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Rhode Island

thats right pumpkineers one healthy pumpkin loaded and ready for the show is better than three in the patch
let me explain myself.
we spend the better part of six and one half off season months educating ourselves ,getting seeds, ammending soil,purchasing supplies,networking, etc, so we will hopefully have a better opportunity for success each new planting year.
sometimes all the work pays off and sometimes it does not.
unfortunately as clint eastwood said " deserves got nothing to do with it "
there are tons of early fruit out there right now with world record numbers. where are they come weigh off time?
chances are they either blew up, split, quit growing or fell to a soil or insect born disease. remember

first -- your growing a freak of nature.

second -- your plant is over 450 sq ft-- thats a lot of leaves,vines and roots that are subject to insects and disease.

third -- lots of gods creatures enjoy nibbling at your plant

fourth -- theres that blossom blow out thing just as it gets interesting.

fifth -- dont forget mister sag line ( or dill ring if you prefer ) as sure sign of possible pending doom.

sixth -- how bout them early damaging thunder and lightning storms? drought? to much rain ?

the moral of my story? you can get lucky and bring a pumpkin home from each plant you put in (sometimes ) but, more likely than not if you are counting on one or two plants to get you to a weigh off you very well make arrive there with an empty truck. sad but true.

i never start to feel comfortable about my chances until the pumpkin is loaded and ready for transport.( gently lol )

pap

7/29/2006 6:03:53 AM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Thanks for creating this weeks nightmares Dick! HAHAHAHAA

7/29/2006 7:01:00 AM

Mt.Pleasant,Iowa

Yes this is so true so far in 3 years 26 plants and only 3 pumpkins have made it to the scales and 0 have made it to a weigh off so far (still have a couple maybes yet this year)Never say die even when the pumpkins do. I will make it to a weigh off someday even if im in last place.

7/29/2006 8:38:14 AM

Burt NY

Thats my story

7/29/2006 10:42:38 AM

Indiana

what if I dont have 3 plants left? LOL This is so true!

Tom

7/29/2006 11:02:15 AM

No Place Special

Pap hit the nail on the head! If this sport was easy, then EVERYONE would be doing it. Its the dissapointment and disasters that make you feel really good when you do actually get a good one to the scale. Best of luck to everyone.

Mike

7/29/2006 11:36:00 AM

Knopp, Germany

I've said it before, and I will say it again. Believe nothing you read on this site (in the diaries), and half you see...LOL

7/29/2006 12:53:30 PM

Santa Cruz, CA

Pap, thanks for helping all of us keep this all in perspective. As a fairly new grower I appreciate a reality check. It does feel like luck is part of the big picture and what can you do about that? I'm trying not to get too attached to any one pumpkin and put the emphasis on enjoying the process even with a gopher in the patch.

7/29/2006 1:13:51 PM

Belgium Europe

Very true...
Sure i like to bring something to the weighoff, but i'm enjoying right now to see them grow!
And sure i would like to see one growing far above the 1000lbs, even if it splits.Indeed you can end up with nothing, but at least you 've had the pleasure to see them grow.
Jos

7/29/2006 2:06:06 PM

San Diego

if you have to lie in your diary for this sport I just have to laugh. :) Sure people are competitive, but that's a little over the top lol

7/29/2006 4:15:53 PM

Buffalo, MN ([email protected])

Pap, in a pervious post you stated you didn't dream about pumpkins. Now I see why, you just have nightmares. lol
Bill

7/29/2006 7:19:15 PM

ordinary,VA

lost two plants in late June.
lot of true words pap.
down to four more plants and plenty of sleepless nights ahead.
i should have taken up bass fishing..

7/29/2006 8:12:10 PM

Puyallup, WA

Thanks Dick...just when I was starting to feel better about this year!

7/29/2006 11:10:17 PM

Ohio

Just when you think your plants are the healthest and your pumpkin couldnt be growing any better,,, Bam!, it hits, all them expensive fungicides and insecticides you payed big bucks for and applied through out the season still doesnt pay off cause your now looking at a disease you never had the day before. It hit me that fast this year on a couple plants, didnt even give me a warning, sucks alot, but thats growing.

7/30/2006 9:28:45 AM

Salmon Arm, BC

sorry...I don't understand your point here pap. What are you trying to say? Sure it's a bummer when bad things happen but that's not going to squash my spirits. That's half the challenge! I'm not going to kid myself...I know the odds are against me but what are you suggesting I do? Give up? I'm having too much fun..When it ends it ends. Sure I'll be mighty pissed off, but I don't have to feel that way right now! Let me enjoy it while I can! lol

7/30/2006 10:55:32 AM

Long Island,New York

Pap...you are SUCH the amateur !! Around here we get 2 or 3 in a truck ! Keep trying Buddy !!!!!!

7/30/2006 11:14:05 AM

Salmon Arm, BC

Oh Great! Now I'm just picturing a cartoon of blond chick with fingers in her ears going "la la la la la" while pumpkins blowing up behind her! By the way Dick, your toons make my day! I'm always using them for my background on the computer..People at work just howl!

7/30/2006 11:44:22 AM

Rhode Island

deb

My point was speaking from many years of experience. yes i have tasted success and yes, i have tasted failure.
my son and i have lost more than our share of championship pumpkins and i do know what it feels like. especially when four numbers are involved.

My point was to encourage people not to get to worked up because when disaster does strike ( if you are any kind of competitive grower ) then getting to excited early on makes the down side that much lower.

Also, i wanted to incourage the many good people on this site to try and get at least three plants in every year to incresae there chances for success.

Other than that i had no point to make.i usually let my experiences and reputation do the talking for me.

Sorry you took my post in a negative way.

pap

7/30/2006 4:05:14 PM

Mocksville, NC

Lol@ Deb great cartoon pic! If i can get to a personal best, and in the truck, and certified by weighmaster, and ag inspector. It will be fantastic! And it makes your whole year of planning, and work,A GREAT THING! But very hard to do, so many if's, and whats, till then i keep my expectations low, but is the road worth traveling? altho most of the time bumpy, and rough, and trouble along the way, and shear flat out- gave out( Southern term)In my opinion~ A team of wild horses cound't stop me from doing it again,someday one will be in the truck safe , and sound, and the road behind me will vanish! I wish all of you great luck, and new personal, state, or world best this year! And enjoy the spoils because you will have earned it! Roger

7/30/2006 4:23:39 PM

San Luis Obispo, Ca.

YES! Indeed it is a long Summer full of obsatcle I will very happy if I can finish the (3) I have set.

7/30/2006 4:30:22 PM

Salmon Arm, BC

pap,

ok, point taken. I have the UTMOST of respect for all of you tried and true growers out there, I guess I'm just getting a bit tired of the lack of optimism out there. Sometimes miracles do happen but yes....reality check...you are right...don't count on em! Best of Luck everyone and remember..It's not the ultimate destination..sometimes it's the journey that counts. Sincerely, All the BEST! Deb:)

7/30/2006 9:21:35 PM

So. Maine

And if things don't work out the way you hoped... Wait til next year ...lol

7/30/2006 11:31:32 PM

Roanoke Il

Pap has made a great point last year was the first year in 6 years of growing that my biggest pumpkin made it to the weight off. It does get very depressing at times when you have put all that work into growing a monster and she goes down a week or two before the weigh off. So expect that you are going to loose the biggest pumpkin and it by some chance she makes it to the weigh off be happy as hell... mark

8/1/2006 11:09:11 AM