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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

9/14/2013 9:41:03 AM

So right. I think most of us are really talking about a large hoophouse.It would be really hard to controll humidity and temperature without expensive equipment so all it really does for most growers in cooler climates is to allow a growing season closer to what people in the sweet zones have.

If you don't have the ability and hard work, etc. ,it doesn't matter where you grow them,you probably won't grow big!

9/14/2013 10:15:04 AM

West Paris Me.

Don't forget, there should be a category for those who have easy access to manure vs those who don't. Those who can afford all of the expensive fertilizers vs those who can't.
Those who have time to bury all of their vines vs those who don't. You could go on forever. Most people can find at least a small advantage somewhere. Such as being mentored by heavy hitter or access to the best seeds.

9/14/2013 11:08:58 AM

Muddy Waters

Amen! brothers & sisters! Its Awl Good!

9/14/2013 12:17:41 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

did Ron Wallace,Jim Bryson,Chris Stevens,Christy Harp grow in a greenhouse??

9/14/2013 12:28:29 PM

England, essex

i can moan,,, lol,, don't get me started!

;-)

9/14/2013 3:45:14 PM

New Hampshire

Life not fair... get use to it

9/14/2013 6:49:50 PM

Princeton Kentucky

Screen Houses and Green Houses have their advantages and disadvantages both. I've been hit with powdery mildew in the screen house due to humidity levels off the chart!! BUT ole "Liberty" is still puttin on the pounds,We ourselves are our worst competition not the person with the better growing environment I feel.lol.....Heck, I've just discovered a neighbor a few miles from me I went to high school with 30+ yrs ago that just throws Hollands Silver Bullet seeds in his untilled, unfertilized back yard and puts out kins in the 600-700's not even covering them up or spraying...just work hard at what your capable of doing and make yourself proud first.. I and many others will call anyone who does that a WINNER!! Good Post Linus, You along with many others have helped me out of some points growin here and I hope to do my daughter and I proud in Anamosa on the 5th, it ought to be good!! "Live Well, Learn More and Grow'em Big"!!

9/14/2013 6:54:52 PM

Muddy Waters

Nope they didnt Carl,but we aint hit 2500 yet,let alone 3000 lbs.My money says the greenhouse's will rock these weights out of the park.

9/14/2013 7:59:17 PM

Bottom of ohio

Big wins

9/14/2013 8:10:01 PM

Upa Creek, MO

From what I have seen, the guys who use a greenhouse really need it just to make growing possible. Dale and JD are shoveling 4 feet of snow out of theirs just to start the season.

I personally think my plants would fry here in a greenhouse, but it would help with the hail and insects. If someone grows a record in their basement, that is ok with me.

9/14/2013 8:37:23 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

i don't want to put my foot in my mouth or get egg on my face.lol So go get it.:))

9/14/2013 9:23:01 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

lets just get 2010lbs to the scale!!! intact:))))

9/14/2013 9:50:23 PM

(rocky) Bonney Lake Wa.

No they didnt but they all live in an area where the over night temps are higher than most areas and a higher humiduty as well. I grow in a greenhouse mainly to try to immulate the same overnight temps an humidity so thatI can compete with those who have the optimum climates.

9/14/2013 10:12:49 PM

Honesdale Pa USA

Weather is weather you can't change it. Sometimes the east has it, sometimes the mid west has it, sometimes Canada has it, sometimes the north west has it, sometimes Europe has it, where ever the "perfect storm" hits there is a potential for a world record. With a greenhouse you can help simulate optimal growing conditions. Point I'm trying to make is who the hell cares whether a world record is grown in a greenhouse or outside or on the moon. Its still a world record. Well maybe not on the moon! lol.

9/14/2013 10:55:24 PM

Nottingham, UK

You can't change the weather true and if long range forecasts like this were to hold true then I will not grow a good outdoor pumpkin for the remainder of my growing life

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/paulhudson/posts/Rare-solar-cycle-has-cold-implications-for-UK-climate

Time for a greenhouse

9/15/2013 12:50:16 PM

Mt.Pleasant,Iowa

Mine get fried several times a year here and gets just as cold at night as outside so I could have temp. swings from 120 to 50 degrees in one day and night. But I can go out and work in there any time and protect them from high winds if I can keep it up. This year I had spent $2500 just on plastic and repairs from storms.

9/15/2013 7:12:18 PM

Georgia

There is definetly a clear advantage growing in a greenhouse anyone can't deny that. Theres nothing wrong with it but its a clear cut advantage. Personally I like to see growers in different states and different regions beat the odds that their climate and region gives them and grow the biggest they can. Mrs Shannon actually no one was whining but discussion a issue that obviously many growers have thought baout.

9/16/2013 2:11:43 PM

Belgium

I thought growing pumpkin was all about inventing new things to grow bigger, a greenhouse is one of these things :)

9/16/2013 4:05:31 PM

England, essex

nothing new about growing in greenhouses, the Victorians were doing it, and they had heat too.
Think you can even grow sour grapes in them??? lmao

9/16/2013 5:24:02 PM

Upa Creek, MO

I wanna grow moonshine... does moonshine grow in a greenhouse :/

9/16/2013 5:43:19 PM

Rhode Island

dont matter where or how you grow. ya still gotta know what the hell your doing.
i have always respected growers that combat difficult climates to grow a big pumpkin.
they are the true champions of our hobby.
pap

9/16/2013 5:44:06 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Jason LOL MRS SHANNON I can assure you I have a stem...

9/16/2013 6:57:48 PM

Piqua, Ohio

the corn for your shine will grow nice in a greenhouse

9/16/2013 9:44:29 PM

Warwood

I really like what pap said..it's really the whole science of the growing, your desire and interest, what it takes and what time and effort you're willing to expend.

9/16/2013 11:04:02 PM

Belgium

you all think growing in greenhouse is easy? growing in it is easy but getting a big one out of it is not that easy. I have grown outisde and in the greenhouse and I can say that all who have ever done this can tell you that it isn't that easy as it looks. You will be faced with lots of other problems you wouldn't have outside. Standard greenhouses aren't that expensive, you already have one for a few 100$ and I do think it should be possible to save that amount of money over a few years

btw , never said growing in greenhouse is new, I said growing big pumpkins in greenhouse is new.

9/17/2013 1:13:27 AM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

Lol luke grows best deep in a holler

9/17/2013 8:26:18 AM

Upa Creek, MO

Then I should be able to grow the best moonshine cause my wife hollers at me all the time.

9/17/2013 10:17:29 AM

Omaha, Ne.

lol

9/17/2013 6:57:42 PM

Rhode Island

growing in a greenhouse is not as easy as one might think. you really need to know exactly how to control the atmosphere inside, the soil, watering,feeding,fungicides, heat,humidity,etc,etc.
not as simple as a covering over the plant in early spring.
pap

9/18/2013 8:31:24 AM

Princeton Kentucky

pap, you are so right on all points. Just lost the 1248 sundstrom to heat and lack of air movement (cooling)through the Plant in the lower atmosphere of the screan house. I put big metal 16 x 4ft roofing sheets along the sides to combat spring storm winds, well I couldn't get them back out without trampling the plant. Next year they go on the outside and hinged to the bottom rails for quick response to approching storms. Linus, lookin back at the 2013 growing season I'd say its a battle either environment, inside or out thats for sure but the process makes us wiser,lol. It did keep the bugs at bay. I'd say its a 50/50 draw to get an AG to the scales whether its an open conventional patch or screenhouse greenhouse. Thanks for a good topic

9/18/2013 11:47:37 AM

France

Regulate the temperatures is a difficult work inside a tunnel.
Shading clothes and/or misting system are a must but it's costy. During this summer, I had up to 63°C inside ! A lot of evaporation, so have to water more. Also spidermites are a common problem since it's hot and dry. When you have to bury the vines kneeling for hours during hot days, you really suffer...Not forgetting the bloody voles and moles loving the hot atmosphere...

On a positive part, it helps the plant to grow quicker, it protects against the wind, the hail, the storms, the rain. Co2 is higher too which is better for the plant. Spraying is more effective and not flying away, shut the doors and let the leaves absorbing during the evening before to open them again early morning. To sum up, there are good advantages and bad inconvenients.

9/18/2013 6:35:46 PM

Muddy Waters

Yes I learned this year I will have to water 7 inches a week to keep soil moist when temps are over 90.Pap is right, you have to know what your doing.Im working on it Pap ,give me a couple more years.I might figure it out.!

9/18/2013 7:14:47 PM

West Paris Me.

Soluble salt can be a problem in a greenhouse as well since you do not have the rain and snow to prevent them from building up.

9/19/2013 1:58:11 PM