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Over time I have heard stories of growers doing some pretty unusual or extreme things to try to get bigger pumpkins, especially in the earlier years, some were a success but many were failed experiments.

What are some of the craziest things you've tried or heard of being tried? What were the results?

1/29/2011 5:35:48 PM

canal winchester ohio

Well it's been long enough so I guess I shouldn't be embarassed any more.
It was 1979 & I was 14 years old & wanted to get a large pumpkin. The farmer I worked for told me to feed them milk, so I chopped off the vine after the pumpkin & put it in a bottle of milk. All that happened was the end of the vine turned to mush & reeked from spoiled milk.

1/29/2011 5:53:14 PM

Muddy Waters

People still swear there Grandpas milked there kins.I hate to tell them the truth,Gramps was full of ,an old Wives tale.

1/29/2011 6:04:18 PM

Upa Creek, MO

foliar feed with viagra... didn't work.

1/29/2011 6:59:58 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Bettin that Luke's pkn, although not a giant...was like a ROCK!!! LOL Peace, Wayne
PS...the milk needs to go in b/4 the pkn, not after!!! Serious!!!! LOL

1/29/2011 11:56:38 PM

New Zealand

talking about foliar feeding with viagra...... last year i mixed up a batch of foliar feed with multi vitamins and minerals for human consumption. the full a to zinc treatment.
got my biggest pumpkin ever, but i think it was more to tending it and not the a to zinc.
wish my missus would feed me viagra in my mash potatoes though........

1/30/2011 1:40:57 AM

Parts Unknown

Tryed viagra all I got was a Big Stem! lol

1/30/2011 6:58:21 AM

Niagara Falls,NY

I was wondering what those blue specks were in my mashed potatoes!

1/30/2011 7:24:10 AM

canal winchester ohio

cut me a break Wayne..lol, it was 31 years ago- I was a kid & didn't even think anyone outside Circleville grew giant pumpkins.
I've since learned the milk gets poured around the roots ;)

1/30/2011 10:18:41 AM

Colorado

I like the barry todd story of growing a pumpkin on his roof one year.This was back in the 80's and he wanted to see about fluid pressure getting to a very elevated fruit.

1/31/2011 1:25:00 PM

Johnston, Iowa

Conan O'Brien suggested Plutonium + Steroids, might try that this year.

1/31/2011 5:06:08 PM

Eugene,OR

Pete Glasier, who is in the GPC Hall of Fame, took his wife, Cindi, to Howard Dill's pumpkin farm for their honeymoon. That is the kind of dedication that a person really needs for the Great Pumpkin Spirit to shine upon them for their entire growing career.

2/1/2011 12:21:50 AM

Mass

If milk is a wives tale, why do we spray with liquid calcium?

2/1/2011 7:43:20 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Oh my ... Dan you are prbly on that "watch list"!!! Very brave of you to mention Plu7leium on a message board...to awl...remember, Big Brother IS Watching!!! Peace, Wayne
PS...LOL
PPS, liquid calcium aids in cell strengh & expansion? not sure
spraying w/milk helps w/ mildew control? again, not sure

2/1/2011 10:41:55 PM