Soon the Giants are Born

[Pharmerphil]

Soon Folks, it will be time!
Time to start the little seeds, that grow these
Monster Pumpkins! :eek:
Would Ya'll like me to post the Step by Steps Here? :confused:
I will share the techniques I employ from the package to the weigh-off scale, ifin there is interest.
There is still time, and I have a couple seeds left...anyone feel Up to It?
Excellent results, in the 300-400 pound range can be gotten with seeds available through many seed catalogs to, such as Big Max, or Dill's Atlantic Giant.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f221/oppclp/Pumpkinstuff017200.jpg

[trudyjean]

I don't need the seeds, but post away. First time growing these and need all the help and tips I can get. trudyjean

[bluelacedredhead]

Haven't tried giant veggies in years, but I'm back at it this season.
I too would appreciate you sharing your knowledge. Thanks Phil!

[Pharmerphil]

Folks, I will begin soon, I have a very complex, and possibly taxing day ahead of me at work. I will start with the seed tonight!

[JereGettle]

yes i would love to hear more!

Jere

[Pharmerphil]

Step 1
Jere, I don't know ifin It quite qualifies for heirloom gardening, but I do-Do it..Organically!.. But da Move is cool with me Bro!http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/Phlaura/thumb.gif

Now Pholks, all you need to do is type Giant Pumpkins, in any search engine (do this when you have an hour or two to spare) and you will be amazed at the results! ONE QUICK NOTE, THESE ARE PICS FROM THE 2004 SEASON, IN MINNESOTA, I START THESE SEEDS AROUND THE LAST OF APRIL
I am going to take ya'll through the steps I use, and this by NO MEANS, is saying it is the correct way, it is just My way.
I haven't even came close to the world record, but neither has many. It is the Growing of these Giants, that is fun, (albeit time consuming) and very rewarding when you get even mediocre results(it will still impress the Heck outa your neighbors, and The kids Love them!)
First, if you have done some beggin', or buying, you will have several seeds to choose from, this is probably the hardest part because the average garden spot...just isn't big enough, for more than one plant! You will need aprox. 250 square feet, at the very MINIMUM!
The seed...bigger than most Huh? :eek:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/Phlaura/insetedit.jpg

[SelfSufficientOne]

I want to know why people grow them? Are these good to eat? If not, don't they take up a lot of garden space for no reason? My uncle liked to grow huge vegetables too, always had him in the paper with his huge veggies but I just can't understand the fascination.

[Pharmerphil]

Now, You must choose the seed You want to plant, my idea of 2 plants..well I started 5, and Low and behold, I got five starts...Ya just can't let your babies die, so there was some immediate re-planning of the available garden/yard! Who wants to mow anyway!
I take the seed and put them in cups with
Hydrogen peroxide, straight outa the little brown bottle, and let em soak for 18 hours.
(note the names on cups, these our the growers names and weights of the pumpkins the seed came from)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/Phlaura/Germination001.jpg
After their lil peroxide soak, they go into MOIST paper towels,(moist, meaning wetted, then wrung out till no water drips), then I place them in plastic bags,Here is where I, being 100% organic, and some other growers differ in opinion., some will at this point treat there seeds by coating them in a fungicide such as Captan, Apron. Maneb,etc. I don't know I went 5 for 5, all season long without it! ;)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/Phlaura/Germination004.jpg

[Pharmerphil]

Then the bags go into a regular cooler, with a plain ol' heating pad on low, with a towel over it, to make the cooler temp a Nice Balmy 80 degrees, this is a variable, but the seeds split in about 14 hours for me.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/Phlaura/Germination009.jpg
Now, you have to check them at least every 8 hours, because what you are watching for is the Radial or tap, or main root, to imerge.
Then I have already gotten my planting containers ready.
What i use is...coffee cans, the plastic folgers cans, cut the bottoms off, punch hole in the top, put the top back on, , set TOP down..of course and fill with loose, soiless potting mix. These work GREAT, because you can Easily remove the plant, without disturbing the roots, by removing the lid, and slipping the plant gently into your growing spot in the garden.
Now IF you plant has 'popped' open, and the radial is an inch-2 inches long, you're in business and ready to put them into the container.
Here are all five of mine, 31 hours after I put them in the peroxide to soak!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/Phlaura/starts005.jpg
STAY TUNED FOR PART II

[Pharmerphil]

SSO, Yes, they are good to eat, In fact, I raise an old heirloom, LONG PIE, and although these(giants) have a little more water content, they taste wonderful, and comparable in taste; However, the typical Giant grower will tell you different. I would atribute that to the Heavy watering that some use two-three weeks prior to the competition weigh-off, and using such things as Birth control pills, Muriate of potash, over-doing the fertilizers, and I ain't a talkin organic!
Any ol way, I know I still have pumpkin in the freezer, have given lots to friends, and had requests for more, We make very good pies, and cookies, and bars..and...well, Ya get the picture. After all, the year of these photo,s, we had pumpkins weighing, 527, 461, and a 237 pounds.
As far as growing them in the garden..DON"T,a Minimum 250 square feet, and this is with very prudent manicuring, and this is a topic, we will discuss in Part two, Or maybe three, but I will show, ohw you Can train then into the 250 sq, ft. and keep them from , well ,TAKING OVER your garden ,.Yard..neighbors yard..! I left a plant, un-touched one year and the main vine reached 35 foot out, and the side runners were 28 feet out in both directions!

[SelfSufficientOne]

Thanks, I really had no idea they were good eating. I don't think I will grow them, lol, but I was wondering because I did have a neighbor give me some seed last fall.

[bluelacedredhead]

Why do people grow these? For the thrill of competition? To watch something grow? Or simply, Just Because You Can...
I've done well at competitions at the local fair with flower arrangements and a plate of tomatoes, but those type of displays certainly don't have the impact on the fairgoers that the large veggies do..

[Pharmerphil]

It is a great hobby/sport, the competition is fun,with $$ rewards, I love the joy they bring to the younguns and, there is a huge cash prize for the first over 1500 pounds, last year the worlds record was 1469 pounds. Close, but no cigar!

[dirtundernails]

Pharmer, I'm glad pumpkins don't grow on trees! Did you ever consider Punkin Chunkin with a giant? tee hee


dun


Hubby says... now THAT would be a weapon of Mass Destruction! :eek:

Hod.

[dirtundernails]

HOD here.

Drop em out of bombers....... Squash the enemy! :D




Wifey says: Please excuse hod. He's out of his gourd!

dun

[Pharmerphil]

Actually, yes, we did (southern Mn. Giant Pumpkins) consider it at the weigh off...three small details ended it tho, Location, location, location!
It was held at a food store inside the city limits, and we could not secure the implement companies lot for the landing site!
besides they thought us a lil bit Whack!http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/chobb/Crazy.gif
Wifey says: Please excuse hod. He's out of his gourd!
I thinks it a great Ideahttp://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/chobb/agree.gif
On the first post in this thread, HOD, you will see one of the bags of seeds has "1030 Armstrong" on it, Do You folks ever watch The DAVID LETTERMEN SHOW? That seed came from the giant pumpkin that they Exploded on his show three years ago (seeds removed first of course!http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y296/chobb/agree.gif

[dirtundernails]

Iffin they is good eatin, it would'nt be such a waste of resources... But, the size makes a lot like hog butcherin time, or cuttin up yer own steer....

I was visualizing a thousand pound monster, with nothing to do with it except a giant jack-o-lantern...
Then, as it starts to decompose..... Ugh! How would one compost 1000 pounds of that back into something usefull...

But, a few pallet loads of canning jars, and a few thousand pie tins, ya just might have something there.

So, what do they dress out at? And, what about taxidermy? :p Obviously, one would need a forklift and a truck to show it anywhere or get it weighed.

Looking forward to the details.. We are insane enough to maybe try one one o these days.


dun & hod.

[redbrick]

"Pharmer, I'm glad pumpkins don't grow on trees! Did you ever consider Punkin Chunkin with a giant? tee hee"

Ya know, I watched a program on Nova a coulpe months ago, that just might be the ticket. It was about building a working trebuchet that could hurl a two-ton stone bullet over a thousand feet. Things that make you go "Hmmm"!

[nedwina]

That's quite the system you have there. Love the coffee can pots and the cooler/hot house techniques.

What does the peroxide do? Hasten germanation? Does that work for other seeds?

Thanks for sharing. I can imagine growing a 500 pound pumpkin would be pretty dang cool!

[Pharmerphil]

Yes Nedwina, Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is made up of two hydrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms, as opposed to water (H20) has but one atom of oxygen.
the added oxygen hastens germination, But, it also disinfects the seed, removing any harmful pathogens it's momma may have picked up.
Look up h202 in any search engine, and you will find many, many things out about it.
When doing smaller seed, it is probably best to cut the peroxide with water, about an ounce to a pint should do.
as for moving them, see the thread in Off Topic,
click here (http://www.idigmygarden.com/forums/showthread.php?t=234)

[Pharmerphil]

I think I seen that Andy, Nova is about as fancy a tv ya get out with an antenna!

[wilderness1989]

"Pharmer, I'm glad pumpkins don't grow on trees! Did you ever consider Punkin Chunkin with a giant? tee hee"

Ya know, I watched a program on Nova a coulpe months ago, that just might be the ticket. It was about building a working trenched that could hurl a two-ton stone bullet over a thousand feet. Things that make you go "HM"!
Strange as it seems they actually have Pumpkin Chuckin' Contests here in Illinois and out East. The use huge catapults and air cannons. They throw some of them out of site.

[SelfSufficientOne]

I guess it is because I have such a small growing area that I just can't see growing it just for the fun of it. I grow flowers but none of them take up that kind of space.

[Pharmerphil]

I guess it is because I have such a small growing area that I just can't see growing it just for the fun of it. I grow flowers but none of them take up that kind of space.
I does require much room, and time, and isn't for everyone. It's the fun, and of course the fact that the first person to reach 1500 pounds will receive aproximately 100,000 bucks that inspire us to grow. Everyone grower I know wishes that they could get "the big one" besides, there isn't anything else, that you could grow on 250 sq. ft. that would reap that kinda reward.
Giant Sunflowers are also popular, 22 inches across the head I believe is a good one, tomato, watermelon, cabbage, kohlrab, gourds(long), just about anything, there is a group or contest for. Myself, I as I have previously stated, may never see the biggest pumpkin, Because I am strictly organic, and do not pump, my pumpkins up on Chemical additives..but locally, I take the Largest Tomato...any year I enter in the county Fair. :)

[Doug W.]

I grow giant pumpkins in MN as well. I had the pleasure of meeting Pharmer Phil at a 2004 weighoff. I've toped 600 lbs. the last two years. It's amazing to watch these things grow at around 20 lbs./day at peak growth. Some have recorded 40+ lbs./day. Having one of these in the bed of a pick-up generates a lot of gaukers and waves on the freeway. I've taken them to a local nursing home(where I work) the past two years. It's a big hit with the residents. I get asked all year long about themLOL. It can be an addictive hobby. Some top seeds have sold for over $400 a piece at auction. Fortunately, many growers will send you their seeds on request, for a self addressed, stamped bubble-pack envelope. Most competitive growers, grow seeds from pumpkins of known genetic crosses.

[bluelacedredhead]

I remember back in the 90's I would get mailings every spring from some seed company that "specialized" in large veggies. I believe they had large Kelso onions as well as peppers and tomatoes..

So I was just going to ask Pharmer Phil if he had made any attempts at growing Giant Tomatoes..and there's my answer two replies back. Bonus!

Phil, Would you consider letting us in on the key to largest tomato??
What variety/s do you grow for this?
I'd appreciate it..
Thanks,

[bluelacedredhead]

I googled for info. Delicious holds the worlds record. But others listed include Brandywine and Giant Belgium, both sold by Baker Creek. And while reading up on these particular tomatoes I happened to notice another possibility in the B.C. catalogue.. Check out Jerry's German Giant, a Missouri Ozark heirloom. Up to 3 lbs..sounds like it's got potential to me. :D

[Pharmerphil]

Well I'll Be...Hey Doug! Ya be followin' Me around ! LOL
What ya planting this year?

[Doug W.]

Phil,
I just came across this site not too long ago. I'm thinking of planting 2-3 giant pumpkin plants this year. I'm after pretty orange genetics. My likely candidates are the 940 Mombert 00, 603.5 Muller 03, and the 1233.5 Reiss 05(the 1370 Rose 03 has a shot as well..it threw some big ones last year). What's your lineup look like? Maybe we'll cross paths at a weighoff again.

[mrtomatoexpres]

hi i forgot were they have a race. people dig out the pumkins,paint them. then get inside and row away. it was on gardening giants 3 with paul james on hgtv i think the state was vt or mass maybe maine :) :p :rolleyes:

[Doug W.]

I've got my three competition pumpkin plants under hoophouses as we speak.
An interesting note about seeds:
Some giant pumpkin seeds have gone for over $400 a piece at internet auctions. Usually these auctions are put on by regional giant pumpkin clubs, to help support local weighoff prize purses. The seeds that tend to get the largest bids, are ones that have a track record of producing a number of large pumpkins(1000 lbs.+)
There's no need to pay big bucks for seeds though, as many growers will gladly send out seeds from their pumpkins, if you ask them(usually you send them a self addressed stamped bubble pack envelope). Seed trading between growers is a common practice as well.
Seed genetics are quite important to serious competition growers. Here's an example of a seed designation: 1260 Weir 02. The 1260 stands for the weight in lbs. of the pumpkin the seed came from. Wier is the last name of the grower of the pumpkin. 02 is the year the pumpkin was grown(2002). There are places to track the family tree of a seed. Controlled crosses is another common practice. This involves hand pollination, and protecting the male and female flowers before the cross is made, and the female(eventual pumpkin) after. This ensures that the genetics you want are in the cross you made(prevents insect pollination).
Qualities growers might look for in seed genetics, when choosing what to seeds to plant(or what crosses to make), are pumpkin wall thickness, color of pumpkin, shape of pumpkin, size of pumpkin, etc.

[Helen Wong-Joe]

Thank for the great info, but it's way too much hard work and no space.

[Doug W.]

True, it can be a lot of work. But I do get a lot of enjoyment out of it. I currently have a nice, orange pumkpin, of about 450 lbs. growing.

[Tim]

I'm going to try and grow some next spring, how long do the large pumpkins store? and should I just plant them in my yard and water them with a soaker hose?

[zebraman]

Hey Guys;The last time he posted here was in April.I don't think he posts here anymore.-

[flowerpower]

I believe PharmerPhil started a thread on growing the giant pumps. Or you can get the link to his forum from any of Phil's posts. He has an entire section dedicated to the big pumpkins.

[louanne]

Bumpng this thread by pharmer phil...anyone try this method? might have to take a wack at it....

[Locavore]

HOD here.

Drop em out of bombers....... Squash the enemy! :D




Wifey says: Please excuse hod. He's out of his gourd!

dun

Can I just say that you two are adorable? :D I love the way you coment on each other's coments.

[Colojd]

We love to grow pumpkins, mainly because we love to use them for Halloween. I don't have the room right now I think for an Atlantic Giant plant, but have grown Big Max and had great luck with them, even in the sometimes tricky growing season here in the Denver, CO area. I came across a good website last year - think it was called Giant Pumpkins.com which was geared for people who love to grow them for competition.