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Macomb County

A 400lb AG grown in Miss. is eqaul to a 1000lb AG grown in Mich. Because given the same run of 14 days of 100 degree days, and all plants stop growing in the heat of the day, I'll have nights in the mid to low 70's and the same grower will have them hover in the mid 80's or more. And pumpkins ideally grow and produce at 77 degrees. I experienced a 2 week jump and he experienced a 2 week stall. Suddenly I'm 200lbs out ahead of him with all the superior growing skill over him of not running my air conditioner half as much is all. I apologize to everyone if I came across like a rude cynic. But just on the issue of gabbering Yankees and drawling Southerns, I don't see competitions and stats as being very fair. A 1000lb AG grown in Miss. and a 1000lb AG grown in Mich. and we really know what happened there.

7/14/2005 5:50:28 PM

Long Island,New York

Nope. I don't agree. I agree in concept to a point but nowhere near 400=1000.

7/14/2005 6:24:40 PM

Abbotsford, B.C

I agree very much. Having come from Alberta, where the record set by John Lobay is a mere 817 pounds, and with most 'heavy hitters' of Alberta, persay, finding it difficult to clear over seven hundred pounds. A local grower by the name of Gerry Groten told me once that if you can grow a five hundred pound pumpkin in Alberta, your a good grower. There, growing a six or seven hundred pounder is like clearing 1000 pounds or more. However, I am not sure what the differences are like between Mich. and Miss. are, so I can't comment on that. I must say that a 400=1000 seems like a rather extreme ratio, but the overall concept is correct.

Cameron

7/14/2005 7:00:08 PM

Lexington, Ky

Look out for Gordon Tanner in Utah........he's got some heat! Maybe the longtitudes are in his favor but I'd take my weather over his.....

7/14/2005 7:11:40 PM

Cheyenne, Wyoming

Our pumpkins ultimate size is at least in part predetermined by our growing climate.

Here in Cheyenne at 6,100 feet, during our "summer" 60 day growth period we would be lucky to average 50 degrees for night time low temps.

I've found measurable differences in circumference growth between nights where the low is 50 degrees, and the ever so elusive night of 60 degree lows. Last year we had only four nights of low temps of 60 degrees or more. 60 degrees or more is equal to 4" circumference growth. 50 degrees is 2.5 to 3 inches circumference growth for my pumpkins.

There is nothing I can do to elevate the temperatures after the pumpkins outgrow their hot houses. I'm at the mercy of our weather patterns. That is at least part of why our Cheyenne pumpkin record is a mere 508 pounds, even though there are a number of local growers putting in a lot of hard work in their gardens each summer.

Beet

7/14/2005 7:17:53 PM

Benton Ky

I agree, but I do not know how to compare north south weights in a fair manner, because weather pattern change so much from year to year.I can say I had better growth for a short time with a plant I started in march of this year.the fruit reached 278" ott in 34 days, but suddenly stopped. A few days later I noticed an ooze from the basil crown area of the plant. I quickly cut out the rotted portion of it and applied captan. The fruit appears to be fine , but done. the secondaries past the fruit have started to grow and I have another fruit set.I wonder if heat stopped the growth of the fruit or the stump rot?

7/14/2005 7:45:02 PM

Macomb County

Sorry, don't get me wrong. I have no idea what the exact weight difference actually is. 400=1000lbs I agree is no where close. I was just trying to make the point on behalf of Southern growers and now colder growers like Wyoming, that there are some very skilled growers who deserve to be called Heavy Hitters in their own right. Given the handicap they have going in and have to deal with and overcome in a season. And their advice is as valuable and didn't want the site to be fooled by weight alone in who to give and not give credit too.

7/15/2005 3:16:46 AM

New York

Life isn’t fair…and neither are pumpkin patch locations! But…with the right understanding of our climate, many things can be done to even up the score. One of the best things to do is make a list of all the limiting factors that prevent you from reaching your goals with your given patch. Rank them from 1 (best) to 10 (worst) and ask yourself if there’s any way to lower a ranking by changing it. Go crazy in your thoughts…even if there’s no way of actually making them a reality. Sometimes things will pop into your head and you’ll say “I think I can do that”.
I understand there’s only so much a person can do in certain situations , but thinking out of the box can sometimes really help even up things with “that lucky guy and his great location”.
In the future, I think we’re going to see records smashed in areas once thought unachievable. Once growers start breaking down their walls and just start “going for it” instead of “Accepting it” we will truly see big pumpkins grown in “unfair” climates. Maybe not records, but very big pumpkins. Mother Nature is our best friend and worst enemy. Accept the positives and say NO to the negatives. If it’s too hot…find a way to cool it down. / Too cold?…warm it up. / Too dry?…find the water. / Too wet?…find drainage. Too windy?…find a wall. Too much hail?..find a roof. Not enough time…grow only 1 plant.....and the list goes on.

The beauty of growing giant pumpkins is that we don’t have to worry about our bottom line. We don’t have to worry about making a profit. We can open things up and break climate barriers…because we want to.

7/15/2005 3:27:39 AM

Macomb County

Ky, what I had happen to one of my Hybrids is unknown to me, a borer made it into the crown. Which managed to die with a spraying of Sevin I used back then. It got hot and my crown developed rot too, when like you, I cut it out. Only to discover a trace amount of a rotten borer.
Obviously, the rotting borer must have introduced disease into my plant at that point. My first advice would be to apply some type of systemic disease control to make sure it's not because it's traveling in your plant at this point. I've always had good luck with Bayleton. However, I would ask that other growers more experiened in the use of systemic disease control advise you on the best one from here.

7/15/2005 3:31:02 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Marty, in an earlier post you stated you had a basketball size fruit 37 days after planting. Can you tell me what you mean by "planting"? To me planting is putting the seed in the dirt. 37 days seems like a very short time frame from seed in dirt to 30" fruit. Thanks Peace Wayne

7/15/2005 6:37:33 AM

Saegertown Pa.

Well said Alan,there is always a way to increase your odds.

7/15/2005 9:00:50 AM

Long Island,New York

I was just gonna say that Alan. If there's a will, there's usually a way. Sure...its harder...but it can usually be done.

7/15/2005 4:14:54 PM

Abbotsford, B.C

It is true that most things can usually be overcome, but you forgot to mention one thing; sun, if there is no sun, there is absolutely nothing you can do. Ok, maybe if you had some spare cash amounting to one hundred thousand or more, you could build a big greenhouse, climate control, with big, high-output lights, but the effect would still not be the same. And the average grower does NOT have that sort of money. If I had one hundredth of that amount of money to spare on giant pumpkins I would be happy. Just thought that I would mention that. Though possible to overcome almost all these hardships caused by unfair climates, you need a lot of cash to do so.

Cameron

7/15/2005 10:29:06 PM

Macomb County

Wayne, I planted my seed on May 15th and transplanted into my patch on June 6th. The method I was taught was taught to me by a tomato grower. Fertilize at 1/8 to 1/4 strength, depending on the numbers, when the plant shows 2 true leaves. Then don't even breath on them again until 2 weeks after they're transplanted. I'm going to be posting some pictures in my diary as soon as I get paid next week. I need to go knocking on some doors and reminding them it would be nice of them to catch up.

7/15/2005 11:25:41 PM

New York

Sun is another limiting factor for many growers. I've seen some very impressive weights through the years with people who have improved their patch...and at the same time experienced a lack of sun. Joze(Joe)has made some interesting points about sunlight...in terms of angle depending on North/South location...and the growers actual limits with trees and such. I think he suggested a slightly larger plant (%) based on overall lack of sun from ideal conditions. He has discussed this in the sink/source threads. It may very well turn out (with data) that someone who usually grows in lets say 500' of full sun, may want to increase to 700' based on lower sunlight conditions. While we can't conrol the sun, I can see the day where the disadvantaged grower will have a gameplan that's slightly different from the standard..and as a result will help even up the odds a little.
I feel for anyone trying to grow in less then ideal conditions...I think there's hope in the future when more is known. 100 grand to play around with in the pumpkin patch is every growers dream...that would help end some limiting factors for sure. Neccessity is the mother of invention....there have been some very clever things growers have done to get around the money issue to achieve similar results.

7/16/2005 5:18:52 AM