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Rhode Island

im very happy to see so many new growers who are posting as of late. truthfully? this is the forum to ask these questions.

a question for the new growers? do you have the right stuff to last in this hobby? are you committed or do you need to be committed? do you get flustrated easily or can you stick with it all season long?

you may think this is a joke but i assure you if you follow a serious competition grower around for one week you will know what i mean by committed. (because the hard core grower is both very committed to their hobby and at times their spouses think committment to the local mental health facility is in order)
we spend a lot of time in the patch -daily.
.
are you just in it for a petting patch pumpkin or do you someday want to go up against the big guys and gals of the hobby? if the answer to the latter is yes ?, then welcome to the greatest gardening hobby in the world. nothing beats the excitment of watching daily growth on a giant pumpkin or green squash during the months of july and august - nothing

anyone can grow tomatoes,peppers,egg plants,etc,and most of us do.
getting that fruit to grow for 90 plus days without losing the plant to disease, or pumpkin to growth splits and
internal wall cracks, (most call then dill rings) can be a real test of ones committment ( theres that word again )

i wish all of you well. pick a good mentord ,learn from them, dont try to be everything to everybody and be carefull about the advise you receive.
buy a few books on the subject and for goodness sakes dont worry about how big you pumpkins are when compaired to others . your time will come if you stay the course

pap

6/12/2009 12:36:12 PM

Hamilton Nj

hey pap i recently tore my knee and now i have a lot of time wich will be perfect for gardening!!!!!!! i am excited just watching my vine grow i look out side every morning, now i got the tapemeasure out im having a great time growing stuff but i got to say the pumpkin plant is my favorite thing in my garden thanks for all the advice from everybody and all the good folk on here!!!!!!!!!!! pizza

6/12/2009 1:19:48 PM

Taylorsville, California

Good post pap! I'll second the be careful of the advice you recieve, there are many people who have your best interest in mind when they give you advice but are a little short on experience and knowledge when it comes down to it,,ive heard a grower say "its pretty much the same as growing tomatoes,85% of growing them is the same",lol!,,dont we all wish,,so new growers, make sure the advice is given from a seasoned grower like Pap and not some well meaning newbie who knows tomatoes,,Good luck all and grow em big!

6/12/2009 2:19:48 PM

Cduross1@rochester.rr.com

Well after a few seasons in the current patch, I think the soil is just starting to get into shape for good pumpkin growing. Also now have enough space where I can rotate crops and not have to worry about taking a year off. I still consider myself a newbie grower but stubborn enough to stick it out to get those weights we have set for this year, to have 2 pumpkins at least 1000 pounds this year.

Issues I have that get me frustrated are not being able to do all the labor intensive work that is required with a pumpkin patch such as the tilling, fencing and the tons and tons of rocks that we sifted out of 6600 sq ft of patch has got to be INSANE, and we do it yearly, more than once a year. Also if you consider filling four 3x3 pits by hand insane, then yes sign me up for a nice bouncy room.

It takes a good working crew to get a good patch going and with hubby's help and his cousins working with us I think we're almost there. 6600 sq ft of patch that is prime pumpkin growing material. I hope I can do it justice.

Still have to learn better vine maintenance, and not let so much greenery get out of hand, I feel that cost me several hundred pounds last year.

I'm still learning, still having fun, and yes I enjoy watching the plants grow and am amazed at how much room they will take over, and how many pounds/day a pumpkin will gain.

6/12/2009 2:26:50 PM

Ontario

Thanks for the post Pap.....you nailed it yet again....I have a great mentor in Mr. Phil Hunt!!:) I am very thankful for all his knowledge so far, and look forward to more as the season continues. Having a mentor like Phil for my first real year of growing is more than I could have asked for!! I am very grateful for his help, and all the help from other great growers on these postings!! To have WORLD CLASS growers helping us newbies, is nothing short of amazing!!!
I think I have the comittment and the dedication to try and get to the big leagues in a few years......but first...this year...whichj is all about learning....thanks again..and good growing to you....

Cheers.....

Bryan

6/12/2009 2:42:00 PM

milford, CT,

Dick..great post..I remember coming up to RI for a summer patch tour 3 years ago and hearing someone say " The key to a successful year is predicting the problems that could happen 2 weeks from now and preventing them from happening". I took that to heart and it helped me a lot.
Things like positioning fruit..disease..Bugs..think 2 weeks ahead and prevent the problem.. Mark

6/12/2009 3:28:24 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Auston, I heard that too, and the rest of that % is what kills you!

It takes serious work, good seed, committment to the cause, a very understanding spouse, proper watering, and lots of luck. This is the greatest resource I've found for where to find out how to do it right....

Having a patch is a very sneaky exercise program; I have found nothing else will get my rear out there to work, than my vines needing my attention again... if you have never done the 300 yard hurdle dash as it's offering to hail to put up the tarps, or done that one in the dark because of a weird noise with a flashlight... you aren't growing!

This is a great hobby, a demanding sport, and there's nothing like the bucket of bragging rights trolling main with a biggun on the car trailer on the weigh to the scale!

Good season to everyone.

6/12/2009 6:38:24 PM

SE Minnesota

Best thing I ever did was listen to Pap when he said to grab an experienced grower and listen to what he/she had to say/do. I was lucky enough to grab two David Bhaskaran and George Heyne. Both have tons of experience and are so open to my constant questioning:)
Find someone and listen and keep asking those questions.

6/12/2009 10:23:26 PM

Colorado Springs.Co

I was lucky enough to get in a foursome with a par golfer once who had the patience of a saint. He gave me advice the whole 18 holes and shaved 12 strokes off my game. Unfortunitly I was so bad that was still a 89,lol.

I'm just being sarcastic, I agree with listening to those that have done the research and have the experience.

6/12/2009 10:47:16 PM

Ocala,fl

currently lookin for a part time job so ill have $ for a pumpkin patch i can be pround of, Everyone thinks im a little nuts and i have dissappeared from my normal social life. my good friends though are suppotive and have taken to hangin out with me here at home. some are even considering gardening themselves. maybe 'nuts' is contagious. i live in ocala fl and if there are any growers close by i would love to know about u. pictures and diaries are great but to 'SEE' another plant besides my own would teach me loads. Thanks for weelcome Pap. Sincerly Mary

6/13/2009 8:35:09 AM

Rhode Island

alan reynolds lives in the Daytona Beach area. not sure if thats close to where you live?

6/13/2009 6:23:13 PM

NW,Montana

Commitment has nothing to do with this pumpkin growing.. this is my second year and I am hooked.. its an addiction I may need a 12 step program to ever stop. Thanks to all for all the help I have been given. Now for the question. I am confussed on using manure to admend the soil. looks like it gives many pest problems???

6/15/2009 2:20:16 PM