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Deer Park, WI

Hello giant pumpkin enthusiasts-

Each winter I medicate the winter chasm by embarking on a research project and/or writing project. My goal is to create information we can utilize to raise the collective bar.

Thought i'd try crowd sourcing some ideas for inspiration. Are there questions out there that have practical, testable potential answers? emphasis on practical and testable.

Likewise, is there a resource/guide you wish was written to help overcome a major hurdle or factor in the pursuit of giants?

I'm flirting with the idea of writing a "Managing Giant Pumpkin Root Diseases" guide that covers the major bugs and primary intervention strategies to overcome/avoid them. Having battled root disease for over a decade and finally emerging from the fog with official pumpkins on the scales, perhaps my story and insights can help others do the same.

In summary, I'm giving the grower community the opportunity to shape my winter ambitions. so please fire away with your suggestions.

Stay warm!

11/7/2019 10:51:50 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Joe, #1 on my list is YVD. I was fortunate not to get it this year and get some pumpkins on the scale. I see more and more accomplished growers reach the same conclusion I did once they finally get it in their patch: there is no way that the squash bug is the sole vector for this disease. We watched Matt debacco come to this realization just this season in his diary. We need to find the true source of the decline and proper treatments. It’s currently the most devastating and abrupt end to the season for growers that have done everything right. It drives me mad just thinking about it right now.

11/8/2019 7:42:33 AM

North Pole,Alaska

My vote is for root diseases.Your knowledge and experience can hopefully save a lot of growers heartache starting next season. There is currently a LOT of $ being spent on YVD research, due to crop losses. Latest research has no current cure. They've identified over 51 different fungi responsible so far, and no one or two fungicides will protect from them all. There are times when we just need to be patient and let research catch up. Fortunately, this is a high priority item, so a huge amount of resources are being allocated by most major agricultural research entities. Pumpkin root diseases are much better understood and I believe getting your info out to everyone would be a far more effective and rewarding use of your time

11/8/2019 11:17:09 AM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

Any soil borne or root disease is a problem for me. I have had some success digging ditches for better drainage, deep tillage with a fork instead of a tiller, brassica cover crops like rape, radish and mustard, and Agri Fos fungicide. But I still have some problems. Any help would be appreciated.

11/8/2019 5:39:42 PM

Wisconsin

I want to know how to make the pumpkin a stronger sink, currently a properly grown competition plant has enough source to support 4000 lbs probably more, the problem is 1 single pumpkin is not a strong enough sink to achieve that weight. Is it practical and testable? Maybe not so easy, but any insight on improving this I believe is a step in the right direction.

11/9/2019 2:56:58 AM

Colorado

I like beards question.Trying to explain whats going on in fruit development/plant dynamics/physiology relating to the sink hypothesis would help growers to put their efforts into more pounds.

11/9/2019 2:13:51 PM

Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

Joe,
Thanks taking suggestions. I also like the "sink" subject, that Mike brought up.

11/9/2019 2:36:02 PM

valtierra/spain

Joe, I'd like to know how to get heavy pumpkins. I don't think it only influences genetics, I think it's a matter of soil preparation, fertilization, and management. But there is something we surely don't know. It would be interesting to study soil analysis, or foliar, of the heaviest pumpkins of the year.

11/10/2019 1:02:46 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Either topic would be great Joe!

Managing disease in the root system would keep that sink stronger and pushing harder all season?

11/11/2019 5:55:10 AM

Circleville, Ohio, USA

What deficiency in soil elements lead to blossom end splits when our plants get too much rain. Root and vine diseases are also great topics.

11/11/2019 12:18:12 PM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

Managing soil bourne disease is exactly what would interest me. Thank you for your efforts Joze!

11/13/2019 6:08:57 PM

Deer Park, WI

Many great suggestions here, thank you to all who contributed! Many of these topics make great discussion opportunities to offset the winter doldrums as well (since it seems to have made an unwelcome early appearance).

11/14/2019 8:02:32 PM

Williamsport

what cliff warren said

11/15/2019 4:00:39 AM

Partlow,Va

I am always open to hear what you have to say Joe!

I have been rolling around the idea of steaming soil instead of mustard then plastic for solarization. I could adapt a tip on a steam ginny or make a slow release heat system. I would do it in July and already hot here. I have many raised beds for my master gardener entries so I think it could work for them. What do ya'll think? How hot and for what duration would it cleanse the soil?
Thanks

11/15/2019 7:11:09 PM

Midway, UT

YVD, root disease and mosaic disease management would be my vote.

11/16/2019 12:01:39 AM