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Location

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Date Posted

Penryn CA

Looking for tips from experienced growers on how to get from good to great. Appreciate any tips from more experienced growers on how to get those extra pounds. I did my soil test last year and amended my soil. How many if you do the Pumpkin Tissue Test ? If so do you find it helpful. What do you find really made a difference in your growing experience.
Kind Regards

12/12/2020 11:27:23 PM

Westmoreland, KS

No tissue tests... yet. Ron Wallace said something along time ago which stuck with me. The only way that you can get to where you want to go is by learning your environment. Everybody’s environment is different so we can give you as many tips as possible but a lot of times what is good for me isn’t necessarily good for you. For instance I have very high pH and extremely hard Clay soil. So for years I have been working on breaking up my clay soil and Lowering my pH. a tissue test for me wouldn’t be any good if my soil wasn’t where it needs to be. No one thing I have noticed is in my environment quickly so it is actually a benefit because it holds in so many nutrients even though I broke it up the nutrients are still there.Now one thing I have noticed is in my environment quickly so it is actually a benefit because it holds in so many nutrients even though I broke it up the nutrients are still there. I know this because I take a soil test in the fall and a soil test in the spring.

12/13/2020 10:05:44 AM

Westmoreland, KS

Sorry phone was messing up not sure what that quickly stuff was all about

12/13/2020 10:07:23 AM

Westmoreland, KS

What I actually said was now One thing I have noticed is my clay soil is actually a benefit because it holds so many nutrients even though I broke it up the nutrients are still there

12/13/2020 10:08:33 AM

Centennial Colorado

Get in contact with local growers and ask lots of questions. Also if you have a major question, post info on your diary. The key to me breaking my personal best every year for the past 5 years has been asking specific questions.

12/13/2020 10:39:50 AM

Centennial Colorado

I would say more water. It looks like you are in a dry environment and need a misting system. In Colorado the general rule is water until algae is growing on your soil. Plenty of ground watering though. That is something I am going to do better on next year. I would also say vine management for both of us. Looks like you got too busy at vine training and pruning time like me, so they started overcrowding.

12/13/2020 10:53:32 AM

Dillonvale, Ohio

I firmly believe the 2 most important things to growing bigger is experience and getting your soil right. Getting genetics is easy, learning that what I do isn't necessarily what you need to do is hard. Experience tells you how much water they can handle and when to water. It tells you what little details matter, and what ones don't. Experiment to see what works and what doesn't, there may be years you get nothing because of that, but you will learn something. Read everything you can, ask questions. Know that what helps me, may hurt you.

12/13/2020 11:39:59 AM

Muddy Waters

Grow your own seed I went from 1317 to 1947 in 1 year by growing my own seed.Believe in your own cross. The seeds acclimate to your region.I know others who also have done this & struck gold

12/13/2020 5:21:05 PM

Grittyville, WA

It's probably as simple as find some very good compost or manure and take very good care of your plant. That's the part you can control. Luck and everything else may partially, or entirely be beyond your control.
For me I figure success in 2021 will be determined mostly by this: dont let the things that are beyond my control distract me from the things that are in my control. That's biggest weakness... Your biggest weakness may be different.

12/13/2020 10:26:10 PM

Grittyville, WA

*That's my

12/13/2020 10:27:11 PM

Penryn CA

Last year I let my tertiaries get out of control. The vines invaded my tomatoes and dragged them down. Maybe too much growth and I should have buried the ends.. Some areas were a jungle. Hopefully next year I can get it under better control. Not sure how much the vines took away from my weight. We had number dry heat waves, and the fires darkened the skies/Ash was falling on my patch in California. It was 2020! Appreciate all the advise. Maybe instead of selling my pumpkin each year I'll keep it for the seeds and grow my own per the above suggestion from Bubba Thank you All for your Input !

12/13/2020 11:29:00 PM

Colorado

Go hang out with leonardo urena or any other california heavy hitter.Nothing better than seeing how its done.

12/18/2020 7:07:37 PM

Penryn CA

Excellent Idea - I'll have to drum up the courage to ask one of them.

12/19/2020 11:36:32 AM