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Peru

This is my 4th yr growing. I do soil test, and work harf to do what people tell me to do. Im doing something wrong cause alot of growers grover 1500 lbs every year. Could some of you growers tell me what you feed and water your kins. Ive never had a kin gain more than 25 lbs a day. I hear of people pushing a kin for bid gains. Tell me how you push yours. Help please , thanks

1/8/2018 4:22:06 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

hey phil..i finally broke the 1k barrier even after being poisoned with 2-4-D. The reason I think I did...i used the Langley soil calculator. Bry helped me with the amendments. He knows who you are. This year after you get your soil test...email him. I couldn't believe all the amendments that he suggested for me. I would have never came up with them on my own. Soil preparation is really a science. With the right soil to begin with...I think that it is a lot easier.

1/8/2018 6:04:46 PM

Peru

Hey Bob, i did have the soil calculator used. Cecil did it for me. I went by his susgestions. My first year i grew a 990 pounder , 2nd yr 771 , 3rd 650 with the soil calculator. My plants were the healthiest ive ever had. Mikkal Hodge set me up with a spray program. I used Rick J.rootshield. Im guessing not enough ferts( ureamate ) or not enough water. I have great drainage on a slight hill too. Thanks for the reply Bob

1/8/2018 6:47:42 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

You have had some really good growers helping you. I am wondering what seeds you are planting? This sounds like a good mystery to solve.

1/8/2018 7:00:05 PM

Peru

This year i used Marks mixes on a kin too. Now i did get a melon that measured 191 lbs, and 123 in lg. Just seams like im going backwards. If i cant figure it out im going to quit growing kins. I spend alot of time in the patch ( 40 + hrs a wk) I work too hard for the sucess im getting. I guess i just suck at kins lol

1/8/2018 7:01:26 PM

Peru

I grew 1278 gansert, mikes 2106 but it aborted every kin, 12?? Grounuald, 900miller

1/8/2018 7:04:00 PM

Peru

This yr every kin has 2145 in it. I hope that makes a dif.

1/8/2018 7:06:26 PM

Central NY

do you feel like you might be overwatering?...we had way too much this year but the long gourd did great....

1/8/2018 7:58:13 PM

Peru

During the hottest days in July and August i run the sprinkilers an hour a day. You can walk in my soil an hr after i water without getting sloppy

1/8/2018 8:22:09 PM

Peru

During the hottest days in July and August i run the sprinkilers an hour a day. You can walk in my soil an hr after i water without getting sloppy

1/8/2018 8:22:09 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Wow, at 5 gallons per minute, you are watering 300 gallons per day...2100 gallons per week. For where I live, that would be far too much.

It takes many growers years (including me) to grow a pumpkin over 1000lbs so you shouldn’t be too disappointed not having done that within your first 3 years growing. Keep at it, learn more about soil and fertilizing and you will get there.

1/8/2018 8:42:06 PM

Grittyville, WA

If you want to email me I can forward you Holland's info sheet. The genetics should help. I might be posting the same question next year myself... but right now I'm happy with where I'm at. Our 2nd year PB is "only" 559. My first year I got 2400 lbs out of a dumptruck load of goat manure and some miracle grow. But I had like 11 pumpkins on the two plants and it only added to 2400. If I had been smarter about setting just one fruit I think I would have had one at 1200 lbs or more...

1/8/2018 8:47:37 PM

Peru

My hose is lucky to put out a gal. Per min.

1/8/2018 9:18:12 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Do a bucket test ND Fan and you might be surprised. Take a 5 gallon bucket and see how long it takes to fill, then do some math. I don’t know of any sprinkler that will run on 1 gallon per minute, simply not enough pressure.

1/8/2018 9:41:00 PM

Bloomington, IN USA

Phil I think it would help all of us Indiana guys to do a patch visit with more experienced growers. I’m not sure who’s around you but guys that have had a greater level of success would include Mikkal, John Berenie, Mark Goodman & Phil Groenewold (?sp). In fact I’d like to see some of those patches myself. ;>} I promise I won’t introduce any stink bugs or step off the walking boards!!! Lol

1/8/2018 10:03:57 PM

Peru

I will check how much water per min, and yes i should visit another growers patch , thanks

1/8/2018 10:14:17 PM

Muddy Waters

So many factors involved to figure out your problem. Soil type? Are you walking on your soil? Over watering? How much sun.Sounds like your over watering in less your on pure sand?How deep are you tilling? Whats your soil test results look like? Seeds and fertilizers wont get you there alone.Methods & soil are huge factors.How much sun dos the plant get?

1/9/2018 7:57:18 AM

Muddy Waters

another question are you planting next to a driveway sidewalk foundation? or towards the center of your plot? Backing a plant up to a limited growth area for the root system is going to hurt your numbers big time

1/9/2018 8:01:20 AM

Central Illinois

My sprinkler puts out 80 gallons in 20 minutes or less, have you changed your vine burying mix ?

1/9/2018 9:40:14 AM

Central NY

Wait...you live peru Peru?....too hot and muggy...

1/9/2018 1:01:26 PM

Weatherman

n d fan You need to go to "The Big Show"

1/9/2018 1:32:33 PM

Torrance, Ca.

What Dr Compost said for sure.

You will learn more that weekend and be able to ask questions to as many growers as you'd like.

1/9/2018 1:38:07 PM

President - GPC

And needless to say folks will have seeds in their pockets...that they give out... the information exchange is worth hundreds of pounds in your next years grow...

1/9/2018 1:54:50 PM

Peru

Thanks for the great answers and questions. I get sun from 10am till 10pm. I till 8in deep plus braud fork it to 12in deep. I walk on planks . Sounds like im watering too much. I plant out in the open so nothing competes with its growing. I will get a moister meter.

1/9/2018 9:24:24 PM

Peru

Also i give each plant around 1, 000 sq. Ft

1/9/2018 9:29:08 PM

Peru

Also i give each plant around 1, 000 sq. Ft

1/9/2018 9:29:16 PM

Syracuse, NY

i have long been a believer in that my plants do very well every year but i don't have BIG pumpkins, as i should have, because i grow too many, in order to have pumpkins to SELL rather than actually win with, and every year i intend to break away from that regimen but i just LOVE to grow all those seeds! therefore, i've much less time to spend on each, and therefore, less, down-to-NO vine-burying, the very CORE of growing a monster(!); i am like the proverbial cat lady, lol---anyway, that is MY problem, but my PLANTS are always in good shape right up until the end; i had heard that there were fewer pumpkins at the weighoffs than ever because many had a hard time keeping their plants alive season-long---i had 12 or 13 still having flowers and rogue fruits up until frost, so, i attribute that and other benefits to tilling 5 pounds of Bio-Grow Endo Plus from Holland's Land O' Giants into each 1000 sf or less of growing area, so that it is THERE if needed and happens to see any roots of ANY plant growing into it, whether it be an AG or a burdock plant, lol---Mycorrhizae lies dormant until certain chemicals from a root activate it and it latches-onto the root system and does what it does (i do NOT believe that just burying the vines with it and putting it into the planting hole is the most that can be done with it - period. i'm suggesting this, i do this and aside from my other underachievements, at least this is not one of them---
PS---i am NOT a paid spokesperson, although Joel H DID grow
the 2363. try it and see if it helps, y'all----eg

1/10/2018 1:22:20 PM

Muddy Waters

Yes come to Portland it will put 100 pounds on your pumpkin minimum.

1/11/2018 7:09:51 PM

Peru

Portland isnt in the budget this year, ive been fighting cancer and other health issues

1/12/2018 8:51:06 AM

Grittyville, WA

thats not fun.
Guys uh if I put up the airfare can we get this guy a gpc ticket and a place to stay.?
Dont know exactly what i.m getting myself into here... email me please n d and pumpkinheads.
Lets see what we can do...

1/13/2018 3:34:45 AM

Grittyville, WA

wish you the best...with your health and with your success next season... Email me i can at least forward you hollands sheet. It would be nice if in the future the gpc would have a perhaps lightly edited video of the entire event for purchase although i realize a big part of the reason for going is just to hang out with other pumpkinheads!...

1/13/2018 3:59:23 AM

Peru

Thanks for all the great info, im sure with everyones help i will get 1k. I hope each and every one PB this year

1/15/2018 6:47:32 PM

Peru

Thanks for the generous offer. Im planning on going to Greenbay Wi. next year

1/15/2018 6:54:03 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

Great phil...Green Bay is in within my range. Hope to meet you in the land of the worst football team in the nation. Do you think I will need security if I am wearing my Vikings apparel. Those of you who cant make this years GPC convention..plan for next. I have a feeling that a few midwest growers that have never been to a convention will be showing up.

1/15/2018 7:17:57 PM