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Illinois

Hi all, after this great year I can't wait until next year. I've been gardening for about 10 years growing the usual vegies. I started growing pumpkins two years ago. Last year the dreaded squash vine borer got me. This year I thwarted them and grew 34 pumpkins. Twenty were pie pumpkins, I froze 6 bags of pie filling. Fourteen were Big Max, 2 were around 110lbs, a few were around 75 or so.
I gave pumpkins away to my family who couldn't contain their glee and raved over my two big pumpkins.
I got on the net and searched for giant pumpkins and got the fever! I want to grow a big pumpkin.
Where do I go from here? I'm going to order How to grow a Giant pumpkin III.
Where do I go from here? My goal is to grow a 500+.

Thanks

10/12/2004 12:27:12 AM

Illinois

The darn subject line ran out on me! LOL I wanted to say, I can't wait until next year to hopefully grow a giant pumpkin.

10/12/2004 12:29:55 AM

In the shade - PDX, OR

Welcome Brad.

The off season is here and you have found the mother load of giant pumpkin growing info.
Start with the basics - pick topics like soil building, vine training, etc & check the boards. Do a site search -many have asked the same questions. (upper right hand coner of the page) Check out the diary section & check out some of the past years efforts. There is a great deal of info in there. Get the Langevin book(s). Search for the nearest club & join. You gotta get some seed too!

10/12/2004 2:08:00 AM

Mill Creek West by god Virginia

hey brad email me and we shall be able to get ya some good seeds,all for the price of a bubble pack!welcome to are insanity!!!!!!!lol burrhead

10/12/2004 3:02:23 AM

Follansbee, Wv

I am also just getting started with giant pumpkins. I'll pass on a few tips I have already learned. They may not make sense right now, but they will soon enough:
1. Start stealing the neighbors leaves
2. Go to BigPumpkins.com
3. Till up half the yard
4. Go to BigPumpkins.com
5. Buy new garbage cans, DON'T confiscate the wifes.
6. Be ready to get some funny looks.
7. Go to BigPumpkins.com
8. Drink enormous amounts of coffee.
9. SVB's, and PM are bad, OM and CEC are good
10. Go to BigPumpkins.com

I have been gardening for years, but I ain't never seen anything like this!

10/12/2004 12:25:23 PM

Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

Welcome Brad,
I was in your spot this spring. I got interested in giving giant pumpkins a try around April.
You're starting to get info. this fall, so that's more time to learn.
I set my goal at 400 lbs., and ended up with a 615 lb. pumpkin. I didn't do a lot of soil prep.(I hope to do better for next year), and followed info. from Don Langevin's books(vols. 2 and 3)., as well as asked questions here. If you concentrate on the basic steps and advice, 500 lbs. (and maybe significantly more) should be attainable. You've set reasonable goal.
There are a lot of helpful, generous, and knowledgeable people here at BP.com. Feel free to ask questions.

Regards,
Doug

10/12/2004 6:35:52 PM

Central Connecticut

Hey Brad...It's great fun to watch those big boys grow...you can sit in the patch and watch the pumpkin grow or if your luck hear it grow (so says Tremor)...If you (or anybody else) need some seeds I can also send you some from my 600# (978.6 berard x 1048.6 companion) nice color genetics...just drop me an email and I'll reply with my address for you to send a SAPB to....please put "seeds" in the subject line so it doesn't get lost in the junk mail...Chris

10/12/2004 11:03:22 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Welcome Brad.

Start with a soil test & post the results on the "Soil" board. AG's have a voracious appetite for Calcium & Potash especially. The sooner you know your soils status, the sooner you can modify to optimize.

And for the record, the fruit I "heard" growing went down to a split a few weeks later. So maybe the nosiey ones aren't in every growers best interest.

10/13/2004 6:33:40 AM

No Place Special

Brad, what part of Illinois do you live in? I live just outside the Quad Cities (Davenport) Iowa side. Mike

10/13/2004 8:47:15 AM

Ontario, Canada.

Brad, You have all winter to learn here at BP.com.
Good Luck.

Russ Landry

10/13/2004 5:32:14 PM

Ontario, Canada.

MontyJ, You are following the program well.

10/13/2004 5:34:25 PM

Rockford,il

Brad, you might be better off buying "How-To-Grow World Class Giant Pumpkins" volume 2 before getting volume 3.Third edition is kind of an advanced edition to the second one and kind of assumes you have volume 2.Good Luck and remember that this is addicting,so theres still time to just say no.Of course, none of us were that smart, so welcome to the club.Also,I am from Rockford what part of Illinois are you from?

10/13/2004 7:55:37 PM

Follansbee, Wv

"MontyJ, You are following the program well."
- kahuna3

Thank you. :)


"Good Luck and remember that this is addicting,so theres still time to just say no.Of course, none of us were that smart"
-out of my gourd

Too late! He already e-mailed me for an explanation of my newbie tips! Ohhh Boyy!

10/14/2004 12:50:01 AM

Sage, Arkansas

I am with Brad, me and my 4 kids started growing pumkings last year and would love to take a big one to the County and District fair. They won best of show with there Carolina Cross watermelons. Where can we get some good seeds? This forum is great! I live in Arkansas....anyone had any luck growing a big one in Northern Arkansas?

10/27/2004 1:07:25 PM

Hayes, Virginia

And what monty forgot to tell you
go to bigpumkins .com lol..
Monty find a local coffee shop you can get all the coffee grids you need and you will be able to get some sleep...
Brad this year was my first got 572!!! you can do it plenty of info in here.
good soil
good good soil...

10/27/2004 3:43:09 PM