From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Maine

Hi all, I just found this site while surfing the web. A little background on me I own 47 acres in Maine that is slowly becoming a farm. My eventual goal is to have a profitable business of a pumpkin patch with horse drawn wagon rides to/from the patch. I've been growing a 1 acre garden with a 50x100' patch of Big Max for the past 4 yrs for my kids, nieces, nephews and friends. I do however save a 1/2acre plot in a differant spot of the property just for growing the biggest pumpkins I can. During the winter I free range my chickens on it and they do a great job of eating the leftover pumpkins, vines and weeds. Right before spring I bring out the cow manure and spread it to about 6" deep accoss the whole small patch and spread it fairly thin with the spreader on the big patch. I then bring the toothed bar down to break up the compacted soil and then disc everything in. My first year with out really trying I grew a Atlantic Giant to 400lbs and a Big max to 66lbs. Each year they get a little bit better, last year my Atlantic giant went 587lbs and my Big Max went 82lbs. I would like to get a little more serious with my hobby patch and try to grow some real giants. I would like to get one of my Atlantic giants to break 1000lbs and one of my big max to break 100lbs.
Should I be seperating my Atlantic Giants from my Big Max? Also I do not select male flowers from one plant to pollenate, I just let nature do its thing.

4/25/2012 12:54:02 AM

Baker City Oregon

Would you be interested in adopting an old guy from Baker Oregon? Don't let the Big Max and Ag's cross if you plan on using the seed next year.

4/25/2012 2:02:50 AM

Baker City Oregon

For the AG is what I meant. Might be interesting for the Big Max.

4/25/2012 2:27:20 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Sounds like you've got a lot of land but that doesn't mean you have to use it. If you get to 1000 pounds in a 1/2 acre patch it will likely be by luck. My advise? Create two 3000 sq foot patches and rotate them each year. Select 6 hi caliber Atlantic giant plants each year and focus all efforts on those. Good luck!

4/26/2012 1:58:39 PM

Minnesota

You need good atlantic giant seeds, the store bought ones are not nearly as good as the seeds you get here. 500-750 feet per plant. Seed Soil Sun & Luck. If you need seeds just ask in the seed message post, they are free, you just send the grower a self addressed stamped bubble envelope. I have a few I can send you now if you want, fogsurfer313@yahoo.com, not to late for this year. main menu under Links, there is a MePGA club in Maine.

4/26/2012 5:00:37 PM

Minnesota

Check these sites out.
aggc.org
pumpkinlink.com
Has info on genetics, what seed growers used to grow there giant pumpkins.

4/26/2012 5:02:05 PM

Colorado

Bait you need good soil,great seeds,lots of time pruning-weeding-burying vines-watering and good weather to grow monsters.The size of the pumpkin will reflect how bad you want to grow a giant one.Fun hobby but lots of work

4/26/2012 5:56:15 PM

Ri

Freshbait check out the MEPGO website. Some great growers in Maine and website that can provide some great information. You may have a grower right around the corner?? Peter

4/26/2012 7:13:29 PM

So. Maine

Freshbait ; where have you been hiding . Here in Maine we have a giant pumpkin club and web site mainepumpkins.com

Click on membership and send in dues ( $ 15. ) and you will receive a dozen or so AG seeds from us .

We have weigh off sites at Damariscotta , Sanford and Windsor Maine .

Contact me asap berardal@hotmail.com

4/26/2012 10:11:57 PM

So. Maine

Contact made .

4/27/2012 12:22:31 PM