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Avon, CT

(This actually happened about a month and a half ago but sadly I just got to downloading pics off of our camera last night.)

My wife does children's programs at an office park here in CT where we always grow a little AG plant in the backyard. I was getting a worried this year about our fruit set prospects when another tenant said that he thought the guy in one of the other offices grew giant pumpkins and maybe ask him. Long story short the guy was Ken creator of Bigpumpkins.com.

I have actually come to this site for several years for quick info but have been embarrassed to post pics of such a small plant with limited potential. Ken encouraged me come online so I have posted so pics in my diary.

One of my wife's missions is getting kids away from the tv and computer and getting outside. Getting them interested in gardening is one way to do this and one of the best tools is our little ag plant. Parents and kids see the plant growing every year and want to try growing one themselves (or at least a field pumpkin). We give away lots of field pumpkin plants every year to get them started.

Feel free to post any comments about our plant and thanks for all info on the site.

Dave

9/23/2010 7:34:25 AM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

Great story. You're wife has the noblest of intentions by getting kids away from all the media they encounter from day to day and all the stress it brings. The simple(?) pursuit of growing AG's has been my stress relief for the past eight years. I've learned to love caring for plants and get to know each one of them as individuals. Although the hobby itself has its stress factor, it is mission-based and should teach kids that, no matter how bad things look at times, things DO get better.

9/23/2010 8:04:10 AM

Massillon, Ohio

We each have our own little niche in this pumpkin world.
And yours is a fine one! Congratulations to you and your wife!!

9/23/2010 8:17:07 AM

Upa Creek, MO

I grew my jackolanterns on my fence this year similiar to that to make room for the AG. I built ledges all along the fence (some as high as 8 feet) to let the jackos grow. Nice job, you have to make due with what room you have. Quite a few guys grow some really nice pumpkins with little room. I'd suggest letting some of those secondaries grow out perpendicular as much as you can and allow for maximum rooting or having the vines touch the ground and then bury them.

9/23/2010 9:12:07 AM

Avon, CT

Thank you for your responses! I will try to get on the site more next season to offer any input from my limited experience. I am most highly skilled at handpicking borer eggs as we don't want to use any pesticides around the kids (they also love looking through the plant for interesting insects).

Luke, you just gave me idea for next year. That pic in my diary of side of our building with the sunflowers would be great for running some pumpkins vertically. It would be cool having some jack o lanterns on shelves up there.

9/24/2010 7:19:40 AM

Upa Creek, MO

I have heard of people using slings for the jackos as well, but with my experience a well supported ledge works and looks better. See pics below. The neighborhood kids liked it too. One major error was building too small of ledges and having to go back and add on or add better support which was the case in the first pic. Good luck!

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=137601


http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=138815

9/24/2010 9:15:29 AM

Avon, CT

Thanks, that looks cool. I will have to try it next year.

9/27/2010 5:35:39 AM