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Joliet, IL

this is the time of the year when you read the stories that break your heart cuz you feel the pain as you re-live old past similar experiences. from critter damage, to diseases, to blossom end splits, to foamy stumps, to svb damage, to endless rain for some, continual aborts in the heat and wicked storms for others. i also have been dealt some major blows this year and have felt the sick feeling when i discovered a section of rotten vine 2 feet in front of a pumpking sitting at 63" circ on day 15. today while still trying my damndest to get anything on the plant and not give up no matter what on it, i found my 2 strongest secondaries that were being considered for sets blown out. grew straight up and cracked clean right before nice females. they looked identical. couldn't believe it. then all i could do is laugh. felt like throwing in the chips on the plant, but i will keep fighting with my chin high and try for anything at all...even if just nice halloweenies on the plant. i still have time left to retrain another secondary as a new psuedo main and let some terts off that become secondaries feeding a possible pumpkin on it. my point being with all this rambling is...you are not alone. we crazy growers are gluttons for punishment and have all been there and will be there again. tragedy in this hobby happens to us all...how you deal with it is up to you. chin high and carry on the best you can and the sting slowly goes away. best of luck to you all.
shazzy

7/13/2010 9:26:41 AM

Buffalo, New York

I hear you.....my worst season ever, but gotta keep my head up and try my best....like you said, even if it just gets you porch size fruit on halloween.

7/13/2010 9:33:37 AM

Preston CT

I hear you shazzy! 2 out of 3 of my competition plants I can not get a pumpkin on the main vine. Today I finally got pissed and let the 2ndary pumpkins start to get open pollinated; maybe the bees can do better then me! And the one big one I have is looking like a wheel and is 20 days behind everyone elses! From first to worst....YIPPEE! But I am still keeping my plants in!

7/13/2010 10:09:05 AM

I am also having some bad luck with a few plants, I keep loosing pumpkins,females not opening, and not taking pollen what a pain in the but.

7/13/2010 10:15:10 AM

Williamsburg,KY

Shazzy, you hit the nail on the head, it happens to everyone sooner or later. I was sick in my stomach about my blossom end split, but cut it up with smiles and took it to the river bank. Maybe it will feed the coons and keep them from our corn. As if that wasnt enough, we have already had two inches of rain in about 3 hours this morning and I wonder how my other plant will take it. Its measureing a Slunger now. I wish you the best!

7/13/2010 11:09:16 AM

Claysburg , PA

The more I look at diarys here on BP , the more I get depressed. It seems that ALOT of growers are way, way ahead me and I thought it was going good here but as one grower told me it is a marathon not a sprint . I`m not in shape to do either , boy am I in trouble.

7/13/2010 11:45:48 AM

British Columbia

Yeah Shazzy- If you don't have a sense of humor this hobby could get a little stressful at times. The better laid plans of mice and men! I'll just be happy this year if I can get a fruit to set. Everything is just right - except for the lack of a pumpkin. I'm hoping for tomorrow - got one just perfect on the main vine of my best plant. Crossed fingers etc.
But hey, a nice little jack-o-lantern will make the grand kids happy and grandpa will be a hero anyway, or at least that's what I'm thinking right now, but you know, we still got a lot of season left. You ought to see my goose berries!

Best of luck everyone
Good thread, we all need to cry on each others shoulders on occasion, normal people out there just look at me like it's only a pumpkin or something - go figure!

7/13/2010 12:15:14 PM

long Island

I agree. No pumpkin set yet. I do however have three very good potentials for this week though. I sure am proud of my leaves. They are huge.

7/13/2010 3:16:01 PM

Rhode Island

if you stick around this hobby long enough you will become immune to failure and disapointment.
its only a hobby. there are much worse things in life that loosing a pumpkin or two.
yes, i agree its a kick in the teeth to put all that work into pruning ,training.purchasing supplies, breaking your butt to do whats right.
but its like i always tell my friends. " if you cant handle disapointment? you picked the wrong hobby"
anything at any given moment could go wrong and it happens to all growers, be they known or unknown.

7/13/2010 4:36:21 PM

Navarre,OH

I'm very close to just giving up on my giant marrow. Temps are way too hot to get a fruit to set on this thing. I'm just gonna leave it go and if one sets by the swarm of bee's that hit my garden every morning so be it. I bet I have had more aborts with this marrow than anyone on this site with any other plant. It took to almost the 15' mark for this thing to even think about growing sidevines. I'm just going to let it go nuts and see what happens I guess. Don't think I will be planting marrows next year. I'm already shopping for next years plant. Giant green squash for me.

7/13/2010 6:13:38 PM

East Jordan, MI

Thanks for the inspiration...it is hard to watch all that hard work go down the drain, but we have to take our lumps and try to learn from the mistakes. Most important for me is I'm having the time of my life. These plants are the most incredible things I've ever grown and I entend to give them every chance I can to be all they can be.

7/13/2010 10:36:27 PM

Wilmington.Ma.

Shazzy you got it right .I have the best looking patch in
years and having all kinds of problems. You never know one year to another.

7/14/2010 12:32:38 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

A great solution to any prblms (especially, mental disappointments) you might have during the growing season...Show up in Niagara!!! Inspiration flows, unending!!! Peace, Wayne

7/15/2010 2:22:55 AM