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It's just one problem after another with these damned things.
Really glad I subjected myself to another season of this $**T
: |

7/18/2018 12:00:42 PM

Georgia

And if your married, your wife will tell you that you could have just bought that large pumpkin at the farmer's market.

7/18/2018 12:15:09 PM

Westmoreland, KS

Keep a list of all your issues during the fall/winter study up on your issues and select a couple of them to rectify next year. Purchase what you need and then focus on them next year.

If you try to make everything perfect at once you better have an endless supply of cash or the perfect mother nature season.

Remember this is a hobby not a sport (whoops I said it) Have fun and remember there is always next year!

7/18/2018 12:40:10 PM

stoughton WI

I feel your pain dirt, im having probably my worst season ever. Look at the bright side, it will make you a better
grower in the long run. Good luck with the rest if your season.

7/18/2018 12:44:34 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Bummer north of me!

I feel your pain, I really feel it.

Hang tough.

7/18/2018 1:36:45 PM

Syracuse, NY

Sport + Hobby = Spobby.
it has contestants, hard physical labor and a goal at the end: to win, or at least to have competed. _dirt_, sorry that that is your only available pollination thus far. perhaps you were correct about too much Nitrogen, which can easily affect pollination window duration and viability. i always recommend hitting a plant hard with 15-30-15 and awaiting its effect on increased flowering, but i, myself haven't even done it this year, due to my method of using a 10 X 55-gallon tank farm to water with...was GONNA start just using one barrel on Monday, but the BEES got me and any movement near the barrels...look out! don't wanna kill them, but...i'm very apprehensive, ya know? plus, that fruit MAY still start cranking, and plus, i have pollinated on August 8th and had a 510.6 in like '04 that was a beauty, so...eg

7/18/2018 2:46:24 PM

Upa Creek, MO

2014 = my biggest split
2015 = flooded patch, pulled plants in June
2016 = microburst\tornado destroyed plants in 3 minutes in July and lone survivor split 2 weeks later
2017 = grew 1 plant until August that turned out to be sterile (probably most frustrating year for me)

I've also hit my plants with roundup in 2012, snapped my stem off adjusting a pumpkin in 2010, hail shredded up plants in 2013... list goes on.

I feel your pain!

7/18/2018 2:55:13 PM

Westmoreland, KS

Luke you're the poster boy for Never Give Up or the poster boy for Never Grow a Giant Pumpkin

One of the two I'm not sure which one!

7/18/2018 4:04:57 PM

Billerica,Massachusetts

been doing this for 31 years, have had many a failure of a season, ending up with nothing to show, can't count how many times woodchucks have swept in late in the season and chewed all my fruit to hell, you just curse dust yourself off and plan for next season!

7/18/2018 4:19:49 PM

On a cliff in the desert

If this was easy, everybody would be doing it. I've had my share of frustrations this season.

7/18/2018 6:56:30 PM

Michigan,up North

feel the same way spent 2 hr ,try to dig svb grubs out of leaves stalks on main vine ,couldnt get the one way out with out crushing roots,about to say f@@k it ,if it ant the wheather bugs wind ,gota keep tought bro her for yea to vent

7/18/2018 7:15:20 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

Sometimes things don't go your way, but when they do its worth it, Best part is all the smiles you generate. The last 3 years we had a blast driving out I-80 and down to Pawnee City. All the cars pulling up beside us on the interstate to snap photos, honking horns, questions and gawkers at food and gas stops. So even though we had nothing real special, we still had fun with it. Keep trying and eventually you will get something good. Until then, try to have fun with it.

7/18/2018 7:16:33 PM

Home of happy lil plants

per severance

7/18/2018 8:38:56 PM

Princeville, IL

Having rough season a also. Pollination just won't take. Hottest and driest weather I can remember. Plenty of rain within 10 miles any direction but not on my patches. 60 AGs and only about 10 verified crosses. Oh well. Hoping for some late 100 to 200 pounders I can sell.

7/18/2018 9:59:54 PM

Central NY

Yes...frustrating for sure...especially when your trying to beat a certain number...but to all you new growers it is still way early yet in the season...still time to grow a Giant pumpkin..never give up....these plants can amaze....and it definitely gets better every year.....( that’s is, for about 7 yrs or so....then it starts to suck... especially if you want a life..but that’s neither here nor there..)...

7/18/2018 10:44:47 PM

Grittyville, WA

You might be alright there on that pollination. Doesn't look super great but it might grow. Maybe just me but I think taking that leaf off at the pumpkin takes the steam out of them sometimes. Maybe it depends on the plant and the weather but sometimes I think they rely on that leaf when they are first getting goin. Good luck with it. Figure out what works for you/ in your area... (A lot of this is about learning...)

7/19/2018 11:07:44 AM

Wixom MI.

Im right their with luke ! 4 out of every 5 years something will take me out !!! The last 3 years Groundhogs before that diseases. I have one now the size of a basketball but it has scratches on it from racoons or something.i get a 600 pounder about every 4-5 years but i really don't put much into it amymore.just hoping to have a nice orange one for the front porch.

7/19/2018 4:17:47 PM

Plainville, Connecticut 06062

You think you growers got it bad here is my last two year report. 2017 I worked eight plants. Blew up four the biggest taping 1,700+. One plant aborted all pollinations. One stopped growing at 1,000 pounds and I was lucky to get two to the scales! This year 2018 I worked seven plants four aborted all pollinations even on the secondaries which I generally would not pollinate. Finally on one of those four plants I have one pollinated on a secondary made into the main pollinated July 10TH to late for my competition. So the three plants I was able to get pollinations on in June two had their Main’s burned off by the extreme hot weather even though covered and watered. One of the three suffered extreme leaf burn taking out about 1/3 of the plant and it shows in the small size of the pumpkin! My last two plants I have my fingers crossed they are healthy and have one fruit each that could be contenders come this fall mind you I said might! Keep plugging folks the other alternative is quit and retire, I have thought about that!

7/19/2018 5:28:30 PM

Walhalla, ND.

Like Porkchop said. It’s still early, there’s plenty more time for breaking off a stem, snapping off the main, svb, hail, wind, under watering, over watering, to much ferts, foaming stumps, viruses, fungus, diseases, splits, deer, rabbits, and various other critters. Plus a few dozen other mis adventures I missed. Any how, just keep growing em..

7/19/2018 5:52:29 PM

Virginia

I think everyone starts every spring with rosy colored glasses thinking this is the big year, and like buying a lottery ticket, are quickly disappointed. Well, even though I have had one main vine split, still have a few more chances on my others. I have had fun growing a mountain of vegetation, caught 2 possums, 7 squirrels, 3 rabbits, and a skunk in my patch. Still have 2 plants going with a few choices on each. Not expecting a 1000 pounder, but anything over 200 would be exciting for me.

7/19/2018 6:10:59 PM