From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Roanoke Il

It has been a wonder full ride the past five years. I have meet alot of wonderful people. but after going out to the patch tonight and seeing my biggest fruit caved it its time to hang it up. I can't take it any more i'm done growing big pumpkins thanks to all of you that have tried helping me grow and giving me seeds, good bye thank you all,mark

9/8/2004 9:29:42 PM

Whidbey Island

Mark,

Sorry to hear of your lost pkn.

I know that it is hard sometimes to get up the enthusiasm in the spring, after a bad experience in the past year. Maybe all you need is a year or two off, then you'll be ready to try again.

I don't know what is so addictive about this hobby. Maybe it is the fact that we can control only so much in the patch and then fate, karma, luck and whatever just kick in.

Good luck in all future endeavors and perhaps we'll see you again on these sites in the future.

WPM

9/8/2004 9:49:19 PM

Bristol, ME ([email protected])

Come on Mark, don't give it up. We all have to deal with the possibility of them going down, it's part of the game. We do this cause in some sick way we find it fun..plus we get to meet and socialize with a bunch of great folks. This year has been horrible for alot of people.
Don't make me come out there and rattle some sense into ya....Cheer up Buddy, just wait til next year...

9/8/2004 9:52:20 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

Mark, sometimes when you reach the bottom of the barrel, things change around......believe me

9/8/2004 11:57:57 PM

Puyallup, WA

Yah Mark....don't feel like the Lone Ranger seeing your biggest one "go down". It happens over and over again every year even to the best growers. Joel Holland has had two of his biggest ever go down as had Geneva, Darrell, Mike, Shellie, Jerry and I could go on and on....we're all having a tough year. We don't want to lose another good grower!

9/8/2004 11:58:31 PM

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

Mark, I hit the bottom of the barrel again this season with my big one going down on me for the second year in a row, and ironically it went down on me on the same exact date that my big one went down last year...You talk about fustration & depression after all the time work & money...But I am not giving up as next season is about 7 months away, and I will hopefully blow the doors off of everyone, and if not, I may just quit trying so hard and let the plants just grow themselves without much attention, and if they split it will be no big deal, as I have become a seasoned pumpkin splitter.....lol..Don't give up, Surprise us all next season ...JK.

9/9/2004 2:25:45 AM

Key West, FL

Come on, weak sauce, take a year off maybe, rest your soil, try something new, maybe no manure.

9/9/2004 2:35:09 AM

Walkerton Ont

mark dont give up, i lost my big one too, 3rd year growing first ever fruit that your admazed from, and you go out to find a split. I look at it this way, i grew one 900 - 1000 lbs good enough for a personal best, I reached this much so i think to myself i can do it again if i did it once, good luck on your decisions, and in the future
cory

9/9/2004 5:05:58 AM

Joliet, IL

mark,
i had s splits on my big ones and i am still going to bring
my small one to the weigh off. if that one doesn't make it, i am still going pumpkinless to talk about this crappy
season with the weird weather and ideas for next year.
everyone has that same feeling when they see the split.
never say never. holding on to anger or grief is like
holding 2 burning coals in your hands and not letting
go while your hands blister and burn. drop the burning
coals. then get drunk, and try again next year mark.
hope to see you stick around mark,
shazzy

9/9/2004 8:38:45 AM

Circleville Ohio USA

Mark, I lost everything three years in a row and came back with a winner at the Pumpkin Show. Don't give up, just get a headstart on next years soil preparation.
Bob

9/9/2004 9:40:45 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

No Mark, Thank You....You kept me going when I went fruitless for years....It was guys like you that took the time to encourage me to continue....I for one Know your frustration and Only hope that the spark stays alive...Take a step back relax and If for some reason you rethink your decision I look forward to seeing ya at Niagara!!!
Thanks Again Mark for all your Help!!!
Chuck

9/9/2004 9:57:20 AM

Edmonton, Canada

Sorry to hear... Take some time off this winter, and try to regroup. Things might seem a bit better after a couple of months.

9/9/2004 10:16:04 AM

Knopp, Germany

Hi Mark. Not sure if you will remember chatting with me but you have always been a real friendly guy that always gave advice. I believe that you know what is best for yourself, but I can tell you that if you do decide to grow again next year it will be a real pleasure to read your diary and chat again.

best wishes,
owen

9/9/2004 12:31:58 PM

Billerica,Massachusetts

Mark: it happens, we don't care for it but ya never know? just look at some of the posts and diaries over this season and see all teh tales of woe! Hail,snow,wind,flooding rains, insects vandals,diseases it goes on and on and so should you!
keep the faith re-group and return!
Glenn

9/9/2004 12:54:57 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

A couple of drinks and some time will ease the disappointment of loss. Mother nature sure has made her presence known this year.


Take some time and re-evaluate next spring.
Is all of the time, effort & $ worth it to you?

I like what Glenn has said - "keep the faith"

9/9/2004 1:22:56 PM

Wichita, KS

My personal best so far: 176
plants in the ground this year: 8
surviving number of fruit: 3
largest estimate: about 100#

Its not the success that drives me, its the challenge. Honestly, I think the fun would be over if I produced a 1000+ pumpkin. I have space, resources, heat, the best help and advice available, and I can't grow plants that hold fruit, until its too late in the season to grow a big one.

That's part of the fun. I identify with you though. Nothing ruins my day more than finding a plant with perfect genetics dead due to a gopher, or a fruit in the perfect spot on the vine caved in on day 30. I hate it, but I won't let it stop me... I get back up on the horse.

When people ask "WHY?" I always say this: "I don't know. Honestly, there is nothing practical you could do with a giant pumpkin. They are absolutely useless. I just love growing them!" I have come to value the process more than the outcome, because the outcome is so uncertain.

9/9/2004 4:05:36 PM

Vancouver, White Rock, Canada

Cowboy up and throw some seed into the ground.

9/9/2004 5:20:02 PM

ontario

Mark come on........don't pack it in......your a great grower....these beasts have a mind of their own sometimes.....I'll be very disappointed if you quit....besides who will be me dinner LOL......come on laugh you can do it....i'll buy dinner........:0)...please keep going....anyway I can help just ask......wayne

9/9/2004 5:56:31 PM

Amherst, WI

I feel bad for you, Mark. I hope we all can convince you to keep at it. If not, thanks for your help in the past.

9/9/2004 11:08:56 PM

porterville, calif.

This year i didn,t even get to the fruit set stage.This would of been my third year. But Im getting things ready for next year. Im going to a couple of the weigh offs. I have just recieved premission to take the first 14 days of Oct. off. I want to be around the all the great growers to soak up as much knowlege as I can.Mark I hope you don,t quit. Maybe take a year off to enjoy some time to do something different. But I bet you will be back. This is just to much fun and is very habit forming.

9/10/2004 12:30:33 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

Yea right Pistono, who you kiddin'?

9/10/2004 6:18:51 AM

Cologne / Germany

Hey Mark, lost my job, was taken to hospital 2 times, found my pkin plants crashed down on the greenhouse floor in April and here I am back with the biggest pumpkins I ever had. If nothing is right, something is. Don´t throw in the towel. Life is too short. Look for 2005 and how boring it will be without some pumpkin stress-:)
Ingo

9/10/2004 8:17:18 AM

Colorado Hail, CO. Elev. 5,900 FT

Come on, weak sauce....

"Its not the success that drives me, its the challenge."....

When people ask "WHY?" I always say this: "I don't know. Honestly, there is nothing practical you could do with a giant pumpkin. They are absolutely useless. I just love growing them!"........

Maybe all you need is a year {month} or two off, then you'll be ready to try again........

Mark come on........don't pack it in......your a great grower....these beasts have a mind of their own sometimes.....

I could go on and on....we're all having a tough year. We don't want to lose another good grower!

look at some of the posts and diaries over this season and see all the tales of woe! Hail,snow,wind,flooding rains, insects vandals,diseases it goes on and on and so should you! keep the faith !!!

Things might seem a bit better after a couple of months
{and / or beers}.

------------------------------------------------------------

Those are all the things I'd have to say also...

Personally, from one Marc to the other Mark... I understand though, I really do! I've been at this since 1990, and have to wait yet another year... or more... till I finally top 1,000. I think about throwing in the towel a lot. If you do stop,I wanna let you that I did that in 1997, and I never had a worse year all around in my life! Just step back for a bit, then make a "not so fast" decision when things mellow out.

Marc

9/11/2004 12:49:01 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Today we lost 2 of 6 fruit. What do you say we grow next year Mark? I have one heck of a Kale plant growing out there. Wonder if there is a world record for that?

9/11/2004 9:23:53 PM

[email protected]

www.bigkale.com doesn't exactly roll right of the tounge.

Come on Mark. Toughen up. Lot's of people had a tough year. I don't hear anyone else hanging it up.

9/11/2004 9:38:04 PM

Chippewa Falls, WI

Actually Mark we lost 3 fruit yesterday... Shannon, I 7 Chardonnay all lost one! Shannon & I's were to splits and Chardonnay's to vandalls. They kicked it right in... Ass's! I thought it was bad to have them just split. But it really makes me mad that people would do a thing like that!
Shannon has 3-4 fruit left and I am to 1 pumpkin and 1 squash.
I have 2 open polinated on that is on my plant with Kemi. And If I cut it I am nervous it will blow. So one will go and the other I gave to Chardonnay.

There is hope! We have 21 days till weigh off.
LET'S DO IT MARK!

9/12/2004 9:07:46 AM