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Chandler, Az

Hi, I just signed up as a member of this site today because I had the crazy desire to grow a giant pumpkin. I've always wanted to do it, but this spring I'm jumping into action. I've been reading up like crazy on this website, and I've noticed that there don't seem to be any growers in Arizona.
Do I have any chance at all at growing something spectacular here in the 115+ degree summer heat?
Will shading the pumpkin and using a mister help at all?
I'll try anyway, but it would be reassuring to know that someone has been successful at growing a giant in this part of the country. I live in the Chandler area, by the way, which is a suburb of Phoenix.
No frost problems here! LOL

Celeste

11/6/2005 11:54:37 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Welcome to the insanity...LOL. Stay tuned and info will probably come along. Have you tried doing site search for shading or misting. Usually searches turn up lots of previously posted, valuable info. Peace Wayne

11/7/2005 6:14:13 AM

Berlin,mi.(zuhlke2@hotmail.com)

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryView.asp?season=2005&grower=26257&action=L
HERE'S A LINK TO ANOTHER ARIZONA GROWER.

11/7/2005 6:15:00 AM

Chandler, Az

Oh thank you Steve! Now I'm off to read...


Celeste

11/7/2005 6:35:26 PM

San Diego

Celeste, look up hotpumpkin (Ben). Growing in arizona is just plain tough, the state record is only 50 lbs or so:) I recommend starting very early in the year compared to other growers to beat the hottest heat, misting or shade cloth is a must, even combining them works there! Get a good heat tolerant seed, although no seed can guarantee heat tolerance, many seeds are much more tolerant than others. So, my recommendations are: get a heat tolerant seed, prep your soil after getting it tested in the fall, and set up a misting/shade cloth system for your patch. You are welcome to have some of my 861 fredricks/george seeds from my pumpkin this year. You are welcome to check out my diary to see the info under Duster. Good luck, and welcome to the obsession! lol. Jimmy

11/7/2005 7:58:47 PM

Windsor Maine

WeLcome aboArd! and come seed plantin' time--Like "Stunner" told me-- fasten yer seAtbelt! It can be a wild ride! heh~heh!
Good-Luck & best Wishes~
TLISH

11/7/2005 8:07:40 PM

Chandler, Az

Thanks for the warm welcome guys. :-) I actually had a pumpkin (the regular field type) sprout out of the blue in my compost heap-so I watered it occasionally(but basically ignored it otherwise) and I got a really nice 25 pounder or so. It might have gotten bigger, but at the time I thought it was a really nice watermelon LOL I didn't know pumpkins were green at first. So I pulled it off the vine for the 4th of July family picnic. I cut it open...and..."argh?!?What's this?!?!This isn't a watermelon!!!" LOL I felt really bad about killing it. :( So that was my first foray into pumpkin growing. Now I know better and I figure if I can ignore a plant and grow something then it should be even better if actually try and keep it alive LOL
My parents live nearby on a 2 acre parcel, that should give me plenty of room, as it's all dirt and old horse manure. Just gotta fence it in real good so the horses and dogs don't get into it ;0)
Thanks for the help, once again, and I just might take you up on your offer Jimmy. Thanks!

Celeste

11/7/2005 8:23:26 PM

Long Island,New York

If I was you.....and lived in Aridzona....I would look for an area to grow that was actually beneath the shade of a open-canopy type tree in the 11-4pm time of the day. I think the filtered sunlight at the hottest part of the day combined with reflected and sunlight before and after the hottest sun period is your best bet and nearly a sure thing to beat 100lbs first time out. Misters would be a must, and I'd absolutely forget about haveing to have a fruit for Halloween...start early before the high heat and wiegh it after the second day it stopped growing...no matter what the date......G

11/8/2005 7:51:23 AM

Chandler, Az

If there were any trees to be had, I'd do it-as it is, mom and dad have one scraggly lil' pine tree in the front yard, and that doesn't shade anything! lol. My plan right now is to build a pvc pipe framework to cover the whole patch, and use velcro to attach and de-attach shade cloth as needed, plus misters. That should help, I would think. I'll probably plant either February or March, depending on the weather. It doesn't usually get real hot until June, but this year was pretty mild, with the exception of the heat wave we had in what, was it July? Killed a few people then, let alone pumpkins. August was nice though.

Celeste

11/8/2005 4:12:27 PM