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Ashby, MA

Every year growers learn a lot and this message board has been a great resource for fairly new growers like myself. I thought it would be nice to start a discussion on the lessons all of us learned this season as the planning for next season will soon begin.

Here are some of mine. It would be great if other growers could share some of their top DO's and DON'T's.

DON'Ts:

1) Don't use horse manure. I tilled in 4 yards of horse manure into my patch this year. In no time it looked like a hay field. I could not keep up with all the grass that was growing.
2) Don't delay spraying pesticides. Start early when the plant is still in the hot house. I delayed way too long and one of my plants became diseased and my pumpkin stopped growing around D30.

DO's:

1) Do try and create a watering system other than overhead sprinklers. I created a PVC system with mini sprinkler heads and it worked great.
2) Do use heating cables. I used them for the 1st time this year with great results early on.

9/21/2012 4:05:14 PM

Massachusetts

don't go on vacation....

do stay home.....

9/21/2012 5:02:59 PM

Don't give up!

Take time to read through the forum, read the advice of the experienced growers and ask questions if you need somthing clarified.

9/21/2012 5:10:10 PM

Maine

DON'T forget you have a life....before May and after October hahaha!
DO go down every day and look carefully - problem issues seem to pop up suddenly, and a day not down in the patch could lose the fruit.

9/21/2012 5:10:15 PM

Wi

I have several reasons to believe overhead watering may not be all that bad. And I did drip this year.

#1: 1810
#2: 1689
#3: 1502

Those 3 pumpkins all have something in common.

9/21/2012 5:12:37 PM

dont think theres only 1 way or one size fits all

horse manure fine here
weeds happen
no such thing as weed free patch without some work

9/21/2012 5:33:55 PM

Cornelius, Oregon

Only get married once.

9/21/2012 6:26:44 PM

[email protected]

do take the time to find a mentor

don't take on too much all at once in the form of too many plants in one season....remember it is fun and lots of work but so worth the reward at the end of the season...

9/21/2012 6:32:26 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

never used anything but horse manure.Nothing but overhead watering all summer long and all watering was done midday under full sun with municipal water.

9/21/2012 7:10:05 PM

Buffalo, New York

Do: Dream
Don't: Give up

9/21/2012 7:12:35 PM

Johnston, R.I.

Do keep it fun
Don't let it stress you out

9/21/2012 8:00:07 PM

Muddy Waters

Do be positive,The power of positive thinking is amazing.Don't use any manure thats under 2 years old,even Alpacca!

9/21/2012 8:21:36 PM

Connellsville, Pa

DO: Enjoy this hobby.
Don't: Pose shirtless with your pumpkin..

9/21/2012 9:42:31 PM

Torrance, Ca.

You be nice! :)

9/21/2012 9:54:25 PM

Santa Rosa, CA.

Lol @ Brett. If you do get married more than once take your soil with you.

9/21/2012 10:31:14 PM

Littleton, Colo

Make mistakez and learn from them........don't be afraid to push the envelope........DO NOT forget MOTHER NATURE iz in charge ! ! !

9/21/2012 11:49:33 PM

West [email protected]

Do: know that there's always things to learn and there's always next year to apply your ideas
Don't: be narrow minded to new ideas and don't stop experimenting

9/22/2012 12:20:32 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Jabronic...a big lol...thanks!!

9/22/2012 12:22:44 AM

Muddy Waters

Yes Biz, but she can be manipulated.

9/22/2012 6:44:00 AM

Rhode Island

do - make a friend or two along the way (its only a pumpkin)
dont - expect the best --- (plan for it instead)

9/22/2012 7:39:23 AM

Wallingford,CT

DO - recruit new growers AND mentor them. (You will reap more than you sow)

Don't - believe every post you read unless you want to building a castle.(sand)

9/22/2012 9:04:39 AM

Upa Creek, MO

Do: not listen to me
Don't: listent to me

9/22/2012 9:36:58 AM

Baker City Oregon

keep one foot on the ground at all times!

9/22/2012 10:38:59 AM

Glosta

Do - weed

Don't - forget to weed

9/22/2012 10:57:10 AM

Michigan,up North

DO-grow on a pallets,would make my life eazyer next week,Dont-aggree with Jabronitc lol no bellyshirts.

9/22/2012 11:09:45 AM

Wisconsin

Do: take a soil test
Don't: take a soil guess

9/22/2012 11:49:05 AM

Colorado

do-learn from growers in your area.
dont-forget its a long season-stay with it the whole time

9/22/2012 1:40:09 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Do Check The Springs On Your Trailer
Don't not have a back up plan B

9/22/2012 6:49:20 PM

Deerfield, Michigan

Do: Spend time finding good seeds on BP.com.

Don't: Forget to turn off the water.

9/22/2012 6:51:59 PM

Annapolis Valley Nova Scotia

Horse manure is great here for me, my 2 horses are bedded on peat moss the manure is composted for 1 year and then put on my patch. The result is a drought resistant patch. I do not till, just add about 8 inches of manure each year, and never have to water. I have no problem with weeds. Ph needs to be watched because of the peat moss though.

9/22/2012 7:15:37 PM

Michigan,up North

i forgot to turn the water off and left it on till the next day,the hose was in middle of the 1723,on day 14 of kin,it grew 53 to 60inches,first time i got 7 inches i alway avg 4inches,.i must not water enough.

9/22/2012 7:34:32 PM

Maine

DO check this message board often.....
DON'T lose your sense of humor!!

9/22/2012 7:48:45 PM

Honesdale Pa USA

Don't forget to ice the beer.

9/23/2012 2:56:05 PM

Cheyenne,WY

Do thank the growers who have helped you along the way.

Don't put blackstrap molasses through your acid injection system.

9/23/2012 11:31:21 PM