From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Pleasant Hill, Or

Hi all. It was only three years ago I was a new grower with tons of questions. Lots has happened since, and many people have helped me to become a successful grower. It's my turn to give back some to other growers.
I have been asked the same questions by so many people, I decided to create a website I could direct people to with a much more thorough answer than I could give in a simple email. http://www.starrfarms.net/pumpkinstest.html

Right now, I have; How to Grow a Giant, which is a basic season guide to growing.
How to Build a Greenhouse, with step by step instructions and sources for materials for the greenhouse I use.
How to Build a Compost Tea Brewer. This is a pretty comprehensive guide to building your own Compost Tea Brewer, requirements for the tea and a couple of recipes I use during the season. There are a few photo albums on there that are fun to look at too. Ever see 8 Giant Pumpkins carved into Jack-O-Lanterns? It's on there!

Coming soon will be Vine Maintenance which will cover the techniques and patterns I use, and a Sprinkler Guide that will cover Dan Micro Sprinklers, where to find them and how to use them for an under canopy watering system. I'm open to suggestions for other content as well.

Hope this helps someone!

Thad Starr

4/15/2009 5:36:26 PM

Ontario

Great site Thad....I already had it bookmarked and will check it ona regular basis for more of your valuable information...only 3 years...holy smokes, that is amazing!! Thanks for putting in all your extra effort to help us new growers, this will be very helpful. All the best to you and your family...and good growing to you this season....

Cheers...

Bryan

4/15/2009 6:44:29 PM

Massillon, Ohio

Great job, Thad! I loved all your photos.

4/15/2009 6:55:09 PM

Tisk tisk, and to think I knew him when ;-)

good job Thad !

4/15/2009 9:39:27 PM

Fairport,NY

Awesome Job Thadd!!Very Professional Format and Look. I've been recommending already.Love the custom "Tea recipes":)
Bumkin

4/15/2009 10:25:27 PM

Woburn, MA.

Nice Job Thad!

4/15/2009 11:39:23 PM

Pleasant Hill, Or

Thanks everyone! It's been a fun/learning project to get this stuff up on the net. The credit for the professional looking site goes to Jamie Johnson (ArvadaBoy). He's a great website builder and spends a lot of time with you to get it right.
I'm taking a break from adding content for a couple of days to get some home brew brewed and racked to cornies (one of my other many hobbies!). I'll get the other stuff added in a few weeks.
I don't know if any of you noticed the weather links available on the site, but I have a Davis Pro weather station mounted about 15' above the planting site I grew my first 1500#'er. You will be able to see what the exact weather conditions are, live, in my patch!

Thad

4/16/2009 1:51:33 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Thad...took a quick look and am very impressed!!! One quick question?...what in God's Green Acres is "Racked to Cornies"??? (Or maybe I don't want to know)!!! Just hopin to learn somethin here!!! LOL Peace, Wayne

4/16/2009 2:40:55 AM

Gold Hill, Oregon

woww!!! that is great thad!!! lots of good information that will come in handy. a heavy hitter stepping up to help out us newbies. thank you thad!!! dave.

4/16/2009 5:35:49 AM

Pleasant Hill, Or

LOL Wayne! Racking to cornies is only transferring the beer you made from carboys to Cornelius kegs for carbonating and serving. I don't bottle, but serve from a keg.

4/16/2009 11:12:09 AM

Midway, UT

Thad is the kegger type, no time for small bottles. lol

4/16/2009 11:38:15 AM

Colorado Springs, Co (wtmanc3mc3@hotmail.com)

Thad, i was looking at your site and going over your greenhouse instructions. you said you cut the plastic at 22", i think you meant feet? quoute:

* Cut lengths of plastic at 22"-0". You will use the 22'-0" length to cover the greenhouse by going over the top from both sides.
but then you go on to say use the 22' lengths to cover. I figure its a typo but figured it might save someone a piece of plastic ;)

4/16/2009 1:44:39 PM

Pleasant Hill, Or

Thanks for catching that typo Will. You are right, it should be 22feet. If that is the only one, it'll be a miracle!

And YES Jaimie, I am the kegger type! I have a little bit of Rhode Island in me...

4/16/2009 3:32:09 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Very Nice site!
Thad, you are giving new growers a great resource and experience growers a chance to see how a real sucessful grower is doing things, you are truely part of what makes this hobby as good as it gets!
My hat is off to you, you rock bro!
Tom

4/17/2009 6:50:57 AM

Colorado Springs, Co (wtmanc3mc3@hotmail.com)

thanks for clearing it up for me, i am oredering and going by your directions for a couple more greenhouses. appreciate your knowledge very much. BTW , 1350 is up for going on 3rd day now. Will transplant into hoops by mid next week. :)

4/17/2009 10:22:42 AM