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Rhode Island

OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS I HAVE READ NUMEROUS POSTS FROM NEW GROWERS. MOST HAVE VERY LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS.

TO THE EXPERIENCED GROWER THESE QUESTIONS MIGHT SEEM VERY ROUTINE AND IN MANY CASES ? ASKED OVER AND OVER AGAIN.WHICH PROBABLY ALSO EXPLAINS WHY SOME QUESTIONS GO COMPLETELY UNANSWERED.

I ALSO REALIZE HOWEVER THAT TO THE NEW GROWERS ,ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT HAVE LIMITED GATDENING SKILLS, THIS BOARD HAS BECOME YOUR SOLE SOURCE OF GROWER INFORMATION.WHICH IS NOT NECESSARILY A GOOD THING. YOU NEED TO GET EDUCATED IN OTHER WAYS AS WELL.

DON LANGEVINS FOURTH ADDITION TO HIS VERY SUCCESSFULL GIANT PUMPKINS "HOW TO" PUBLICATIONS IS DUE OUT VERY SOON.IT WILL BE ADVERTIZED IN SEVERAL CATALOGS. ON HIS WEB SITE AND, HERE ON BP I WOULD ASSUME AS WELL.
THE BEST MONEY ANY NEW GROWER COULD SPEND IS TO PURCHASE A COPY AND READ IT SEVERAL TIMES FROM FRONT TO BACK.HELL PURCHASE ANY PUBLICATIONS ON THE SUBJECT FOR THAT MATTER AND YOU WILL BE MILES AHEAD.

I SAY THIS BECAUSE AFTER A HALF SEASON OF LOOKING AT THE QUESTIONS THESE NEW GROWERS ASK REPEATEDLY? THAT THEY WOULD REALLY BENEFIT BY INVESTING IN THEMSELVES BY PURCHASING THIS TYPE OF PUBLICATION.

Q AND A IS A GREAT LEARNING TOOL BUT ONLY ONE OUT OF SEVERAL YOU NEED IN YOUR BOX.

IF YOU DEPEND ON OTHERS TO SUPPLY THE ANSWERS ALL OF THE TIME? ITS VERY POSSIBLE YOU WILL BECOME FLUSTRATED AND HAVE A SHORT CAREER IN THIS HOBBY. INVEST IN YOURSELF PLEASE.

PAP

7/18/2009 8:42:24 PM

Buffalo, New York

I will admit I do ask alot of questions on here, and I have Don's "How To" volume 1 and 2. I am a 2nd year grower and am "New".

I think the reason why I ask questions is because these 2 books were published over 10 years ago, and even though most of the infomation in them is still the same and true.......better ideas and new things have been discovered.

Jeremy - aka "Ron J".

7/18/2009 9:11:17 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

As usual, Pap speaks the truth.

We are VERY lucky to have Pap here. The Larue's & Checkon's chime in too. Dan Bowles...There are others...

BP was founded specifically to help the new growers get started & is still their most valuable resource. But as Pap says, the longer folks grow the more tenured (& jaded?) they become.

Another frustration is the fairly new grower who reads enough posts & begins to regurgitate the data without the benefit of real experience. These folks are trying to be helpful but experienced growers find their replies to be disingenuous. Hence they start to shy away.

New growers should never be shy. Once you have a few seasons then it's only fair to give back by sharing your own experience.

Many such websites exist for all sorts of different hobbies. In time, experienced enthusiasts start to reply "USE THE SEARCH" feature. To their credit, most questions are not unique & really do get old. But we are dealing with a dynamic not seen in "stamp collecting" or "R/C Airplane building". Our competitive hobby plays to the weather & pests & diseases that are always in flux. Many of the prescribed solutions change as new chemicals arrive on the scene.

7/19/2009 1:41:17 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Augh!!! I got auto-clipped. LOL

7/19/2009 1:43:32 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Regardless.....

Buy Don's books. #2 at the very least.
Join your local grower's club.
Ask questions here, start a diary here & use it.
Grow then show no matter the finished size. You'll meet the best people in the world.
HAVE FUN!

7/19/2009 1:47:35 AM

Oklahoma State Record Holder

One thing I have noticed here is there are more and more growers growing in warmer parts of the world. Most of the more experienced growers are from cooler parts of the country. I can tell you growing a big one in 100* weather is an art in itself.

7/19/2009 2:38:13 PM

North Smithfield, RI

Somestimes you have 75 % of your own question answered yourself but would like to get other opinions to arrive at a 100% conclusion

7/19/2009 5:55:51 PM

North Smithfield, RI

Sometimes !

7/19/2009 5:56:40 PM

Washington

The best advice I can give is through trial and error and what works in my 'neck of the woods'. New growers should try to find a mentor who lives near them and is experiencing the same conditions. It does no good for me to tell someone how I grow in Western Washington when they live in Florida. Our soil, climate, pest problems, etc. are so different that I really can't help. What I can do is to explain how we prune, direct and raise vines, position pumpkins, shade, lift pumpkins etc. Jack and I always try to answer questions from anyone but can only use our own experiences. Sherry LaRue

7/20/2009 11:03:55 AM

Fresno, CA

Amigatec,

I don't know if there is a growers club/org in my area (or yours). Maybe we need a hot weather growers club!

7/20/2009 1:31:15 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Between Half Moon Bay, Elk Grove & Uesugi Farms weighoffs I'd wager there are at least some locals you huys can hook up with.

http://www.greatpumpkincommonwealth.com/PC.php

Check it out.

7/20/2009 6:52:13 PM

Oklahoma State Record Holder

As far as I know there are only 3 growers in the whole state. And we are spread apart.

I would like to start a club but there just is no interest here.

7/20/2009 7:13:16 PM

Highland, Ca

well make that four althuogh I live south of L.A.our weather out here is just plain HOT,but with misters and shade it seems that so far so good.

7/20/2009 10:51:10 PM

McKinney, TX

For the people on OK, I am new to growing pumpkins and I am in North Texas, about an hour from Durant, OK. I haven't been able to find any growers at all in this area. Do you know of any? Thanks!

7/21/2009 1:24:38 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Some very fine growers in the Napa Valley but there are at least 40-50 growers of note in California.

Elk Grove had 22 entrants from Cali. There were several over 1300 lbs.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/WeighoffResultsBySite.aspx?s=18&c=P&y=2008

Half Moon Bay had over 30 entrants from California. Second place last year: 1,404 lbs by Leonardo Urena from Napa.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/WeighoffResultsBySite.aspx?s=86&c=P&y=2008

Uesugi Farms had about 20 Cali. entrants too.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/WeighoffResultsBySite.aspx?s=41&c=P&y=2008

Oklahoma?....not yet. Start a small weighoff & lets see where it goes.

7/21/2009 9:35:36 AM

Fresno, CA

Thanks for the info on California events/growers Tremor. I'm hoping that amongst those 3 weigh offs I can find some hot weather growers. Speaking of which, Nascar Fan, have you been getting some decent growth? Oh and just to be clear Amigatec is in Oklahoma.

7/21/2009 10:38:56 AM

Hamilton Nj

pap im trading my roll of tape and my glue for a gp book!!!!!! pizza

7/21/2009 10:47:27 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Pat (& Tremor) there's Thomas, you, and five here including me. I met two from Liberal KS that came down Sunday to tour.

We're hoping here because of placement, to become a weighoff to aim for. Boise City is a ways away unless you're in the panhandle, I'm straining a braincell on where Durant is. We are the same weekend as Terminator.

7/21/2009 5:22:23 PM

Oklahoma State Record Holder

Durant is in the middle of the state on the state line just north of Sherman Texas.

7/21/2009 5:27:07 PM

I also ordered mine today.

7/24/2009 10:41:56 AM