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British Columbia, Canada

Does anyone else ever lose motivation for growing? I always find myself getting excited for next season after weigh-offs are finished but that excitement tends to wear off as winter drags on and usually results in me being unprepared for when spring comes along. I find the same thing also happens mid-summer where I feel disappointed in the growth and end up neglecting the plants.

2/19/2018 6:53:40 PM

Deer Park, WI

Jordan-

Empathy runs deep for your situation. For over a decade, I've been battling soil root pathogens that seem to outwit my every attempt to dominate them. My PB maxed out at 1422 in 2010. Since that time, I've watched my neighbor set a WR, watched other neighbors breach 2000lbs, and the weighoff I help manage set the Top Ten Average World Record...without my pumpkin in that mix. I've helped mentor growers reach new heights over the last 8 years, all the while my own efforts dwindled by comparison. I didnt even have a pumpkin to weigh in 2017.

So yeah, I've thrown in the towel more times than I can count and cursed my luck till I'm blue in the face. But the pumpkin bug has bitten me deep and I find the ambition and excitement to get back on the horse every season.

Quite frankly, Im not going to let a soil bug beat me. I'm better than that. Likewise, you are better than the obstacles you are up against. An endless curiosity for knowledge is what ultimately drives me. I'm hungry to learn...about the bug that is beating me, about the new chemistries on the market to combat it, about different areas of plant science that can give me an edge. If you stay curious, you stay ahead of the curve.

travelling to the Big Show each winter always reignites the fire to hit the ground running. Staying engaged with the pumpkin community is a potent motivator. And if you cannot help yourself, find a way to help others.

Rather than wallow in sorrow over my own struggles watching my neighbors/mentees crush me, I champion their efforts and vicariously enjoy the hobby through their excitement and success.

Perseverance will pay off if you want it bad enough. good luck.

2/19/2018 7:10:43 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Happens to the best of us...

2/19/2018 7:38:26 PM

Syracuse, NY

Please spend a lot more time on BigPumpkins.com---if your mind is ON pumpkins, it leaves a lot less room for other things like boredom and drudgery; there is SO much to research, study and look forward to! now, about that mid-season thing that i also have, lol...

2/19/2018 9:49:58 PM

Wixom MI.

Try doing some winter projects ! Try something that you have never done ? Like indoor tomatoes or gaint carrots or gaint onions !!! Maybe practice with grafting watermelons or tomatoes!!! For me trying new little experiments like this keeps things exciting !!!

2/19/2018 10:39:31 PM

Billerica,Massachusetts

been growing since 1988 have had many a season ending up with nothing, pumpkins going down, woodchucks etc. you just look forward and plan accordingly for next season.

2/20/2018 7:09:31 AM

Central Illinois

Start a list now of the dates that you think you should have each project done starting seeds,set out date etc, save this list and add notes along the way of any modifications you make. Save old and new info to look back on.

April 27th set out greenhouse plants, angled plants in hole (2014 did it on April 27th)(2016--April 25th )

2/20/2018 9:11:54 AM

Johnston, Iowa

Jordan - I know the feeling. One thing I think about is all of the years that I really wanted to grow, but couldn't because I lived in an apartment or a rental house where gardening was not an option. Makes me feel grateful when I'm having a crappy year in the patch. As far as winter dragging on - next year consider participating in the winter indoor tomato challenge - its been a fun way to pass the time this winter. And if that doesn't work there's always beer

2/20/2018 12:14:05 PM

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2/20/2018 12:50:58 PM

Western NY

I get burnt out or distracted most seasons around August. I'm sure it's cost me some pounds.

2/20/2018 2:03:43 PM

Germany

"Does anyone else ever lose motivation for growing?"

...yes, it happens sometimes, for example last year after hailstorm, for a couple of hours I considered pulling my AG plants. However, already the idea of pulling the plants was combined with plans of a suitable summer and fall cover crop in order to prep my patch as nicely as possible for the next season...hence, it merely seemed to be a loss of motivation in general, it was just a loss of motivation with respect to the plants I had growing.

"I always find myself getting excited for next season after weigh-offs are finished but that excitement tends to wear off as winter drags on..."

No worries, that´s just normal, the new pumpkins, new records, new seeds, new line-up problems etc., that a great kick of motivation, it´s just natural that this kick cannot last for 365 days.


"...and usually results in me being unprepared for when spring comes along."

That´s the bigger problem. Try to live 'pumpkin', try to see pumpkin wherever you can. For example, whenever I heat my fireplace I can already see a new bucket full of firewood ashes, something I want to add to my patch. When it´s frosty outside I think now is the right time for walking across the patch (for example for spreading some ashes) because I won´t cause any soil compaction when stepping on the frozen ground. etc. etc., there are so many situations in everyday life when you have the opportunity to 'think pumpkin'.

...to be continued

2/20/2018 2:41:50 PM

Germany

"I find the same thing also happens mid-summer where I feel disappointed in the growth and end up neglecting the plants."

No worries, sometimes it´s even better to neglect the plants rather than loving them to death. Last year, after the hailstorm, I almost neglected the plants and it was a great surprise to see how productive they had been without any leaf nodes buried, without any decent vine pattern etc. One may use this experience as a new kick of motivation (when thinking "what could have been?!"...one may start making plans for improving everything again...starting with the good soil and the good seeds which grew some good pumpkins on almost dead plants, and then one can try to get more out of them the next year (for example by trying a new vine pattern, or by actually burying some leaf nodes).



...AGs are very bad guys, they need alot of effort put into early seed starting, pre-warming soil etc. etc., and then something like a cloudy and cold spring chucks a break into plant development, and very early motivation can get lost. In my experience FPs can save an otherwise lost pumpkin season. You can start them late, you don´t have to look after the plants as much as in case of AGs and you can see some nice pumpkins grow pretty early, and if the season turns out to become a bad one AG-wise (because of a cold spring or early hail damage) the FP plants just start to grow and can still grow a new record for you. Therefore, I think growing both AGs and FPs can help maintain motivation throughout summer. If you have eneough room for both two AG and two FP plants, give it a go.

2/20/2018 2:41:57 PM

Buffalo, MN (Billsbigpumpkins@hotmail.com)

Jordan, we all have been there. Over the last 10 years I seem to have lost interest a week sooner each year. This year to combat that I will be cutting back to growing just pumpkins. I'll try to work smarter not harder and will do the hard things first. I will breakup larger projects into chunks and take a break occasionally to rejuvenate myself. Good luck to you. Bill

2/20/2018 4:19:48 PM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

If you're like me, a life'r, been at it for 17 years and never reached 1000, I haven't lost motivation! Now if I had some huge ones in my past, and saw that I wasn't having a good year, yes I could see the feeling coming on.

2/20/2018 6:00:48 PM

Virginia

Well nothing but up for me. Last year I threw a couple of seeds from a Lowes packet, in the ground and did a lot of watering and came up with a couple of 75 pounders. This year I ammended my soil, to perfection in some ways, and got some great seeds(thanks Andy Scalise and Andy Wolf) got a plan with my grower coach, and hope to set new personal bests (lol I know some of you are laughing at my 75 pounders). I guess I'm motivated by the work to my soil, the knowledge from great growers, and the fact that I don't want to let my mentors down. Plus, my kids think I'm crazy for all the stuff I got going. Its all in fun and yes, years are running out in life. Got to grow a big one.

2/20/2018 6:38:44 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

For me, the feeling comes and goes. But I still keep putting plants in the ground. Summer growing motivation is always difficult for me...I hate cold. Cold for me is anything less than 75 degrees. I don't have trouble finding the excitement for indoor growing. If you haven't tried the winter indoor yet..give it a chance. Something quite different from the normal outdoor problems but extremely challenging. Next winter..it will still be tomatoes..but I am adding a new category...giant bell peppers. These seem much easier to me. One light and one soil pot and you can watch a plant all winter. As more of us get setup for winter growing, I think it will start to expand with many more mini competitions.

2/20/2018 6:43:25 PM

Mn

It was real bad after the deer eat all my plants one night. Got my seeds picked out and ready to go again.

2/20/2018 7:18:41 PM

Plainville, Connecticut 06062

In my mind you never quit and you work as hard as you can to reach the top of the chart. Hard work does equal more luck in the patch. Each year I say I am going to cut back but in reality I never do. I work as hard as I can and I push myself to the max because anything less is a waste of time if your goal is to reach the top! Sure we all get tired and say I have to be nuts to do this but if you push on more times then not you will reach the top and claim that victory and when you do, you will then know what it takes to reach that level. The fun part is that in another 6 months you will be doing the same thing all over again, so do it to the best of your ability knowing what it takes and the feeling you get when you do reach the top of your game.

2/20/2018 7:28:53 PM

British Columbia, Canada

Thanks everyone for your replies. Lots of good advice & relatable posts.

2/21/2018 4:43:51 AM

Upa Creek, MO

You lost eye of the tiger, man... The edge. And now you gotta get back!

2/21/2018 9:01:35 AM

Pittsburgh, PA

I almost gave up last year after nearly killing all of my plants. Ended up pulling my half dead squash plant and put a field pumpkin in its place. Then I lost a HD contender at 300 lbs from a 1044 Gansert. What a bummer that was. Struggled to get kins set on remaining two plants but finally got two to take. Limped to the finish with a 450 and a 704 lb pumpkin which was actually a PB for me by 118 lbs. Perseverance paid off for me. This coming season will only be my third year growing big pumpkins. I am anxiously awaiting drier days so I get get in the patch and get things going.

2/21/2018 1:22:54 PM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

If I really stop and think about why I do this, after a while at it and a lot of "been there, done that" sorts of feelings, it comes down to the people you meet by being associated with this pursuit. Hands down, generally, I'll stack up my GP friends with any group anywhere! There are some great people in this hobby! Some members of my club, they live great lives and I'm proud to be called their friend. Then before you know it 2/3 of your FB friends are there because of this hobby. Locally, so many people associate me with giant pumpkin growing, that I find I have to talk about it all the time because they ask me all the time. If I go to the dentist I know they will want to talk to me about the pumpkins. If I see someone who I only run into once or twice a year, same thing. I get the feeling that if I stopped, I'd let a lot of people down! (Note: I support my local fair, and by doing that I'm guessing that 100,000 local people see my pumpkin every year. So after 15+ years people know my name.) Finally, I enjoy the journey. I just like going out there and getting mud between the toes and seeing the sea of green leaves. So, add it all up and I'm a life'r.

2/22/2018 11:34:57 AM

Streator ,Illinois

I lose motivation every year , comes rite after I terminate the last vine, I call it the babysitting stage, nothing to do but water, fertilize and weeding (and I am not to keen on weeding,)I stopped measuring 7 years ago , it is what it is when it hits the scale , come September I sit wait for the weigh off , so I can get to till and call it a season, it is a long season. I can honestly say I am NOT the most dedicated grower, but I have fun at it, everyone is different, so just do what you want but have fun with it
Gene

2/22/2018 10:37:06 PM