2006 Pumpkin Competition Chat

[Andy H]

some growers of big ones leave 2 on and get rid of the rest, this gives a back up. Our 1st last year was looking bad on the skin at about 80lb so we cut it off and started another and it reached 139lb ;D

[Andy H]

[Mrs Ava]

I don't think I could stand cutting my fruitlets off in their prime!  :o  ;D  At the rate mine are going, I don't think I will have to cut any off.  >:(

[djbrenton]

I've been pinching them out till around 10ft of stem. I now have two on separate stems each around 6 inches across.

[bellebouche]

Beachball Beachball!!

..photo coming soon, I promise  :-[

Thing is, I turn my back, get involved in some project or other, can't find the digicam and a tapemeasure at the same time and then.. WOOOMPH... collosal growth happens whilst my back is turned :)

[bellebouche]

Finally, got it together.



It's difficult to estimate the weight right now.. I'm guessing it's in the 8Kg range? I have another plant with a slightly smaller fruit on it... and two more vines that have not yet got any flowers that are showing any signs of setting a big fruit. I'll post back progress towards the end of the month.

[Doris_Pinks]

belle, think I should throw in the towel NOW!!  looks brill! ;D

[lorna]

DP You won't be lonely ;D ;D I have got one plant with one pumpkin on it. I'll bring my own towel :)

[Grandma]

Belle - what a beauty! My towel is sailing through the air as I write. (I could swallow my pumpkin with a glass of water!)

[busy_lizzie]

Belle that is fantastic! Mine are no where near that size - think tennis balls at the moment!  ::)  :D busy_lizzie

[Mrs Ava]

WOW!

And Grandma, yours sounds huge!  If I breathed in too deeply, mine would be gone and I wouldn't notice!  tch....

[djbrenton]

My two are both about 20 inches around but slightly different shapes. One is perfectly round and the other tapers slightly towards the flower end. Anyone know if one shape is pre-determined to grow better than the other?

[Mrs Ava]

20 inches round indeed....bah and humbug!

[Andy H]

Ready steady GO!

Picked off fruits but left one today! It is the size of a marble but it is staying!

Will see how it gets on...... ;D

[lorna]

Just dashed out and measured my one and only. 22" round the middle. Don't have a tape so measured with a piece of string and then checked on ruler. Honest Injun didn't cheat. It is now turning yellow at one end does this mean it won't get any bigger?

[Andy H]

I have covered mine to stop it ripening so it will grow bigger before the skin sets.

[bellebouche]

Bah! Mine are romping away... but are turning a distinct orange shade... the leaves on the plant wilted a little during the last few hot days and this has made the skin change colour.

If I'm scuppered then... I'll have to bring plan B into action.. my 'reserve' vines are now about 12ft long and have set fruit... I'll encourage these along by watering and giving them a dose of nettle soup and this time... I'll shade the fruit

[grawrc]

I have a little golf ball
It's yellow as can be
If it wasn't for the colour
I'd have thought it was a pea!
;)

[supersprout]

lol Anne ;D ;D ;D
two nice surprises under the leaves today:

Marina di Chioggia


Blue Hubbard

[Mrs Ava]

Oh for goodness sakes!  My pumpkins are marbles, marbles I tell ya!  However, cucumbers and courgettes galour!  And, low and behold, I have a baby watermelon and a baby honeydew melon!  WHOOPPEE!!  So there, nar nar nar nar nar.  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[supersprout]

boo hoo EJ (veers slightly off thread) squillions of melon flowers and NO melons :'(