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Macomb County

I'll be posting this information from time to time, for the benefit of new and inexperienced growers. Think of it this way, giant pumpkin growing is a marathon and not a waltz. You are a marathon runner, how do you feed yourself? Do you eat your biggest and heaviest meals during the race or right before you cross the finish line?

N-P-K is only a thumb nail of the whole story. There are carbohydrates, ammino acids, enzymes and a whole host of other things, all of which should be digested, broken down, converted and stored, in a full state of readiness when a pumpkin sets or at the sound of the starting gun, if you were a marathon runner.

In the Olympic Marathon, you wouldn't eat a single thing the entire race. But you would be doing what? Very carefully and steadily drinking water, handed to you in cups as you passed tables. You wouldn't drink too little water, however, neither would you drink too much and make yourself sick.

That is a good approximation of what you're looking at growing giant pumpkins. How many fertilize and fertilize all season and get a broken down, dying, rotting mess by season's end?Even long before?

An newly set AG pumpkin is at the starting line for the marathon of it's life. Why all the Fall and Spring preparations pay big dividends. The soil is an AG's stomach and when a pumpkin sets, the plant should have eaten all it's big meals and have huge reserves stored.

1/3/2009 9:16:01 AM

Macomb County

Why does fish work so well? Fish is protein, broken down into ammino acids by the soil. Cows eat a lot of grass and hay, cow manure is high in carbohydrates, the soil breaks down into sugars the plant can readily absorb and fully use. Which should occur the most during the vegetative phase. Compost tea is teeming with digestive enzymes, beneficial microbes that do just that for a plant in the soil.

This is a very simplified model, of course. But not inaccurate. How many Heavy Hitters are not just feeding, but watering experts? Even warm the water before they apply it? They know how to evenly and consistently keep their marathon running pumpkin well hydrated and not slow down or even stop their pace to ingest big meals during the race?

Plants are doing much more than simply growing during the vegetative phase. They are also sucking-in and creating large reserves. On which to draw on almost exclusive from pumpkin set to weigh-off.

What is fertilizer? Mineral salts. In humans, too much salt causes bloating and water retention, high blood pressure and a host of metabolic imbalances. In the presence of too little water? Contraction and shrinkage. A lot of water and a lot of salt results in a bloated plant and a lot of salt and too little water results in shrinkage and decay.

Both of which are not good for pumpkin growth and hardiness. I hope you will picture 15-30-15 and 20-20-20 and the whole array of formulations for what they are to an AG. 5 lb. salt shakers and do you want to keep taking off the top and pouring half of the bottle onto your plants this coming season? A little pepper and your vines and leaves should taste delicious.

1/3/2009 9:17:16 AM

Macomb County

You will get your bigger plant, just add water. Water less and you'll get your smaller plant too. It's just that a big pumpkin is your goal and giant salt shakers and world records don't mix. Where early manure, compost, fish, kelp, compost tea and the elf poop Santa left in your stocking because he ran out of coal does and very well.

1/3/2009 9:17:51 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

How did the dog dig you up???? Man next you will be telling people to crush there vines again. Jack when you grow the 1600lber then you can advise on how to grow a big one.

1/3/2009 10:07:22 AM

hamilton,Ontario

heeeeeeeeeeee's baaaaaaaack

1/3/2009 10:25:56 AM

Whats your biggest pumpkin to date Jack?

1/3/2009 11:21:51 AM

hamilton,Ontario

He doesnt grow pumpkins.hes to buzy making salads out of the leaves and stalks

1/3/2009 11:28:49 AM

Minnesota([email protected])

An interesting analogy to a marathon. Maybe Jack has some good info. to share, that will help growers be more successful. I'm not going to write him off.

1/3/2009 12:16:38 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Here is some detail about Marty "Giant Jack" Nagle for you to read.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=38022

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=10&p=124424

1/3/2009 1:24:19 PM

Connecticut, USA

Give him a chance!

1/3/2009 6:40:38 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

If youre looking for beanstock seeds you came to the right place.lol

1/3/2009 7:38:11 PM

Clayton, Ohio, USA

What's up with all the narrow - minded intolerance around here? I find the cat from Michigan to be an interesting and humorous breath of fresh air. Don't take yourselves so seriously - you grow pumpkins for chrissakes.

1/3/2009 9:10:00 PM

Poulsbo, WA

Hmmmm... while I am no expert on growing giants, I do run marathons and if I ran a marathon and drank and fueled like Jack suggested.... I'd be in trouble. Nobody should run a marathon and drink just water, that would be dangerous... in fact you require carbs, protein and plain old table salt DURING your run.

1/3/2009 11:02:00 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

Thank You. And i wasn't trying to be ignorant , just a little humour lil'Mac.

1/3/2009 11:19:18 PM

Bethlehem CT

No Analogy is perfect, I don't find anything wrong with what jack said. Pretty soon no one will want to post anymore.

1/4/2009 8:06:19 AM

Waquoit Mass

lol ah some things never change lol hamr

1/4/2009 10:07:28 AM

Newton,KS

GJ continue your assault. I for one find the posts
more thought out then how big is your's? I must say the poet of such a deep deep thought must have taken hours to
formulate then post. If others on this site would have written the same thing regarding a new found giant maker, the herd would be in line to buy the book for a mere $10.95 plus shipping & handling.

1/4/2009 2:42:15 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

I see some of you are naive. If we could only bring up all the post's from the summer of 2005. You would easily see where those experienced to his words, have no time for this fool.

1/4/2009 3:59:43 PM