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Atlanta, Georgia

I'm totally grieving after having had to pull out my 582 Hester plant completely yesterday. It's a mixture of sad feelings with other feelings that next year can only be better. I've read a lot of posts here lately at bp of people losing their pumpkins to splits, rot, storms and everything else and I can empathize with you all...

So here it is,
Hi, My name is Mike and I'm a giant pumpkin loser...LOL!

8/16/2004 2:46:09 PM

Indiana

ya, splits suck because they just toy with you so big, yet worth nothing......

Tom

8/16/2004 3:24:10 PM

Utah

where was this group last year when I needed it? lol !

this year so far your I've managed to stay clean.

8/16/2004 3:25:29 PM

I'm with Gordon... GO UTES!

ha ha ha, you know that old experiment with a mouse and
if it does a certain thing, it gets food. Then they change it
so that only once every few times it does a certain thing it
gets food..... It then wants to do that activity more and more.

That's us. If we all got a big one every year, then... it
would get old.

I, on the other hand am in danger of never getting food, or
always getting small food, and then loosing interest. (Nah!)

Regards, Cliff

8/16/2004 4:02:55 PM

No Place Special

Sorry to hear because I pulled my 582 Hester plant as well yesterday. What was wrong with yours? Mine aborted the chosen fruit @ 150 lbs and aborted everything else after that. SUCKS!!! Within the last couple weeks the leaves all (most) turned a light green/ yellow. When I pulled the plant yesterday the main vine was soft. I think it had a disease of some kind? I did save a cutting and planted it (clone) where I removed the plant. This is just for practice saving a clone. The roots are small so not sure if it will survive or not.

8/16/2004 4:09:54 PM

Vancouver, White Rock, Canada

If pumpkins were brains, I'd need help counting to 3. And next year is 8 months away... I guess there's always watching the winter rye grow?

8/16/2004 5:18:39 PM

Joliet, IL

it is what it is.
the scariest thing is i am immediately concentrating on
next year's ideas and plans. my brain won't quit.
i kinda like that.
i am looking forward to almost giving myself a heart
attack with the amount of fall prep i will do this year.
after my split this morning, today started a new pumpkin
growing season which is now my fourth.
no rest for the wicked.
shazzy

8/16/2004 5:22:54 PM

Leamington, Ont.

My name is Sav and I'm also a pumkin loser.
And yes I have issues!
Last year was my first attempt...Garage fire burnt down my only plant and kin in mid july.
This year I am now battling a stem split on my only plant and kin! (only have room for 1 plant) Never mind the bug battle and PM that is showing up
And now I am already planning next years seeds and a larger patch. Why we do this ourselves? Well... you know!
I think this goes deeper than our spouses, freinds and family will ever know. WOW that felt good!!!
Thanks

8/16/2004 9:19:49 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Mike, I too lost a 582 Hester early on in the spring. Then I too got a split on my biggest pumpkin. I almost gave up hope. But I'm coming roaring back with a couple of good fruit now gaining once again 30/day. Never give up til the fat lady sings or Jack frost shows up at your door.

8/16/2004 9:27:28 PM

Ann Arbor, Mi

welcome to the world of giant pumpkin growing

8/16/2004 9:40:55 PM

Atlanta, Georgia

Mike F.,
The 582 started out double vining and then flat vining like crazy. I had to cut the main right after a pollinated pumpkin and I let a secondary grow with two pumpkins on it.
We had cold weather and the two pumpkins both grew to about 60 lbs. very slowly and then the growth just stopped altogether. Shortly after that I noticed white patches on both pumpkins and then it quickly turned to rot. I had been bathing the pumpkins with liquid calcium and they were kept completely dry under the greenhouse so I think it has to do with the seed's genetics. My 582 last year grew to 600 lbs. before rotting at the blossom end from the inside. At any rate I won't plant another 582 and I should have had a backup plant so I could pull the 582 right away. At least I learned a valuable lesson and will always plant two seeds where I want one plant. It's a shame and very difficult to have to cull a potentially awesome seed but that's a helluva lot better than having no plant at all.

I lost many good seeds this year to a late frost so now I'm anxious to see what everyone does with the 2003 seeds this year. My only cross that might make it this year will be a 790 Daletas x 419 Pukos and I'll probably plant that one and my biggest pumpkin is on the 419 Pukos right now but it's open pollinated and I won't plant it.

Thanks for letting me cry on all y'all's shoulders...LOL!
Michel

8/17/2004 2:39:39 AM

porterville, calif.

Im a guess im a loser this year too. Everything that could go wrong has. But I,m preparing for next year. I plan on coming back big and strong. Greg

8/17/2004 11:32:19 PM

Cologne / Germany

Sorry to hear that Michel. Let´s use the clones for 2005. They will already prepared for what growing "continental celtic" means -)

8/18/2004 12:08:20 AM

Gilbertsville PA

I lost my 986 checkon it was 108" cir at 30 days blossom end split it sucks

8/18/2004 8:25:13 PM

Okla

hello my name is Thomas, I lost 2 this month.. ouch it hurt so bad.

8/18/2004 8:36:49 PM