From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Ohio

How many of you guys think more secrets are being kept in the last few years once a grower finds out something that really works to grow a bigger size pumpkin? And also for things to keep that edge to keep plants healthier longer, insect control, fungicides,,, etc etc..??

I dont think secrets of growing giant pumpkins was kept all that much if any when I started growing, at least none that I can look back on today on.

But does anyone see this trend starting to happen more? or is it just me that is starting to notice it more?

Maybe more so today because its more competitive then it ever was before? What do you guys think?

12/31/2009 12:56:55 PM

Minnesota

I just heard about the c02 fertilizer the other day. Today I sent some seeds to the free raffle in Canada, I was'nt sure if you can send seeds to canada so when I was getting stamps she said I have to fill out a form and what is in here, I said guitar picks, even thou the address said something like pumpkinfest on it, she did'nt say anything and put it in the mail box. I'm interested in secrets in small growing areas.

12/31/2009 1:11:15 PM

canal winchester ohio

I've thought it for awhile. Kinda like when you see first year growers pop monsters only to learn they live right next to or are best friends with a great grower, while others in their area struggle for years doing things the same grower told them it was all he knew ( yea right).
Now I don't think it's like this everywhere, here in my area most growers are about even & if you look them in the eye and ask a question you get a good answer.
But I do believe in what your saying Brooks.

12/31/2009 1:21:50 PM

canal winchester ohio

Be careful lying Richard, you don't want the postal service pissed at you. Just be more inventive, call them "decorative items".

12/31/2009 1:24:36 PM

Western NY

If a it is a "secret" that helps, it's never kept quiet for more than one season.

12/31/2009 1:43:43 PM

Marion,IN

Good topic Brooks. Starting out, all the basic info is handed out freely. You can receive all the general info without any difficulty. Trying to find out specific info gets a lot more difficult. By the way Brooks, got any specific tips on growing a 1400+ pounder?

Mark G.

12/31/2009 2:25:29 PM

Eugene,OR

I think that bigpumpkins.com should start a whole new message board entitled "Brooks' Topic of the Week".
Every week he could come up with yet another good and chat worthy pumpiin topic for us all to kick around. Good job Brooks in helping keep interesting thoughts and threads going here on bigpumpkins.com! Where do you get these ideas anyway??? Do you have a think-tank of prisoners that you guard who come up with them, or do you really have the time to think up all of these good questions?

12/31/2009 2:59:02 PM

British Columbia, Canada

Just wait till Don finds the topic...

12/31/2009 3:43:09 PM

Bemidji Minnesota

I for one do not think any secrets are being kept.

Really, any pumpkin grower I have ever met is more than happy to talk about everything they do.

I think we have moved very far past the days of guys who keeping secrets.

There is not a single pumpkin grower I have ever talked, in person or online, to who wanted to keep anyone from growing an even bigger pumpkin.

12/31/2009 4:57:01 PM

Ohio

lol Vineman!!!

12/31/2009 6:23:58 PM

[email protected]

Dont worry Richard, no one from the Post office reads these message boards..

Now, could you spell your full last name for me? HAAHAA..

12/31/2009 6:26:16 PM

Ohio

It just had me thinking about other growers who have grown for many years, that you know their soil is almost perfectly balanced, weather the same and even grows that exact same seed as the other big time growers that grow in the 1400's to 1700 lbs range...

So why is it almost every year us small time growers have trouble reaching say the 1100 lbs and up mark?

You know (well you think you know,lol) your doing the exact same thing as any other HH out there so why cant we grow one over the 1500lb mark,,, why?,,, because they know something that we dont,,, and dont let them fool ya if they say they dont,,, cause they are doing something different that we just dont know about yet,,,,lol!

Same seed
Same type of growing conditions
Same type of soil report
same experience of growing

So why is it we cant keep up?,,lol,, seriously,, think about it,,lol

12/31/2009 7:02:46 PM

Wilmington.Ma.

Brooks do you think it might be age body falling apart ect??

12/31/2009 7:11:26 PM

Eastern Washington State

HH Boys, I think he's on to you!

12/31/2009 7:15:05 PM

Eastern Washington State

Seriously, what little I know about human nature seems to suggest that you might have a reasonable suggestion. Who wouldn't keep a few hard-won tips as an edge? However, most everybody shares information with friends sooner or later, and then they have friends of their own.... Hard to keep secrets for long.

It could also be a bunch of little things, call it instinct, a green thumb, whatever, that are are largely unconscious and/or difficult to ever explain in words. Maybe those 'next door neighbor' friends are there to personally see what they are doing as they do it.

My $0.02, worth what you paid for it.

12/31/2009 7:20:14 PM

Breslau, Ontario, Canada

Brooks,

I used to see this in Fishing Tournaments for years. It was almost always the same guys in the top 10 every tournamnet. We're fishing the same baits, same techniques, even the same lake and some guys just catch way more. Pumpkin growers remind me of the same thing. There's an old saying in fishing that "10% of the Fisherman catch 90% of the fish" I think 10-20% of the giant pumpkin growers grow 90% of the real giant ones...They have an "edge"

12/31/2009 7:35:09 PM

Pataskala,OH

The secret is hard work! LOL

12/31/2009 8:30:20 PM

Pataskala,OH

And Luck.

12/31/2009 8:32:52 PM

Nebraska

I'm with Brooks, look at who doesn't ever respond to these posts.

12/31/2009 8:35:30 PM

Anchorage, Alaska

They can keep their secrets if it saves me money and time. People think I'm a bit strange as it is..without secret pumpkin growing formulas.

12/31/2009 8:58:18 PM

Alaska

It's not a secret kept. It's a system followed. The consistently heavy hitters have that system in place. What used to be THEE most important first step was finding the right seeds. Not all that easy to find before the internet came along and sites like BP.com. So while most folks now a days get the basics and with the right seeds can grow 1000 pounders right out of the chute. It's the grower that does all the little things right that consistently grows the big ones. And lets face it a top notch grower can give a novice the blueprint on how to but it never fails they have to tweak it. IMHO,Scott.

12/31/2009 9:08:37 PM

Columbus Ohio

Well I know that we have increased out weights over 550 pounds over the last 2 year. Some of it was hard work, some of it was planting 20 plants last year and 8 the year before, but I think it is mostly that we are willing to take huge risk in experimenting with what works and what does not. If you take a heavy hitter and put him in a new situation, ie soil, climate and the like, I am sure they will have a bit of trouble for a year or two until they figure out what works there. That is why so you often see a first time grower that pops a big one struggle for a few years because they know not what they did unless they had a great teacher. Every year we all start in the same place, a seed in a peat pot. Anyone in any given year can be the record holder. I have no secrets, just a system that works for me and it probably will not work for everyone because we all have our own challenges to deal with. Any time you want to see the patch, drop me an e-mail and we will set up a time. We probably will throw on a few burgers and chill some beer.

12/31/2009 9:45:36 PM

Littleton, Colo

..ssshhhhhh !! The WiZ iz reading thiz......

12/31/2009 10:19:46 PM

El Paso TX.

I also think a big part of it is the knowledge to avoid things that come up earlier than the newer grower - since they have usually seen the signs of disease, over fertilization, etc. before and can take action sooner than someone that hasn't and know what measures to take to correct it faster.

12/31/2009 10:35:54 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

Location, location, location.!

12/31/2009 11:17:43 PM

Joliet, IL

i am sure there are many small things day by day that many of the heavy hitters do and have tweaked that no one ever sees. everyone explains the basic things of what to do and procedures and what they use and how much they use and so on. but over time their systems evolve and are tweaked based on experience of what works and what doesn't and making due when challenges arise. simple things, small things, made up mcguiver-ike things. it is more like they are instinctively staying one step ahead of trouble before it shows itself based on past experiences. i think the best are the most competitive by nature and also have this chess like ability to make the right moves against and with mother nature. i bet the very best could tell you every single trick of the trade, every product used and how much and when to water and still outbest most of us year in and year out. hell, i bet you could trade patches with them in a fall, they could get a soil test, make ammendmentments, and still beat most of us on our own soil and allowing us to grow on theirs. they are heavy hitters for a reason and i believe the secret to their success lies with in their instincts, knowledge, and competitive spirit...competing not only against other growers, but mostly against themselves and their own for excellence.

1/1/2010 2:52:12 AM

Joliet, IL

...their own quest for excellence.

1/1/2010 2:56:08 AM

Ohio

Vineman,,, how you like this post now?,,lol,, just gotta know how to get the guys pumped up a little,,lol!!

But say as you may guys, there is a few secrets out there today that gives these guys the edge, when your growing nothing but 1500 to 1600 lbers consistently, they know something.

I grew for about 4 years and couldn't break 845 lbs my personal best,,, then in 2007 I decided to buckle down and ask for help from Ron/pap Wallace, he told me everything there was to know about growing, some things that I had no idea about, and what did I grow that year? a 1402 lb pumpkin, a 1289.5 lb pumpkin and a 1019 that year,,,,, I upped my personal best by 600 lbs that went heavy 15.75%

Its not that that Ron had any secrets its just that I never asked untill that year on what he was doing, and he shared everything 100% what he did with me.

So what you dont know,,, will hurt your weights.

1/1/2010 6:50:54 AM

Waquoit Mass

lets face in the biggest secret was let out by ron wallace, micro,thats the reson the weights have skyrocketed

1/1/2010 9:32:29 AM

Waquoit Mass

reason

1/1/2010 9:32:52 AM

Ohio

pumpkinhead,, just read your post,, Not taking away from the four or five + 1000 lbers that you grew this year, and thats all well in good that your weights are up 500lbs, but are your growing the 1300 through 1600 lbers ''CONSITANTLY'' every year?,, so maybe there is something you dont know about as to why this isnt happening for you?

1/1/2010 9:47:37 AM

Rhode Island

i dont know
im not sure
ill get back ta ya
i didnt do anything special
i dont use anything
the seed did it all
ill call ya later
we dont do anything special
i cant remember the name

if anyone ever said this to ya? run away fast. there not gonna tell ya anyting. lol

its a competition. growers do whatever there individual character makeup tells them to do.
some like to share and some dont.some get great satisfaction teaching and helping others while some are afraid they might loose their edge if they share.
then again some of the best growers just want to grow and not get involved.they just like their privacy.

it takes all kinds of critters to make farmer vincents fritters.

pap

1/1/2010 10:03:08 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Y'all are always welcome to stop by here (gimme some warning so I'm home) and I'm willing to share and give a tour (between end of March and end of Oct else you won't see much).

Other than that, I'd say that grower dialed in their soil, watering, feeding and what and when, and the weather cooperated; and the ability and experience to know when something isn't right and what to do about it; is the difference between me and those top end HH's!

Also, I can tell you all day about what I do, but it might not be the EXACT SAME where you live and grow. We do things mostly the same everywhere we grow AG's, but. A few things I learned the hard way may be a disaster for you, what you do as gospel might be the worst thing I could do.

It's a science, it's an art, it's growin' punkins!

There are a few that wish just to go off and grow, I respect that. A lot of us share though; I'd say through here, pumpkin growers are the sharingest guys and gals I know.

My .0000002 cents worth. Merry New Year and a PB to y'all for 2010.

1/1/2010 10:24:36 AM

Columbus Ohio

Brooks, thanks for noticing. We have just begun to learn and have tweaked things for this year. I know I have alot to learn. And I have picked a few brains along the way. We are consistent so far at 1000+. Once I figure out the last few things, then maybe we van be the consistent 1500+ pounders. The best thing for me is that we are figuring it out on our own and maybe we will do something that no one else have ever tried and make a major weight jump. If you follow the train, you all get to the same station regardless, some earlier than others. I am the conductor of my own train and maybe I will get to grand central (2000 lb) first and then again I might end up at no station at all. I take everything I hear and see how it can use it to best serve my patch.
By the way, this is a great topic.

1/1/2010 10:38:12 AM

Columbus Ohio

Brooks, thanks for noticing. We have just begun to learn and have tweaked things for this year. I know I have alot to learn. And I have picked a few brains along the way. We are consistent so far at 1000+. Once I figure out the last few things, then maybe we van be the consistent 1500+ pounders. The best thing for me is that we are figuring it out on our own and maybe we will do something that no one else have ever tried and make a major weight jump. If you follow the train, you all get to the same station regardless, some earlier than others. I am the conductor of my own train and maybe I will get to grand central (2000 lb) first and then again I might end up at no station at all. I take everything I hear and see how it can use it to best serve my patch.
By the way, this is a great topic.

1/1/2010 10:39:13 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

2000 pounds in 2014.......Race you there!

1/1/2010 11:10:08 AM

Boise City, Oklahoma, USA

Wiz, I can make sure you make 2000# by 2011... just c'mon down and let me feed you up. You are so skinny in those pictures Biz posted...

1/1/2010 11:40:34 AM

Knopp, Germany

i think that the biggest secret is plain and simnply luck.

sure there are many growers that know how to prepare their patch, trim their vines, water, fertilize, etc.

However since Howard, no one has been able to be the best year after year. So, luck is the big secret.

Of course I am such a little fish that bigger ones swim by me wiothout even tasking a look.

So, practice given gardening techniques, and maybe the luck will appear?

1/1/2010 12:30:47 PM

Minnesota

I've always believed you make your own luck, not only in pumpkins but in life.

1/1/2010 12:34:44 PM

Clayton, Ohio, USA

What a great "hot stove" topic Brooks! Keep em coming. I doubt if the HHitters sit around and share all their secrets to keep small fry like me down. If I were a monster grower with some tricks up my sleave I'd rather share with a novice than with a serious competitor. I'm no soils expert, but tend to think that while one can improve soil it's maybe impossible to change it? Sure, we can amend the top 6" or so, but we can't do a lot about the depth of our topsoil or the subsoil beneath. Pretty tough to turn a clay pack into deep sandy loam. We can't change our local climate either. That said, you could hand most growers perfect soil and climate and they wouldn't have the tenacity and skill to grow that 1500 +lb. monster.

1/1/2010 1:32:46 PM

Massillon, Ohio

good thread! i posted something on this topic in my diary last September 11th. i think there are secret skillZ that the HH have that us 'small time growers' just can't get a handle on. i consider myself a 'small time grower' for obvious reasons (8 years of growing and couldnt break 1100) and will continue to consider myself a 'small time grower' in the future. it was simply luck that produced one monster in my patch but everything other pumpkin was 'small time' and will continue to be small time until we figure out the skills that ellude us.

1/1/2010 1:54:53 PM

Ohio

Im with ya here Christy, untill I can grow continuous 1400 or more lb pumpkins every year like Chad and them guys,, Ill always be a small time grower .
I had bad luck this year with stumps, but so did alot of other growers that still grew 1500 plus lbers!!!,,lol.

Im gonna figure out something this year and ''REPRESENT'' like you said.,,,LOL!!



Call me superstitious,, but maybe why I haven't grown a monster for a while is because I haven't grown a Pukos seed somewhere in my patch this year,, its always been good luck before even if it wasn't my biggest pumpkin?,,,LOL

Even if you dont know everything,,never give up is the best thing I guess, and keep on growing em,,, and thats something you and Nick did and look what happened. Your a big time grower in my book Christy, couldn't have asked for anyone better to represent a world record pumpkin from the state of O H I O !

1/1/2010 2:33:31 PM

Saegertown Pa.

There are no secrets, pumpkin growing is like every thing in life the people that put the most time into something on average do better, the better growers let nothing stand in there way. If your wondering why your weights aren't going up and you don't go to patch tours and every seminar you can your not doing enough, if your not bugging the good growers in your area and going to there house in the summer time your not doing enough. I have never seen a group of people that freely give away info like pumpkin growers do. Hopefully no one will take this the wrong way but if you want to do better put the time into it like Ron Wallace, Jerry Rose, Dave Stelts just to name a few and your weights will go up to.

1/1/2010 3:08:38 PM

Bemidji Minnesota

There is another thing that a lot of people do not do, is write down everything they do.

I mean if you have a systematic plan, and execute it.

Succeed or not, every detail you write down you can learn from.

Also, if someone has all the info for example, a soil sample, they got all the numbers, and they talk to a heavy hitter, taking notes and go over the numbers together, the HH can say “well you need more of this, this is how much” etc…

Or “Ok, no where here do I see anything about burying hoses in your notes, you got to do that too”.

But if you do not keep a written record of everything, you will not be able to know what is done right or wrong later when making the next plan.

This is true for other sports too, you need a plan, because if you just “wing it” you will do the same thing year after year, because it will not even occur to you that you had another option for a given situation, and when you discuss it with an expert later, they won’t be able to give you advice if they don’t know the details of what you are doing.

1/1/2010 3:43:28 PM

Ohio

Quinn, not being smart here,,, but I beg to differ,, I put more time in researching, and also in my patch from the time I get home from work 200pm till dark on most days,, and full days on my days off... I know Im putting the time in , so why cant I grow em big like you?,,lolol! The time in doesnt fly with me, here,,ha!

1/1/2010 3:51:24 PM

Hamilton Nj

there is a secret behind evey pumpkin ever grown lol!!!! pizza

1/1/2010 4:51:34 PM

Colorado Springs, CO

Good seed, good soil, good weather, and good luck.

If one of those four is lacking you just might be SOL.

1/1/2010 5:11:54 PM

huntsburg,ohio

i agree with Quinn no secrets her just lots of work.If anything i put alot more time in now than i use to and less snake oils.Get good soil built up keep up with bugs and disease that been my biggest things over last few years.I can honestly tell you other than some kelp,gypsun,humic acid at beginning of season and mycro duiring season i never did anything else other than good old maticulos care and hard work rest of season(along with what i said before kept up with bugs,disease and weeds).Jerry

1/1/2010 5:17:44 PM

i like to experiment with plants differnt pruning and when how all by seeing growth curve. and trying biological products -secrets not real word (trial) fits better time in patch balanced soil even if high levels and time. you only get back what you put in

1/1/2010 5:41:27 PM

Ohio

you guys ever use the c02 this year?,, Jerry, Quinn, Don or Chad?

1/1/2010 5:41:28 PM

Ohio

only get back what you put in, if thats the case Id be growing 1900lbers,lol,, I can honestly say I live, eat breath and then eat again (thats why I have a gut) this pumpkin growing hobby,,, how much more do I have to put in,, I gotta sleep yanno,,ha!,,, Hell you guys know how much I put into this hobby, probably to much according to my significant other,, but I dont listen to her much.

1/1/2010 5:45:51 PM

Ohio

I Do exactly what you do then Jerry, maybe im not watering as much as you then?,,lol

1/1/2010 5:47:56 PM

Saegertown Pa.

Brooks No I have never used c02 and I'm sorry if you took my comment personal. Come to the winter meeting this year and I will go over anything you would like. For years I have freely given out info at are meetings and held nothing back and will continue to do so. The best growers in the world have bad years no mater how much time they put into it, but in the long run the only secret I now of is hard work, it always pays back in the end.

1/1/2010 7:50:47 PM

Taylorsville, California

"but i dont listen to her much" lmao Brooks,classic!

1/1/2010 7:59:43 PM

Carrollton, Ga.

I have lots of pumpkin growing secrets.

Doug

1/1/2010 8:09:36 PM

NILES , CALIF

I agree with you Brooks;I dont agree with the hard work and time spent.These new growers with one year of growing and getting 1000lbs, were being held by the hand by a big hitter; showing them how to grow a 1000lb plus.

1/1/2010 8:28:03 PM

Ohio

I never took it personal Quinn, I know everytime I ask you something about growing you answer any questions I have. You are one grower I know that holds nothing back. I was just being funny with the time spent comment. lol

1/1/2010 8:58:51 PM

Ohio

I'm in the patch at 4am, with a flashlight, go to work at 6am. Get home at 4pm and get back into the patch till dark, daily routine. My hard work grew me a 1140#, only my 2nd year. No hand holding here!!

1/1/2010 9:28:12 PM

Bemidji Minnesota

Wait a Second, I found a picture of the "SECRET" of the heavy hitters. I cannot find out exactly what it is...looks like Strong stuff though...

http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs25/i/2008/149/1/0/toxic_waste_by_sjonneponne.jpg

1/1/2010 9:35:34 PM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

I can't contribute much, but I have enjoyed reading the posts of the heavy, heavy hitters. Keep it up Brooks, good post.

1/1/2010 10:32:21 PM

Gold Hill, Oregon

i do believe there is secrets being held back especially when there is big prize money involved. prize money that would put a nice down payment on a house or car or whatever.

1/2/2010 12:33:07 AM

San Diego

number of plants being grown is a big deciding factor as well. Most heavy hitters have a whole bunch of plants growing, not all of them, but most. Increases your chances that one will go really big. I grow one a year lol, in a hot southern climate, guess my chances aren't as good;)

1/2/2010 12:33:46 AM

Sequim, WA

I know the secrets......I haven't used them yet......I could tell you, but then I would have to compost you.....

1/2/2010 2:51:59 AM

Ohio

Duster, Im not sure grower more plants is the answer, I grow 10 plants, and for me it takes alot of dedication as you probably know, and usually no time to take a vacation in June,July or even Aug to Florida, where it would be to hot to go there anyway,lol.
I think growing to many plants could make a grower do more short cuts that doesnt give each of their plants the 100% care they need, and the odds of them growing a big one growing more plants would be alot less then they would if they grew 2 or 3 plants.

I tried 15 plants one year that I found out very quickly that it was way to much and did find myself making alot of short cuts, and also found myself not spending the time I should with my family/ kids. Its amazing what just 5 extra plants can do with ones time. But,10 plants is plenty for me to try to keep up with,, and believe you me,, I put ALOT of time in my patch,and thats only because I enjoy it alot.


This is just my opinion though, dont burn yourself out to where it seems like work.

Well, its finally time to go to work in a hour and my Vacation is over!,, which also means cabin fever is over!,,lol This has been a great thread, thanks guys.

1/2/2010 4:31:44 AM

Cedar Lake, IN.

No secrets, it,s easy, just give the plant what it needs when it needs it.
The what and when is the problem!!!

WHAT X WHEN = HEAVY HITTER

1/2/2010 7:10:17 AM

Team Munson

I have secrets and alot of them and I have been talking to other growers who have secrets. I even talked to PAP about a secret of his with a..... well that is probably not appropriate for this site.

I will tell all of my secrets and have other growers like Don Young, John Hunt, Christy Harp, tell you all of theirs. Trick is you must get to Niagara 2010 to get all the info you will need to get that new PB!!!!

Sign up for Niagara 2010 now it will be the best yet!!!!

1/2/2010 8:52:39 AM

Sacramento, Ca

I'll be trying something this year that came to me when I planted several roses in January of 2009. When I planted them they were all bare root. Half of them were put into holes that I added compost and composted cow manure to. The other ones got compost, composted cow manure and something else added to their holes. The ones that had the"something else" added grew a bigger plant, had less disease and far bigger roses. The "something else" was dirt that I got from the nursery that is formulated for growing roses. The point being, soil test, soil test, soil test! Amend, amend, amend! I grew a 300 pounder and a 200 pounder on the same plant. This year I plan on reaching at least 1000 pounds with one fruit on one plant. Also, I bet whatever methods Christy used last year, well, you can bet she'll be using them again this year. Good luck Christy, grow another record and make us proud!

1/2/2010 10:57:37 AM

Anchorage, Alaska

What about..

1) Growth regulating hormones like auxin or cytokinins.

or

2) Forcing root growth along the entire vine by making a small cut then applying a rooting product..and mycorrhizae.

maybe

3) Trimming the trees on the East side of your patch.

..tucking your pumpkin in at night.

1/2/2010 2:00:35 PM

Anchorage, Alaska

When you see pumpkins with no seeds, #1 could be the cause.

1/2/2010 2:06:17 PM

West Chazy,N.Y.

I'm on my way to Niagara even if I have to hitch hike! I knew there was some kind of secret to growing a 1000 lbr.god knows I have tried everything else, well almost everything. I know my plant is missing something but don't know what. And I'm gona find out. I have been reading post here for the last 6 years, and all I want is a 1000 lbr.
I have spent a lot of money to get 1 and looking at the dirt and not seeing a nickle of it.....lol maybe this year something will produce for me. see ya'll at Niagara this year.

1/2/2010 5:57:24 PM

[email protected]

Boss, The plants are full of secrets, and if the timing is right, anyone can get the secrets, Growing with a set of instructions, only gets you part way there, you need to understand the plants, SO If you want to get the secrets, then be smarter than the plant

1/2/2010 6:29:07 PM

[email protected]

I'm on the opposite side of the fence. I believe there are less "secrets" now than there used to be. I believe most of the info is out in the open and available to everyone who wants it. The reason I say most is because I believe you still have to learn what works best for you in your patch, and you may not find that info on the net or from a fellow grower.

The perfect plan/approach won't give great results if it isn't executed. On the other hand a less than perfect plan exectued to the best of ones abilities will yield good results.

I believe the biggest "secret", the one that trumps them all, is this: DO THE WORK!

That being said, I believe that is the reason I haven't grown monster pumpkins. Its not because I'm not using a special soil ammendment. Its not because I don't have the super secret fertilizer. Its not because of the weather. Its not because Dave Stelts, Joe Jutras, Quinn Werner, Ron Wallace and Jerry Rose aren't my neighbors. Its not because of the location of my patch. It IS because I haven't done the work and put out the effort required to grow huge pumpkins. I also believe thats by far the number one "secret" reason most growers don't grow huge pumpkins.

1/2/2010 7:36:14 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

You don't think location has anything to do with growing a monster. Come on down to the most eastern tip of Cape Breton Island and grow a 1600lb pumpkin with a season as short as ours.As far as man hours in the patch. I'd be up there with the best of them.

1/2/2010 8:32:06 PM

Ohio

Pa, totally disagree with you about DO THE WORK.... Bologna, maybe for you thats the case but for me and alot of my other growing buddies, thats not our problem trust me on that. If you would see any of theirs and also my patch you would know ''the work'' is being done, there is no short cuts , and trust me, we/they do the work.

There are certain things out there that growers dont know about that could/can and will give them that extra edge.

You ''DO THE WORK'' with out using Mycorrhiza and tell me how big your pumpkins are next year,, and this is just one type of product I know helps yield alot larger pumpkins then a person that doesnt use it.

1/3/2010 5:07:05 AM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

We are far from being a HH, we just got lucky this year. We used CO2 this year, but I can't say for sure it was the reason for our big one. It didn't hurt & is worth a harder look at it. We use all the same crap as everyone else, I guess it all depends how & when to use it, might be the difference.

My secret in the garden is my wife "Jane". We have a perfect partnership, I tell her what to do & she tells me where to go. LOL Just kidding. Her countless hours spent in the patch night after night, weekend after weekend really paid off big for us. Because of my injury, I can no longer do any of the heavier work in the patch. I only pick & start the seeds, tend to them until they hit the dirt. After that I help a bit with watering, pollination & the fertilizer schedule. I also get to drive the ATV when spraying plants.

Phil

1/3/2010 10:08:31 AM

San Diego, Ca.

So Phil, could you be a little more specific about what all that "same crap" is that you are talking about? lol
How about a little insight into your "crap". Gosh, I hope that isn't too personal!

1/3/2010 10:11:46 PM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

LOL. We'll have an article for the Feb GVGO newsletter. It will explain everything we did in 2009. Too much crap to list here & I can only type with one finger, so it would take too long to explain. LOL. One thing we used last year that most growers don't use was a Maple leaf tea. Brant Timm got us using it 2008 with our foliar program. We'll use it again in 2010.

That's all the secrets I can reveal for now. ;o) We'll see you all in Niagara.

Happy New Year,
Jane & Phil

1/4/2010 9:00:09 AM

Breslau, Ontario, Canada

Maple Leaf Tea???
Sounds like a secret to me!

1/4/2010 10:44:41 AM

San Diego, Ca.

Well thats not good for me. We don't have maple trees here. Maybe I can make maple syrup tea instead. I assume you are after the sugars?? I wonder if that would be like using molasses.

1/4/2010 11:27:25 PM