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Southern WI

I have come to the conclusion that Giant Pumpkin growing is a very expensive past time. I have the time, not the $$. I'd like to thank everyone for all the helpful information posted and responses, most of all the humor.(you people are a riot!!) I will keep doing the best I can with what I've got, but it's becoming very clear I won't be able to participate in a weight off, just maybe the biggest pumpkin in town and display it by the front door at Halloween. Thanks again. Deb

8/23/2003 9:22:14 AM

Montoursville, PA

Debbie the success is in the eyes of the beholder. I guarantee you if you will load into your patch horse manure, leaves, lime to get the PH in the range of 7.0 and just one bag of balanced organic lawn or garden fertilizer you will be more than pleased with the results. Do this for a couple of years and the patch will get better. Guess what? So will the fruit.

Just about the only thing that will not like that soil would be potatoes. Everything else should flourish.

Having fun and growing a big one is a figure of speech.You can and should grow to your personal goals while keeping improved soil as one of those goals.

Don't let us hot dog super giant goal keepers get in the road of your fun and pleasure. I would have more pleasure seeing you increase 50 lbs. naturally than one of us hitting the magic 1000 or higher.

There is a free source for excellent sugar in your neighborhood. Bet you can find it and and add it to your bag of tricks. Wasted or floor dropped icing will make your patch very happy. Go for it!

8/23/2003 10:10:51 AM

San Luis Obispo Ca

This is my first year and I have also found, it is just a lot of connecting with the pumpkin and folks involved. Keep with it, it's just for the fun!

8/23/2003 12:28:25 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Fall leaves are free...keep the patch and enjoy the sport of growing a big pumpkin! Out of the billions of people in the world were the only nuts that think a 60 lber is small...Most people won't take it home cause it 's to big to carry...spoiled beer, flat soda, dish detergent are all around ya..Most important is enjoyment keep it fun. Chuck

8/23/2003 3:30:59 PM

Taber, Alberta

This is my first year in growing AG's and my pumpkin seems to have stalled at abou 110 lbs. I'm kind of disappointed with this (I was all ready to drive 6 hours to a weigh off), but I enjoy having the kids at Halloween come to my front door and stand there in amazement at my big pumpkin. This is what will keep me going until next spring when I can't be growing my pumpkins. Keep with it and just have fun. Keep reading info from this site and learn from your mistakes (I've made quite a few this year I plan to correct) and you never know what next year will bring.

8/23/2003 6:14:57 PM

[email protected]

My entire career is centered around helping professionals manage their "cost per acre". We call it agronomy.
_______________________________________________________
Agronomy

Definition: [n] the application of soil and plant sciences to land management and crop production.

Synonyms: scientific agriculture

See Also: agrobiology, agrology, science, scientific discipline
_______________________________________________________

Missing from this definition is the word "economy", which in my opinion, belongs there. All growers professional or hobbyist have some idea of a budget in mind. I think Stormy has hit on an important question that is worth of a new thread all it's own. We are not producing a crop whose expense to produce is governed by a returnable value that is determined or limited by market. In other words people like me can rip out all the stops when writing programs & making recommendations because we know that the grower isn't limited by a commodity price cap. Only a handful of AG growers are producing a saleable commodity (though I know of two that do & there are surely more).

So the question becomes: What are we spending per 1,000 square feet to produce our AG's?

8/24/2003 7:51:41 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

$200 per 1000 sq ft

8/24/2003 8:07:32 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Yikes don't go there!!! The Significant Others will be watching!! Just kidding...Are you talking about the cost of tree removal/ bulldozing/ manure truck or just the bug fungus and fert aspect. Some of the stuff is initial investments that can be spread over the life of the project. cold frames, tarps, irrigation systems...then there's the annual purchases of fert's and preventative stuff. Every year I try to work on one of the investment side..cold frames this year...next year irrigation...but with all that, I have seen people till a plot and water get some awfully big pumpkins!

8/24/2003 8:13:34 AM

Brillion Wisconsin

I figure I spend less per week on my pumpkins than I would spend if I golfed once a week. Dean o

8/24/2003 10:35:02 AM

Montoursville, PA

I guarentee anyone the beer I no longer drink and cigs I no longer smoke more than pay for the pumpkin insanity. I have this down to a science. It pays me to grow these damn fool things. If I was over by the ice chest smoking and feeling sassy I would be losing money and having no pumpkin fun.

8/24/2003 10:55:14 AM

[email protected]

Dean if you think I'm selling my clubs to finance this hobby you're nuts! LOL Besides. I got my Wilson Deep Red woods on ebay & my irons from a friend with a used sporting good shop. New grips were cheap. I won the putter. Oh man, this is sacred stuff.

Chuck, are you saying the Mrs. comes here too? I though this was more like the Country Club were they had their own days out with special tees & such.....wow

8/24/2003 1:17:37 PM

Long Island,New York

Honey-there's some fungus on your tomatoes...Daconil by the gallon.
Honey-the parsley looks kinda dry..maybe we should use some soaker hoses...400ft of hoses bought.
Honey...you gotz aphids !. Warrior T works on aphids.
Listen Dear,if I buy a 400 dollar trailer it will absolutely pay for itself when I save the sheetrock and lumber delivery charges for your dormer and new kitchen cabinets.
How am I gonna spray your tomatoes without a sprayer?
And prepare your tomatoes without a tiller?
Yeah, it is a bit hot here on the deck...maybe a nice trellis with overhead foliage will do the trick? Damn-keep bumping into those giant gourds now....
See...Pumpkins cost nothing...but boy those tomatoes are REAL expensive !........G
How

8/24/2003 2:28:12 PM

Webster, NY

I'll try to sit down and figure out my cost tonight, but either way, it's worth it for the summer of entertainment I get trying to grow these things (will I ever get it right?) and for the winter of entertainment I get talking and listening to everyone here.

8/25/2003 9:07:55 AM

White Plains, NY

If I post the real cost my wife will not be happy therefore my total cost is $l.98 and I'm sticking to it.

8/25/2003 11:45:05 AM

syracuse, ny

my problem is pretty much the opposite---i can afford it, but the weeds get out of control, the pollinations and pruning are time-consuming...just haven't struck a balance of what needs to be done and what i want to get done!
what i want is to spend all of the time with the plants, as they are each amazing to me, each with such potential!
if you grow just ONE plant, one that COULD easily grow a world record with the proper care, please do it! my problem is there are soooo many promising seeds, i can't help but grow a half-dozen or more a year, and so far it's been a mistake in the time department....save your pennies...grow!

8/25/2003 12:26:42 PM