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addison Il

my passion for giants grew from a newspaper article I read in the local news paper last yr and thats all it took I was hooked. I ordered seeds that I now know to be mutts not genitic background and my fear is getting worse each day that I am doing something wrong please help.
I planted on april 15 way to early fist mistake but my plants all did well and are happily in there home growing each day a little more and with me being so proud until today I went to finally meet a local grower whome I just met and guess what his babies planted way after mine are alot bigger not in growth but in size his leaves make mine look like dwarfs and after seeing all his plants I left with a sick feeling in my stomach mabye I dont have giants at all in my patch or mabye I am doing something wrong why are his plants much larger in girth and leave size mine are growin well and healthy but I am worried and every pic I see in the diaries makes me sadder still my babies are growing fast and furious but will they ever be able to give me the giant IM hoping for my goal for my first yr is 100pds please if anyone can tell me anything I might not know it would help me greatly i love this hobby and my plants but cant get past the feeling that there is something lacking in my plants so small but so strong
any advice is welcome
socurvy

5/18/2005 10:00:33 PM

Puyallup, WA

Since we do not know the genetic background of your plants, we have no idea as to how big they might grow. As a rule, seeds purchased from the store even though they are called "Atlantic Giant Pumpkin Seeds" usually will not grow anything larger than 200 pounds even in the best of soils. Also, we have no idea of the condition and fertility of your soil. That makes a huge difference as to how big the plant will grow. Bottom line...we are clueless to your situation!

5/18/2005 11:53:05 PM

Syracuse, NY

my advice would be to grow them just like you see some of these guys do in their diaries and have only ONE fruit
on the plants from September 1st-on.that's just a guess
and others will have a better protocol for you to follow perhaps, but to maximize pumpkin growth you cannot have
too many fruit on the plant. never never more than two, and the smaller one is just a "shock absorber" for the larger fruit. stay tuned you'll get answers.
and, cheer up! tracy baby. lol. :):):):) ha ha ha EG

5/19/2005 12:15:08 AM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

It's still early enough to start some good seeds and still produce a nice size pumpkin. Maybe the local grower could give you some seeds or maybe even a seedling they don't have room for. I'd send you some, but by the time they crossed the border it would be getting late. If not, there's always next year. Good luck.

Phil

5/19/2005 6:37:18 AM

New Hampshire

I agree with copper, talk to some local growers. I did the same as you bought generic seeds. I thought they were the real deal. I was contacted by a couple of heavy hitters in my area and now have 2 top of the line plants. I have also received several packet of seeds from growers around the country. The seeds I was sent are wonderful. Almost makes me wish it was next year....LOL. The people in this sport want everyone to grow big and have fun. Read everything you can find on growing these giants and make a list of questions, then go visit that local grower again. And get a copy of Langevins book

5/19/2005 8:05:05 AM

addison Il

thanks all I did get the book growing giants 2 lol and although my plants may or may not be big there still my plants I have raised them and would not think to replace them everyone learns from there mistakes and everyone has trials there first yr no ones perfect and so I will grow my plants and if they turn out not to be ags then so be it I have the addiction all ready and nothing will suppress it its peaple like you with genorous offers and kind words that make the difference in growing and next yr I will be out in search of seeds with parentages. As for my plants now I have no wish to cull them now as sad as this may seem they have names already and I am and will be forever a pumpkin lover wheather or not ags my year will be good becuase I am growing something lol and at the end of the yr I will post my results and mabye just mabye some newbie next yr will read my message and not make the same mistake as me to all who have offered advice I wish you guys the best of luck and grow them big thanks so much and watch out for curvy1 next yr lol

5/19/2005 3:10:22 PM

Halifax, Nova Scotia

I grew generic AGs last year. I did a lot of stupid things, but got a 44 pounder out of my efforts. I'm glad I didn't waste good seeds with my attempt last year, and I think I learned enough to do justice to decent seeds this year. You can learn as much growing a small one as you can growing a big one.

5/19/2005 3:18:20 PM

Taber, Alberta

I used store bought seeds my first year and learned so much. I made stupid mistakes and ended up with 141 pounds (check out my 2003 diary and have a bit of a laugh). I re-read Don Langevin's books, did a lot of reading on this website, and tried to fix my mistakes. Last year I planted some good seeds and manage to pull off 716 lbs. Sometimes it takes a year of experience to find out how to do this. I loved my first year growing and had a lot of fun doing it. I left the weigh off where I had driven for 6 hours a little disappointed, but in my head I was figuring all the things I would do differently.
Don't get discouraged. Keep learning and asking questions. If you want some seeds for next year, send me an e-mail, I'd be happy to help. If you want some info on stupid things not to do, e-mail me as well. Also, try to get a diary going (If you have, and I'm just blind, just ignore me). It helps to record what you have done and can let others help you a bit. Plus, it's just fun. Good luck.
Alan

5/19/2005 4:19:55 PM

San Jose garysand@pacbell.net

I grew "giant pumpkins" from Home Depot 8 years ago, and did nothing special,maybe mirracle grow once in a while and got a couple about 120 lbs each, look at my diary for this year. This is my first year with any knowledge at all ( I drown my first set of seeds), but got some more from Brunst& Huffer, only time will tell what happens

Good luck you everyone

Gary

5/19/2005 8:35:09 PM