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Wood River, IL (kennyw_49@yahoo.com)

First off let me say that I've never grown giant pumpkins before. And i'm not trying to set the Ill. state record (this year) I'm just wanting to grow some big pumpkins for my family. I have a small 20x30 garden that i'd like to grow a half dozen 200 to 300 lbs orange pumpkins with a good shape.

I started doing some reading on this site last week. But you guys are "scaring the hell out of me". With the price of seeds & there different names & numbers, the whole pollination thing. training the vines, having a female at 12 feet, the tarps.

What dose a beginner like myself really need to know & do. and how do I find seeds that don't cost $60.

thanks

1/31/2006 11:41:08 AM

Jericho Vermont

There are a bunch of growers out there including myself that are very happy to send you there 2005 seeds just for a nice note and a self addressed bubble pack. This site covers the hobbiest and the truly "over the edge" growers.(sorry folks but some of us are a bit crazy)LOL. Just click on the envelop by my name and you will get my email address. Send me a message and you can have a few of my seeds in no time. If you go to the 2005 diaries you can check out the pumpkins there. Welcome to our insane world. John

1/31/2006 11:57:23 AM

Mocksville, NC

And send as many e-mails as you can me included, but dont blame me if you get hooked. Rog

1/31/2006 2:12:48 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

You need to get "How to Grow World Class Giant Pumpkins II" It is basically a how to for a new grower. Number III is a little more advanced.

1/31/2006 2:42:25 PM

Indiana

You might also try some of the burpee's prizewinners they are close to the size you mentioned and they have great color.

1/31/2006 6:29:11 PM

Picton,ON (j.vincent@xplornet.ca)

Your patch is a little small to grow a half dozzen pumpkins of that size. If you grow a competitive AG you will need most of that space for one plant. You could however set 4 pumpkins on it. As stated earlier there are lots of free seeds available here, just watch for one that looks like it will trow orange
Good luck
John

1/31/2006 7:24:12 PM

addison Il

First off you made a good start posting here theres nothing like bp.com second many good seeds come from these peaple and all for a price of bubblie being sent to them and the last thing we have a club here in illinois if you would like to join its the IGPGA great members lots of help and a fun time at our weighoff. Theres tons of good info in the books mentioned above also just by reading diaries and posts it only as crazy or insane as you yourself make it as each grower has his or her own ways to do things dont get scared once you grow your first giant all the fear goes away. 3 things i can tell you since im a newbie too technically lol one is good soil till and add manure and such, two keep pests under control or gone they come even when you think they wont., 3 good seed from the peaple her. Oh and smile its all fun and welcome to the wonderfull world of the giant pumpkin growers addiction

1/31/2006 7:42:35 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Get out of it while you still can!!!! You have been warned!
Do Not Plant an AG seed..they are addicting! LOL
GrowEmBig!
Chuck

1/31/2006 8:14:00 PM

Norton, MA

E-mail me for some seeds. Your garden is 600 s.f. (1 normal plant, or 2 smaller ones), but isn't Illinois a pretty big place? Till as much sunny land as you can find. Also, as mentioned, buy HTGWCGP2 and read it about 1001 times. AleX Noel.

1/31/2006 8:24:19 PM

Selbyville, Delaware

That will be one crowded pumpkin patch if you try to grow 6 AG's! For family and shape, try to grow prizewinners or big max, they are pretty and moveable. Ever try to move a 200-500 pound pumpkin? It's not pretty, and there's a lot of grunting involved.
You have room for about two plants. Try plant them back to back and train the vines, or plant them facing each other in the ends of the plot. Prizewinner and big max vines take up almost as much space as the AG's do, so beware. Believe me because I know. I made the mistake last year growing three ag plants, 2big max,2 cinderella pumpkins, and 1 mini pumpkin oh and not to forget the 12 tomato plants along the edge plot all in a 45x40. Vines and pumpkins everywhere-what a mess. This year strictly 3 AG's and maybe a mini along the fence line. Laura K.

2/1/2006 10:41:55 AM

Belmont, NH

You can email me as well for some seed from my past adventures. But if you are smart and want to live in the house with the "family" instead of in the tool shed next to the pumpkin patch, as stated earlier, get out now while there is still time. Consider you have been warned. This sport is addicting. More so than you can even imagine. But if you want to continue, you can easily grow a 300-400lber your first year that will simply amaze you. Kiss the wife and kids one more time because it will be all over. You will be hooked. Welcome to our world of insanity. You will have lots of company. And good company it is. Bruce

2/2/2006 9:02:47 AM

Brighton, MI

I've been growing for years and I agree with all the above. Your neighbors will think you have lost it. Some will come just to see if you will do it. I started a new patch last year since I moved so I know what you are going thru. Don't expect great results for the first year although you may get surprized. I would plant 2 plants parallel to each other about 15-20 feet apart. You can train your vines to grow where you want and if worst comes to worst and you don't want them growing on the grass you can cut the vine off, dipp it a root hormone and then bury it. It will root in no time. Make sure you spend a lot of time on your soil, compost, molasses. This is the time for you to make your cold frames and greenhouse. I use simple black underground sprinker hoses cut in 20 foot sections, bury each end in the ground, cover them with a good thick mill plastic and hold the plastic on with large binder clips (you can get these at any office supply store, they are use to hold large stacks of paper), these are easy to use store and cheap, by the way you will need to cover the bottom of the plastic with dirt on 3 sides and bricks on the 4th, in case you need to open it up on a hot day to keep it from heat up to much. If you want a to make a cheap and storeable grenhouse just e-mail me for specs of mine. to see it look here. http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryView.asp?season=2005&grower=29107&action=L

The growers on this site have always been very helpful over the years, good luck and remember if you need help just post a question and someone will give you some great advice.

2/7/2006 1:45:18 PM