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Midway City, California

What path will you follow. Their are two main Statements from two Heavy Hitters..........
1) Slow and easy does it all the time.....
2) If your not Blowing them you are not growing them.
Which way will you go?

6/20/2004 11:35:31 AM

Ga.

Water,,I found that the slow and easy method worked best for me this year,...Saved leaves and fruit on my plant..This will be my best year to date,,and hopefully I'll hit 500lbs...I know 500 is nothing with you guys,,but its a joy for me..Good Luck all...Hope you have a great season..
Jeff

6/20/2004 12:02:21 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

If your blowing them you are not showing them :)

6/20/2004 1:36:50 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

Ya got that right Shannon!
I've split enough to finally learn, "slow and steady wins the race"....err on the side of conservative.

6/20/2004 3:08:52 PM

New York

If your not Blowing them your not growing them!! I'm a big believer in pushing them to their max potential. That doesn't mean going "over the top" , but rather give the plants everything they need for max growth....identify weak spots in your garden and try to eliminate "limiting factors" to the best of your ability...always hoping for a personal best. At the end of the day I don't feel bad about pumpkins splitting...because it's the PUMPKIN that failed and not ME. Most splits I've had have been genetic flaws in the pumpkin....such as Dill-rings and such. Perhaps they wouldn't have split if I took several hundred pounds off their potential..but I would rather pick a split 900 pounder than a healthy 600 pounder anyday...and I have

6/20/2004 5:12:55 PM

ontario

tough question......I agree with Alan, but its nice to show up with something....I have always done things conservatively, but this year I am going for broke on most of my pumpkins and squash..... :0)

6/20/2004 5:47:09 PM

Woodburn, Indiana

boooooom!!!!!

6/20/2004 6:41:23 PM

Boom----Boom-----Boom WOW what a pumpkin!!!!!!!

6/20/2004 9:06:29 PM

New York

I have my own saying..."Slow and steady doesn't win the race, but equals 2nd place!"
The better way to term it would be.."FAST and steady wins the race". A pumpkin putting on 25+ pounds a day for at least 20+ day's isn't slow by my book. I think fast,consistant,steady growth wins the race...my guess is Steve, Bruce, and Jerry didn't grow their monsters because they were slow and steady....all of them needed fast steady growth in order to hit 1300+.

6/20/2004 10:41:10 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

You're probably all right, especially about fast and consistent. I suppose experience enables that to be successfully pulled off.
In the past, I went for broke, and got my heart broke. Nowadays, I follow an Al Eaton plan of action/style. I guess I'll see at the end of this season how that's working.

6/20/2004 11:44:20 PM

Deer Park WA

Pushing the plant to it's maximum potential is correct, but she's an unforgiving bitch if you let her down on one of the 3 necessities; 1= Constant moisture/nutrition level, 2= Wind/temperate climate, 3= Thoughtfull pruning/desire. Good luck on the squash competition this year Alan, & your pumpkins too.

Gerry

6/21/2004 1:24:48 AM

Key West, FL

1263 or bust

6/21/2004 1:41:09 AM

Indiana

#2.....enough with this messing around and not splitting any comp fruit last year(split a 350 lber that was 60 days old if that counts, but it dont in my book)2002 we split quite a few, and had results that I was happy with. My goal is to split about 1/3 of the pumpkins.

Tom

6/21/2004 1:52:24 AM

Colo.Spgs.CO. Pikes Peak Chapter @ [email protected]

A very good thread well put by the experienced grower...you have to be on top of things at all times and observe all conditions, and remedy when need be. Every year it seems is a new adventure, not only due to growing conditions, but with the new genetic seeds, strange things happen to learn from all the time... James

6/21/2004 2:35:15 AM

[email protected]

Two patches.

One is go for broke. The Homestead.

The other is conservative with a "must finish whole" goal. The School.

Best of both worlds. You can always pay for play as well as observe the results of doing little to nothing.

6/21/2004 8:18:30 AM

Edmonton, Canada

I'm going with slow and steady this year, partly because I don't have enough time to really try to push things.

6/21/2004 10:38:42 AM

Greene County, Pa.

I will be pushing 2 of my 3 plants to the max. I want to double my personal best and go for broke. My PB is only 413. Should'nt be too hard to beat..

6/21/2004 3:05:37 PM

Rhode Island

we soil test three to four times a year and let the results tell us what to do
this and daily observation we have found gives us very good results
remember, theres no need giving them something they do not need, besides if you jack your soil to much or to much at one time your asking for splits and blowouts
a little each time you water is much better than a lot once or twice a week

6/22/2004 7:04:42 AM