From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Lexington, Ky

If you can't throw a rock from your patch to the 45th parallel, chances are you are experiencing symptoms of GD.

When I heard about the Wallaces 2,000 pound pumpkin, I said "GD!"

When Quinn put up the monster Field Pumpkin, again...I said "GD!".

And Jeremy's squash...another "GD!"

GD it....I'm moving...

11/1/2012 9:54:13 AM

Piqua, Ohio

I know what you mean, look at southern watermelons versus northern melons!!!

11/1/2012 12:41:22 PM

San Diego

yup, try growing on the southern border. We can never compete with the northen guys:)

11/1/2012 1:43:04 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Jim, I'll pack up and move if you and Vince do ?



We could start a Church up above Napa!

11/1/2012 3:57:34 PM

Corryton, TN

I'm determined to prove the pumpkin theory wrong. Just need to learn more and work harder.

I know those yanks can compete in the melon category! It's proven.

11/1/2012 5:39:12 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

That's the spirit brotherdave!!!

11/1/2012 5:47:25 PM

Upa Creek, MO

What about us center folk... not north, not south, not east, not west.

I guess I'll compete with my redcoat friend, Dandytown.

11/1/2012 6:14:15 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Well Luke,,,,, Redneck pumpkins is about all you guys have going in that part of the world! LOL!!!!!

11/1/2012 7:23:04 PM

Upa Creek, MO

lol, Chris if I can get one pollinated before August and that doesn't blow up in the 40 day range I'll be happy.

11/1/2012 7:27:17 PM

Torrance, Ca.

;)

11/1/2012 7:49:50 PM

Bethlehem CT

I wonder if an earlier start would help down south. Have the pumpkin grow 35 days up until the summer solstice then another 35 days, after.

11/1/2012 9:02:50 PM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

Im right there with you brotherdave gona give a a go.just need to come up with ways to keep things cooler down here

11/1/2012 11:52:13 PM

Nicholls Georgia

this comeing year 30% shade net and mister's to keep them cool i got a 10foot X 50 foot roll off ebay for $60 bucks come on spring

11/2/2012 1:05:11 AM

Citrus Heights, CA

Jim, Just curious on why you think you guy's cant compete down there. Ron Root

11/2/2012 10:47:44 AM

San Diego

simple. Shorter days than up north, higher sun angle, which is harder on plants and hotter. A 90 degree day in New hampshire does not compare to a 90 degree day this far south. Totally different on the plant. Plus, the sunlight difference. Our sun rise is later and sunset is earlier by a significant amount of time each day in the middle of summer. All of this equates to a shorter growth cycle for the plant and pumpkin as well! If I had to guess, I think 1400 lbs would be like growing a world record in my san diego climate. I think it could be done with perfect weather, perfect soil, perfect seed!

11/2/2012 1:22:15 PM

Home of happy lil plants

after seeing what I saw this year, Im not going to say the southern states can't grow something beyond huge. Stocking up on the nice expensive 30 percent shade cloth is what kills us.

11/2/2012 2:10:20 PM

Muddy Waters

If I were down south I would find a way.Plants only need 50% of the sun to be 100% productive.with shade cloth & watering(misters) theres no reason you cant grow some biggins.I wish I were down south I could grow some bigger melons for sure.If you had a kin cave you could keep plant cooler.If you dont mind spending 2 grand you could build one.I hope this dont tick you off,just my 2 cents!but if I had any sense I wouldnt be on here ticking you off!LOL

11/2/2012 5:25:00 PM

San Antonio, tx

Our plants just plum tire out is more like it. I haven't grown pumpkins yet but if may use tomatoes for my example. Our tomatoes begin growing in march and the grow very well as long as you have warm days(80-90) and cool nights(50-60). But beginning in May we get into the upper 90s which is fine however at night it starts hitting 70-80 with high dew.points. Our plants grow during the day and try to grow also at night. They can't rest and burn themselves out.

It would seem that most likely here in TX we'd have to use misters and shade cloth to do well. Probably have to feed heavy so our plants metabolize.everything so fast

11/2/2012 6:01:53 PM

Upa Creek, MO

Handy, by 50% of the sun, does that mean heavy tree shade? lol? I just ask because that's what I get... on average full sun 9am till 1pm then heavy shade. That statement gives me a little hope.

11/2/2012 7:42:15 PM

Muddy Waters

Well! On the kin cave,my insect screen removes about 15 to 20% of the harsh sun you dont need anyway.If I then hang weed barrier or you could use shade net.The plant is now in the shaded about 30to 40% which makes it 5 degrees cooler then the direct sun.Then combine with a few fans & daytime watering you can drop the temp another 5 degrees.The initial investment is costly but the hoop house is good for years.The screen keeps bugs out,where plastic doesn't & gets to hot.If you could find the perfect spot where your plant is shaded from like 11 am till 5 pm. you could get the same result.When I walk in the Kin Cave & its 98 degrees outside,it feels cooler inside the kin cave.It has a shaded effect even without shade net.50% of the sun is all you need.You could grow in the shade of the right tree I think & do much better then in the full sun.

11/2/2012 8:23:00 PM

Muddy Waters

to make this clear.Im saying 50% of the suns intensity.Not hours of sun exposure.

11/2/2012 8:26:31 PM

Wi

My opinion is that the handicap the folks down south face is disease. Humidity causes disease and plant stress. We saw that here this year and last year right on the 45th parallel. I live less than 3 miles south of the 45th. Hopkins is almost dead on the 45th. We got smoked.

Humidity is our greatest asset as well as our greatest enemy. Too much and you are toast. Just right and you can grow a 2009#er. It was the same here in 2010. We had lots of wet and humid and we grew #1 and #3 on the planet. I complained all season as the 1810 sandbagged us all.

We get humidity in streaks here with breaks. The poor folks down south deal with it through the season. I can't imagine. I feel that in the midwest central Iowa is about as far south as you can get and expect to have a shot at a WR pumpkin.

It does seem however that folks are figuring out some of the environmental challenges. I just don't know how you can irradicate humidity.

11/2/2012 8:40:14 PM

Muddy Waters

With a A/C unit in a Kin Cave,A/C pulls the moisture from the air!lol electric bill 3 grand!!

11/2/2012 9:30:35 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

Shade cloth is one of the ways that the Utah growers went from the 1100 range to the 1500, one was 1600.

11/2/2012 10:38:09 PM

Lloydminster/AB

I have some experience growing in greenhouses that have some very warm temps now and then. I read that statement about plants tiring out with interest. I believe that hot temps cause the plants to use a lot of water..if the soil has any amount of salt, it will accumulate in the leaves making them look old and withered. I'd bet that in warm climates salt content is much more important than in cooler climates. I've reduced salt content in my soil and my plants last much longer now.

11/2/2012 10:50:30 PM

San Diego

handy, you are welcome to come down here and try! Best weather for anything besides growing pumpkins all year around! In the middle of january, it's 70 to 80 and I go golfing and fishing:) About the only thing we can brag about when everyone else is freezing their butts off;)

11/2/2012 11:43:13 PM

Upa Creek, MO

Thanks Handy. And I agree on the humidity comment. Anyone who can grow a biggun in the deep southeast with the extreme heat and that much moisture in the air is a heck of a grower.

Don't forget other factors like insects. Growers in the west are lucky they don't have Vine Borers which are far worse than any leaf chewing insect IMO.

11/3/2012 10:40:47 AM

Upa Creek, MO

Sorry, after re-reading my 2nd statement, I wasn't trying to take away from growers out west either. I know they have the high heat and shorter days like Jim said, Wizz has Elk in his patch and I can't even start with growers I have seen try out in the Arizona desert. So many factors all over that contribute, but one of the first things I read from one of Don Langevin's book is the "orange zone" is latitudes 40-46, and I'd say 40 is pushing it.

11/3/2012 11:55:43 AM

Torrance, Ca.

When ever any of us think we have it hard,,,,, we just go to Dale or JD's diary's and realize how good we have it!

Those two are true animals!!!!! ;)

11/3/2012 5:08:00 PM

Rhode Island

amen so.cal,amen,

jd and most recently dale are true die hards of the hobby.
im amazed at their success rate. outstanding.

pap

11/3/2012 6:55:22 PM

Omaha, Ne.

Do I order the 30 LED grow lights, shade cloth, bug screen, air conditioning. or maybe cheaper to move. So make room guys here I come. :)

11/3/2012 10:18:15 PM

Anchorage Alaska

So cal.. Pap .. thanks for the encouragement.. as for the greenhousegrowers out there.. I beleive JD is the pioneer of that ..as far as growing in the far north,..the man is a inspiration ..I'm trying to get him to move to rhode island..lol..

11/4/2012 2:20:44 AM

Bethlehem CT

I will not deny that weather plays a huge factor in a growers success, but I believe ultimately it is the grower who makes or breaks it. Out of all the Other states, Connecticut's climate probably most resembles Rhode Island's (Eastern Mass too.) But the Rhode Island numbers are in a different league than ours. The state record in CT is 1487. Does that mean that as a CT grower, we will never be able to compete with Rhode Island? I don't think so. CT's weights may someday rival that of Rhode Island's or New Hampshires but we have a way to go.
Squash are native to the tropic America's. Techniques can be refined and taylored to maximize a growers advantages and to minimize their disadvantages. Look at the growers in Alaska or Colorado They use different techniques than we do here in the Northeast, and have been improving each year.
Lastly look at the state of New Jersey, the climate there shouldn't be too extreme to grow some real monsters. But they don't have the number of growers, working together sharing what they have learned and honing their techniques. So New Jersey is not really represented to any degree in the GPC top 50 or 100 pumpkins. I mean not to offend any growers but to challenge them to improve.

11/4/2012 9:43:08 AM

Lexington, Ky

Chris S. nailed it. One would have to spend alot of money to beat humidity in the south. A "cave", AC, and a gigantic dehumidifier would get you headed in the right direction but the other issues...sun angle, amount of sun, disease....difficult to overcome.

Yes, big pumpkins can be grown in the south but closing the 500-600 pound gap between the south's best and the north's best...dang near mission impossible.

11/4/2012 1:42:04 PM