From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Westmoreland, KS

Been really quite around here lately is everyone just sharing on Facebook or are there some monsters out there already and everyone is just tight lipped???

5/22/2021 6:50:55 PM

Jericho Vermont

I was wondering the same thing Jake. I am not on Facebook so have no idea what is out there? Seems like not as many diaries either but I do believe there are a lot of people growing still. I miss seeing diary entries from all caliber of growers!!!

5/22/2021 7:38:52 PM

Westmoreland, KS

I am on Facebook and there is a ton of activity

5/22/2021 7:56:39 PM

Ironton, ohio

No Facebook here either, really enjoying all the utubers, but would love for this site to remain everyone's go to source for everything giant pumpkin related.

5/22/2021 8:13:06 PM

Ironton, ohio

Sorry Jake, 1612 was pulled in favor of a 1552 Young. However, ive got big hopes for my 1990 next season!

5/22/2021 8:15:35 PM

Syracuse, NY

My assumption is always that at the MOMENT, anyone is actually planting out, like myself and is just not seeing any huge problems that are associated with plant growth YET, but will soon come along with those of cuke beetles, broken vines, misdirected plants and flagging, aborts and eventually splits, vine pattern queries and fungus/foaming stumps and their associated questions/discussions. Indeed agreed, it is sparse in the activity on here presently! Oh, and I forgot - the eventual diary entries of daily OTT increases! And Jake posts twice, to drum up some action...now, THAT's progress, lol---later---eg

5/22/2021 8:17:23 PM

Grittyville, WA

I don't know how anyone has time for multiple social medias. I keep up on reading the bp diaries but thats it.

5/22/2021 8:57:27 PM

I think it has been trending to other social media for several years now. Do not want to use facebook or post videos.

5/22/2021 9:18:02 PM

Georgia

I am at the point where I am no longer clicking youtube posts in diaries. I found it interesting when a couple of "notable" growers where doing it, but now it seems to be a forest of noise.

5/22/2021 9:57:55 PM

Salem Ohio

Jake, you inspired me, next week I'm gonna figure out how to and begin a diary for the first time. I love reading all the diaries, but have no real excuse for not sharing mine. Fair warning I had a real ruff start and I did about everything wrong you can do, so the first posts may make you cringe a little. But plants have pulled through, despite my greatest attempts to destroy them.

5/22/2021 10:03:23 PM

Westmoreland, KS

That’s awesome mcmillin can’t wait to see your setup good or bad it’s all fun

5/22/2021 10:23:27 PM

Westmoreland, KS

No problem dalton you’ve got to go with what you think is best it’s your plants

5/22/2021 10:24:03 PM

Diamond, Ohio

No Facebook here either. I do enjoy some of the YouTube videos

5/22/2021 11:03:58 PM

On a cliff in the desert

I am just tired of the swamp on this site so I am posting elsewhere. When the Non Pumpkin message board is permanently removed, maybe people will come back.

5/22/2021 11:08:00 PM

Bethlehem CT

I am not on facebook either,If you are a melon grower, it's even worse not to have a facebook account because just about everything is happening on facebook these days. I love this site and think Ken does a great job, with very little credit. Wile coyote, Why not just stay off the Non pumpkin related board?

5/23/2021 9:48:49 AM

Syracuse, NY

Indeed, I try not to even glance at that 'board' either - i don't even think it should EXIST; If anyone wants to complain about politics, crime and/or COVID vaccination policies it should be on another website entirely, that is geared toward anger and arguing, not friendly, wondrous pumpkins and such. Only problem THEN is that that riffraff would surface in General Discussion, as it does anyway at some point, lol. A TV has many channels, and I've removed the ones I despise - but, it's all still out there...to be tuned-into by accident, its evil plan.

If it helps, McMillin, go here and fill in the blanks,
knowing that the main things to consider are that the orientation of your pictures may be wrong if from a smart phone (mine have always been correct from my desktop), you cannot undo a post once you've sent it (maybe?) and it takes usually at least a DAY for it to show up on the 'site for you.
Plus, you COULD show us only from when yer plants was doin' just dandy, and look like a Pumpkin Pro from the start?
Just sayin' lol---later---eg

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/bpweb/MobileDiaryAdd.aspx

5/23/2021 10:23:15 AM

South Dakota

I recently went to facebook because watermelon journals are basically nonexistent here. I still try to do a weekly update here. This site, like all others, is steeped in drama and that is a negative aspect. There are members here who think they are everyone's dad and can't keep their comments to themselves and that is a negative aspect.
I will never abandon this site and have been a paid premium member since I found it. Reality is that other platforms offer more/better experiences. Not that it is wrong, but this site is about as basic as it gets, and I get it and love the simplicity. Ken does an awesome job.

See how I have learned to try to cover all the bases to try to avoid an onslaught of flames and drama when you speak of anything negative about the site? Everybody and everything has some negative aspects, it's not good or bad, it just is.

5/23/2021 10:39:44 AM

Salem Ohio

Pumpkinpal, I added five or six pictures from last season as a test run. They are not showing up yet. I paid for the premium membership in April, it said you could post diary entries and photos without a delay? I’ll give it a day and see if they show up like you said. Also I won’t know about the photo orientation till I see one posted. Hopefully they are right side up. I’ll take your advice and skip some of the early season disasters I caused, but there’s still some leaves issues I can’t hide :(

5/23/2021 12:59:17 PM

Lakewood, WA

My heart still hurts from the stuff that went down in the Non-Pumpkin Related Board, and I sincerely apologize to everyone for how my own behavior contributed to the problem. Hopefully I will "get over it" at some point so that I can get back to making positive contributions to the growing community. Thank you Ken D. for all of your time and effort in providing us this site. Yes, it is "retro" but I actually like it like that.

Facebook and other social media outlets contain so much TMI that I just can't deal, lol!

I'm glad you're here McMillin and hopefully this site will offer up positive experiences to help build your growing skills! Go McMillin Go!

5/23/2021 1:57:52 PM

Georgia

Life is better by blocking certain people on this forum. I have blocked three people (trolls) and it has turned around my experience. SG just block a couple of people and see what happens.

5/23/2021 2:19:36 PM

@ Mcmillan Giants How are you trying to load your pictures (windows 10 etc.) Are they under 4 megabytes?(closer to 4 the longer it takes. Are you getting a message saying that it was successfully completed and asking if you want to submit another which requires in my case to sign in for each picture.

5/23/2021 2:30:28 PM

Salem Ohio

Spudder, It said because I added or included a picture to the post that it would have to be reviewed before it posts. I used my Iphone and clicked on the link at the top right corner that says (submit to you own diary NEW). Is it because It's the first time I have had a diary possibly? Size of pictures, I'm not sure about, whatever quality Iphone takes. Yes I received that message that it was successfully submitted and would you like to submit another, along with the message because you submitted a picture it will need to be reviewed before it posts. It must just take a while. It's only been 3 to 4 hours since I posted it. I'll just be patient.

5/23/2021 2:55:09 PM

Westmoreland, KS

I have no idea what went on with the non pumpkin board I went there once or twice and it was trash never went back I guess that’s just because I don’t care what most people’s opinions are when it comes to non pumpkin related stuff!

5/23/2021 3:26:06 PM

Westmoreland, KS

Mcmillin email ken and let him know you paid your premium dues to Ken AT bigpumpkins.com.

5/23/2021 3:27:08 PM

Wixom MI.

This is a good post here. I have noticed over the past 5 years how the excitement of congratulations of a new Personal best or state records have fallen off considerably over the years in the pumpkin form and watermelon form. In 2015 the watermelon form seemed full of excitement with the top growers discussing all of thier new ideas and growing techniques. Now you can hardly get anyone to respond to a post. Im not sure if people just get burned out or if its something else. Again you don't see the excitement in the pumpkin form either of sharing new ideas and growing techniques !!! Im now starting to see it in the tomato form. I don't know if people are getting burned out or something else.

5/23/2021 3:41:09 PM

Wixom MI.

This is a good post here. I have noticed over the past 5 years how the excitement of congratulations of a new Personal best or state records have fallen off considerably over the years in the pumpkin form and watermelon form. In 2015 the watermelon form seemed full of excitement with the top growers discussing all of thier new ideas and growing techniques. Now you can hardly get anyone to respond to a post. Im not sure if people just get burned out or if its something else. Again you don't see the excitement in the pumpkin form either of sharing new ideas and growing techniques !!! Im now starting to see it in the tomato form. I don't know if people are getting burned out or something else.

5/23/2021 3:41:20 PM

Westmoreland, KS

I don’t think the excitement is gone. I actually think it is growing I just think peoples preferred way of sharing is changing

5/23/2021 3:54:06 PM

Syracuse, NY

And even a discussion ABOUT social media/Non-Pumpkin-Related is pretty vibrant (well, at xth through nth glance, lol);

Also, anyone know why double, identical posts show up in general as well, as above. Jake and Wix, might it be that you have the same phones, or maybe a longer wait is needed between 'sending' a post and seeing its arrival?
Just curious, and a non-issue, but perhaps a technical issue---eg

Good Luck, McMillin!

5/23/2021 4:43:29 PM

Salem Ohio

It worked their starting to post, And the photos are right side up :)

5/23/2021 4:47:17 PM

Westmoreland, KS

You are correct pumpkinpal it is a phone thing with the double posts I hit post and it didn’t send immediately so I got the button again because you know waiting 2 seconds is just ridiculous

5/23/2021 4:48:07 PM

Syracuse, NY

YAY! and LOL!

quickest happy day ever - ha ha ha ---eg

5/23/2021 4:49:07 PM

Plymouth, MN

Facebook is good for casual pumpkin chat and instant feedback from other growers (for better or worse). Even if use is falling off a bit, the diary are always a great resource for comparing growth across years. And for all the limitations of the site search, it's better than Facebook where information is just lost to history. Lord only knows how often the same questions get asked over and over again.

5/23/2021 6:51:23 PM

Team Canuckle Heads

Was the "non pumpkin" forum started to keep all the politics off the other sites? You don't have to read it.

5/23/2021 8:04:33 PM

Bloomfield, Iowa

Well if the rain would stop I "might" be able to till in a couple weeks. This is crazy. Running out of time.

5/24/2021 11:27:24 AM

Westmoreland, KS

I hear ya Dave no sun here going on 2 weeks this is the second May in a row that we've had like this...last year turned out okay so maybe this year will too!

5/24/2021 11:49:39 AM

Watlington, UK

As long as the diaries are such that you can't edit diary entries, you can't post pictures, you can't change orientation of pictures, you can't add comments, you can't embed videos etc etc - then all growers, especially newcomers and youngsters, will continue go to the likes of Facebook and never come back. If that's what you want, great! Cos that's what you've got :)

5/24/2021 6:13:15 PM

Georgia

That sounded a little harsh Gerald. This is a hobbyist produced site. I am assuming that you are a paying member otherwise you are really being harsh.

5/24/2021 7:08:29 PM

Colorado

I hope not.Facebook is fine for look at me and my perfect life or great bussiness.Bp is a site about giant vegetable growing.Its never gonna have the resources that the big social media sites have.Its a great resource for our hobby and it is what it is.And what it isnt is facebook,twitter instagram.Also facebook is a good format to advertise growers clubs.

5/24/2021 7:34:39 PM

Grittyville, WA

If Netflix ever does a pumpkin growing show then we'll have an avalanche of new excitement... A reality tv series is the way to do this sport justice. We need the alpha personalities and the conflicts. This is supposed to be competitive. This isnt really meant to go the route of happy favebook domestication... roll over & someone scratches your belly.
What we need is to embrace the conflicts & the competition. Just my opinion.

5/24/2021 8:08:23 PM

Western NY

Gritty, There is enough fake conflict BS on social media and I am glad that this site isn't following suit.

5/24/2021 8:27:57 PM

Bethlehem CT

Wixom, Interesting comments. I agree, things are changing. I think we have just been through one of the greatest times of sharing and helping others to grow big pumpkins. I still think people are generous with their information but definitely there is a lot of burn out too.
I would have loved to grow competition giant pumpkins in the 80's and 90's but I never would have had access to the seeds or growing information that was shared by the people on this site. In what other competition do growers help out there competitors like they do in this hobby?

5/24/2021 8:59:07 PM

Watlington, UK

@Orange U. Glad yes I'm a paying member. Not trying to cause offence, just pointing out the reality of the situation. IMO the site could do with some basic improvements, but I know nobody agrees, we've been through this before.

5/25/2021 3:57:16 AM

Lakewood, WA

Excessive conflict has mainly served to burn good people out and drive them off. It becomes tiresome after a while.

5/25/2021 11:53:43 AM

Lakewood, WA

My cat Henry wants to say hello. Have a great day!

5/25/2021 12:24:25 PM