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Rhode Island

over the years i have seen hundreds of new growers come and go on this site.

many arrive with a bang, dominating the boards only to vanish within a season like a fart in the wind.

some come in, ask very thoughfull questions, getting better and bigger pumpkins every season.

others are content just to grow a pumpkin (or so they say but, once they get a wiff of success ? they are hooked as well)

many want to collect every seed available while others are content to collect just what they want to plant.

its all part of the growing process for every new grower. i can not promise you a world record pumplkin if you stick with it ? but i can promise you this.
if you strive to do the right things, like getting your soil balanced, learning how to control diseases,learning what the soil and sun are all about,learning how to grow, getting alligned with a good grower in your area,etc?, you will forever remember how exciting the season can be from july 20th threw sept 30th each and every year.

oh by the way. you will meet and make some of the best friends you could ever want to make as well. bad people dont spend there time growing giant pumpkins.

pap

12/16/2009 9:48:04 AM

Glosta

Pap I don't think this post could have been worded any better.

I hope to be around for many years.

12/16/2009 10:37:58 AM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

As long as there is a weighoff in Anamosa and I am able I will keep on growing.

12/16/2009 10:45:24 AM

Hamilton Nj

you cant get rid of pepperoni pete aka- pizza pete !!!
im hear for good!!lol!!!!

12/16/2009 11:34:16 AM

Dover, DE

im in this for good . . . .
this is my hobby
"your not growing sald, your growing fruit"

12/16/2009 1:10:53 PM

Murfreesboro, TN, USA

for me, growing is not just seeing how large a pumpkin I can get, but to gain a even better understanding how to take something from a seed to fruit. I have learned so much in the past couple of years, and still have a lot more to learn. I hope to grow that monster, and one day I will. I just love how the hobby has brought together my family. My brothers and I talk all the time about the pumpkins, what we learn, and the latest and greatest seeds that are being auctioned. It is just good ole fun!

12/16/2009 1:30:08 PM

Minnesota

It's quality time for my self, emjoyable for me.

12/16/2009 2:24:20 PM

Cedar Lake, IN.

I might be a fart in the wind then again maybe not. When the fun is gone so am I. Let's see how long this ride is going to last.

12/16/2009 4:56:50 PM

Adams County

Pap, dont know how long i will grow giants, not dead yet..LOL... just trying to get better every year. Got some nice seeds to plant next year, and hope to make some nice crosses. And hoping one of them is the 1450 Wallace. Any way Merry X-Mas, and happy New Year, Bill

12/18/2009 4:13:53 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

LOL Pap...."....only to vanish like a fart in the wind".

GOD...I love ya' Pap!

Sad but true. A handful actually catch the rabbit too soon. Others burn out just trying to get seeds. A few have left in disgrace while their ex counted the eBay bucks. Others get deep into trading/collecting seeds but never grow a thing. Some lurk quietly, learn much, slam the scales but never give back to these forums.

It takes all kinds...

Still others make us all proud.

If these walls could only talk....LOL

12/18/2009 7:28:11 PM

Ohio

you will get better every year,

I get a big kick out of reading the older diaries from when a grower first started growing till now. Take a look all the way back in the old diaries and look how far some of the great growers have come in the last 5 or 6 years when they first started growing. It will amaze you how they started out, and thats just like everyone else basically, they knew nothing more or less, but they learned the ropes and now look at them. ''HH's''

12/18/2009 7:49:32 PM

Ohio

Steve, Pap,, I remember back in the day when the new growers on this site used to post all the time, but once they hit that HH status you never hear from them hardly at all if any anymore, wonder why that is? I have always wondered about that myself.

But then again there is the guys who have always stuck with this site to help new growers out like Pap, Steve, and many others.

But this has been something I always wondered about. Why they stop posting after they hit the big leagues?,,lol

12/18/2009 7:56:38 PM

43.841677 , -79.086692

I have to say, I am one of those that picks something up and arrives with a bang. 2010 will be my first real season and I must say I have been sucked into the vortex bad. I have spent a fortune on preparing a site and buying all the "tools" of the trade.
Not only I am very fortunate to have a great mentor (BK8) that i talk too almost daily but I have a whole club of mentors @ the Gvgo that are very supportive. I am a sponge and spend at least an hour per day on average reasearching online.
My other love/hobby, woodworking is something I took up 15 years ago and I have been doing it ever since. I doubt that growing will be any different for me.
I have learned a ton this year but one thing I have been dying to know is where did the name "Pap" come from?

Cheers from Pickering (15 miles from downtown Toronto)

Chris

12/18/2009 8:53:37 PM

Bloomington, IN

I see myself being here for a while. I had fun growing this year despite some rookie mistakes.

12/18/2009 9:50:59 PM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

5 years ago I was at our state fair and saw the giant pumpkins on display. I said to myself "I want to grow one of those". Then I found this website and the rest is history. I never had any idea such an awesome hobby with so many awesome people existed!

12/22/2009 12:08:01 AM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

5 years ago I was at our state fair and saw the giant pumpkins on display. I said to myself "I want to grow one of those". Then I found this website and the rest is history. I never had any idea such an awesome hobby with so many awesome people existed!

12/22/2009 12:08:01 AM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

Dang...didn't mean to hit the button twice!

12/22/2009 12:08:27 AM

Akron,N.Y.

I read these posts everyday and learn much from them,so thanks evryone very much! I hope to keep growing and have some seed that is worthy to share.That is one thing that was very surprising to me when I first started reading these posts,that is,alot of folks seemed very happy to share their seed.This years goal is to reach 300 lbs.of pumpkin so that my neighbors son and I can take it to a weigh off.I'll start with that and see how it goes .
Thanks everyone!
Gene

12/27/2009 1:24:48 PM

Cduross1@rochester.rr.com

Hey Pap, been around a few years and the personal best is still last years 938.5 and still very proud of this year all things considered. It's been a tough year in more ways than one, and without going into alot of details, I can whole heartedly agree that on this site are some of the best people you'll ever want to meet.

12/28/2009 1:29:10 PM

Rhode Island

christine knows what a lot of us have come to realize. not every race can be won. not every test can we pass and not every season will be a memorable one.
ya do it for the fun,the excitment, and the challange.
the quest for something special keeps us returning to the hobby year after year.
if your in it to just grow a pumpkin you can do that with any seeds and in any type soil.

12/28/2009 8:56:39 PM

South Hero, VT

I started growing Giants 2 years ago and grew my first fruit to maturity this year, a nice-looking 400 pounder, in spite of a lot of problems. I made a lot of mistakes I won't make again. I volunteered for a few days last August at the Champlain Valley Exposition manning the Vermont Giant Vegetable Growers booth, explaining the basics, and I plan to return again this year, spending most of a week there spreading the word of the Great Pumpkin. With help from fellow growers, I look forward to growing a truly large fruit this year. At 63, I hope to grow for many more years. Best wishes to all for a good 2010.

1/1/2010 7:31:53 PM

Turbotville PA

This site used to be a very important partof my life.I did leave. I was so depressed that I literally couldn't grow A pumpkin at all that I just shut down, on the pumpkins, but much more importantly,my friends. Pumpkins live for a very short time,friends should be forever. I lost sight for a while due to inability to grow, health problems and a new relationship. Pumpkins have never left my mind,neither have my friends. Its a new year and I want to do better with all of the above.

1/22/2010 5:24:24 PM

Middle TN

I was definately one of these...

"content just to grow a pumpkin (or so they say but, once they get a wiff of success ? they are hooked as well)"

...last year all I wanted was to grow a pumpkin. However seeing all those big beauties at the Nancy, KY weigh in sure did make my eyes shine!! This year all I want is a BIG pumpkin! haha

2/6/2010 3:46:07 PM