2006 Pumpkin Competition Chat

[Jesse]

Is anyone interested in a "grow the biggest/heaviest pumpkin" competition for this year? Wondering if I should get some giant pumpkin seeds bought.

[Travman]

Count me in   
I also have two kids aged 12 and 7 both of which have a bet with me they can grow the biggest 

[mc55]

I'd like to have a go - pumpkins (and squashes) are going to be my secret weapon of mass destruction for weed cover this year ....
mc

[agapanthus]

Good idea Jesse:)

[Tulipa]

me too!

[Jesse]

Okay, so should we keep this thread as a diary for what varieties we choose to grow, when we sow/plant out, how they're doing, photos etc? Or do you all want to keep things top secret until judgement day? Maybe we could have a junior's category as well, I know my kids would love to take part. I might even be able to arrange a small prize for the winner!

[busy_lizzie]

Will give it a go,    but my biggest pumpkin was smashed last year by vandals.    Will have to think of a way to disguise them. busy_lizzie

[Doris_Pinks]

i too shall try again............not too huge last year, but the year before had a whopper, but still didn't win on here! (DP wanders away muttering incantations and pumpkin feed recipes)

[Mrs Ava]

Oh, go on then....I tried to resist, honest! 

[TULIP-23]

Jesse and Gang

Interesting for us to Follow if you made a Diary Out of the Thread with
Type of Seed Everyone Planted[Name etc]
When Planted  Date [Month]
When Transplanted Date [Month] 
Positioning
ManureType[ Horse Chicken Pig Refuse]
Picture Progress Report
Write Reports

 Give it a Go....Love to read about it all should be Great Fun Please Please!!
 Make a Diary
                            Good Luck to you all Mike

[Travman]

Okay, so should we keep this thread as a diary for what varieties we choose to grow, when we sow/plant out, how they're doing, photos etc? Or do you all want to keep things top secret until judgement day?

Jesse and Gang

Interesting for us to Follow if you made a Diary Out of the Thread with
Type of Seed Everyone Planted[Name etc]
When Planted  Date [Month]
When Transplanted Date [Month] 
Positioning
ManureType[ Horse Chicken Pig Refuse]
Picture Progress Report
Write Reports

 Give it a Go....Love to read about it all should be Great Fun Please Please!!
 Make a Diary
                            Good Luck to you all Mike

Sounds Ok to me.

[Jesse]

Would anyone like to suggest categories? As not everyone will be growing large size pumpkins I thought it would be nice to include one for the most ornamental/unusual looking pumpkin/squash. And then the obvious heaviest pumpkin. I don't think we want too many categories but a few won't hurt and could make it a little more fun and involve everyone.

[spacehopper]

Sounds like I great idea, I'm in!

Caz

[sammyd]

and me

[dandelion]

And me.  I got some Atlantic Giant seed in a swap at the Dulwich potato fair. I've also ordered Vif Rouge d'etampes and I've got a packet of mixed squashes and pumpkins from seeds of Italy. That's got some really weird ones like Sepente di Sicilia and Marina de Chioggia. I'm trying to work out what's what from looking at the seeds. Some of the seeds have a peculiar shape. Maybe I should post a picture on A4A to get them identified???

[Andy H]

Yep! me going for it. Weight seems to be the issue so lets go for it!
I am doing atlantic giant and think that food and water are the secrets.
Will try to beat 138lb in my 3rd attempt

Last year I let a fruit start too early before letting the vine grow a bit so I will try too be patient.....

What will you do? Good to hear methods people reckon they will try before we start sowing...... bugger the secrets, lets work together on ideas(keep it simple)

[Jesse]

No plan here, bung it in the ground (they'll be in the patch where my manure heap is currently sitting and which needs to be spread onto the beds), water when I remember and hope it grows big I've bought some hundredweight seeds, will probably start them off in May indoors and plant out around the beginning of June by which time the last frosts should be over and the soil should be warm.

[Curryandchips]

This competition sounds like fun. How do I join in? Do I need to get my name down somewhere? And what do I need other than pumpkin seeds? At the moment all I have are some butternut, but I can get some pumpkin seeds. I intend to buy myself a proper camera, so I can take pictures, but how do you weigh the pumpkins, especially if they are 138 pounds! I guess mine will be easy though, perhaps 20 lb.

[Andy H]

My mate works at the post office so we took it there and used their scales that go up to 1000lb I think.

[Jesse]

I'm not sure how you'd weigh something that heavy but I think the weighing thing will have to be up to each person and we'll be relying on honesty. Perhaps if there's a few that big that cannot be weighed then we'll have to judge by circumpherence (sp?). I suggest the judging can be done by poll like has been done with the A4a veggie show, that way we all get to vote, what does everyone think? In the meantime keep posting in here what varieties you're growing, when you're planting, post photos and whatever info you want