From

Location

Message

Date Posted

British Columbia, Canada

Who had an absolutely terrible year and didn't end up with anything? I'm feeling a little left out here...

10/7/2012 3:18:32 AM

Ellwood City, PA, USA

Nope. You are not alone. We are in the same boat.

At least I can brag about my cover crop, since I got started in August. :)

I get a kick out of reading about the successes others had though. I show my kids the pictures, etc... That gets them excited for next year.

10/7/2012 7:41:53 AM

Massillon, Ohio

Most of Ohio is right with ya!

10/7/2012 8:05:01 AM

Ireland

i had a horrific year, but ill be back next year better then ever!

10/7/2012 8:34:52 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

It sucks when it happens...causes many to move on to another hobby...some even quit pumpkins and grow these things called squash...Never give up...there is always next year

10/7/2012 8:44:58 AM

Williamsburg,KY

This season was the worst. I was on my way to reach 1000 lbs and at 831 est, some skin rot started and well, season ended mid August. I am enjoying growers who were able to overcome the heat. My hat is off to every grower who got one to the scales.

10/7/2012 8:45:33 AM

Wi

No.

10/7/2012 9:07:23 AM

Right there with you. Lost my 1495 stelts @1000 pounds when it was only 40 days old. Bummer.

10/7/2012 10:33:24 AM

Bemidji Minnesota

I had a good year this year, but I know several guys who do better most years, and the heat and weather hit them really hard. One of those years where either folks did REALLY good, or had a REALLY rough go at it. Not much inbetween.

10/7/2012 10:51:41 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

What happened JA? Weather in BC was fantanstic for June, July, August and September...

Did your plants not cooperate? BES, Stem issues? What happened??

10/7/2012 11:42:00 AM

nanaimo,B.C,Canada

My plants were still too small by July 1st, because of june. Not good for me.

10/7/2012 11:58:13 AM

England, essex

no last my 2 plants in the spring,
they got beat up bad by the wind :-(
all my fault,,,,,,,,,,,,,

10/7/2012 12:08:17 PM

Upa Creek, MO

I grew a hell of a salad.

10/7/2012 12:13:34 PM

Minnesota

A lot of aborts, I was happy just to be able to mayyke a cross.

10/7/2012 12:28:17 PM

Western PA

lost 4 out of 5.

10/7/2012 12:36:31 PM

British Columbia, Canada

North Shore,

We got nailed by thunderstorms in June. The plants got pretty beat up despite my efforts to protect them.

July was hot, dry and full of disease. All 4 plants were dead by the end of July.

Eh, there's always next year...

10/7/2012 1:43:29 PM

some years your the windsheild.some years the bug

10/7/2012 1:45:43 PM

Minnesota

lost 5 plants to disease 4 pumpkins to splits. 0 for 9 total.

10/7/2012 7:18:40 PM

Minnesota

Correction, 4 plants to disease 1 sterile.

10/7/2012 7:53:01 PM

Anchorage Alaska

hear you.. this year was a major step back.. happy to get a couple kins to the weigh -off.. not to happy with the results.. big changes in store..lol..rethinking my growing philosophy.

10/7/2012 9:14:01 PM

Deerfield, Michigan

First year here and didn't realize it would be this tough. Hope for a better 2013.

10/7/2012 11:07:29 PM

The North Coast

Had very high hopes this year too, many improvements to the patch...soil tests, irrigation, and everything else I thought it would need. A few really difficult diseases later and after a dozen or so aborts I was done.

10/8/2012 7:03:03 AM

Rhode Island

whatever you do dont quit. ron and i had many off and on seasons for a long time.if you work at it and study,etc,sooner or later things change for the better.

there were many past seasons when ron worked just as hard as he did this year only to end up disapointed with the results.

very rare if ever that all plants make it each year. 50% loss is never out of the question either.

your growing a freak of nature.keep learning and concentrate on the things you feel held you back this year. was it disease? to much of any one thing? need more edcuation? better seeds?

pap

10/8/2012 8:18:12 AM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

As Don puts it, I was a bug on a 106 degree windshield this year as were a lot of Iowa growers. And I'm following pap's advice and not giving up. I have already started patch prep for next year.

10/8/2012 2:49:02 PM

Gig Harbor, Wa

Mixed bag here. We lost 5 out of 8 to one thing or another. One left going to Central Market next Saturday that may be a new personnal best. Managed to split my best 30 day pumpkin ever, split one more, lost two stumps,and had one rot on the vine. Manged to terminate a pruners life in anger and threatened to quit more than once. Despite all the problems, I have learned many lessons and I still had an 859 yesterday and may still get a new best and my first 1000 pounder this Saturday. This hobby can cause alot of frustration but hanging in there can result in a good final outcome.

10/8/2012 6:23:12 PM

British Columbia, Canada

Thanks for the advise, pap.


Mother nature was my biggest issue this year. Although I probably need a little more education, too. lol

10/9/2012 12:44:17 AM

Littleton, Colorado

In 1987, I felt like I was the bug on the windshield, JAB. Wind, hail, deer, rodents, then more wind and hail. I'd planned to come all the way to Vancouver from Littleton. My pumpkin was so much smaller ( & lighter than 1983,1984,1985, & 1986), I was dejected & almost scrapped my plans for the long trip to VanDusen Botanical Gardens' first weigh off. My mother encouraged me to go, and just HAVE FUN! So I did, and to my shock, I took first place with my measly little 323 lb. pumpkin. As it turned out, British Columbia growers had an even tougher growing year than I had!

10/9/2012 3:19:51 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

BiZ started with four....I started with 7.....Tough year you say....the 7 deadly plagues.....started in late MAY with a midnight hour long hail, storm plants just getting out of their hooperZ... attack of the rabbitZ,... then the JUNE heat 105º with 30 MPH furnace windZ, then the drought....no rain with all time record of consecutive 90º
dayZ....Then came the squash bugZ and yellow vine disease....then the elkZ came and stompped on the growing vineZ....all plantZ lost...no pumpkinZ came from Jareds this year... 11 total.

10/9/2012 10:01:03 AM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

Ya know Wiz....No one likes a whiner....LOL

10/9/2012 10:05:02 PM

Anchorage Alaska

Whiz.. that is brutal..every calamity you can imagine..yikes

10/9/2012 11:42:18 PM

Zurich, Ontario Canada

I had a goal of my first 1000+ this year. I'm pretty sure I would have got there if it wasn't for extreme heat and sunburn. There's always next year!! (I am getting sick of saying that every year), but there's always next year!!!!

10/11/2012 5:16:15 PM