I won!

[Squash63]

My pumpkins came first, second and third in our Giant pumpkin competition today.  They were 166lb, 138lb and 134lb.  I was very surprised that they grew this well because I didn't do anything special to them.
There are photos here if anyone would like a look http://www.growit.ik.com/p_competitions2008.ikml

[posie]

Wow! I've not tried growing pumpkins yet, but that inspires me!

[manicscousers]

they look amazing, love the scarecrows, too

[flossy]

   Hi Squash63,

   What a result !!   well done you   

   What strikes me is all that is going on within your allotment site  --  fantastic !

    You have a great community spirit going on there - love the scarecrows, wish we were as fun loving
    on our patch , must include all the family   

    floss x

[caroline7758]

Congratualtions! And what a great site about a great site! Any pics of you on there?

[lorna]

Congratulations, great results. Enjoyed the pics. Looks a great site to belong to.

[Squash63]

Thanks for all your kind remarks!
There isn't a photo of me on the website - I have always been the one taking the photos so I don't appear in many of them.  I suppose I could get one of me taken next to my pumpkin and have a "Guess which one is the pumpkin" competition!

Betty

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

wish our site was like your one

[ktlawson]

Some size squash.  Well done.  How do you move a squash that size without it breaking.   

[cornykev]

Smashing pumpkins Betty, what a triffic site. 

[oakmore2]

Crikey, they're humungous!
 

[Hosta]

WOW !!!!   Fantastic - Well Done !

Looks like a fun place, the scarecrows are brilliant. 

[jayc1978]

Congratulations, they are some big pumpkins. Looks like you had a lot of fun on the day. 

[Squash63]

Thanks everyone for your kind comments.  Some of the pumpkins were taken to Gurdwaras in Birmingham today.  The people who came to collect them had a bit of a shock when they saw how many there were.  At least they will be doing some good and won't be left to rot like they have in previous years.
To answer the question about how we managed to move the big one:- my
kind neighbours at the allotments rolled it towards a wheelbarrow on its side and then got it upright.  I put a small clip on YouTube if anyone would like to see.  It's http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IL6jwipTDiw

[Suzanne]

Well done Betty - fantastic pumpkins.

[Trixiebelle]

Great site and video 

I love the way the wheelbarrow is creaking under the weight!

[ber77tie]

Fantastic results Betty!please,please,please let me know how you did it so that I can win on our site next year!!!!

[Squash63]

Fantastic results Betty!please,please,please let me know how you did it so that I can win on our site next year!!!!

About this time last year I started off a new compost heap with of layers of horse manure and bedding, mixed with leafy plants.  (There wasn't much manure, it seemed mostly bedding)
In June I scooped out some of the top of the heap and filled it with a bucketful of bought compost.  The Atlantic Giant pumpkin was planted there in June and just left to grow.  I didn't feed it, hardly watered it and never removed any surplus baby pumpkins.  I had a shock when a neighbour pointed out that there were two really big pumpkins under all the leaves!
So I suppose the only tip I can give you is to plant it on top of a compost heap, stand back and wait!

[ber77tie]

Thanks Betty!you make it sound easy!?! I 'll give it a try next season and hoprfully get some results!

[Hyacinth]

Fabulous! And I love your site - saw it on the tele last year, was it? It's adjacent to the park I used to play in as a kiddie. An uncle used to have a lottie there many years ago....50's/early 60's perhaps? He had a motorbike and got killed on the way to his lottie. I'd not thought about the place until I saw it on TV last year - that lady creating her dyes? WOW!  And now there's you, and your very own Claim to Fame...

Lishka x