From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Rhode Island

ok, the ball is starting to roll.those of you sitting behind that computer afraid to speak up ? dont be.
post up where you live, start getting those questions answered. he who hesitates is lost as the saying goes.

one of the first growers ron and i met outside of rhode island when we started out was jack larue. a great source of information to us. we remain friends to this day.

3/6/2010 8:11:07 AM

Hunter433@aol.com NEW YORK

Thanks to your post i talked to some one in my area and after the snow melts we are going to get together thanks for the help zap

3/6/2010 9:06:49 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Pap's right. Let's get the formalities over with. You noobs have work to do. The only dumb question is the one you don't ask.

3/6/2010 10:54:24 AM

Paradise Mountain, New York

It never hurts to ask questions.I for one would have to say I have gotten were I am today by asking great growers questions. The best advise Dick wallace ever gave me was to walk right up to Joe Pukos at the Cooperstown Weigh-off and tell him who I was and start asking questions. Since that day several years ago, My weights have gone up. Learned a lot and became friends. Tremor (Steve) Pap, Steve Daletas, Don Young, Quinn Werner, Deb and Randy Sundstrom, Ron Wallace, Joe Jutras and many others have always answered questions to help me out. That's what this great sport is all about. Like one big happy family...

3/6/2010 8:16:41 PM

Glosta

Ok I'll man up. I know a few growers in the area but I really need to be able to sit down with one or 2 and get a good feel for what needs to be done. I know the basics but who wants to grow a basic pumpkin. Research I can do and have done, now I need to know how to implement it.

Bryan Langley
Gloucester MA

3/6/2010 8:40:28 PM

Glosta

ooops email

bryan.langley@vsea.com

3/6/2010 8:40:58 PM

Colorado Springs.Co

My closest mentor is Madman Marc Sawtelle Pap, He scares me,lol. Just kidding I know I should ask him more questions. He's been at it a long time. I'm the person that tries to put something together that has 200 parts without the instructions it runs in the family.

3/6/2010 11:05:28 PM

West Chazy,N.Y.

First off I don't know of any growers that are closer that 3 hrs away from me, so I can't go and see what the other guys are doing. So I have to read and listen a lot. Second I feel that I am begging and being a pest if I ask to many questions. And from what I have seen and found out,that most of the H.H. don't use this site,because they don't want to give up their secrets. There are only a few that use this site, like PAP and Don. Most of the time you will find me outside the ring just listening to what the others are asking. I have done a lot of research and done pretty well, but feel that there is something missing,but don't know what it is. The old saying goes, Ya don't know what Ya don't know! I have a list that I follow every year from what everyone else says this is what you have to do!and still get the same results, although my pkn is getting bigger. Did this, done that, got it, more of that,and too much of this, ect. get the idea! there I said it,now I'll be quiet!
Randy

3/7/2010 7:48:06 AM

Rhode Island

I dont think the reason the hobbies best growers dont use this site has anything to do with not wanting to help or holding back on secrets.

Although i agree there are all kinds of personalities involved in the hobby there are no real magic bullet secrets to be had any longer. clubs like our Southern New England Giant Pumpkin Growers, Rons 1502 dvd, etc, laid everything out pretty well for all to see.

There are some great club newsletters out there that also dropa dime on everything going on. Growers will not learn properly by just asking a question here on bp.

I think those so called heavy hitters refered to in the last post just simply choose not to get involved. They prefer for the most part to keep to themselves? or possibly got turned off for whatever reason and elect not to post anymore?

a grower does not necessarily need advise from a HH to become successful.
There are many,many, growers who are just a level or so below these so called HH that can be just as much help.

pap

3/7/2010 10:03:07 AM

Finksburg, Md

Thanks for the encouragement Pap. This will be my first year growing the AG's. I have done alot of reading, but sure I may need help along the way. I live in Finksburg Maryland about a 1/2 hour north west of Baltimore, but don't know who may be in my area. My email address is (mdziggy@aol.com). I have not seen anyone on this site from Maryland. Thanks, Joe Z.

3/7/2010 7:58:41 PM

Colorado Springs.Co

Regarding my previous post, research is key.I don't deny that.

3/8/2010 5:08:13 AM

Griswold, Ct

I'm in the Griswold CT, not to far from the RI line. Anyone in this area? (off of Rt165.)

3/9/2010 5:09:23 PM

Griswold, Ct

Sorry my name is Jim Fletcher email is jimfletcher22@yahoo.com

Thanks

3/9/2010 5:10:04 PM

My name is martin11 I live about 10 minutes from Gettysburg PA. E-mail is martin11

Thanks!

Martin

3/9/2010 5:59:00 PM

West Chazy,N.Y.

My name is Randy Stromback I live in west chazy NY (way up north) my email addy is rdstromback@westelcom.com
maybe there is some hidden growers in the area!

thanks

Randy

3/9/2010 6:09:01 PM

Rhode Island

jim

your only about twenty to thirty minutes from several of our club member/growers living in coventry ri.

we also have a club seed starting party planned for a few weeks down the road.
this is your chance to join an organization and also meet and make new contacts. our directorship is made up of growers from ct,ma and ri.

email me at papsbuick56@aol.com and ill pass your information on to the right people should you care to join the club.

pap

3/10/2010 9:10:44 AM

Eagle Mountain, Utah

Pap,
First I have to say it is an honor to chat with you. My name is Grove. I am reading Backyard Giants and am really enjoying it. I am in Utah and am a Conn native. I am going to try my first big pumpkin this year. Space is the biggest issue for me since I live in a cookie-cutter community with small yards. Eventually I will need to get into a bigger patch. The Utah record is @1200 pounds. Garasmusson@yahoo dot com.

3/10/2010 2:34:57 PM

Ohio

If you cant find a mentor the next best thing is to find a club near you, nearly every club that I know of now a days has seminars every year of some sort to help growers get started or to keep up with the latest growing techniques.

I have been to a few HH patches before, but still after 7 or so yrs of growing Im still yet to go on a club patch tours that alot of the clubs organize for growers to see and learn from.
I have heard that if you really want to learn something about growing a monster pumpkin then going on a few of these patch tours is where you will learn alot.

What I have found out that there is alot of different styles of growing out there from these HH growers, you just have to figure out and pick which style you think is best for you to follow.
Some growing techniques you will like and others you might not. Another thing I have found out and learned is even when you try to follow a HH'S advice, that some of the time what really works well for them, might not always work for you in the same way. And why this happens I have no idea, that is the frustrating part of growing these giant pumpkins sometimes,,lol

But seeing a growers patch and comparing it with others and how they do things first hand is alot better then reading about it.

3/11/2010 5:56:33 AM

Hunter433@aol.com NEW YORK

how do you find a club im in upstate ny zip13815 email hunter433@aol.com

3/11/2010 6:51:39 AM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Zap1 - www.nysgpga.com but remember, memberships are not limited to geographical locations, different clubs bring a wider array of knowledge to the table.

3/11/2010 7:28:53 AM

Finksburg, Md

Does anyone know of any clubs in the Maryland area.

3/13/2010 7:05:52 PM

ordinary,VA

Hey Joe we have some growers in Northern Virginia,send me an email will send some contact info..Plus some of the worlds best growers just North of you.
VGVGA (Virginia)just south of you.

3/13/2010 7:46:04 PM