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Joliet, IL

Here is a hypothetical for discussion. If a multi-millionaire granted an unlimited amount of money to a group of 5 of the top pumpkin growers of the world, with the intentions of building the state of the art patch, what would they come up with any different then what they are already doing?

With an unlimited amount of money, a state of the art drainage system could be used and soil moisture levels kept at optimum moisture levels like state of the art greens in golf where excess moisure can be drained via vacuum systems.

I would think some sort of lighting system could be used to extend the season along with a soil heating systems to be used in both the spring and fall. would this include a greenhouse with a retractable roof?

and to take it to a sillier scientific level, would there be any benefit of having a person in a full harness supported by an extending arm crane so as to never have touch one foot in the patch preventing any soil compaction.

silly i know, but to what extent could an unlimited amount of money be used with the best pumpkin minds to create the ULTIMATE PATCH. how far would they go, how far could they go, and ultimately, would it make a difference?

don't forget, with any unlimited amount of money, genetic and plant research with the top scientists could be involved also.

after watching Lord of the Gourds, i think Bill Bobier would have some fun with this idea.

2/26/2008 6:20:29 PM

Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

security

Gaurds/Marines' with tompson machine guns and colt 45's

Night time they would Blackwater security with night vision, heat senitive equipment. traditional m-60's unlimited guns and amo.



Satalite survalance. topagraphical charts and razor wire parimater fencing. Trenches could be use to hold and store water.

2/26/2008 6:57:22 PM

Gays Mills, Wisconsin

nanotechnology,embryonic tissue generation to create solid, not hollow inside.

2/26/2008 10:36:24 PM

Rhode Island

the ultimate patch ?
each plant area will be surrounded by a 10 ft swatch of grass
each planting area will be 850 sq ft and have

1. underground heating pipes (thermostat controled)
2. overhead misting system ( automatic)
3. soaker hose watering system (automatic)
4. underground oxygen injection system (ditto)
5. retractable clear dome canopy and sides for inclement
conditions and early season warmth at night. set up on a
thermostaticly controled system of course
6. heating and airconditioning available as needed based on
what else ? a thermostat
7. a team of midgets on pogo sticks to do pruning and vine
buring.
8. xray equipment to view internal thickness and wall
imperfections
9. overhead and under canopy mist blowing heads to do
foliar applications of insecticides,fungicides and
nutrient feedings, complete with video equipment
and a soil balancing system to allow for any additives
needed daily to keep the soil in complete balance
10.inline scales set up under each fruit to monitor actual
daily weight gains

2/27/2008 8:04:10 AM

Kalamazoo, MI ([email protected])

Pap, I think you've spent a litle too long thinking about this but WOW!

2/27/2008 8:42:10 AM

[email protected]

Perfect! Now just pray the power doesn't go off! How about a back up generator just for the pumpkin patch.

2/27/2008 9:16:57 AM

Bulgaria

My choice:
1 Large greenhouse - totally controlled: day length, day/night temps, humidity

2 Hydroponic system (Soilless culture) such as Flood and drain subirrigation (lagre container full with an inert medium, such as perlite, gravel, mineral wool ect. At regular intervals, a simple timer causes a pump to fill the upper tray with nutrient solution, after which the solution drains back down into the reservoir. This keeps the medium regularly flushed with nutrients and air (will add and water). - my english is not good, so... copy-pasted from wiki) (The nutrient solution is contolled for the each stage of development of the plant)

3 Air feeding with CO2

2/27/2008 12:26:25 PM

Joliet, IL

pap,
that is what i am talking about...nice. this is just a fun way of seeing the future possibilities. eventually, sizes will plateau (you would think but look at where we are at with 400 becoming almost 1700 in 20 years). if and when they do plateau say in 10 or 20 years or maybe much sooner, every aspect of growing these freaks will be analyzed and dissected and new ideas will be implemented to squeeze every possible pound out of them. healthy competetion will force an evolution of ideas that may seem far fetched now, but 50 or 100 years down the line, who knows what it will take to grow that 3000 pound pumpkin (or will it be 5000 pounds). i am sure no one 20 years ago could predict the weights we are at now. also, no one 20 years ago could imagine how far growing techniques have evolved. but yet here we are. just 70 years ago jules verne books seemed like silly science fiction, but in reality he was not too far off track. and i imagine i will see a man walk on mars before i kick it. how far people will go with this hobby is yet to be seen. competitive spirit + time + technology = who knows. besides number 7 on pap's list (my favorite) the rest of his ideas i am sure will be at least tried in my lifetime. but will they work...in theory yes...but we shall see. and oh yes, it has been a long crappy winter and i have a little too much time on my hands. lol.

2/27/2008 1:36:49 PM

Rhode Island

i really would not have midgets jumping around the patch on pogo sticks. that would be unfair and people might think i was taking advantage -------------------- but i would have them pruning with extended golf spike type shoes.(pruning and airating the soil at the same time ).
big guys and pumpkin vines dont always make a perfect fit

2/27/2008 4:06:18 PM

[email protected]

"a team of midgets on pogo sticks"
LOL with tears streaming down my cheeks...

2/27/2008 6:33:26 PM

[email protected]

All of Pap's wishes as well as the C02 generator & the ability to hover.

Oh...don't forget the UPWARD aiming spray nozzles (under canopy) for Powdery Mildew fungicides & SVB sprays.

2/27/2008 6:36:04 PM

Rhode Island

oh tremor i forgot the most important thing

an air conditioned tower erected in the middle of the patch.
flood lights for night time, complete with speaker system for barking out orders ,a frige stacked with chips and beer. tv and a nice cozy recliner.

oh one other thing. remote controled zappers attached to all the little peoples backsides.
if they start to diddle around i can zap um.

theres no diddling allowed in the patch

pap

2/28/2008 6:39:03 AM

Minnesota

24 hour master gardener on duty monitoring, wearing one of those white coats with clip board in hand. Daily soil tests. Don't want to take it to far from nature, a bunch of playboy bunnies picking vegetables, doing light duty's, I can look and feel it's totaly natural, rabbits in the patch. Pumpkin patch guard tower, 24 guard duty.

2/28/2008 9:44:21 AM