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Morrisdale, Pennsylvania

This is my first year trying to grow large pumpkins, Just in case I can grow a large one. Dose anyone know of any weigh-offs around Pennsylvania that I could enter, if I get lucky this year.

3/12/2007 9:49:41 AM

Western NY

You have a great one not too far away in Altoona, first Saturday in October. The Saturday after that will be near me at Pumpkinville, which is about 20 minutes north of Bradford.

3/12/2007 10:32:42 AM

Morrisdale, Pennsylvania

Great!! Do you know how I can get more information on them.

3/12/2007 12:56:06 PM

Central Pennsylvania lauralie1978@yahoo.com

The website is www.pgpga.com (Pennsylvania Giant Pumpkin Growers Association) The membership fee is only $15.00 and that gives you access to enter your pumpkin in the weigh-offs.

Do you have any good seeds yet?

3/12/2007 1:13:11 PM

Morrisdale, Pennsylvania

Thanks for the website. Yes, I have 6 seeds I bought from the P & P seed Co.

3/12/2007 1:18:12 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Welcome Ghostrider!

When you join the PGPGA they will likely hold meetings & probably a seed swap program where you can pick up local growing tips as well as additional seed stocks.

Best growing wishes,

Steve

3/12/2007 2:16:12 PM

Montoursville, PA

Ghostrider...........we have a growers group in Williamsport, Pa. Most of us go to Altoona Weighoff and are members of PGPGA. We also have meetings in our area, a patch tour and picnic and good seed available should you need some. If we should be more assessable you are welcome to tag along with us.

3/12/2007 8:43:41 PM

ordinary,VA

The PGPGA will be a big help great folks!

3/12/2007 9:05:01 PM

Morrisdale, Pennsylvania

Thanks for all the information ! I visited the pgpga site. I will proably join the first part of next month. I have grown average size pumpkins for the past couple of years with mixed results,but I never guessed there would be so much more materials to read for growing the big ones.

3/13/2007 8:10:54 AM

Morrisdale, Pennsylvania

I have a puzzling question for all of you.
I was able for two years to grow some nice 15-20 lb. pumpkins, but for the past two years I have got larg healthly looking plants but only one or two 3 lb pumpkins out of several dozen plants. Each year I bought new seeds. It's a mystery that I have no idea how to solve.

3/13/2007 8:21:26 AM

ordinary,VA

are you growing in the same patch?

what type of seeds are you growing?

3/13/2007 8:46:57 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

If you are planting the same seeds over and over sounds like one of the times, it was cross pollinated from a smaller pumpkin variety. All Pumpkins are not the same there are over 150 Varieties.

3/13/2007 8:55:07 AM

Morrisdale, Pennsylvania

I was using the the same type of seed. I think the name of it was Ghostrider or Ghostmaster, I forget. I threw the remainder of the seed away after my last dismal season. Yes, I was using the same patch. At first, I thought it might be the pollination, but don't see how I could go from approx. 100+ good size pumpkins to 2 or 3 puny ones. I having Novice woes..

3/13/2007 9:22:56 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Ghost,

Chances are that the soil has been depleted of calcium or potassium. Another common problem is that cucumber beetles (or similar) have no found the buffet you have so kindy placed before them.

What sort of soil testing &/or pest problems have you been addressing & how?

3/13/2007 10:25:55 AM

Morrisdale, Pennsylvania

I have not done any soil testing. Last year I did put
2 s-10 pickup loads of mushroom soil on the garden. I really like to do gardening, but I'm not very knowlegable about adding soil nutrients. I will stop by my local Agway to see if they have any test kits or know where I can take a sample. Last year I bought several bottles of bug spray at Lowes that was supposed to cucumber beetles. I did see some.

3/13/2007 11:38:57 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

READ...READ... and READ some more and ask lots of questions. You should have had plenty of nutrients with the mushroom compost.I still think its the seeds.

3/13/2007 12:56:48 PM

Morrisdale, Pennsylvania

Thanks again for everyone's help. I am purchasing new seed. In addition, I am going to start a new patch away form the old one so my new seeds have the best possible chance. Besides, I wouldn't want my 2000 lb pumpkin to squash my tomatoes this year. HA, Ha!!

3/13/2007 3:10:55 PM