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Sacramento, Ca

Well, my first year of growing the AG pumpkin is coming to a close. All in all I consider it a successful year since I actually managed to grow 2 rather large pumpkins ( estimated 200 and 300 pounders). Next year I hope to do better with my new patch, if I double the size of this years pumpkins I will be happy.The thing I enjoyed the most about growing the AG is seeing how big they get. I can only imagine one over 1000 pounds. Wowza! The thing I did not like about growing them is that they are fussy! They want things done just right! I'd like to thank Alan Gibson for his generosity this year. The seeds you gave me will be going in the ground next spring and I hope to do you proud. A few questions for all of you first time growers;

1. What was your most challenging part of growing the AG?

2. What size is your pumpkin and is your weight estimated or actual?

3. Will you be growing the AG next year? Why or why not?

4. If you could give one piece of advice to next years first timers, what would it be?

5. Are you entering your pumpkin in any contests?

Again, thanks to Mr. Alan Gibson and all of you growers that were kind enough to take the time and answer all of my questions. Until next year then, grow em big!

9/12/2009 10:55:43 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

I'll butt in for #4..

Soiltest! Fall Soil Test (A&L Labs West) and work on patch soil as soon as you clear patch this fall. That is some of the best $ you can spend. Get the S3C, pay the extra $2 for recommendations (crop=Giant Pumpkins, pick 'per 1000 square feet') and pay the extra $1 for bar graph.

If you're brand new to this, read on this site, it has a lot of very good information. Still test your soil in spring if that's when you did decide to try it, and amend. Good Soil is one of the top things you can do to get Good Results.

Heat control, and don't be afraid to water.

Do it now, not later, not even a few hours later. That goes for water, fert, bug control, weeding, staking it down, whatever. If you go out for a quick patch check be prepared to handle whatever you find.

AG's are no more fussy than most any other thing I've raised, each type of plant has it's own particulars. It's the SCALE that still amazes me. And can quickly overwhelm you. Not just the fruit but how big and how fast it gets big...an AG seedling 4 days old is quite a seedling!

9/12/2009 12:09:31 PM

Sacramento, Ca

OkieGal, I agree about the soil conditioning and test. I had the soil test done at the start of spring, I think that is why I ended up with a 300 pounder on my first try with the AG. I have been following the progress of you and Amigatec, I hope one of you do get the Oklahoma state record, that would be way cool.

9/12/2009 12:28:44 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Thanks, it's not over until the scale happens... and whoever does it does it :)

I have budget problems and will buy supplies over this winter to be able to afford what will help (IMO) so. My dollars have to be spent carefully for what it will do, and the #1 thing you can spend your growing bucks on, is soil test, then amend that soil.

9/12/2009 12:55:10 PM

Cedar Lake, IN.

This is my first year growing AG'S.
To the questions: #1 to stop having so much fun,#2 B-1 est.533 lbs.,T-1 est.373 lbs.#3 OOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH YES!!!!!! #4 Just have fun doing it.I never looked at the ground as a living soil, but I do now.#5 yes, just to get the weight recorded.I have plans for the B-1 seed in the coming years. (The dark horse)?

9/12/2009 1:03:40 PM

Cochecton, NY

#1-Fighting the rain this year.
#2-Alot bigger than my biggest last year!
#3-Abso$*%&**^lutely
#4-Listen to any advice you are being given and don't feel bad if someone tells you that you did something wrong! Learn from it.
#5-As long as it makes it 'til the day before!

9/13/2009 9:36:46 AM

Highland, Ca

I'll take #1 protection fron that heat,shade cloth over the patch before I plant and next year it will be extended to handle the afternoon sun, if it weren't for this site and folks like OkieGal and Pap,I don't think that it would have been as much fun, just sharing a little and learning a ton here has made my season.

9/16/2009 8:35:45 AM

Minnesota

Soil Soil Soil

9/16/2009 5:12:33 PM

Rhode Island

the fact of the matter regarding this hobby is that the harder you work at it?, the more you put into the plant?,
the bigger your results get?, the more it hurts when you loose her.
i dont feel bad for the growers who put a seed into the ground, water occasionally and expect great results.
i do however feel for those of you that pour a big time effort into growing a monster pumpkin only to fall short due to inexperience or just plain bad luck.
theres always next year. when everyone can dream anew.

9/17/2009 7:05:24 AM

Buffalo, New York

the hardest part for me is spraying....i work afternoons and dont get home til MIDNIGHT during the week so spraying fertilizers, insects, disease, or watering in the evening is no good for me.

And meanwhile, getting to bed by maybe 3am, getting up and spraying before sunrise is quite impossible.

everyone lives different lifes.....some have more time, some don't.

9/19/2009 3:36:49 AM

SE Minnesota

#4 Find someone in your area and visit their patch often...then emulate what they are doing...I have 2 great "experienced" growers (+10-30 yrs) within 15 miles of my patch and I am wearing them out with my questions this year but I can say the proof is in the pudding

9/19/2009 6:58:49 AM