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Location

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Date Posted

Vermont Green MTN State

Hey,
How is it going Guys & Gals? This be my 1st year too! I would like to know what size everyone is up to, I don't feel it fair to match my weights to all the experts, so far as of the 21st I am at 50lbs for about 20 days or so. I am so nervous that it will just stop growing!
Thanks Doeski

7/22/2004 11:37:27 AM

Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

My fist pollination was two days ago. It is in between golfball and poolball size.

Doug

7/22/2004 12:01:50 PM

Claysburg , PA

I`ve lost my 75lb pupmkin, but have several in the 50 -60 pound range. This habit is gonna give a heartattack. Hopefully I just get something to take to the weightoff.

7/22/2004 12:44:53 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

My first pollination was yesterday, and it has doubled in size, but I had a flower abort yesterday, and two more about 4 days ago.
I have a few more female that will be ready in a week or so, but a bit late for them, using this season as trial and error.
What are you all using to treat soil, and/or fertilizers?

Tom

7/22/2004 12:44:56 PM

Los Angeles Ca.

hello,
im a first year pumkinleet myself. im doing very well at 24 days and 100lbs. this is a whole new experience the growth is amazing. any size is great, and it does seem to relax me after work to work in the patch. good luck
(crazy)

7/22/2004 1:26:14 PM

Benton Ky

This is my first year to grow AG's, I grew big max and nc giant 2 years earlier. I did not bury vines or cull fruit just let them go. My 339 Little was about 227 lbs yesterday on day 28, OTT was 221" with a 98 1/2 circ. My 307 little and 699 Schroeder are growing a lot faster but were planted later and are not as big yet.I must say I would not believe something could grow this fast if I had not seen it with my own eyes.

7/22/2004 1:47:52 PM

J.maness@yahoo.com

My first fruit pollinated 7/1 is now about 56lbs. Second fruit pollinated 7/5 about 35 lbs! LOTs of smaller fruit! First squash pollinated this morning!

7/22/2004 1:50:18 PM

West Chazy,N.Y.

Yup! I'm a newbee too. I pollinated 1 june 27th and is now at 116 lbs OTT. This week it is just starting to put on the lbs, as it is finaly starting to get up to summer temps.
July 18th it was only 65 lbs and today july 22nd it is now @ 116 lbs. I have been hoping for larger weight gains but the weather has been down in the low 60s at night. Todays temp will hit 90deg. This is the first time in over a year,says the weather man.
The larger this thing growes the more exciting it gets,and the less finger nails I have,everyday my wife asks how much did it grow today! I just hope the plant stays alive until the end of Sept.
Keepem growin everyone!!!!!!
Randytcat

7/22/2004 1:54:22 PM

Vermont Green MTN State

Looks like we share the same feelings about growin' the big one!!! I am so impatient it is hard to stop thinking about it all day, I can't wait to get home and measure what growth has happened in 24 hours!!!
Right now I am using some time-release fertilizer every 2 weeks and foliar spray fish & seaweed once or twice a week. I have some granular 0-0-60 and I have spread some of that around the plants… not too much I have heard horror stories! I have been watering everyday w/ a drip system. Drip systems are great if you don’t have one this year I recommend it for next year! I just went to Walmart & Hardware stores and could get drippers, misters, tubing, & so on. Cheap!
Anyone going to try this Calcium Towel thing??? I have some Calcium on order now.
Best of luck everyone!!!!
Doeski

7/22/2004 3:40:38 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

I'm currently using Neptunes Harvest seaweed and fish, works like a charm, bu I have so much planned for next season, drippers system from dripworksusa.com, getting in contact with local farmers for manure and the best part is that my wife is letting me take half of the back yard for my patch, much smaller then alot of grpwers, but approx. 900 square feet will do fine for my pumpkins!

7/22/2004 3:58:25 PM

ipswich, ma usa

You guys think it's hard now, wait till the end of September when things start cooling off and the count down to the weigh off begins. Then getting it in a truck! Huh, you want to touch your baby with the utmost care, but other "helpers" just don't get it. You will be saying things like "do me a favor please don't hit the stem like that" or "gentle!, gentle" and oh yea, hope the bottom is sound! Then there is ride to the weigh off. Don't want to hit a bump and split the pumpkin that's ridding in the back on pallet. Oh the memories.......It's only just begun.......If your married or have a significant other they have no idea what they are in for, just ask mine!!

Good luck to all....:)

John (5150)

7/22/2004 4:19:57 PM

Massillon, Ohio

"oh the memories" sparked my memory !! it is 10 pm friday night before saturday morning weigh-off...pouring down rain, cold and dark. the truck is stuck in the mud. the pumpkin lifter collapses almost killing girlfriend and mother. planks planks and planks. mud. more mud. fun times !!

7/22/2004 4:27:33 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

kewl!

7/22/2004 4:37:29 PM

Hendersonville, NC

Oh you guys are making me laugh. :-) Sounds like quite the adventure!!!

7/22/2004 5:25:46 PM

red bluff, california, usa

My largest rotted on the vine yesterday (150# at day 30) no idea why, just caved in on itself. my next best is around 100 lb at day 20

7/22/2004 9:29:12 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

sorry to hear that quadguy.

7/22/2004 9:42:27 PM

Murphy North Carolina

well, it is not a pretty site here. my first year also..My first seeds came up on may 17th. They started slow, then the rains hit, and vine growth was good. had my first female at 11 feet, it aborted, then one at 15 feet, aborted again...then 20 feet, aborted again...grrrrrrr. Now I had one 'take' at about 25 feet!! geeeez. Then one took on a secondary. Now I have females all over the place geting reay to open. so, so far just 3 that have taken. So, it is a late one for me.. But, it is all good experience. And, I will have a good seed stock for next year. Why did I start this hobby?? What was I thinking??? But to late for regrets, I am in it now.... And already planning the improvements in the patch for next year!

7/23/2004 10:33:52 AM

Vermont Green MTN State

Spent 2 hours after work in the patch last night. When I got home I was right out there with the tape measure to see what weight was gained weeding pruning, burring vines and so on. Forgot all about supper! I love this hobby; I don’t know how I will make it through the winter without it!!!! Not to mention the exercise, For a chick I am getting quite rugged!
Doeski ;)
PS... My first thrilling day, 12lbs, I know that can be small for some, but I was sooo excited!!!

7/23/2004 2:13:41 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

hahahaah,I know how you feel about winter, I'll be planning my irrigation system, and the layout of my 3 gardens!

7/23/2004 2:41:41 PM

Indiana

Just wait till winter and see some of the discussions/arguments that can go on here on BP.
Steve

7/23/2004 3:43:02 PM

ipswich, ma usa

What do you mean we argue on this site, specially not about politics. Right Steve, Brent and Ben....;)

John (5150)

7/23/2004 3:46:10 PM

Indiana

hehehe
Steve

7/23/2004 5:23:35 PM

Azores,terceira Island

i had three pumpkins growing my 14 lobe split on the blossom end it weighed 103. i have one that got to 120lbs ott is now only growing about an inch a day. my 3rd one is growing ok it its now at about 70lbs ott and growing fast but now the problem is PM. i hope that the e-rase gets here before its to late. it claims that its curitive for PM. but i got alot of experience so far this year and will be better prepared for next year in any case well thats long enough.....ryan

7/23/2004 5:45:24 PM

Hendersonville, NC

ARGH!!! I don't have ANY pumpkins yet. LOL I finally had a female open a couple of days ago, but it was raining. I checked it today and it is rotting from the blossom down. ***sigh*** At this point, I hope I just get one little pumpkin out of my three plants. :-)

7/23/2004 7:07:17 PM

Mt.Pleasant,Iowa

First year here,30 day wieght one at 385 pounds the other at 307 and slowing down , need some heat.

7/24/2004 5:24:38 PM

Hayes, Virginia

Winter is great in here all the trash talking and
Pumpkin seed auctions!!!
almost as fun as growing Pumpkins..
'little D' at 429.lbs
' Big E' at 341.lbs
i guess i should change the names on my pumpkins//

7/24/2004 7:07:34 PM

Vancouver, White Rock, Canada

My first fruit aborted a couple of days ago and is still sitting there looking all lumpified and not growing at all. My second fruit was the size of a softball yesterday, and today it's twice that, so hopefully it will keep going for a couple of months. I'm pollinating more fruit just in case, though.

7/24/2004 7:49:12 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

I'm away on vacation right now (yep, on the internet from hotel, needed my pumpkin fix...lol), and I'm trusting someone to water my babies.......OMG!!!!!!!!!!

7/24/2004 9:54:03 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

My thoughts are with you bohica. I hope your patch sitter is better than mine. I'm on vacation too. AT HOME!!!!

7/24/2004 11:29:31 PM

Wichita, KS

I just got back from 6 days as a youth group camp counselor. I couldn't find anybody to water my VWO Welty plant. When I got back, I returned to a healthy, perky plant with several open pollinated pumpkins set. The largest pumpkin is on a sidevine and looks about 30# (haven't measured it yet). Its at about 7', open pollinated 2.5 weeks ago, and destined to be culled, as the keeper is looking good at 12', self pollinated 1.5 weeks ago, and growing on the main at a nice pace. I'll take a tape measure out there within the next two days.

This is my second year with AGs. I have no intention of comparing my plants to the big guys yet. give me another two years...

7/26/2004 2:28:54 AM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

The weather here (where we are vactioning) is supposed to be bad, so my wife and kids decided that it would be best to return home a day early.......I'll be in my patch by this afternoon!!!!.......lol

7/26/2004 5:45:46 AM

Wv

Not doing too bad here. have one 26th day, 80 lbs, another 15th day 50 lbs. another one smaller. some warmer weather and sun would be nice.

7/27/2004 11:39:50 AM

seacoast of NH

I finnally got 6 good ones started after trying to pollinate myself,(they all roted) I will let Mother Nature do it from now on. But how in heck are you all weighing your pumpkins??? Bathroom scales?

7/27/2004 4:14:15 PM

Massillon, Ohio

LOL... i'm picturing them out there with scales. they measure them and use an estimation chart.

7/27/2004 4:15:18 PM

Eveleth MN

Day 26 for my biggest which was attacked by a squerial yesteday and I hope it holds on long enough to make good seed. It was only 129 OTT this morning for a bout 52# but its picking up the pace. right now I would be VERY happy with only a 200# fruit at the end of the season.

7/28/2004 2:31:54 PM

Denver, Co.

I have one that's 125 OTT for about 50# on the main vine, I'm going to grow 2 fruits per plant. It has 6 smaller ones of various sizes, 2 of them are good crosses in good positions, cantalope size, waiting to see which one wants to go BIG.
My other plant has 1 that's basketball size on the main vine & 1 that's volley ball size on the first side vine + 5 little ones. The smaller 1 seems to be growing much slower than it's big brother. I hope it keeps growing, the vine isn't putting out females like the others, time will tell.

7/28/2004 11:42:43 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

I've had a total of 5 open, only 1 one which I was able to pollinate myself, atleast that many more aborted on me.

7/29/2004 6:39:02 AM