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Pinedale, WY

This is a question, and keep in mind I am novice, so this may be easily answered. I hear over and over again that even the best growers need lots of luck to grow a huge pumpkin. But it seems that whenever someone grows a record pumpkin everyone then seems to imitate what was done. I understand that to a point, but to we begin to try and imitate luck? Example: I went fishing on a river by my house in Washington when I was growing up. I caught a huge salmon in a certain hole. Every time I went by that same spot on the river I would use the same lure in the same way. I never caught another fish ever using that lure. So as pumpkin growers do we do things all the time that maybe one grower did once and had success, even if it can't be proven that the one time special method did anything?

1/13/2008 2:34:24 AM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

I think most of the techniques used by experienced growers are tried and proven by several or many growers over a period of time. Sure they come up with new ideas, some work and some don't. Many techniques and programs used are basically the same things that have been done for many years but they have been refined and tweaked each year to better perfection. We are lucky that most all pumpkin growers here are VERY generous and willing to share their knowledge and experiences to help make us all better growers.
I think most of the "luck" part has to do with Mother Nature. We can't control her. The weather can make you or break you.

Think about it like this, each year you will have a plant in your patch. It's there, what you do with it is up to you with the exception of the weather. Your fishing hole held a big fish that one day. Unlike the plant in your garden there is no guarantee another another big fish will ever be their at the exact same time you will. I guess that's luck.

Did any of that make any sense or am I just rambling? Probably rambling! lol

1/13/2008 3:36:00 AM

Jericho Vermont

I think you need to look at seed variance when you are speaking of luck as well. There is always a percentage of the same seed that does better than others. I think a lot of the growing methods today are better in the long run for our patches. We are taking a better look at what our soils need and how we can improve them to grow a healthier stronger plant. Sure you will see different pruning strategies and feeding schedules but overall the stars have to line up for you to grow that truly huge fruit. It starts with the lucky pick of a good seed and of course mother nature also needs to approve.
John

1/13/2008 6:44:18 AM

ordinary,VA

I asked Joe Pukos in a Interview for the GVGO newsletter where "luck" fits in with growing Giant Pumpkins:

"The good growers are keeping their soil in tip top shape and also
growing the best genetics in the world, so I think good grower,
good soil, good seed, all go together and then one has to have
good luck to do something special. Of course, often the harder
one works, the luckier one seems to be"

tons of info in the GVGO newsletters-join today!!

1/13/2008 9:48:59 AM

Pinedale, WY

This is all good, shining some new light on it for me, thanks.

1/13/2008 10:57:31 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Paster our newsletter is chock full of soil tips.....

Check us out.....

1/13/2008 2:36:35 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

The harder & smarter we grow the luckier we get.

1/13/2008 7:22:50 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

The time you take is directly proportional to the pumpkins you make.

1/13/2008 9:04:36 PM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Louis Pasteur said "Chance favors the prepared mind".

2/10/2008 2:20:19 PM