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Macomb County

I'm not saying setting a record, especially the world record, isn't something to celebrate. Of course it is. It's just that the 1689 and 1385 have seen a lot of dirt and in the hands of skilled growers, have been all over the place, like a litter of puppies.

Then there are growers, like Trailor, I thought were better growers than their numbers reveal. This season, Trailor finally got the plant and his skill shows.

If it were more skill than luck, that wouldn't explain Werner and Rose and Pukos and Kline and etc. It must be 100% luck and 100% skill, in the sense, you have to have them both. All the luck won't do you any good without the skill and vice versa.

10/13/2009 2:06:48 AM

Rhode Island

ill take skill over luck anyday. luck is a hail storm passing you over and hitting the neighbor down the road.
or a sag line running deep into a rib yet it makes it all the way.

skill is having the ability and esperience to grow bigger then the competition. to see problems before they get out of hand.if not how do you explain different results from the same seed stock plantings?

remember what clint eastwood said ? " DESERVES GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH IT"

10/13/2009 6:51:26 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Well said once again Paps......

10/13/2009 8:33:43 AM

[email protected]

The greater the skill the harder & smarter folks work the luckier they become.

10/13/2009 9:50:54 AM

Somers, CT

Steve and Dick is onto something. Every one of the best growers puts in the time, does their homework and at some time will hit the lottery as far as mother nature is concerned. Not much more to it than that. Anyone can research till their eyes fall out. I know because I have. Putting in the time and involving prayer to any one of the many Gods out there works wonders.

10/13/2009 10:15:29 PM

northern indiana

sounds to me like pap makes his own luck.
I wonder what parts skill and knowledge you need, and how long they need to simmer, in order to make a batch of luck. Do tell pap.
Please!

10/13/2009 10:29:15 PM

Enumclaw, Washington

ditto pap. A skill is perfected by hardwork. Luck is the guy behind you being in the accident instead of you. To be in the zone in any sport or event you gotta have the baseline foundation which overtime is perfected. That is skill. Those that excel at anything have their share of luck. They are often credited with being lucky but the skill was there first. In a sporting events the loser complains about the windy conditions. The winner recognizes the fact they were both playing in the same windy conditions and deals with it. IMHO

10/13/2009 11:17:09 PM

Anchorage Alaska

Pap.. great line, skill or experience is definitely a huge part of seeing the problem before it get's out of hand . It.s true in all parts of life ,especially the construction industry.Luck is just chance called by a different name..

10/13/2009 11:59:40 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Jack,
I hesitate to post this, so as not to seem take away anything from the grower's accomplishment of growing a huge pumpkin. I think "luck of the seed draw" is something to consider. For a world record, my theory is that you need to be a very skilled grower, and also grow a very good seed, and have favorable weather. Christy Harp...current WR holder....IMO is a very skilled grower, and I'm guessing she grew one of the very best seeds out of the 1385.

10/14/2009 1:59:48 AM

Preston CT

It could be very much luck of the seed draw...I think only one of my 1116 was planted this year and officially weighed. It ended up at 1449.5lbs. I put all of my effort into that plant and it totally stressed my out. Did I get lucky? One seed out of my 80 I had for myself? Just maybe or it could have been the great New England weather we had this June and July or it could have been grower skill. As some people have said it could have been luck of the seed draw or it could have been the crappiest seed selected. We will find out next year when it is planted by several growers. I just know that the 1116 I grew this year was the first to germinate and was the first to be pollinated, it was a real vigorous plant out pacing the 1385, 1353 and 1507 in my patch!

10/14/2009 8:44:45 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Trailor, nice read on this idea. Curious as to how you selected that "1" seed out of your 80!!! I'm impressed and truly believe you can select another "1" out of the remaining 79!!! LOL Grow em BIG!!! Peace, Wayne
PS..do you know any Jamaicans that do the voodoo seed selection thing??? LOL

10/16/2009 2:18:39 AM