Allotments 4 All

Well done Mal. It looks great. I really hope you top my 749 from a couple of years ago. I dont believe anyone has grown one bigger in the north and it would be a fantastic feat.
I dont think people are sometimes aware of how hard it is to grow these things as far north as we are. It takes bucket loads of hard work and commitment.

Good luck and fingers crossed for you

Pete

hi pete mate hope your well
today is day 55 and in last five days its put on 72lb so still doing ok  its sat at ott of 299 today thats 594lb on the new chart.

im struggling right now as i may need surgery on my knee i keep dislocating it and  usually i can get it back in  by myself but not this time  i spent all last tuesday in a&e and i have to go back this wednesday to trauma clinic to see whats going to happen i have had to wear a full leg brace all week and its really annoying me its a 2 mile walk to the allotment and back and i dont drive  i have managed so far but its playing havoc with my other joints right now
but hey not to worry  im sure there are  people worse off than me .
im glad to see some other peoples pkns doing good well done you all its  great to see you going great guns  keep it up .

i will keep on trying to keep you updated as best i can
atb mal

It sure is hard Pete.  I'm not as far north as you guys but weatherwise this year I just as well may be.

I'm all out for the year, my last chance kin blew open at the blossom end whilst I was away.

At least it was fun clearing the patch.  Green manure is on order and soil samples are drying and patch prep begins for 2013.

Mal, your achievement this year is brilliant andI am really sorry to hear you struggling.  Hope you find a solution so you can nurse that kin to a new A4A personal best and also get some relief for your knee.

All the best

hi pete sorry to hear you lost your last pkn mate there is always next year for sure your soil test will tell you lots come into chat on bp one evening  and discuss it with  bry he is really good at knowing what you need
atb mal

All the best Mal. I hope you get good news on your Knee.
You are right D T. The weather this year has been abysmal for everything including pumpkins.

Good luck guys.

Pete

http://petesallotmentblog.blogspot.co.uk/

Nearly 600lb that is amazing well done.  The next question is how do you move it?  What are you going to do with it.  With the weather this year this is an amazing achievement.

Thanks Mal,

If I recall you didnt have the best year last year pumpkin wise and hear you are now with a whopper.  Kind of helps me put things in perspective and realise that a failed year can be just one amongst many good ones.

I'll be carrying around 25 bon bon squash home this year so I am very happy with that.  Amazingly they performed very well considering the weather

I'm thoroughly enjoying reading all your big pumpkin diaries, keep it up guys.  Sorry to hear about your knee Slyfox, hope you get it sorted soon.  I cycled home via our local allotment site today, and saw how other local pumpkin growers were faring, and they look better than me, but it gives me something to aim for  8)

thanks everyone for your kind words  i went ot hospital on wednesday and saw the knee dr they have booked me in for a MRI on monday evening  they suspect ive torn my cartlidge and will need surgery at some time .

on a lighter note the pkn is still growing decent enough its at around 630lb now on day 58 i will know full measurements in a couple of days on day 60
its starting to show some age now  and skin is starting to roughen up abit  in places









overall im happy with the pkn this year  as some of you have said its been a difficult year weather wise but the weather is nothing we can do anything about  really so i gave up worring about it ,

my priority now is keeping it going  another 30 days or so and sorting out how to move it safely
im not showing this year i just dont feel up to it  so its going to a charity not 100% certain yet who's i have a couple id like to get involved with  i will let you all know where its going soon as im certain i would love to see it get carved  by a pro but i just dont know where to start on that front

hopefully there will be plenty of good seeds in the pkn and if so they will be available  in novemeber time when they are dried  i will put a post up when i know what i have if anyone wants a couple thats all for now  kindest regards mal

  I have rushed home from the allotment, all proud and happy, excited to put my pumpkin photo on here and Mal has beat me to it with a fantastic huge pumpkin!!!!

Anyway here's mine

It is 40 inches around the fullest part and 22 inches from stem to blossom end


Photo1423 by lisamarieparkin, on Flickr

I think it needs a bigger hat now. ;D ;D

Lisa, what type of pumpkin is that?
and WOW Slyfox...amazing  :o

Giant Atlantic seeds where from either Thompson and Morgans or Suttons, can't remember off the top of my head.

Mal,  Check out this link to the grower diary of SMT (based in lancashire).
I would say he is a pro carver and it might be worth getting in touch.

For everyone else, follow the link and scan down to entries from Friday, October 21 onwards as there are some truly amazing carvings

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryView.asp?season=2011&grower=51148&action=L

Lastly and just for amazement, check out these carvings:
http://www.boredpanda.com/halloween-pumpkin-carvings-ray-villafane/

thanks pete for the info on simon  we are talking about getting it carved  if he can find the time the latest measurments are 313 ott thats 681 lb on the new chart
still a bit difficult to work in the patch with my knee i have had mri scan on it last night and will find out what the problem is later  when specialist is back off holiday
keep em growing people regards mal

681 lbs, I wonder what it could have been if the weather was different.
:)

315 ott thats 693lb on new chart  slowing down alot now  got down to 7c last night

Oh my gosh!!! Those carved pumpkins are amazing!!!!! :o

day 70 today on my 633 langley it measures ss90 ee 90 and cc 142 ott 322  thats 739lb on new chart hope it keeps going a while longer

Wow, that's some monster!