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Central NY

Can I get refresher on who all are the first timers this year?.. I know Qtip is a NOOB but he's really making it look easy...how's every else doing?

6/23/2016 7:52:55 PM

Elizabeth, PA

Also my first year if you couldn't tell by all the stupid questions I have posted!!! Posted some pics tonight from this past week. Have had a good bit of leaf damage due to Mother Nature that I hadn't prepared for. I get sun from first thing in morning till about an hour before it sets so definitely need to prepare better next year. Also some storm damage but neither plant seems deterred and continue to grow almost beyond my capabilities to maintain them. While I'm on here how many pumpkins should I try to set before I start to try and widdel down to my 2 keepers???

6/23/2016 8:56:13 PM

Walhalla, ND.

I'm a newbi. As they would say in the 82 AIrborne this is my first cherry jump. How's it going, well pretty grueling. I started with 6 plants. 2- 2058 Hawkleys, 1-2002 Hawkley, 1 Eric Shaw ( His year 2014 Damaged), 2- 1227 Flesers. My seed starting went with 0 problems. I practiced all winter germinating. Started them 15 April didn't get them into the patch due to cold freezing weather till 8 May. Continued dealing with cold temps for 3 weeks very slow growth, I finally said f it. I built each plant a 8X10 hoop house. Made up a lot of time doing that. Plants coming along beautiful. Due to 2 of them out growing them and weather getting much warmer I took them all down 13 June. Alls going great. This past Father's Day while I'm gone, high winds came that weren't suppose to hit till Monday. Needless to say it wasn't good. I lost one plant completely. 2 others missing many of the big leaves that just snapped off. Some bent over put on many splints. 2 came out surprisingly ok. But all in all I feel great. I did a practice pollination on one plant that took. Another plant I will pollinate at 12ft another 2 more females are coming,1 at 13 and the other at 15ft. Another plant a female coming at 12 ft which I plan to pollinate when it ready plus another 2 after that. My intentions are to have 3 on each plant, which ever is growing nicest and fastest I will keep cull the other 2. My other 3 plants are around 10 to 12ft. 1 of which I may cull it took the wind storm pretty hard and is having a tough time. If I see some other vines willing to grow off the secondaries I'll try to keep it. Well that's it in a nut shell. I posted some pics of damage in the grower diary after I learned how to post, I should have learned that a long time ago. Any and all suggestions welcome...

6/23/2016 9:57:26 PM

Mn

i prefer to be called FNG over NOOB - please and thank you

6/23/2016 9:59:36 PM

JACKSON, WISCONSIN. ; )

The way my season is going I feel like a rookie... Or a newbie... Good luck all

6/24/2016 8:58:47 AM

Cincinnati,OH

I've seen noobs brake 1000 and it really twists my shorts. lol. :)

6/25/2016 6:06:38 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

sorry qtip...you are still a noob...even though you are kicking my butt..you need to get one to the weighoff....so you can become...syg (second year grower). Anyone have a better abbreviation?

6/25/2016 7:27:11 PM

Norfolk, UK

Last year I had a new plot - but due to timings of access, only got to plant a pumpkin outside on 21 June (in the UK) and then it rained all August. the first pumpkin rotted off and a little side one at the end of the season was 88lb. Not the best start! So this year I'm counting as my first 'full season' at pumpkin growing, when I could actually start seed in April. And by 22 June this year, I've pleased I've got rather more plant! http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=258259

6/26/2016 2:01:31 PM

Central NY

You guys are in good shape...

6/26/2016 4:36:40 PM

Aberdeen

This will be my third year and I still have a lot to learn.

6/26/2016 6:45:55 PM

I am on season three. I have a 1049 Swain from 2015. I pollinated on Tuesday, June 28th with a 251 Chandler 2015 on the main vine. This morning around 5:45am, I pollinated another female on the main with a 504 Chandler. I would like to try to pollinate two more which I see two females further along the main vine. I am waiting for the 1623.5 Wallace to provide some boy power!! I want to have lots of foliage behind my fruit to offer plenty of growing potential. I have been staking the main and secondaries, removing the male blossoms and yesterday, I installed my first sun shade shelter over part of the plant. I have some more pics up for further information. Please, would someone provide some advice on how to choose the best fruit to stick with or is it more of a gamble? Also, should I continue feeding or back down a bit as the fruit develops? I have a good sized converted trash bin with a valve and a hose with weep holes all working on gravity since this is a community garden. I haul water each day w/o rain and follow a feeding schedule. I really appreciate any and all guidance.
thanks

6/30/2016 7:44:16 PM

Central NY

You got this biddy..sounds like your on top of it from your journal ... My advice as a former third year-ER would be don't gunk up the plant... If it looks healthy, stick to the feeding schedule..

6/30/2016 8:45:07 PM

Rhode Island

BiddyGoat, Might want to consider removing the black ground cover fabric. The side vines will be looking to send down roots at leaf nodes. The ground is warm now no need for it. Weed by hand.

6/30/2016 9:27:13 PM

Winthrop N Y

I have been growing for 30 years and I learn new stuff every year . For when you stop learning then you are not trying hurt enough.

7/1/2016 8:51:29 AM

Thanks everyone. I put up a new shade shelter today and can't wait to take new pics tomorrow.

Please advise on which fruit to keep - thanks!!

7/1/2016 10:49:17 PM

aurora, IL

This is my forth year. Last year, I grew two PBs: 504 Chandler 15 1% heavy;(1513 Sherwood x Self)(Rocky) and 438 Chandler 15;(1916 Barron x Self)(Terminator). This year I am growing the 504 Chandler crossed with the 438 Chandler. The kin is at Dap12 at 21"cc and is growing a really nice stem. :)

7/5/2016 1:58:32 PM

Belton

Hi! I'm as new as new can get. I broke a pumpkin last fall for my goats and this spring I noticed vine and sadly today I had to harvest 9 basketball size pumpkins as something happened to vines. I have been bit by pumpkin bug big time. No more dog or goat rescue, no more house renovations I want to grow pumpkins. I am in central Texas and would love a mentor.

7/5/2016 6:39:11 PM

orrville ohio

I'm new. I don't know what to do. lol. I grew a 180ish pound pumpkin from rko couple few years ago. didn't really know what I was doing lol. just did some research n applied what I learned. got my own place now so I figured I would give it another wack. new place new garden n no rko seeds lol. I got a 1583 Suchanek doing very good little bug problem with squash bettles hopefully got it all taken care of though. and a 1506 Gates but he ain't doing as hot but he's bouncing back faster grower then my Suchanek but didn't fill out as nice. next year I'm planing on expanding my garden some more. practice is what has been helping me the most then if I have issues I just come here lol. problem solved. o and I've been watching u tube videos of Mark Clementz helped me out a poop load. lol.

7/9/2016 11:03:32 PM

Karns City PA

Best place to find information is on this site tonnnnns of great people and growers, also have the How to grow world class giant pumpkin books are great too!!

7/10/2016 9:09:51 AM

ARK kjloydbourne@hotmail.com

I am new and want to prepare my garden for the spring, I would also like to see if there are any growers within an hour or 2 hour drive of Russellville Arkansas that would show me there pumpkin patch and give advice on seeds.
thanks

MJ

7/28/2016 11:40:30 AM