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Macomb County

About my growing, I follow the same basic program that most growers do. Nothing new there. Ammend, till, water. After that, as I mentioned, it's all speculation. You can be 90% confident, but you can't be 100% sure. My vine crushing didn't hurt anything, but did it grow a bigger pumpkin? Hard to say when we had a very rainy season that year too.
    The person who first used milk was convinced it was the milk. As was the person about calcium blankets, as was the person about molasses. We can be confident, but not easily sure.
    Then it's like, Jeff L is a very naturally talented grower. He upped his personal best like 400 lbs. in one season. Simply by doing nothing more than growing a different seed. If the best growers don't have the best seed, are they the same as the worst growers who do? We can't always judge a book by it's cover.
    What I meant about those who grow very large pumpkins this season, only to struggle with producing pumpkins half as big next season is, even the best seed can turn on us too.
    The best we can do is follow the basic program and keep up with the trends. Like mushroom compost seems to be superceding regular compost, manure and a combination of them. Pruning, vine burying and whatever else comes along.
But none of them gaurantee you a result. We can only speculate and try something new after that.
    New this season? Jeff L has come up with a no-spray system that protects against insects like nothing else can. I told you the guy has talent and he's nice enough to e-mail me his findings too.
    Outside of that, better seed and watering more consistantly than I was set-up to do in the past.
    

1/9/2009 1:27:59 PM

Macomb County

Lastly, I'm following the lastest research on how organics feed plants over the season. Why forests don't need fertilizer and it will be something if they can break it down day by day, month by month. It won't be just compost tea or whatever, it will be 7 types of compost tea, in a certain order, at certain times or however it works out. They want to grow more, better, cheaper, on less land and feed the world. And it will mean bigger pumpkins for us if they do too.

1/9/2009 1:28:33 PM

Ohio

Id go with the person who used Milk, he is probably from the suburbs which in a setting like that usually gives a good blanket of protection over the plant(so to speak), to protect it from smog, or exhaust fumes from near by passing cars/trucks and air planes that go by the patch everyday. This might be speculation that its a good blanket of protection, but then again, it could have helped, no one knows for sure unless testing is done exclusively. I have a friend ,Benjamin S, who was hurt at work pushing buggies at the Kroger's he worked at, unfortunately a buggy tipped over on him and he was paralyzed from the toe down. As of right now workers compensation is fighting Bens case. None the less, this wont stop him from trying different things to put this blanket theory to the test, hes hoping to get the results aired on CBS ''The Ellen show'' that will be aired in late October.

1/9/2009 2:28:15 PM

Flat Rock, Michigan

BROOKS ,YOUR TO FUNNY (keep it up )

1/9/2009 4:23:38 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

You keep on mentioning Jeff L, not once have I seen Jeff L log on to validate your claims, I am not trying to discredit you, but in reality, you have plenty of posts without a hint of proof, maybe a few pics, or documentation showing that any of this worked.
I know that these plants are very tough, I had nothing but vines left after several woodchuck attacks and my plants came back strong. I wouldnt take this as doing the plant good and making it stronger, nor would I cut all of the leaves off every june 15th.
You need proof if you want to be taken seriously, real proof, then I can bet you that most will listen to what you have to say. Remember, alot of these growers started many years ago and have tried most methods and techniques, I dont think that you are going to reinvent the wheel here.
That said, post until yer fingers turn blue, it doesnt bother me one bit.

1/9/2009 4:37:22 PM

milford, CT,

Just my thoughts....I don't tend to jump on to trends....if something works for others ...for a few years ...I usually will try it. Keeping track of variables can be difficult when growing AG's. What made you have a good or bad year...tough to answer exactly. That is why I think the key to consistency year to year is keeping track of accountable variables that you changed year to year. Giant Jack...tinkering leads to unaccountability to your success...once you change more than a few things... how can you attribute the success to which variable you changed..if any..maybe it was just a hot seed??? Mark

1/9/2009 4:41:08 PM

Annapolis Valley Nova Scotia

Jack, it is starting to sound a little different from the start of your first recent post, which was....
"I'll be posting this information from time to time, for the benefit of new and inexperienced growers."

1/9/2009 4:43:12 PM

Pemberton, BC

Cheese anyone??

1/9/2009 5:06:39 PM

Rhode Island

im getting on in years so i kinda like the no spray method.

im planning on combining it with a no till. no prune, open polinated, it gets water when it rains program.

i can see the patch from the porch on our pumpkin shack. ill sit there with my dog wally, smoke a couple butts,(if i start again) drink some ice cold beers and pray a lot. lol

pap

1/9/2009 7:58:22 PM

Rhode Island

jeff longhorn?

1/9/2009 7:59:33 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

LONGHORN...now that is funny!!! Peace, Wayne

1/10/2009 1:32:07 AM

Vancouver Washington

I'm starting to feel pretty sure that "the wool" is being handled very carefully by the creator of "Giant jack" the mockumentary. giant jack is really a perfect name for a BP cartoon caricature. Especially if you treat Jack as the middle name, which makes his last name obvious.

1/10/2009 2:06:08 AM

Gold Hill, Oregon

i guess we have a lot of time to bs until the tailgate drops.

1/10/2009 6:37:29 AM

Waquoit Mass

pap you can also use that recycling method of drinking keg beer and putting it back into your soil lol hamr

1/10/2009 9:01:13 AM

you really doing that pap?

1/10/2009 10:41:26 AM

Coventry R.I.

lol,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

1/10/2009 12:49:47 PM

North Smithfield, RI

The Jacking stops when the tailgate drops !

1/10/2009 4:02:06 PM