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Syracuse, NY

Things to do:
(It rhymed in ''22 - Oh, well):

Massively amend any soil with as much cow, horse, Alpaca and/or chicken
manure as is economically and manure spreader-functionally as possible;

Till in said manures - the more, the merrier, for now!;

Optional:
Wait a few weeks until others' opinions say as to when to copiously sample
said soils and send in samples/await test results, in case any nutrients could be
being adjusted appropriately all winter;
Hence, amend soils as are said to be done in Soil Test Results for Fall/Present
season;

Possible and/or Also:
Till in said manures along with Mycorrhizal Inoculant to the tune of also as much
as is financially-feasible - at LEAST @ one pound per 1000 SF - the more, the merrier;
Plant Fall Cover Crop(s) as per suggestions as to what are best by Other Growers;

In other words, make the growing area(s) 'plant-ready', even in the fall;

11/12/2022 7:09:10 PM

Syracuse, NY

Sample soils in Spring and do the above concerning amending soils from
Soil Test Results for Atlantic Giant Pumpkins;

Till in recommended amendments whilst adding MORE Mycorrhizal Inoculant
@ 1 Lb./1K SF.
Why the Hell not?
(I have $800 worth of Bio Grow Endo Plus I never used in '22, and it showed! Lol ! ! !)

Optional note ONLY to Self:
Be sure to OVERDO all additions like I used to when I had bigger pumpkins!
I think I used to add 5 lbs./100 SF 19-19-19 first, lol---Do not try at home!
Remember - You have a newer vehicle to put a trailer hitch onto---NO excuses!!!
Plant Cover Crop(s) or anything that will coincide with the growth rate of
AGs along with them as companion plantings;

Put in all watering system(s), purchase additional walking boards, erect additional and
supplemental fencing, construct and clothe all Floating Row Cover (FRC) mini greenhouses
(8' X 8') and otherwise be PREPARED AHEAD (Insecticide, Mildew Cure, Water-Soluble Ferts)
of time for any and all additional necessities that can occur from previous experience -
and from lack thereof.

And OH, the WORST >>> Select what to grow (Ummm...from what you've been 'selecting' all winter);

BURY ALL VINES ON EVERY PLANT AS THEY GROW - INCLUDING ON SUNFLOWERS, LOL!!!

These are the things whereby if I were to follow my own advice, I'd yearly have numerous
over-1K pumpkins, ferr sherr!.
It is merely a good reference for me to look at in the winter and next spring,
as well as to perhaps follow, lol --- eric g
--- Gritty, I hope one or two things have piqued your interest as well.
Let's get some BIGGUNS!!!
Comments on what I'm dong incorrectly (see what I did there, do ya?) are welcome---eric g

11/12/2022 7:13:04 PM

Syracuse, NY

''22 - Oh, well - lol

11/12/2022 7:14:27 PM

Syracuse, NY

Get higher-resolution monitor, lol - (' ' ' ' ) (^_^)

11/12/2022 7:20:57 PM

Syracuse, NY

Please see and moreso reply to this post before mine:
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=10&p=724436
It sparked me to create my own but I didn't wanna hijack it and
in New Growers' Forum it might have off-tracked someone.
It's all good as far as info goes! eric g

11/12/2022 7:27:40 PM

Grittyville, WA

Some of the big growers said they are underwatering. I think I am probably in this boat, too... One thing I learned this year is a plant can appear totally healthy (or well watered), yet its really its not cranking out the lbs as fast as it could be.

But I am absent minded and I forget to put into practice half the ideas that I believe would improve my results.

Feedback to your post... some top growers dont use myco. I think it would help the most in soil that has been solarized or sterilized. Then it doesnt have to compete with everythkng thats already there. I know I already have lots of myco in my soil (although maybe its not the same strain that grows world records.) So I figure its a waste to add more, unless it can really out compete the stuff thats already there.

11/12/2022 8:36:41 PM

Grittyville, WA

I think the idea of a plastic mulch or weed fabric is something is interesting to consider. Other than another expense I dont really see any downsides. It could be cheap/thin and it would hold up for one season as long as it wasnt walked on too much. But with my luck weeds would grow under it so I'd have to figure that out.

11/12/2022 8:46:15 PM

Syracuse, NY

With the weed fabric, I used that in about '04 when I used to grow tomatoes - there was a huge swell in ONE spot that if I knew then what I know now, I would have simply watered that area with Glyphosate/Roundup, for the RU would have not been neutralized by the WeedBlock fabric, being not-organic.
When I see the articles/Nature programs and other tidbits about Myco and since I've been using it for about 15 years, it is a given that it is here to stay and although I had the WORST (yet enjoyable, lol) growing season and end weight in '22, even that would have not been bearable without my Myco 'pals' in my soil. The main REASON for me to grow AGs?
To compensate by selling a few for the cost of Myco! Haaaaaaa!!!
No, but yeah - but it is a big item, lol---eric g
---PS---Hey, go look at that guy, Gritty's post.

11/12/2022 10:28:31 PM

Syracuse, NY

PS---I saw a relative's pool cover a couple weeks ago and it is about, you know, pool-sized and it has straps at each end and side that stretch it tight; I was like 'That's what I need to do if I ever use WeedBlock to the size that I'll need to do that for' - Maybe rather than use the green pegs that I end up losing half of. laters---eric g

11/12/2022 10:31:53 PM

Torrance, Ca.

2500 here you come!

He or she who works hardest in the offseason, 90% of the time ends up with the biggest fruit! There is some luck in growing giants but the hard work 12 months of the year is what gets you the biggest fruit!:)

See what the Patons are doing now! I'd love the have one of those steamers!

11/13/2022 4:31:39 PM

Syracuse, NY

Ahhh, this cheers me up, after having computer troubles and
a water filter I changed in the basement that is leaking 1 droplet per minute. It's OK, as long as I don't HEAR it, lol...comp is back to normal and soup is now hot. I'll get right on that offseason, starting tomorrow, lol----eric g

11/14/2022 3:07:47 AM