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Central NY

Where are all the new growers this year?.. How are we doing?.. Freakin out yet?..there's alot of knowledge here on these boards.. Don't be afraid to ask dumb questions ...I do it all the time...

6/9/2015 2:28:01 PM

NE Arkansas

I'm here...This is my first year with giants... about to pollinate soon so I'm sure to be stressing very soon... Ive learned a ton from the boards and a couple of growers who have taken me under their wing so to say...

6/9/2015 3:16:43 PM

New Berlin, PA

Another new grower, here. I tried to learn as much as I can from previous posts before asking. If you ask my wife I'm sure she'd tell you I am constantly worrying about something. This week has been the wind....

6/9/2015 3:41:31 PM

Central NY

Oh Dj... If you were a worrier already, ....

6/9/2015 3:45:14 PM

New Berlin, PA

Last year I tried growing Big Max or some kind like that. I basically let them do their thing. This year I figured why not try to do better, be more educated, do things the "right way." I am enjoying it greatly, but the more you learn, the more you realize what can go wrong. To my wife's credit, she is a great sport about it, and tolerates my craziness.

6/9/2015 3:56:18 PM

Central NY

Yea.. I somehow got lucky enough to get a good one too...AND she loves weeding...does it get any better?

6/9/2015 4:39:04 PM

Home of happy lil plants

im always freaking out...

6/9/2015 6:46:31 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Only 142 times today though Spence,,, not to bad for you:)

6/9/2015 6:49:53 PM

Central NY

It will only be a matter of weeks before we will worry Wayy less and just look at it 142 times a day...

6/9/2015 8:56:00 PM

Bloomington, IN USA

I had tried last year but am much better prepared this year.
Still got a lot to learn & I know my soil is not nearly as improved as what I see on the diaries here.
Just put in my drip tape irrigation system.
I seem to be having some problem with the pump.
I have to play with it some more.

6/9/2015 10:59:39 PM

San Diego

I have been worried ever since I got my soil test results. I managed to improve it a lot, but the pH has me worried. I will be doing some much needed foliar feeding when my plants get settled...
They have only been out of the ground for ten days.

6/9/2015 11:23:34 PM

San Diego

I over-heard a family member say I was nuts so I know I am on the right track.

6/9/2015 11:29:26 PM

Central NY

Wow...I didn't get called nuts until my second attempt..you must be doing well...

6/10/2015 7:39:28 AM

East Jordan, MI

lmao somebody, yep that is the first sign of becoming a good grower.

6/10/2015 7:48:14 PM

NE Arkansas

I've only texted Spence about 600 times in the last 3 days... I hope he has unlimited text! If not I need to send him some $ for his phone bill!

6/11/2015 10:49:07 AM

NE Arkansas

Getting read to set a kin so I'm sure I'll be even worse after that... lol

6/11/2015 10:50:58 AM

Central NY

Oh yea... Way worse...

6/11/2015 9:37:38 PM

East Jordan, MI

if you only knew....you would run away now....lmao j/k, I live for this!

6/12/2015 6:52:30 PM

Torrance, Ca.

600 texts,,,,,,,,, yup,,,, your normal,,,,,,,, and the more you learn,, the worse it gets! lol

6/12/2015 7:02:16 PM

Freehold, New Jersey

hello, My name is Benji and i just started growing pumpkins this season to fill in my moms front yard and side yard borders. I knew a guy when i lived in oregon who grew competitively and when asking him for advice he told me to come here for everything i needed to know. the Front yard is half Atlantic Giants and half First Prize hybrids. the side yard is all first prize hybrids, my over all goal was to make the front of my moms property look neat for our late summer wedding. My plan is to grow one pumpkin per plant and keep them closely pruned once they fruit. So far i have 13 plants. 5 in the front and 8 on the side yard. the plants up front have anywhere from 3 to 7 leaves and the side has 7 to 11 leaves. the biggest plant is starting to grow tentacle looking vines on it. Does this mean flowers are soon to come? plants are also 6-8 feet apart. any advice or questions are warmly welcomed

6/15/2015 6:37:58 PM

Freehold, New Jersey

the wedding is august 29 btw

6/15/2015 6:38:31 PM

East Jordan, MI

benj the plants will probably need more space than you are giving them.... probably the minimum is 8 to 9 ft wide by 10 to 15 ft long to get a AG to set a pumpkin. im not sure about he others.

The AGs will put out flowers when they are about 40-45 days old if the plants are big enough to support a pumpkin. If not it will take a little longer.

6/15/2015 7:04:11 PM

aurora, IL

I am still a new grower. I am growing the 1916 Barron and the 1513 Sherwood. The Kins are growing fine, just getting way too much rain. I am glad the patch has not flooded, due to a lot of soil prep-work.

6/15/2015 10:25:17 PM

Central NY

Benji- definitely keep spacing in mind ...also.. At the End of August you will prolly have the older leaves dying off.. Maybe beginning early August ,let some tertiary vines start growing near the the stump to "fill in the brown areas"...(it will look nicer)..also.. Svb control...they can ruin a plant..I would hate to see them ruin wedding pics...best of luck to you.. Hope you found a good one...

6/16/2015 7:33:25 AM

Freehold, New Jersey

Thanks for the advice, is there any indication on how big can will get from the size of the leaves? How many leaves until you get a flower

6/19/2015 8:05:44 PM

East Jordan, MI

its more about maturity for flowers. Males will start blooming on a 3 ft, 45 day old plant in a 6 inch pot. but it will never have a female (at least by my observation) until the plant is at least 5 or 6 ft long.

6/19/2015 8:19:49 PM

Alfreton,derbyshire,uk

Hi all,im a new grower,i did a big max last yr by chance it was was 6 & half stone without any attention,its fascinated me so im ready to plant again,atlantic dill and another big max plus the usual howden and jack o latern for the kids,any tips welcome,ive the muck and the hen poop tea ready available so feeding not a prob,temps arnt great in the uk at moment thou,thanks julie

6/19/2015 8:47:13 PM

Central NY

Julie ...pruning is essential to getting them big... Lots of info on this site... The Search bar is great... Good luck

6/19/2015 9:50:56 PM

Aurora, Il

I am also on board. I look forward to attempting to grow this year and learn from everyone! Today, I pollinated a nice female (self) and now the waiting begins along with too much rain here in Illinois!

6/25/2015 6:42:08 PM

Case grande arizona

Please help us!! I just posted on the screen before and asked for some help. It will make a little autistic boy very happy if I grow a pumpkin!!

6/29/2015 9:53:19 PM

Ukiah, Mendocino county, California

I am a new grower this year just starting to dabble was not able to do as much adding of mulch this year but this fall i will go to town. my question is how do you choose which ones to cull? I have 5 growing well in my space really only have room for 2 have some good starting almost size of a basketball some others that are smaller on other vines but i have to cull someone they are starting to run into each other the one I have in the best position in the space has is a little slow on pumpkins but good on leaf.

7/14/2015 5:13:34 PM