Allotments 4 All

The Show => Pumpkin 'tastic => Topic started by: Squash63 on October 12, 2008, 17:14:15

Title: I won!
Post by: Squash63 on October 12, 2008, 17:14:15: 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
Title: Re: I won!
Post by: posie on October 12, 2008, 17:21:25: Wow! I've not tried growing pumpkins yet, but that inspires me!
Title: Re: I won!
Post by: manicscousers on October 12, 2008, 17:43:40: they look amazing, love the scarecrows, too
Title: Re: I won!
Post by: flossy on October 12, 2008, 18:43:59: Hi Squash63,

What a result !! well done you :o

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 :D

floss x
Title: Re: I won!
Post by: caroline7758 on October 12, 2008, 19:42:44: Congratualtions! And what a great site about a great site! Any pics of you on there?
Title: Re: I won!
Post by: lorna on October 12, 2008, 20:25:31: Congratulations, great results. Enjoyed the pics. Looks a great site to belong to.
Title: Re: I won!
Post by: Squash63 on October 13, 2008, 06:25:18: 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
Title: Re: I won!
Post by: Rhubarb Thrasher on October 13, 2008, 06:58:05: wish our site was like your one
Title: Re: I won!
Post by: kt. on October 13, 2008, 17:49:22: Some size squash. Well done. How do you move a squash that size without it breaking. ;D ;D
Title: Re: I won!
Post by: cornykev on October 13, 2008, 18:29:05: Smashing pumpkins Betty, what a triffic site. ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: I won!
Post by: oakmore2 on October 13, 2008, 18:32:21: Crikey, they're humungous!
:o
Title: Re: I won!
Post by: Hosta on October 13, 2008, 18:39:32: WOW !!!! Fantastic - Well Done !

Looks like a fun place, the scarecrows are brilliant. :)
Title: Re: I won!
Post by: jayc1978 on October 14, 2008, 20:12:54: Congratulations, they are some big pumpkins. Looks like you had a lot of fun on the day. :)
Title: Re: I won!
Post by: Squash63 on October 14, 2008, 20:19:59: 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
Title: Re: I won!
Post by: Suzanne on October 15, 2008, 12:35:07: Well done Betty - fantastic pumpkins.
Title: Re: I won!
Post by: Trixiebelle on October 17, 2008, 13:44:34: Great site and video ;D

I love the way the wheelbarrow is creaking under the weight!
Title: Re: I won!
Post by: ber77tie on October 19, 2008, 21:26:04: Fantastic results Betty!please,please,please let me know how you did it so that I can win on our site next year!!!!
Title: Re: I won!
Post by: Squash63 on October 20, 2008, 05:27:02: Quote from: ber77tie on October 19, 2008, 21:26:04
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!
Title: Re: I won!
Post by: ber77tie on October 26, 2008, 19:44:32: Thanks Betty!you make it sound easy!?! I 'll give it a try next season and hoprfully get some results!
Title: Re: I won!
Post by: Hyacinth on October 27, 2008, 19:39:34: 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... 8)

Lishka x