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Location

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Rhode Island

ah august, its the month we work and dream about.

all that hard preparation work is in the rear view mirror and the pumpkins are growing at an excellerated rate.

its the best and worst of times

ya cant wait to get a tape around her but cringe every time you take the sheet off to view the blossom and check for stem splits. followed almost immediately by a quick check of the base and main looking for any uninvited guests or mr. foamy and your good for another day.

id dare to say that many a world record pumpkin never made it to the scales.

on average if you work eight competition pumpkins you will at times end up with half that amount once the final gun is sounded.

splits, slow growers, animals,insects,disease,and human error all contribute to the percentages

sometimes they will break your heart only days before the weigh off.i have seen just about all of it over the years.

why do we do it then? why all the work ? fall prep, spring prep, training ,pruning,spraying, sweating, swearing ? its because of this month august.

if she has not made the jump to light speed by now she never will i like to say.

consider this guys and gals. id be willing to guess off the top of my head that 50 percent of your final weigh came in august.

so enjoy the ride cause sooner or later ya gotta pull off the sheets and take a look

pap

8/6/2007 5:39:34 AM

No Place Special

ohhhh so true! The daily walk to lift the sheets is a killer!!!! 5 minutes feels like an hr.

8/6/2007 6:06:34 AM

Louth , Ireland

please write an informative book pwease

8/6/2007 6:42:38 AM

Austria

Pap`s posts are so true, gotta love `em.

8/6/2007 7:13:38 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Pap,
Thanks for making this hobby a lot of fun and making my day.

8/6/2007 9:44:46 AM

Honesdale, Pennsylvania

Nothing worse than a dissapointment when you check under the sheets PAP !

8/6/2007 9:46:27 AM

SF Bay Area, California

Yah - when you look under the sheets, you wanna to see it big and getting bigger!

8/6/2007 10:33:27 AM

Somers, CT

It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to, than I have ever known.

Rob's version: It is a far, far oranger and most giant work than I could ever have imagined, let's weigh it.

8/6/2007 10:38:37 AM

Greene County, Pa.

When I take the sheets of I look for splits first before I measure, always praying that everything is ok..
BuddyG

8/6/2007 10:39:03 AM

Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

Thanks pap, aka the pumpkin poet. lol

You sum it up better than i could.
Capt

8/6/2007 3:04:43 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

Yep, my 125 Wolf fruit just blew up...

http://cliffwarren.byethost5.com/august/2007/

8/6/2007 5:32:55 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Also in Aug., many of us come to the realization that we won't break 1000 lbs. for at least another year. On a positive note, August is a great tomato month!

8/6/2007 7:43:42 PM

Antigonish,Nova Scotia,Canada

Amen to that , Doug! I'm with you!

8/6/2007 9:01:45 PM

Minnesota

Yeah, and in August you can realize that you probably have to much compost and manure in your garden and its probably why you have no pumpkins to speak of, like me, and it would probably pay to have your soil tested or not go crazy with the manure and compost at the beggining of the season. And begginers like can look back and clearly see I've learned tone.

8/6/2007 9:01:56 PM

Littleton, Colo

I love it when you post Paps !! You motivate me ! I've learned so much this year and I'm already looking forward and planning for 2008. Thank you and Grow'Z em Big!!!!!

8/6/2007 11:19:56 PM

Wood River, IL ([email protected])

Hey Biz,

That does that mean your throwing in the towel on "07"?? lol

Paps I agree with "the Biz" you should think about writing a weekly posting just to give us newer growers something to think about or look for in the patch.

Kenny

8/7/2007 7:10:43 AM

Rhode Island

ill try but i dont want to come off as a busy body either

8/7/2007 3:08:33 PM

Wood River, IL ([email protected])

personally I think you have perfect timing when it comes to your postings.

8/7/2007 6:35:34 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

Yes pap......your reflections are a mirror image of my own. Great to see that I'm not REALLY crazy.

8/7/2007 10:14:01 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

Unless YOU are.

8/7/2007 10:14:33 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Punkamonium runs rampant this time of year, and it just gets worse from here.....lol Soon the rumors will start flying on the BIG ONEs out there....the excitement will build as the pounds are packing on.....Who will be the next champ for 2007? The BIGS come out of hiding........Counting down........51 days.......

Lets Grow BIG.......

8/8/2007 9:25:36 AM

Wood River, IL ([email protected])

Hey Wiz, I don't want to start any rumors. But I know of a big one in the patch at 518 S. 10th St. Wood River, IL. Now I'm not claiming 4 digit or anything like Don did the other day. I'm just saying it's the biggest pumpkin that's ever been in this patch. lol

Kenny

p.s. Don are you getting any sleep?

8/8/2007 10:57:08 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

Hey its time to start em anywise.....I know of some Colorado Rumors for this year.......I hear LongBeard has a Beach Ball.......lol and we have a new grower thats making the current SR grower a bit nervous......I love it......

8/8/2007 2:57:35 PM