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Muddy Waters

If you dont want to tell folks what you have growing thats fine.You simply say I dont kiss & tell.But Heres the Bigg BuTT To bold face lie is not a friendly thing & creates distrust,which dissolves friendships.Lying is not part of a friendly game.Just food for thought folks.Sad to see the bad feelings that have been created here by this very thing.Lets keep it fun!

10/3/2014 6:35:16 AM

Deerfield, Michigan

I started growing three years ago and thought everyone would be very open about how they do things. What I have found is that there are SOME growers who will tell you everything and some who keep everything a secret and could care less about helping anyone because to them it's a competition. Mark Clementz (Bubba Presley) has to be the most open grower I know. From the videos he makes for all to see to the simple phone call for advice he is always open and forthcoming with secrets of the patch. Let's test this theory by taking the BIG prize money out of the weigh offs and see how many growers would continue to grow. I know I would because to me it's FUN and a hobby.

10/3/2014 6:57:55 AM

Nottingham, UK

I understand where you are coming from, to sandbag and have some mystery is cool, lying is another thing.

Right this moment I'm having some friendly competition with a friend growing one of my seed at the school I work at. Both our kins are more or less the same size give or take an inch or two and it's all going to come down to which one comes in heavy (probably his).

After a crap year weather wise and therefore considerably poor growth, our daily banter over whose is bigger and whose has just popped, been eaten, blown away, gone missing etc etc is what has made my season.

Both kins hit the scales on Monday in London and either has a chance a winning. Wish 'ME' luck .lol

10/3/2014 6:58:17 AM

bliss,n.y.- heart of Wyoming County

It is all about the fun and making new friendships and renewing old ones.
Competition is healthy- To use a bit of literary license with Will Roger's quote " I never met a pumpkin grower I did not like!"
I have been growing since 1963- They are all great people!
Best of Luck and congrats to all!
Hey, sandbagging adds a layer of suspense to a weighoff!
That is a fun part. I never have been denied help from a
grower.
Kudos to the GPC world.
Bill Price

10/3/2014 8:36:57 AM

Waterville, Ohio

Well said Alan.

10/3/2014 3:01:23 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

Best sandbagging fun was Don Young last year with his Jaw Dropping pumpkin that weighed all of 39.5 pounds. He sure had a bunch of us going last year and got a ton of laughs.

10/3/2014 5:03:56 PM

aurora, IL

I really liked talking to Mark Clementz at Bengton's pumpkin farm weigh-off. I talked to him about my pumpkin named, "Gourdo" that developed blossom end rot. He listened to what I had to say and give me some advice to back off the feeding when fruits are first developing on the plants. To help lessen the cause of blossom end rot. He is very nice to talk with about your pumpkins. The one thing I did not like at the weigh-off, was after my mom's 194 Chandler 14 and my brother's 100 Chandler 14 were weighed there was no encouragement from the other growers. This was their first time growing a giant pumpkin and taking it to a weigh-off. In order for this hobby to be a friendly competition there should be support from other growers no matter how big or small the grower's pumpkin is when it hits the scale.

10/3/2014 10:10:28 PM

Columbia, Kentucky

Chris. I was there and it was my daughter's first year. Its not easy but I started growing for my family and myself. Friendship have just grown with the pumpkins. also I was a first time grower a years ago. Don't get discouraged... been there and fought back and this year I was able to hit 4 digits in just 2 years. grow em' BIG rookies!

10/4/2014 12:10:28 AM

Muddy Waters

Yes, Big weigh-offs can get pretty hectic with a lot of commotion and such.I for one can miss the obvious like getting to a contest without extra memory cards.So Im sure it wasn't intentional by any means.Just organizers get real busy.I tried to start a weigh-off back in 2000 or so.Its a lot of work & real chaotic Thats why my weighoff will stay on the internet.When they weighed your Moms kins I must of been at the pig races.Sorry Keepem growing!!

10/4/2014 5:34:02 AM

Roselle, IL GJGEM@sbcglobal.net

Chris, Sorry we did not get a chance to talk. Like Mark said,hectic times when you are trying to run a weigh-off and make sure it is running smooth. I grew a 159 pounder 20 years ago at my 1st weigh-off..didn't have much encouragement back then either. In fact I thought about taking my pumpkin and leaving.. It was surrounded by 500-700 lbers (big back then)But I did not give up. I grew my personal best 1300 this year. With the help of other growers in the club, we will get you growing bigger in no time. We will have a spring meeting. Make sure you attend.

10/4/2014 7:38:38 AM

Hanson Ma

This is my second year of growing and I have found growers wont always come to you. It's not ignoring new growers there is just so much going on. I knew I needed to get my self in position to talk with bigger growers. I got On scale teams and offered to do anything to help and just introduced myself. I haven't found anybody not will to talk. Again there is so much going on. don't take anything personal..

10/4/2014 9:17:52 AM

Jacksonville, IL

Chris, like George said the weigh-offs can get hectic when they start weighing the pumpkins. The pumpkin community is very open and encouraging to everyone even when it can get competitive. I have never had a grower not take the time to answer my questions and give advice even when at the end of the day we want to beat each other. I think all growers respect even the little pumpkins grown when you know the hard work that it takes to grow giant pumpkins. If you or your family ever have questions or want to talk pumpkins send me an email. Congratulations on this year’s pumpkins and good luck can’t wait till next year.

10/4/2014 9:38:10 AM

Aurora

Thank you to all!! I am in awe of all your hard work. Bubba, I emailed you. My 194## went 4% heavy and is in the garage. My great white queen was named Cream Puff. I cannot believe every time I pass her that she made it out of the garden alive without being stolen. We community garden in 3600sf no available water and mostly clay and stones. More of a desert waste land because it is in a community site run by a park district that seriously cares less about the area once our plots are paid for and opened in April each year. Many gardeners start and then when the heat, weeds and hard work begins they just give up. Weeds choke out and replace many gardener's initial effort and invite disease and the dreaded bug issues that attack plants. I do a lot of planning and companion planting. I entered my veggies and flower arrangements at the 2014 Sandwich Fair and took many ribbons. I had a sweet potato that weighed in at 3lb8oz. I even had a doubled blossomed end Boston Marrow that took a special award for the best garden freak! I have grown many veggies over the years for canning, freezing and teaching my sons how to garden, but never really considered or knew much about giant pumpkins. I like the many avenues all you guys take in reaching your personal best. Although I am in engineer by career, I think in the garden each grower is there own engineer. If anyone wants some tips on companion planting email me - mrayzndust@yahoo.com. One never knows what another has in their own "tool box" thanks to shared wisdom. I may surface again next year. George, Please let me know when and where your spring meeting will take place. If anyone has seeds they are willing to send, please let me know. I really appreciate all of you!! Happy Halloween!!

10/4/2014 11:20:55 AM

aurora, IL

Thank you for all the encouragement. :)

10/4/2014 3:55:04 PM

Joliet, IL

We were proud to have you guys there!!!! I try to encourage and be there for every grower I know all year long. Weigh -off day as one of the coordinators is not an easy task but I will always make time to talk if you have any questions next year. Best time to pick my brain is all winter long. Thanks for growing my seeds too and hope next year you reach whatever goal you set for yourself.

10/4/2014 6:46:13 PM