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Rhode Island

After many years of vine buring, spraying, drenching and much aggravation i have decided to try a completely new method for next season.

Im calling it the " NO SWEAT NO STRESS METHOD "

This fall i will do nothing. choosing to leave all the old plants to rot and die in place.

Next spring likewise i do nothing except dig a small hole for the new plant.

No wind protection or inground heating cables either. Instead let them figure it out for themselves.

I can sell our gas backpack sprayer as well because i wont be needing it, -ever again.

Once the plant starts to vine i will use rocks, stones and tree branches to hold vines in place - no vine buryingor shovels needed.

I will let the bees do there thing and not interfear with nature.

At thirty days and just as the pumpkin is starting to bulk up? ill pull the plants and tell everyone i did not have any luck this year. choosing to end the season on my terms not the plants.

So there it is. less work, less strain, less disapointment and less energy expended waiting for the natural progression of things.

pap

8/12/2009 8:01:06 AM

Northampton MA

Hi Pap,

As a fellow SNGPG member I have chosen the "all sweat" method which has left me dehydrated and penniless.

Pat

8/12/2009 8:10:23 AM

Minnesota

I like cheese, next yearIm just going to crazy on the cheese, I'm going to have a little fridge loaded with cheese right next to the patch, stack of crackers on top, every time I go into the patch Imgoing to grab a chunk of cheese in one hand handful of crackers in the other.

8/12/2009 8:24:19 AM

NB Canada

I like the idea of trying something new Pap, this fall I am going to plant my pumpkin nice and deep like a bulb, stick a 1/2 inch pipe in the pumpkin that will stick out of the ground and pour milk into it every so often through next summer. The worms can do the pollonation and cut worms can keep the underground vines trimed. Then come fall I will dig it up like a giant spud.

Mike

8/12/2009 8:48:06 AM

Hell, Mi

I like BOONES FARM with my cheese & crackers LOL!!!

8/12/2009 9:24:19 AM

Wi

Good grief and here I was picturing Pap in "no sweats." Whooooooeeee.

8/12/2009 10:04:23 AM

Glosta

I think there is a tint of sarcasm in that post pap. lol

8/12/2009 10:34:38 AM

Preston CT

Pap you are a wealth of Knowledge to all growers and it would be ashamed if you left the game! Just keep at it. There has been terrible growing conditons this year. Please if you are leaving, can I take a looky at your seed collection? (Ha Ha) Hope to see you soon at a Weigh-off!

8/12/2009 11:13:05 AM

Minnesota

Yeah,,it would be a shame....can I have your cheese if you do leave. (Kidding)

8/12/2009 11:23:23 AM

Sequim, WA

I did that method for 2 years, there's nothing new about it. Instead of pulling the plants at 30 days (that's too much like work) I left them. Instead of sticks and rocks to hold the vines let the weeds grow, the tendrils will grab onto them and anchor the plants. I ended up with a couple nice pumpkins of about 200 lbs. I saved on gas not going to the garden since I grow at a friends place. I stayed away from the website, posted nothing and let my case of PBO (pumpkin burn out) run it's course. This year I'm growing again and enjoying it. I don't know if I'll finally hit that 4 digit mark on the scale or even make a personal best. But I have a couple fruit that are promising and I'm looking forward to the weighoffs this fall and seeing some of my pumpkin growing friends again. Sometimes a year or 2 away from this is what a person needs to recharge and gain a little perspective about what they get from this hobby. There are growers who do this for a number of years and have success and poof they are gone. Remember the Zehr's, Kirk Mombert, Rock Rivard and many others I don't know off the top of my head. There are others who put a few years into it and disappear from the hobby as well. Some growers, Steve Daletas and Bill Bobier come to mind, take a year off from time to time for other things, and many like Joel Holland and Pete Glasier who I know, will probably be doing this every year until they can no longer physically do the work. (Even at that I'll bet that Joel hires help someday to keep this his patch going.) Some of your recent posts are indicating the symptoms of PBO are there. So go ahead and try that method, although it isn't really new, and see if you can come back to it in a year or two and find some of the magic again. I know a lot of people here will miss what you bring to this board and the hobby, but others will step in and fill that void for a while. And pumpkins will be here when your ready for them again.

8/12/2009 3:18:35 PM

Cologne Brescia Italy

Pap, please don't leave we alone!
you are the one H.H. that is available evwer in every time!
I know is descouraging when you work hard for nothing or almost, bat you must to think: I'm sire next year will be better!
this is how I'm think too, start 9 plants this year,with a lot of good seeds, your 1470,500,1502 too, and 1566,1161,1689,1062 what I have now? only two plant,the two 985 all the other one are with the mine vine rotted, and are about maybe 300 to 350 lbs, but this is a year, is not all the life, and I want not surrender, already I'm work in the new pach disease free, about the climate, I can do nothing, this year all the summer with with temps of 95 to 100f
The show must go on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry for the english
Sergio

8/12/2009 4:25:23 PM

Germany

Hi pap

Dont give up!
U shouldn´t call the way u did the last years
like "sweat and stress"...
Its all in your head.. you just need to look
different on everyting.

Pumpkin growing has to be fun.
Just do as much as u like, but doing nothin could be boring?

Michael

8/12/2009 6:21:45 PM

Cincinnati, OH

Nature has elbowed it's way back on on my plant. I'm letting it do whatever it wants...I got my prize already...a measly 50 pounder, and it helped me through my ordeal. That's good enough for me

8/12/2009 7:09:22 PM

Bemidji Minnesota

That’s what your gonna do Marine? Just give up and surrender?

Just say “I quit”, and leave your pumpkin behind in enemy territory!

8/12/2009 8:08:54 PM

Port Elgin, Ontario, Canada

lol @ Meathead

8/12/2009 8:32:29 PM

Minnesota

250 Brouillard 09 (1128 Beauchemin x 340 Beauchemin) You can grow some of mine next year,,now if that don't make you want to stick around I don't know what will...(laugh)

8/12/2009 10:25:41 PM

norway , maine

pull em !

8/12/2009 11:32:52 PM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Don't even pull them, just fire up the riding lawn mower and mulch'm. :)

Ah, Pap, have another one, and keep that smile.

8/13/2009 6:19:33 AM

Rhode Island

Hey pap.and you will still get the world record!

8/13/2009 1:09:08 PM