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South East

Several years ago, organic growing became the trend. No synthetic fertilizers,,but seaweed, kelp, fish, humic. No 10-10-10 or 20-20-20, not pushing a fruit but rather supporting it. With all the blow outs, crazy gains, bloated leaves, dill rings and weird shape fruit this season, i assume the organic revolution is over?

8/15/2012 1:19:38 PM

The bottom of New Jersey

Not here it isn't. It's a way of life!

8/15/2012 1:40:33 PM

France

Agree, it's a way of life !
Organic products work slowly but surely. I don't think it's the reason of all the problems you mention.

8/15/2012 2:13:52 PM

Central Minnesota

I agree....not the reason for the problems.

8/15/2012 2:35:48 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

pretty hard to blow up a 1200lb pumpkin @ day 50 with fish and seaweed Frank.

8/15/2012 3:20:46 PM

South East

I think yall are missing my point; Is growing leaning more and more towards the chemical fertilizers again? Cause like you said,,its hard to blow up a fruit with fish and seaweed, i imagine its hard to grow 1600 plus with only fish and seaweed to.

8/15/2012 3:43:35 PM

Ontario

Mehdi might have something to say about that! :o) Terry

8/15/2012 4:02:53 PM

France

LOl Terry !
I did use only organic stuff when I grew the 1611 back in 2009. In fact, all my vegts are organic.
They are generally slow growers but steady. They live and last a long time.

Ps :sorry for the big " White space", my son press the keyboard ...lol

8/15/2012 4:06:44 PM

The bottom of New Jersey

I understood what you meant, Tina and Frank, and I think your point is a very good one. I fully believe you can create and maintain a mostly healthy plant all season organically, AND get big consistent gains through top genetics and soil-building techniques without blasting them with fertilizers during the fruit's peak growth periods. Build the soil in the fall and early spring, and for the most part they will do their thing in the summer without the extra work.

8/15/2012 4:36:23 PM

Bristol R.I. USA

Chemicals rule, insecticides rule, organic...i guess its okay but given the choice......

8/15/2012 6:02:39 PM

Minnesota

1630, all organic except a couple pounds of calcium nitrate in early may

8/15/2012 7:03:50 PM

Annapolis Valley Nova Scotia

Interesting thread.
I grow organic and will not use chemicals unless I absolutly have to. I believe if your soil is right then you will not need the chemicals, at the end of the day all that the chemicals do is kill your soil. For short term gain, I understand their use but in the long run you lose all of your great soil attributes in my eyes.

8/15/2012 8:11:31 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

I don't use synthetic fertilizers(except what might be in my potting mix), or toxic chemical insecticides/fungicides. I grow my pumpkins in the same garden I grow my vegetables in, so I want to stay away from various toxins.

8/15/2012 10:21:48 PM

1622
1658
1662
all organic ferts

8/15/2012 10:27:09 PM

Anchorage Alaska

I grow organically.. I have to since.. I have to plant in the same soil year after year..no pesticides here either

8/15/2012 11:39:40 PM

Netherlands

Two WRs here organically and now moving forward toward permaculture.

8/16/2012 3:02:52 AM

Bethlehem CT

I think a lot of the splits are occurring from environmental causes too, July was very dry and hot and now we have excessive humidity with too much rain, Coupled with warm nights the pumpkins are really surging.

8/16/2012 8:32:09 AM

NE Kansas

My opinion is that the organic supplements and fertilizers have simply improved dramatically over the last 5-10 years and now you are starting to see results on the same level or greater than what the synthetic products are capable of. My garden has done done very well this year with little extra help despite the extreme conditions. My neighbors on the other hand who only use synthetic products and no manure have seen their gardens struggle along and nearly collapse if they neglected it for more than a day or two.

8/16/2012 10:27:09 AM

Hampstead, NC 28443

All organic for me except I use 9-59-9 a few times right when I put them in the ground to encourage root growth.

8/16/2012 11:52:48 AM

Wi

1810 was grown with zero chemical ferts. As have every other pumpkin I've put on the scale.

8/16/2012 12:24:36 PM

Piqua, Ohio

After I got Don's book on growing organic I was hooked, but I'm not setting any record's! An organic farmer told me it's like taking vitamins or eating a nutritious meal which one would you want, I used chemicals for two years and couldn't find any worms in a half acre garden! In the last six years they have come back!

8/16/2012 12:57:56 PM

France

To be organic gardener, you need no chemicals amendements, no fungicide, no insecticide, no chemical fertilizers, no weed killer etc...at all. Prevention is a must cos there're almost no organic way to cure any disease or insect.

8/16/2012 4:21:13 PM

canal winchester ohio

Mehdi that is what I was thinking as I was reading all these posts. All organic is ALL organic. No chemical fungicides,insecticides & weed killers

8/16/2012 4:25:39 PM

Minnesota

Mehdi, no fungicide, no insecticide, no chemical fertilizers, no weed killer ???? = No pumpkins for me ...
Is Miracle Grow Organic enough?

8/16/2012 5:14:17 PM

South East

Well,,thanks god everyones all organic,,i guess i,m gonna have to double up on the seaweed, if i wonna blow up my blossom end,,lol.

8/16/2012 10:33:43 PM

Minnesota

You can take away my life but you can't take away my freedom! Its not over tell we decide it is, was it over when the germans bombed pearl harbor? hell no. It aint over!!

8/17/2012 12:18:45 AM

Rhode Island

you either are or you are not. ya cant get a little bit pregnant.

8/17/2012 8:18:58 AM

Wi

The original question by Tina / Frank was "no synthetic fertilizers." As in organic fertilizers.

Chemical fungicides / pesticides were not mentioned. If anyone in the lower 48 can grow a 1500# pumpkin all organic I'd like to hear about it...lol. I'd love to be able to do that!

8/17/2012 8:57:16 AM

NE Kansas

All fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides etc. whether organic or not, are chemicals. It is rather the method of production that determines if it is organic or synthetic. Organic products are made by replicating a process that is found in nature. Synthesis is creating something by use of artificial means. The end product in both cases is of chemical makeup.

Pesticides are a syptomatic treatment. Bugs prey on weak and unhealthy plants in exactly the same way that a lion picks out a weak or injured wildebeast. Spraying the bugs eliminates the symptom but does not treat the cause. If your plant shows signs of a fungal disease and you spray a fungicide, the fungus will be killed but the cause of the fungus is untreated. Your soil has organisms in it much like your blood stream has white blood cells that seek out bad bacteria and kill it.

Simply feeding the organisms in your soil with healthy foods will do for your garden what synthetics will never be able to do.

What about organic fertilizers? When you see the need to spray a fertilizer it is because there is a deficiency in your soil food. It then becomes like taking a supplement or vitamin to make up for what your soil is lacking. Feed your soil a widely varied diet rich in vitamins, minerals, protein etc. just the same as you would do for yourself.

Herbicides are the same. What types of weeds are growing in your garden are symptomatic of a particular soil deficiency.
Spray the weeds or pulls the weeds all you want, but if you do not feed the soil properly you will be forever stuck in a cycle of weed infestation.

Feeding your soil healthy untainted food can do for you what synthetics can never do. It eliminates many types of weeds that you will never have to pull. It eliminates diseases that you will never have to treat. It eliminates bugs that you will never have to spray.

Make the choice to feed your soil healthy foods and you will revolutionize your gardening methods.

8/17/2012 10:38:31 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

I would like to see this magical garden with soil so healthy that weeds won't grow there and pumpkin plants will To me that is a true oxymoron.

8/17/2012 1:24:19 PM

The bottom of New Jersey

Lol Jim. To me, the cycle of weed infestation ends when you pull them all for years and never let them go to seed. Even then, seeds will blow in, birds will crap over your patch - they always find a way back in somehow.

Chris, I am working on that, hopefully I will get back to you about that in 2013!

8/17/2012 2:05:17 PM

Novar, Ontario

R B Great John Belushi reference.

8/17/2012 7:39:59 PM

Bethlehem CT

In a few years we may not have a choice, as to what chemicals we can and can't use. People who know more about agriculture like our senators and congressman will be making the organic vs. inorganic decision for us.

8/17/2012 8:03:17 PM

morristown, Tn email [email protected]

20-20-20 is better for you pumpkin than the meragogroww

8/17/2012 9:43:09 PM

Minnesota

Thanks, I was trying for the mel gibson speech in Braveheart to.

8/18/2012 12:02:35 AM

Piqua, Ohio

Hey Richard not to offend you but it was the Japanese that bombed Pearl Harbor, but I still get what you're saying. Folks might not understand what D Nelson is saying but after a few years of organics you can grow in the same patch year after year with no rotation. Sometimes learning about the science of soil is tough but if you read it a few times you'll get it. My best pumpkin patch has had AG's in it the last four years.

8/18/2012 2:15:36 PM

Minnesota

That was my attempt at humour, the first part was from Braveheart, with Wallace giving his speech to pump up his soldiers, the other was from Animal House, John Belushi.

8/18/2012 2:40:56 PM

Minnesota

Trust me I know, my Dad was in WW2, I have watched my share of war shows, world at war etc.

8/18/2012 2:42:38 PM

Piqua, Ohio

I was hoping you knew that, but a bunch of the younger folks probably don't know that!

8/18/2012 3:39:23 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Lol I thought it was hilarious RB

8/20/2012 12:48:09 AM