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Rhode Island

FOR THE COMPETITIVE GIANT GROWERS I ASK " WHAT CONSTITUTES A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD " --- AND I ANSWER SEED,SOIL, EXPERIENCE @ PEST CONTROL,GROWING CONDITIONS.
LETS EXAMINE FURTHER---

SEED------PLENTY OF CHOICES AVAILABLE FROM RECENT TOP OF THE CHART PUMPKINS

SOIL -----PLENTY OF INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO CREATE A GREAT GROWING AREA

EXPERIENCE @ PEST CONTROL-OVER TIME YOU WILL DEVELOP THIS

GROWING CONDITIONS-THIS IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE THE GREAT EQUALIZER. YOU CAN CHECK OFF ALL OF THE ABOVE BUT WITHOUT FAVORABLE GROWING CONDITIONS ?,THE PUMPKIN AND PLANT CAN NOT MAX PRODUCE,A DETERMINING FINAL FACTOR AS TO LOCATION OF OUR CHAMPION PUMPKINS.

THERE IS NOT ONE PERFECT PLACE TO GROW.
DOWN SOUTH ITS TO HOT, UP NORTH ITS TO COLD AND RAINY AT TIMES, IN CANADA ITS STILL SNOWING WHEN WE ARE PLANTING,IN MANY EUROPEAN COUNTRIES ITS DAMP AND RAINY. MY POINT IS NO ONE HAS A CLEAR ADVANTAGE.(YOU GOTTA GREATE YOUR OWN ADVANTAGES BASED ON YOUR AREA OF THE WORLD)

GREENHOUSES ALSO HAVE DISTINCT HURDLES TO OVERCOME AS DO THE OUTSIDE GROWER.

I KNOW EVEN WITH THE SUCCESS RON AND I HAVE HAD THAT WEATHER (ESPECIALLY SPRING AND EARLY SUMMER ) CAN MAKE OR BREAK THE OUTSIDE GROWER.

A COOL WET SPRING CAN PUT YOUR PLANTS WAY BEHIND ----FOR THIS REASON WE WILL ERECT BIGGER GREENHOUSES NEXT SEASON TO ALLOW US PLANTING OUT EARLIER AND DEVELOPING THOSE BIG PLANTS BY POLLINATION TIME

PAP

7/29/2017 12:07:13 PM

Vernal, Ut

just wondering, how big are you planning on building? all season or just to start? Thanks.

7/29/2017 12:50:48 PM

Colorado

Wisconsin growers seem to be a great example of what competition and shared info can do. They have gone wild with 2000lbers the last couple of years.Multiple growers having success- with Josiah even doing it in a greenhouse there.A great example of a group growing bigger together and their playing field seems level enough.

7/29/2017 1:17:50 PM

Central NY

Sweeeeeet...

7/29/2017 3:07:48 PM

South East

After you gain knowledge and experience its money and time that make the world go round. How much time and money are you willing to invest.

7/29/2017 3:13:19 PM

Wisconsin Rapids

cojoe- Clearly drinking beer and watching the Packers makes for great growers. :)

7/29/2017 4:47:10 PM

NILES , CALIF

Seems like a lot of growers are investing big money on green houses;
They would not put all the money in to it, if it
did not give them some advantage?
I have not heard of anyone go back to outside growing and abandone the greenhouse.

7/29/2017 4:51:13 PM

Torrance, Ca.

So true pap!

7/29/2017 5:55:47 PM

west central IN/East central IL

One of the biggest hurdles is limited space and growing in the same spot every yr. for that reason I'm not sure I'll be growing next yr. the bigger greenhouse in the spring helped my plants tremendously along with soil cables.

7/29/2017 9:58:01 PM

Deer Park WA

Interesting thread PAP, maybe there should be two categories, outdoor and indoor growers?

7/30/2017 1:43:46 AM

SW Ohio

Having grown both outside and inside, I can speak to you Old Rookie. A tunnel is a High $$ investment. This is my 2nd year in the tunnel and there is definitely a learning curve. Some pros are water control, wind control, and Being able to prep when you want. Some cons are harder to reach all areas of the plants, its a bit hotter and more humid than outside, and you must supply every bit of water. You also need to shag your rear out there all summer long opening and closing instead of just in the spring.
As to why tunnel growers never switch back to outside growing..you invest that kind of money in a tunnel, and dont grow in it? A total waste of money.

7/30/2017 8:27:58 PM

Rudolph

You're exactly right barb, for me the disadvantages with a greenhouse are heat, humidity, if my power goes out my plants will burn to a crisp on a hot day in a matter of a few hours, I'm over there twice a day(I live 15 minutes away) to work in the patch, I have to be there every morning to roll up the Sides, with the high humidity in the greenhouse disease pressure is a lot higher, all these disadvantages are things I can control with a lot of work and knowledge, the big disadvantage of growing outside is the elements aging your plants, wind, sun, rain etc this disadvantage can not be controlled that is why I built a greenhouse, there so much more work however if you commit you can dam near control your complete environment.

7/31/2017 8:33:33 AM

Wisconsin Rapids

Would like to see your set up Josiah. I'm in Rapids.

7/31/2017 2:21:48 PM

Rudolph

Brandt.josiah@yahoo.com. My email, you're welcome to come see the patch.

7/31/2017 3:05:07 PM

Rudolph

I live in rapids to btw

7/31/2017 3:05:37 PM

Rudolph

Rudolph is where my greenhouse is at

7/31/2017 3:06:03 PM

Wisconsin Rapids

Awesome. Will contact you soon.

8/1/2017 6:17:29 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

A BIG one you missed Paps is....Spousal support....always helps if you have one less pest to deal with in the patch....

8/1/2017 9:38:08 AM

Rhode Island

ralph

just a big enough greenhouse to get us an earlier start (mid april or so ) ---- plant on keeping plant covered for around ten weeks or so )

good replies from this post. theres no easy way around a couple thousand pounds plus is there?

pap

8/1/2017 4:30:40 PM

Rhode Island

ralph

just a big enough greenhouse to get us an earlier start (mid april or so ) ---- plant on keeping plant covered for around ten weeks or so )

good replies from this post. theres no easy way around a couple thousand pounds plus is there?

pap

8/1/2017 4:30:57 PM

Essex, UK

Growing in northern Europe there is a clear and distinct advantage to being able to grow in a polytunnel or glasshouse. Horticulturally speaking probably one of the best growing areas in the world but life is much easier if the plants are protected. Control of night time temps is where the advantage is biggest I feel. Just look at what Patons, Meier and Willemijns have achieved over the last few years.

8/1/2017 4:47:14 PM

Rhode Island

matt
control of night time temps is a very true point.
this year for example we have had much cooler nights then we normally have and, you can see the difference in growth compared to past seasons charts.

gads
not agreed that there should be two categories outside and inside. what about climate and location? what about half season inside half season outside?, multiple patches compared to one?,----to many different situations depending on your part of the world.
if you want to compete outside of your region? your going to need to continue to evolve your methods.
look at where we were as a hobby just thirty years ago - then look where we are today.

pap

8/2/2017 7:56:46 AM

Vernal, Ut

Thanks Pap, great ideas. I agree with you leave it all together and adjust best you can.

8/2/2017 9:52:35 AM

Middleton Ma

My thoughts on this there need to be 2 separate world records . Green house growing. And real world growing Hello it's a no brainer. Hey green house growers, how did that hail storm or high wind storm,or squash vine borer effect your pumpkins. Don't get me wrong I realize there are conditions that require green houses and it's all good. But we need to compare Apples 2 Apples . Just my thoughts

8/2/2017 9:08:10 PM

Muddy Waters

Great post Pap! Yes the weather is huge in growing these giants. The best silver bullet seed & ferts wont get you there on a bad year.I think that keeps us all humble.You dont want egg on your face like Bubba.lol I covered my 2145 this season 4 nights in a(June) row as we dipped in the low 50s & high 40s.The kin was little.I think fruit development is critical at that point & time.We need all the help we can get,Screen house poly tunnels or a million dollar greenhouse. What ever it takes to get to the top.We will do it as a group.Love ya PAP!! Like a brother!

8/10/2017 6:58:59 AM

Morgantown, WV

I read "Two World Records" and believe that is where I am done following this subject. If you're upset that they're combined, be the badass that takes the rest down and own your own title, indoors or not. Otherwise, just make it an easy thing to achieve and everybody gets to have their own really big pumpkin award every year. Is an apple grown in a greenhouse not still an apple?

This hobby is about community, not separation. It is amazing to me that so many are complaining about the greenhouses used rather than congratulating the ones pushing our learning and hobby forward. Additionally, I would bet a paycheck that those same growers that are complaining about the greenhouses are using those greenhouse grown seeds to try for the next big one.

I don't have a greenhouse nor do I plan on getting one just to grow pumpkins. The people trying to hit 500 in Arizona aren't crying about the heat, they're adapting and doing the best they can with what they have, trying to get the biggest fruit they can for the area they're in and conditions present. If you feel you cannot reach the World record because of your conditions, stop chasing it, or suck it up when you miss, learn your own soil and system better and try again next year.

As a 36 year old young man, I think it is absolutely ridiculous, the childish arguments that seem to take over this community. People too proud to be honest with themselves at the end of the day. There is no such thing as a level playing field in this hobby, nor is there one in life.

Thank you Pap for some interesting insight from someone striving to do just as I mentioned. Learning your system, and going out there to bring it back home. Good luck to the Wallace patch! We need to support each other to make it happen, not argue "advantages".

8/10/2017 7:34:46 AM

Central Illinois

It would be nice to have a resource to look up records for greenhouse pumpkins and outdoor pumpkins but keep the judging as we now do it. This has been talked about before, what do you deem a greenhouse, used all year, used for one two or 3 months?

8/10/2017 8:35:53 AM

nOVA sCOTIA

Mst be less than ideal weather conditions in Rhode Island this year...lol

8/10/2017 9:26:13 AM

stoughton WI

Sometimes I think growing in a greenhouse would be nice, especially when we're having night time temps like a lot of us are having now and being able to control the climate inside better. But growing in a greenhouse (high tunnel) has its downside also. Sometimes if you want to level the playing field, you have to think outside the box.for instance You want better growth at night when temps are low build a tunnel over your plant and plug in a heater or 2. with a roll of plastic and some pvc pipe it can be done fairly cheep. We all know how much work goes into growing giants. It's all about what you want to put into this hobby. More 2000 lb pumpkins have been grown outdoors than in
greenhouses. Good luck to everybody.

8/10/2017 3:03:03 PM

Torrance, Ca.

I saw this guys diary that had a blue/tarp greenhouse,,,, does this count as a greeenhouse ?:)

8/10/2017 5:32:33 PM

Cornelius, Oregon

I know one thing is for sure, I have learned more dealing with the down right hostile weather in the NW this year than I have in past decade of growing these crazy things. Both what to do and definately what not to do. I may have been around this community forever, but, as always, the best way to level the playing field is keep those ears, eyes and brain open to new ideas.

8/10/2017 6:02:54 PM

stoughton WI

Lol chris, sometimes you just have to do what you gotta do to get a big pumpkin, even if it seems a little crazy.

8/10/2017 7:23:45 PM

Torrance, Ca.

lol Rick! Yes you do!

It really doesn't matter for me,,,, I grow in a greenhouse and still grow small pumpkins. lol

8/10/2017 7:35:46 PM

Upa Creek, MO

Chris, in 2012 it was so hot here I had tents, canopies, sheets, and even a pool all stringed together over the patch for shade... I'm basically a greenhouse grower too.

8/11/2017 8:36:45 AM

North Smithfield, RI

The weather conditions are never ideal , no matter where you live ! Every year we read the complaints about the weather and every somebody sets a new record ...

8/12/2017 9:21:58 PM

North Smithfield, RI

and every year somebody grows abig one !

8/26/2017 9:20:06 PM