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On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

The GPC just seems to be getting bigger and bigger. A new world record pumpkin coming from Switzerland makes the point. If the Chinese start getting into it who knows? Will the World Record for a pumpkin ever return to the US or Canada? The GPC has become world wide. The biggest tomato this year may well be from Finland. The biggest watermelon last year was from I can't remember where but not Carolina. Competition is ramping up. A 2300 pound pumpkin might require a flat bed truck for transport. Its all too much. The day of the backyard weighoff is gone!!

9/12/2013 8:14:33 AM

Wi

Marv, how many world record pumpkins have come from the US? Almost all of them. I don't think we are in danger of losing that % any time soon. There's probably a great chance the next (as in the next after 2009) world record will come from the US. I believe our friends in Canada will continue to sprinkle in a well deserved world record now and then, and yes there will likely be something from over seas.

I think it's crazy to think that MOST world record pumkpins will all of a sudden be grown somewhere besides the US or Canada. The number of GOOD GROWERS in the US and Canada continues to increase. Yet further increasing our odds.

I generally look at it this way. There are about 30 growers in the US and Canada that have about a 80++% chance of growing the next world record each season. Then the other 20% or less could come from anywhere....including other growers from the US or Canada.

So could the next world record come from someone we've never heard of? Yes...I think about a 20% chance...or less. But I bet the new WR will come from someone pretty accomplished in the hobby and most likely from the US of Canada.

9/12/2013 9:20:49 AM

SW Ohio

Those aren't very good odds for those of us not in the Top 30. Here all this time I thought if I bought a great seed, worked hard, and had some lucky weather I had a shot at it.

9/12/2013 10:50:54 AM

Colorado

I believe the 2328 pound weight shows that greenhouse growing has the potential to dominate world class weights.When a grower can "control the weather" they can extend season temps which is needed to maximize weighs. 1723 in alaska,1810 in nova scotia , 2328 in switzerland and 1775 in oregon. If you want to go big build a large greenhouse.

9/12/2013 11:16:05 AM

Honesdale Pa USA

1810 in Nova Scotia? Chris did you move your greenhouse? lol

9/12/2013 11:33:03 AM

Honesdale Pa USA

I do agree with the greenhouse theory, definitely an advantage there.

9/12/2013 11:36:56 AM

Knopp, Germany

The time has come for a combination of the pumpkin version of the Ryders Cup and the Presidents Cup, more to this subject in another post.

9/12/2013 12:13:07 PM

Colorado

Sorry-1811,mold monster-greenhouse N.S..Chris S. doesnt have a greenhouse-if he did watch out

9/12/2013 12:34:31 PM

Minnesota

Hmmm...there's a whole bunch of us that ain't close to 2300 yet:)

9/12/2013 1:05:51 PM

NILES , CALIF

I can see soon, a grower build a greenhouse and hook up everything to work automatically
on to his laptop;you can monitor the heat and cold controls
fertilizer on certain days and time; spray fungicide on certain days; water at certain times; you can add cameras
in the greenhouse to make sure all looks good.Dont have to
go in the greenhouse only if your laptop tells you.
Its coming, if not here already.

9/12/2013 1:09:29 PM

Belgium

theory of Chris= bullshit

9/12/2013 1:10:50 PM

norway , maine

@ ETM - pretty aggressive summation of Chris's theory. Just curious how you arrived at the (bullshit) value ?

9/12/2013 2:56:30 PM

France

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/displayphoto.asp?pid=7321&gid=-49036

9/12/2013 3:06:59 PM

Zurich, Ontario Canada

This is a world competition meaning anyone in the world can win!! I think the more competition the better. This is just a sign that eveyone has to step it up a notch. It will be tougher to get a piece of the pie. (preferably pumpkin pie)

9/12/2013 3:34:33 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

I was told by a retiring heavy hitter in our Province that the only way we can compete on a world scale is to control the climate more and grow indoors like others are doing.

When we move from the big city, back to Vancouver Island and can get some land....large hoophouses are in my future.

9/12/2013 4:02:48 PM

west central IN/East central IL

2 classes: manipulated environment & natural environment, but bottom line is, it still has to make it undamaged to the scales. Good Luck

9/12/2013 5:57:05 PM

Muddy Waters

I figure theres 50 percent chance that 80% of us will put our foot in mouth once or twice a summer.

9/12/2013 8:49:19 PM

Honesdale, Pennsylvania

Future looks bleak.. guess I will plant garlic.

9/13/2013 9:16:39 AM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Garlic did not do well this year. You will need a greenhouse to get big garlic.

9/13/2013 10:40:29 AM

Stanwood, Washington

I agree on the greenhouses being the wave of the future. You can control the temperature, you can control the moisture, you could even potentially control the composition of the air. All of this adds up to ideal conditions and less stress on the plant which should lead to more growth. I know I would be growing in a greenhouse if I had the space and the money to do so.

9/13/2013 1:45:45 PM

Minnesota

I read some of the first postings here, they used to interview the world record holder. Would be interesting to see if he would devulge anything! I'm sure if he or she said he drank beer and sang to it everynight half of us would be doing it!

9/13/2013 1:49:45 PM

Georgia

Greenhouse growing should be in its own division Ive said a bunch of times. I get grief evertime I talk about my dislike for greenhouse growing. Even when I show pics of pumpkins to folks that no nothing about growing giants if they see a greenhouse in the picture they always say "yeah but its grown in a greenhouse". That being said money or not I will never grow in a greehouse.

9/13/2013 1:52:59 PM

Growing in a greenhouse presents its own problems.One fellow i know has lost all five he has tried growing.
Can anybody tell me what is the difference between trying to create a warmer enviroment where it is cool and someone using shade cloth ,blankets to keep pumpkins warm / covered from sun to stop from ripening,ice packs to help them germinate,fans etc..
All of it is trying to affect the climate to enhance growing conditions and none of it is natural. And no, i do not grow in one yet but i do have to use a large hoop house till at least the middle of june due to a cool climate.

9/13/2013 2:23:21 PM

Upa Creek, MO

Spudder, hail ruined my season and one plant completely early on. That is one reason I would like a greenhouse, not to mention Vine Borers, squash bugs, cucumber beetles, birds etc.

9/13/2013 6:19:45 PM

I would imagine in Missouri that your biggest problem with it would be trying to keep it down to a reasonable temperature . Good luck if you try it and grow it big.

9/13/2013 6:39:58 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

OK the growers whining about the advantage of a greenhouse, and growers who use a greenhouse should have a seperate category. What next no use of early hoophouses, soil tests, pesticides, fungicides, and irrigation. Then we could deduct make a category for growers who grow more than one pumpkin plant. It is Giant Pumpkin Growing...there are no rules except to bring a sound pumpkin to the scale, and act in a sportsman like manner doing so, encourage others to grow and help them achieve a set goal doing so. It is awesome mentoring someone and watching them achieve their goals, and yes sometimes they even beat you at the weigh off. If growing the world record is your only goal this is not the hobby for you.

9/13/2013 7:18:06 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

WOW! Greenhouse could be to pumpkin growing what steroids were to baseball? By the way, the largest tomato so far this year was grown in a greenhouse. Hmmmmmm.

9/13/2013 10:21:39 PM

Bethlehem CT

Greenhouses definitely come with their own problems too. I know if I were to grow mine in a greenhouse mites would be a big problem for me. They are not nearly as big a problem outside. Everything has it's ups and downs.

9/13/2013 11:14:23 PM

Stanwood, Washington

Lol at a guy in Georgia complaining about greenhouses. I bet your opinion would change in a hurry if you had to grow where I live. Average high temp in August is 74 and average nightly low in August is 53. I think there should be a separate division for warm climates and cool climates. :)

9/14/2013 1:27:41 AM

Finland

Marv. I really want to grow my tomato plants outdoors but I can't, because I live in Finland and we have to have greenhouses if we want to grow giant tomatoes.
Well, in this year we had very warm summer and my tomatoes suffer a lot because of the heat inside the greenhouse and for example my 5.80 grew only 40 days... usually my tomatoes can grow over 50 days, so... greenhouses can cause troubles too.... and don't worry Marv. the biggest tomato wont come from Finland in this year, there is much better growers out there, sorry if I made you feel upset with my PB tomato.

9/14/2013 1:35:32 AM

Hamilton - New Zealand

I like Linus's points, you can't start fracturing the types and breaking down to every little thing, that would be crazy. I also like the last statement. "If growing the world record is your only goal this is not the hobby for you"

9/14/2013 1:53:54 AM

anytown U.S,A,

How did this thread get into all about "Greenhouses"? I thought it was about where the pumpkin was grown. The 30 good growers and the 20%.

9/14/2013 7:01:42 AM

Minnesota

O'k, where's the green paint, wife will have to understand, kids will have to watch t.v in another room! he he

9/14/2013 8:28:45 AM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Tuija: I am not upset by your tomato. I was just pointing out that more than just pumpkins can be grown in a greenhouse. You did a good job with your tomato. It was huge and beautiful. I hope you can grow an 8 pounder in your greenhouse. I know you are serious and work hard. My post was not aimed at you. Please do not be offended. Marv

9/14/2013 8:52:41 AM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

PS: I am thinking about building a small greenhouse. I would bet lots of others are too.

9/14/2013 8:54:26 AM

Nottingham, UK

Are we all not just trying to beat our own pb's year after year and maybe the friend that you compete with. I just want to grow the best I can in the conditions I have.

9/14/2013 9:01:14 AM

Zurich, Ontario Canada

Linus said it the way it is. Good job!!!

9/14/2013 9:08:09 AM