From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Roblin, Manitoba

Hello

New to the site, and it looks great. This is my 4th year growing AG, the past 3 I didn't take it that serious and ended up with 80-90 pounders every year, and always a late start like the first of june. However I did learn alot, and this year decided to get more serious and set a goal to get one over 200 lbs, (this may not seem like much of a goal to most of you but its a start for me). Did some research, and learned a couple things on top of what I had learned myself.

I had my plants in the ground May 1st, with mini-greenhouses over them. My biggest right now has a circumference of 50 inches. So I think I should easily reach and maybe exceed my goal at the rate this thing is growing. I would like to know from some of you other Canadian growers, on average how big have some of you guys grown them here when you've had them this size at this time. And is this an average or below average size, etc, for the beginning of Aug for western canada.

Thanks

8/2/2007 5:28:38 PM

Taber, Alberta

Hey Scott, nice to have you with us. How many days old is your pumpkin? I checked my old notes and found I had one a few years ago that was 50 inches on July 29th and managed to get to 700 pounds. This one was pollinated on July 14th. If you get some decent weather, you should be able to beat your goal of 200 pounds no problem.
Where in Manitoba are you? I've got an uncle near Portage who grows these things.
Alan

8/2/2007 11:17:02 PM

Roblin, Manitoba

Hey Alan, thanks for the info. The pumpkin was pollinated about 2 weeks ago, around the 16-18th, I am not sure exactly as I was away working and someone else did it for me. I am taking good notes now though for future years reference. I'm near the sask border close to Lake of the Prairies. And the weather has been nice these past couple weeks and the long range forecast looks good too. Hows the growing going for you?

8/3/2007 12:29:36 AM

Taber, Alberta

Hey Scott, it's been hot hot hot here. If you pollinated let's say on the 17th, and you are now sitting at day 16 at 50 inches, you are on track to get something good. Keep it going and have fun with them.
Check this link out for some benchmarks.

http://www.gvgo.ca/downloads/2007_ailts_landry_benchmarks_summary.pdf

If you have any questions or just want to e-mail, I'm at a.makarchuk@telus.net
Alan

8/3/2007 12:57:12 AM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

Hi Scott

Welcome to the site. Your doing well & should have no problems beating your goal. You still have over 50 days to go before most weigh offs & you should now be starting to really see the difference every day you check your pumpkins. If you have any questions about growing, fertilizing or disease control, please feel free to contact me. My email address is: gvgo@sympatico.ca All the best to you the remainder of the season. Take care & good luck.

Phil Hunt
Pres. GVGO

PS. If your interested in joining a pumpkin club, check out Canada's largest growers club, the Giant Vegetable Growers of Ontario (GVGO). We send out 3 newsletters per year, plus every member receives a generous seed package every spring with over 20 packages of seeds from our member's pumpkins, watermelons, squash & a few other giant varieties. Check out our website at: www.gvgo.ca for more info & benefits.

8/10/2007 8:39:01 AM

St. Thomas Ontario

80 lbs is a great number. Howard Dill gave me a seed when I was 11 yrs. old back in Nova Scotia and I grew an 80 lber...I was so proud. @ 50" now you should have no problem hitting 200lbs, you're halfway there. One thing that got me for years was mosaic and mildew. Get a pump sprayer and a fungicide (Bordo @ Canadian Tire works o.k). These two enemies out of the way will hopefully aid in your efforts.

Happy growing.

8/10/2007 3:57:04 PM

Taber, Alberta

Hey Scott, seriously consider taking Phil up on his offer with the GVGO. Even though we out of the region, the newsletter and the seeds are more than worth it.

8/10/2007 7:05:59 PM

Roblin, Manitoba

Thanks everybody, and I will be checking out GVGO, it sounds great.

8/17/2007 3:59:53 AM