand? Bill C.

8/13/2001 3:30:16 PM

Ga.

Bill,,,,,I had someone accuse me of having done a left handed cigarette when I told them some have gained 20lbs a night,,,lol,,,I am a believer after seeing 9lbs a night on mine,,,,man these things grow fast!!!

8/13/2001 4:15:38 PM

Lebanon Junction , Ky

hey bill,,at least she still laughs,I think my wife is getting gelous..lol..

8/13/2001 10:20:07 PM

Britt, IA

CC thanks for the advice can you suggest a pesticide type/brand. the local menards carries a fungicide. it appears that the 2 fruit have stopped growing but the 1 vine is still left. i think it may be too late even for halloween pumpkins.

Glad to see i wasn't the only 1 up in the wee hours.

thanks again

8/14/2001 12:35:16 AM

Omaha, Nebraska

Well... There is about 2 months left in the growing season here in Omaha/Council Bluffs IA... first frost average is around October 12. I dont think you could start over now by planting new seeds. Check out the good vine for any mushy spots on the stem and see if there is a grub in there and pull it out and start spraying Daconil ( a fungicide). I just started using ISOTOX 5 days ago to control the grubs.
Im doing pretty good for my first year of AG growing as my pumpkin I've been told is ahead of the largest squash/pumpkin evergrown after 26 days by about double. If my pumpkin keeps doing OK I may break a World Record!

8/14/2001 12:45:49 AM

Ga.

Good Luck CC

8/14/2001 8:31:48 AM

Omaha, NE

C.C.
I still keep watching the local news, to see if there is a story about a giant pumpkin rolling down a hill, since you said that Shannon is on top of a hill. lol

It would be cool though if Shannon gets to over 500 and the local news does the story they said they would. Karen

8/14/2001 10:21:32 PM

Omaha, Nebraska

Karen,

The news already knows about it -- Channel 6, and they want to come over but I haven't let them yet because I dont want it vandalized by sight-seers. Its already 520 pounds or so after 27 days I think! I'll wait until its done growing before I let them over.

8/14/2001 10:30:39 PM

Greencastle, PA

that would be frieghtening, an ag rolling down a hill crushing everything in its path. that would be scary

8/14/2001 10:31:01 PM

Mid Michigan

I'm a little behind here......but i'm a 1st year grower too.
We've had some weird "untypical" Mid-Michigan heat, and humidity this summer, and i'm surprised at what i'm ending up with. the pumpkin on my 896 Wells was at 170" ott 4 days ago, and my experiment Big Max that was pollinated with males from the 896 Wells was @ 131" ott last week.
They are still growing, albeit slowly in the heat, and hunidity, but i think they'll have a big push now at the end of the gorwing season now that the weather has cooled somewhat here.....going to water, and fertilize this moanin', and will post new measurements in my grower diary later...................Cuzbiker

8/15/2001 7:52:10 AM

Ga.

cc,,what kind of fertilizer you usin???

8/15/2001 8:26:05 AM

Mid Michigan

Since my pumpkins were set, i switched from miracle grow 15-30-15 to a mixture of 0-0-60, and 20-30-20 in a
3/4 to 1/4 solution, and have been watering, and misting everyday for about a 1/2 hour at a time. Haven't been measuring the amount of water, but have still been getting growth so stuck with the program thru the heat, and mug!
Hope this helps.............Cuzbiker

8/15/2001 8:43:34 AM

Mid Michigan

Oops....sorry Jeff, after reading up a little higher, i realized you must have been aiming the fertilizer question at CC. ( boy, do i feel stupid...hahaha) What a monster that must be, eh?
Cuzbiker

8/15/2001 8:46:57 AM

Ga.

is ok cuz,,,everything I read in here helps me out,,,dont feel that way,,I know I ask some dumb questions,,but I figure the only dumb question is an unasked one... ^_^

8/15/2001 9:09:49 AM

St. George, NB Canada

I have a motto for me and other fish plant staff at work: "Better to ask a stupid question, than to make a stupid mistake". Keeps me out of trouble. Bill C.

8/15/2001 1:47:47 PM

GULFPORT,MISSISSIPPI

First time seriously trying to grow pumpkins although they're not "AG's". Only had access to big max and mammoth gold pumpkins. I'm hoping to some AG seed to try next year, but i'm really enjoying all of the info that i've received from this site! I can't wait until next year!!!

8/15/2001 10:22:14 PM

Omaha, NE

C.C.,
Tried posting this reply a couple of days ago, but I have been having trouble with my dial up.
I understand the worrys about someone damaging Shannon if the story breaks on the news. Why not let the news come out and get some background footage, and pictures of Shannon now, then they can come back later just before you cull her, to see the difference in growth and you will be able to put her in a protective area. Ask them not to air the story until she is culled, most likely they wouldn't air it until closer to Halloween anyway.

Let me know when they are going to air the spot. My son wants to know what you are going to with your Big Pumpkin, since the fair will be over by then? If you decide to carve it, and want help let me know.

Jeff, you are right as a trainer the first thing I tell a new class, the only bad question is the one you don't ask, because you will never know the answer...Karen

8/16/2001 11:09:35 PM

Wheeling, WV

My husband and I are first time pumpkin growers. We are amazed at watching these plants grow. Thanks all you veterans for the terrific information and advice for us "newbies". We will definitely plant earlier next year and follow some of your advice for larger yields!

8/18/2001 12:38:09 PM

Shreveport, Louisiana

Do you actually have to have a pumpkin set to be called a grower? My first year at trying to grow a big one. The "small" ones are growing like wildfire but yet to have a big one set. So much for the state fair in October, maybe I can enter one of my Jack O'Lanterns.

8/18/2001 11:53:36 PM

St. George, NB Canada

You count. Bill C.

8/19/2001 7:54:30 AM