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Usa

I grew pumpkins last year and my grandkids loved them. So did I. I want to grow bigger ones this year and I am looking for seeds. Any one that can help me find seeds or has seeds for SASE, trade, or for sale please let me know. I want the biggest pumkins in Arizona. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

3/1/2003 8:02:36 AM

Stafford, Virginia

I've got some extra seed that I will not have the room to plant. Your pumpkin growing season is probably getting ready to start real quick? My parents live in Tucson and we visit/race bicycles there once or twice each year. If you're interested forward your address (how much room do you have to grow? or how many plants do you think you'll try to grow?). If we get out there with a little extra time - would like to visit your patch. John Guth

3/1/2003 8:14:25 AM

Connecticut, USA

See the Seeds page for some too.

3/1/2003 7:43:51 PM

Usa

Thank you for your responses. I have e-mailed a response and I am getting seeds.
I really appreciate your kindness,
Azkiknchihuahuas

3/1/2003 10:12:50 PM

So. Maine

Your gonna need a misting system in Arizona to cool off those big leaves when it gets HOT HOT HOT this summer. Good luck growing, Al

3/2/2003 12:57:36 AM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

And maybe a shade cloth over all the patch. Grow'em big!
Don

3/2/2003 1:44:07 AM

Usa

I have shade cloth that only lets 20% of the sun in. Would that help? Last year I grew the littler pumpkins around 25 lbs or so. They were in direct sun all summer from May to October. Are the big pumpkins different? I have been reading everything I can find about them. Growing here in Phoenix Arizona is different though.

3/2/2003 3:49:31 AM

In the shade - PDX, OR

Diane - An important thing to remember it that you are trying to grow a giant. These plants are VERY aggressive and require a great deal of space and attention.

Like everyone has said above - an early start, misting system, shade cloth and heat tollerant seed would be ideal for you down there.

You are in the right place - so study hard and learn lots.
If you are serious you'll need to get both of Don Langevin's books. Check out the Amazon.com link @ the BP.com "home" address. "How to grow giant pumpkins 1 & 2".

Cheers,
Ceis

3/2/2003 4:37:54 AM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

azkiknchihuahuas: concerning the shade cloth, you should look for the opposite, one that only lets 20 or 30% the sun out, not in. The kind of cloth you were talking about is good to make a comfortable environment for the plant, but if you want to grow big you need more light.
Don

3/2/2003 11:18:57 AM

Usa

WOW, thank you for your responses.
I will look into the books on amazon.
I already have the misting system.
And I have a BIG yard divided in four by chain link fences.
I will have to check on the shade screens.
I don't know about if the seeds I am getting will be heat tolerant. But, the seeds I get from the pumpkins this year should grow heat tolerant plants next year.
I grew pink banana squash and other vegetables last year and I grew the seeds from the parent plants this year. This years plants are doing much better/bigger than last years.
So it might take me a couple of years and hopefully each year the pumpkin will get bigger.
Thanks again, I appreciate any advice I can get.

3/2/2003 2:45:03 PM

Appalachian Mtns.

704 Garrell is heat tolerant..so I'm told.

3/2/2003 2:55:53 PM

Usa

Thanks Southern

3/2/2003 3:11:21 PM

Usa

I am ordering the Don Langevin books from amazon. They have free shipping on them right now.
Thanks for all of the info CEIS
Thanks EVERYONE.

3/2/2003 3:37:49 PM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

azkiknchihuahuas,
As I live in a warm and dry summer place, I researched the heat tolerance subject on seeds, and I believe that the most probabilities to find a heat tolerant plant are in planting a seed that had already produced heat tolerant plants. There are patches where some plants wilt a lot during the hottest hours of the day, while some neighbours ones don't, like the 845 of Boily that produced his amazing 950.4. To plant the seeds that those plant come from is my (and your) goal.
Those seeds can come from a warm area or from a cool area, but they have to be proven in a warm area. For instance a seed grown in Seattle or Nova Scotia proved in Utah as heat resistant is fine. But maybe a seed grown in Utah doesn't get that characteristic. Your next year seeds can be heat tolerant or not, it depends on the parents and on the luck.
Some ones I found to be that way are: 845 Bobier, 723 Bobier, 846 Calai, 790 Daletas, 1262 Emmons, 922.5 Emmons, 713 Kurkowski, 881 Hampton, 707 Toftness, 1026 Holland, 658 Emmons, 710 Walters, 964 Krug, 940 Kurilich, 635 Lloyd.
If I had to talk in the 2002 seeds it would be harder as this seeds haven't been proven yet, but just looking to the mother plant and the plant which was the male pollinator, I think on some ones that could produce heat resistant plants, like: 1245 Bailey, 879.8 Bailey, 1178 Rivard, 971 Zunino, 884 Calai, 1337 Houghton, 821 Garrell, 1024 Pukos.
For sure there are many many others out there with that characteristic that I didn't research on.
Hope it helps a little..................Don

3/3/2003 3:06:37 AM

Usa

I can tell I need to read more about the heat tolerance. I appreciate the names of heat tolerant seeds; that does help. I already have seeds coming so I will have to wait until next year to plant different seeds.
I hope to succeed with the seeds I have coming.
I am keeping a log of information I receive that will help me. I also will keep a log of the plants that I grow. I want the record pumpkin in AZ.
My neighbor has a son that has already ordered his seeds. We are going to have a growing contest. That should make it even more enjoyable.

3/3/2003 11:28:11 AM

thank goodness that name does'nt fit on a license plate..but you must have nice mexican dogs..

3/3/2003 12:44:39 PM

Usa

I tried to get the license plate AZ-KIK'N but the motor vehicle department would not go for it. They thought it would cause road rage.
I breed Chihuahua's and Poodle's.

3/3/2003 4:54:20 PM

Deer Park WA

azkikn, when do you start your garden down there? Here in Eastern Washington folks start germinating their seeds around May first, that way they are mature for the early October weigh off contests and fairs.

3/3/2003 10:29:48 PM

Usa

Our planting season starts in February. Usually you want everything planted by February 22nd. The other growing season starts in the fall. I usually plant in July, August or September depending on the weather and the plant. We have two growing seasons. I grew vegetables and tomatoes all year. I am still getting tomatoes from last years plants. I still have tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, cabbage, spinach, and swiss chard from the winter crop. I pulled out everything else to plant my flowers. I should be able to plant pumpkins outside as soon as I get them going. It was suppose to get up to 75 degrees today. I have already planted all of my vegetable seeds outside. My flowers are planted and some are blossoming. So, we are really a lot different than northern climates. I won't plant the pumpkin seeds I am getting until I can read the two books for preparation and learn more from this site and the people on it.
I thought I would try to plant a pumpkin plant in the winter season also. I can keep one plant protected from frost. It would be interesting to see how it does here in the winter.
Thanks everyone for the responses. I add all of information to my journal in word so that I can go back to the information.

3/3/2003 11:52:21 PM

Western Pa.

Sorry,
I've never seen an AZ-KIK'N chihuahua OR poodle. (I have seen quite a few that looked like they were AZ-KIKKD.)

3/4/2003 12:20:33 AM

Usa

My Chihuahua's scare away the biggest dogs.
The bigger the dog the more they tail tuck and run.
My Poodles are too good to bother with all the other low-ly dog species.
They tested dogs for intelligence the border collie was 1st, the poodle was 2nd, the golden retriever was 3rd, etc.
The Bulldog was 3rd from the bottom.

3/4/2003 1:41:45 AM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

It doesn't matter to me, I love the Bulldog, and I would like to have one, even if it is silly
Don

3/4/2003 2:18:49 AM