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San Jose [email protected]

I am curious as to how much people spend on patch prep and ferts/chemicals throughout the year. Also, how much time per day average per plant

10/25/2005 5:07:59 PM

Utah

$$$ - too much ... always more than I budget. I spent over a lot on fugicides and insecticides this year. Some of that will carry over for next season.

Time - I'd say 1-2 hours everyday in the patch from April - July. then 1/2 to 1 from July on. I grew 6 plants. I get free manure ... dumped in front of my house ... then I have to haul it to the patch. I also drive around taking people leaves ... so those add some time too.

10/25/2005 5:40:57 PM

addison Il

Me and sis spent about 500.00 on patch prep this includes seeds bought on the net(generic) black and clear plastic shade tents, pvc pipe,gator clips , cattle fencing ground tiller mushroom compost lots fish emlusion and enough pesticides and diesese control product to last a while. next yr we are buying our own tiller getting tons of compost dumped into the patch buying lots of merit for those darn cukes and getting whatever else we might need for a big one. all and all next season we should be spending alot more but in the long run its all fun as for time in the patch everyday for 6hrs i dont work in the summer so we sit and realax and if something doesnt look right we change it we grew 6 plants this yr but with the real giants we grow next yr things should be alot busier.

10/25/2005 5:47:06 PM

Alex, IN

I spent $400 dollars on everything I used this year. Thats includes: fertilizer, wind protection, watering and diesese and pest control. The watering and wind protection will be good for several years to come. Si in the long run it will be about 25 dollars per plant.

Mikkal

10/25/2005 5:59:58 PM

Rexburg, Idaho ([email protected] )

I don't want to know the answer to this question, and I especially don't want my wife to know.

10/25/2005 7:34:28 PM

Hobbiton New Zealand

I just glad the farm pays for mine

10/25/2005 7:34:58 PM

San Diego

for those on a severe budget like me, for ground prep and fertilizer, I go with 6 inches of leaves and grass clippings (free), 1 or 2 yards of manure from a local farm (6 to 13 dollars), and a 50 lb bag of gypsom (6 bucks). Then I get an organic 3-1-4 fert for like 30 bucks. Then just water during the season, no ferts besides this. around 45 bucks for everything and had my best results ever. keeping it simple stupid works for me:) Jimmy

10/25/2005 7:44:15 PM

addison Il

oh i got my watering hoses the soaker hoses for 1.00 each at a garaga sale that and our overhead wand sprinkler thingy and sheets me and sis got lots of deal at gargae sales or resale shops just remember someones trash may be a pumpkin growers dream , now its time to go round up old skids lol

10/25/2005 9:11:53 PM

Montoursville, PA

I flat out refuse, to answer this question, on the grounds that I may incriminate myself. Enough already! And then a little more.

10/25/2005 10:06:00 PM

Indiana

ohcrap...I dont know maybe....4 score and 7 hundred dollars....LOL

10/25/2005 10:16:58 PM

[email protected]

I told my wife that my budget is $150.00 a year for ground prep, and $50.00 a year for seeds
Eddy

10/25/2005 11:50:01 PM

Mill Creek West by god Virginia

hummn i told my wife it dont cost me as much to grow punkins as it does to run my race team but i think she wonders hummn i guess ill keep punkin financing a secret shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

10/26/2005 12:34:57 AM

Netherlands

$15 dollars for seeds, $6 to rent the land, $2 on foliar fertilizer = $23. Grew three pumpkins.

That was 2005. Now 2006.

$5 for stamps for seeds I'm getting. $15 for buying stamps and envelopes to send other people free seeds, $30 to rent my new patch. $40 to rent a rototiller twice. $75 to build a big hoop house and a few small ones. $??? for a huge load of manure that is coming in the spring. That's more than $200 for 4 pumpkins and a squash and I haven't started yet.

10/26/2005 3:10:49 AM

Netherlands

I forgot to mention the pie for the lifting team and the free 340 lb pumpkin for the guys that provided the trailer to haul the pumpkins to the scales.

Like burrhead I have another hobby that up till now cost many times that amount each year. But that hobby has kind of faded out to make room for the pumpkins.

My wife and I fixed a certain budget per month that we can spend on our hobbies. If you don't spend it one month, you can use it the next month.

As far as time is concerned, I try to get to the patch every day. My new patch is closer to home so that should be no problem. As I am growing in a hoop house next year, I will need to pay a visit at least once a day.

10/26/2005 3:17:52 AM

[email protected]

Eddy????????

10/26/2005 5:32:18 AM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

LOL Eddy.
$650 for fence
$200 for manure
$40 for tiller rental
$40 for gypsum
$65 for Neptune's Harvest
$40 for bubble packs & postage
$25 for corn meal
$25 for winter wheat cover crop
$50 for incedentals (pesticides & fungicides + others)
Growing a 1000# pumpkin-PRICELESS

Phil

10/26/2005 6:55:26 AM

Berlin,mi.([email protected])

i tried to keep track of what i spent, but when the season was over and i started to look at the amount that i spent i decided it was better to not know. i did manage to get about $900 back form selling pumpkins and gourds. one thing i do know is that the pictures of the kids with the pumpkins are price less.

10/26/2005 6:56:23 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

What fun is is if we have to itemize what we spend :) Just remember golf is roughly $20.00 for 18 holes...plus beer and food. If we don't stick our money in to this hobby. It will be some other hobby. Has anyone seen my fishing boat?

10/26/2005 8:12:46 AM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

well.........lets just start with the new truck to haul a pkn.....lol.........I'll stop while I'm ahead!

10/26/2005 8:15:25 AM

Itzetown City

Do all that beer that I drunk by weeding count as pumpkin costs?

10/26/2005 8:33:39 AM

Omaha, NE (N41-15-42 )

LOL Eddy! is that in thousands?

10/26/2005 9:00:33 AM

Wv

Good answer shannon. I have too many hobbies as it is. Actually after the chemicals and water used im afraid to venture a guess.

10/26/2005 10:35:05 AM

[email protected]

So I was a tad off on my Budget. LOL
As Shannon said, It's a hobby. I know guys that spend $30,000.00 on a harley, $25,000.00 on a fishing Boat, and $15,000.00 on a Golf getaway to Australia. I just grow Pumpkins
OH CRAP, I could have had a Harley, A fishing Boat and could have went to Australia Golfing. Maybe I need to rethink this LOL NEVER, NEVER, NEVER

10/26/2005 10:53:59 AM

Eugene,OR

The great thing about growing pumpkins if that you don't NEED a fishing boat, a trip to Australia, or a Harley to be entertained!

10/26/2005 11:07:11 AM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Its more like you would have no time for a harley, a boat or wouldnt dare take a vacation!....LOL

10/26/2005 11:10:26 AM

huntsburg,ohio

about 3 hours early on 1 to 2 hours later season money wise about 5000 this year plus a new 32,000 Kubota be less next year.Jerry

10/26/2005 11:21:22 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

You know this hobby is bad when you buy land and consider a mountain of aged llama manure an asset.
I agree with Lisa...I could have spent more...

10/26/2005 11:33:50 AM

Long Island,New York

$1,350.00 in gasoline alone.....I'll stop now before I get in trouble.

10/26/2005 7:01:58 PM

hmm-in case wife reads here-not very much at all

10/26/2005 7:31:06 PM

Streator ,Illinois

about a tenth of what i spend on 2 fishing trips to Eagle River Wis. every year

10/26/2005 8:18:04 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Yikes! Glad I got to watch the "Great Pumpkin" last nite cause my son Alex now is able to say to me..."but dad you got a Rock!"...I would love to play 18 for 20 bucks but alas that about the cost per hole around here...LOL..One more shot with the electric fence...all told with the leaves , grading, tilling , ferts....no can't go there wife would never let me get the fence!!! but besides the costs ..I still love reading and watching what you guys are doing out there..just amazes me at all your accomplishments!
you keep growingemBig...Chuck

10/26/2005 10:29:19 PM

Indiana

G...you got more in gas than me! I had just over 500 in tractor gas! Transportation to work isnt tax deductible....LOL

Tom

10/27/2005 1:32:51 AM

Western NY

i spent about:
$200 on some agro-k things (with a lot left over for next year), $7 on liquid Sevin, a couple bucks worth of warrior-t, $200 on gas hauling manure and soil, $12 on urea (90% left over for next year), $10 on lime, $15 on buckwheat seed, $50 on Fish and Seaweed (left overs from the last few years), $12 on Maxicrop seaweed powder.

overall, i'd say about 5-600, and a LOT of that lasts a couple years.

10/27/2005 9:49:18 AM

Pembroke, New Hampshire

I've started spending already, for next year.
$900 for 45 yards of mixed loam/compost.
$900 for 1 ton hoist tripod and hoist.
$100 for extra RR ties for the garden expansion.
I estimate $20,000 for the divorce lawyer and councilling sessions.....(just kidding honey).
And climbing.........

10/27/2005 2:16:10 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

cndadoc, how much extra if 2006 fruit weighs 2200#...LOL Peace Wayne

10/27/2005 10:25:07 PM

Midwest

I am on a dial-up. That's 16.95 a month in internet costs... I hurt my shoulder digging up grass... that's a lifetime of pain.... hmmmmm.... I think my neighbor hates me.... collateral damage.... I get a good feeling waking up and looking in the backyard... thankfulness... meeting the growers at the weighoff ... friendships... gave my parents a big pumpkin and they are getting amazed reaction from their landscaping guy... joy... All-in-all, I think I'm ahead this year. Oh, I spent way more time in the patch than last year. got a couple of bites. Ouch!

10/27/2005 11:25:20 PM

Pembroke, New Hampshire

2200 pounds?- now you're just teasing me......
I'd need a new hoist, maybe a new tractor, a new truck, an agent to sell my house, $50,000 in lawyer and councilling fees..... Hmmmmm.....it might be worth it for a one ton gourd.......

10/28/2005 10:58:11 AM

Puyallup, WA

From what I see here, no one purchases seed from the online auctions. I spent over $400 in seed alone!

10/28/2005 1:41:15 PM

Sort of Sunny Sometimes, WA

stan!

10/28/2005 7:48:47 PM

Long Island,New York

cndadoc...just remember you only get 1100.....she got the other half.

10/28/2005 8:00:57 PM

Ohio

Stan, I spent 400 just on one seed, and $85 here $200 there$180, $140 over there,$150 over here,$95 there,$75 here.,$65,$55 list goes on...I think most of the Pumpkin clubs that had auctions last year liked me and you alot,lol

10/29/2005 12:43:32 AM

Puyallup, WA

...and don't forget, Eddie!!! :>)

10/29/2005 7:17:25 AM