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Kenyon, Mn.

I have only been a member here for three days and I just want to say that I have never met a friendlier bunch of folks, I have tried in the years past to grow a giant; however, my best is 375 pounds. This fall a man from here in Minnesota, not a thirty minute drive from here, weighed in a 1047 pounder and I have renewed hope! Any advice will be warmly welcomed, feel free to email me with any suggestions you good people might be able to offer. Phil

10/26/2003 9:33:04 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Welcome aboard Phil. Just tune in regularly. Begin patch preperation now for next year. Start with a complete soil test. Here on this website it's not hard to find answers. Growers diaries are very helpful.

Watch Boiley in Australia for sure. Their summer is just getting underway. And Boiley Ben Boyton & the other Down Under Growers will keep us going over the long winter months.

Don't forget to put Don Langevin's books (there are 3, you'd like them all) on your Christmas/Holiday wish list.

Good folks here!

Steve

10/27/2003 7:59:27 AM

Kenyon, Mn.

Thanks Steve for the response and the info! Soil test is at extension office now, I do know that the PH is at 6.5, Good or Bad? Are the books you mentioned available on this site? I will look into it this weekend, And I will look to the Aussies for relief from cabin fever!
Phil

10/27/2003 9:32:17 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Phil get out now while you still can..lol... Where in MN do you live. We live in West Central Wisconsin.. Shannon

10/27/2003 6:45:01 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Too late Shannon. If he is here he's hooked. Good luck to ya Phil

10/27/2003 6:51:20 PM

Tipp City, Ohio

Ph of 6.5 is not bad, but try to get it closer to 7.0.

Like Steve said get Don Langevin's books. They are like the bible for Giant pumpkin growing. Ask questions! There are many nice people on here that will help you on your way to go beyond 375 lbs....Tom

10/27/2003 8:14:50 PM

Kenyon, Mn.

Thanks for the warning Shannon, but I'm afraid Kahuna is right! I have met enough growers at the local level to know that this is a terrible addiction!LOL I live in south central Mn. near Kenyon.Tom thanks for the tip, what amendment do you recommend?

10/28/2003 8:05:25 AM

Ontario, Canada.

Welcome to the club Mr. Bumpy. Rest as soon as you finish your fall prep. Here are some winter steps to take. Build greenhouses for use in the spring. Plan for your summer watering system. Try to get some good seeds. Join the AGCC. Build up your base of contacts,local growers and suppliers. Develop internet support using emails. Don't get discouraged it's normal if some of your friends think you've gone off the edge a little. Just look back at them and ask them, "Did they find you". When they say "who" you say "the squirrels they think your nuts".

10/28/2003 6:18:04 PM

Kenyon, Mn.

Kahuna, thanks for the tips, I went into a fit after reading of the fellow here in Minnesota's success, he is a member of the Minnesota Giant Pumpkin Growers, as am I.I have greenhouse frames already, actually they are enclosures that I use for mechanical isolation of my heirloom varieties of vegetables, but fit the bill to tool into greenhouse structures. In the past, as this fall I have excavated aprox. 31/2 ft. into the earth and filled the resulting crater with cow manure,compost and one other "secret" ingredient!lol I insert a 2" pvc pipe with perforations in this pit and bury it with the end above the surface. I have a soaker hose system that has a main manifold and 6 lines that extend off of it. At the afore mentioned pvc, I hook into the soaker hose and also have a small diameter line that is fed into the pvc water tube.Am I working too hard?On the right track? Actually I have tried everything short of Voodoo, I will seek the seed I need! Phil

10/29/2003 8:14:39 AM

Montoursville, PA

The mother load in pit must be fall added to avoid possible problems with decomposition. Anything you do is OK within reason when done in the fall.

I prefer the four or more inchs of manure over all but the pit method is still around and working fine for some. I'm lazy I guess....and getting to freaking old to work like that. :)

You may see in my diary that I tried the pit again last year. Since I hire help for the heavy duty work it would have had to show me a great improved grow. It did not so I shall not do the pit in the future.

10/29/2003 9:09:58 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Welcome aboard! Sounds like you already got it bad!! Great bunch of people here always happy to help and give ya insight on the "quest"...manure....soil prep is your first concern get your readings manure and find out where you stand manure and see what recommendations they give you manure to fix it all up to snuff manure....oh I'm sure if yo haven't heard it yet to get a good supply of manure!!!
chuck

10/30/2003 7:14:03 AM