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Sioux City, Iowa

I have numerous AG vines growing, however, on one I have two healthy pumpkins at about 100lbs each rapidly growing with the total of about 800 leaves. All seems well. What is unusual is these two green pumpkins have numerous nickle sized yellow dots all over them. I have even noticed some of the leaves have the swirled version of these colorations. So what gives? In all other respects they are extremely healthy. I have heard it may be some type of mosiac virus. Any comments are appreciated.

8/29/2001 4:14:27 PM

canal winchester ohio

Is there anyway you could post a picture. It does sound like some sort of mosiac.....Paul

8/29/2001 4:21:04 PM

Sioux City, Iowa

I realize a picture is worth a thousand words, however, no I can't post a picture. If you need more info let me know.

8/29/2001 4:48:22 PM

Omaha, Nebraska

Hey Mullet I grew up in Sioux City. I now live in Council Bluffs.

8/29/2001 4:51:09 PM

Sioux City, Iowa

Are you the guy with the 700+lb pumpkin in the CB/Omaha area? I started a few yrs ago with seeds from SD state Champion 707lbs -1998 Greg Kurkowski. Currently I have 3 vines growing. The others are all normal, except I got very few female blooms, unfortunately I was unable to manually pollinate, as a result everything is very late. So I now get to battle frost

8/29/2001 4:58:14 PM

Omaha, Nebraska

Yep thats me except its bigger than that now! I also had one the set late by accident on Aug 18 and it was growing so fast i let it stay. It was 60 inches in circumference as of yesterday at 10 Days Old. So I have 2 on my one plant.
The only problem is that Pepper is on a slope and 2 feet from the end of the cement wall that separates my house from the neighbors. I hope they will let me build a shelf on their side as it grows over the wall :)

8/29/2001 5:06:09 PM

canal winchester ohio

C.C.
I've been keeping up on your diary, but I couldn't find what seed you used . Do you happen to know it...Paul

8/29/2001 5:10:35 PM

Omaha, Nebraska

Paul,

Unfortunately i dont know the family history of the "Shannon" seed.

8/29/2001 5:12:49 PM

Sioux City, Iowa

CC, at some point I would like to get some of those seeds from Pepper. I have the same situation where those discolored pumpkins are growing on a slope and are up next to a snow fence I put in to keep critters out. No one in SC grows the AG's as far as I can tell, however, I have given seeds out from my 350lb -1998 pumpkin. So what do you think the deal is with the yellow dots all over those bad boys.

8/29/2001 5:26:15 PM

Omaha, Nebraska

Mullet,

You sure can have some seeds. I'll probably have more than I know what to do with. I dont know about the discolorations... but you if your getting yellow spots... it doesnt sound good. Did you say they are all that way?

8/30/2001 1:19:00 AM

Omaha, Nebraska

Its just on the green ones... hmmmmm

8/30/2001 1:22:44 AM

Sioux City, Iowa

No just on one vine. It was a seed I got from Kurkowski validated from a 1000lb St. Lawrence pumpkin. They continue to pack on weight. The yellow spots rise up from the pumpkin, like a 3D effect. The green background makes it stand out more. So if your pumkin is past 800lbs and if it still puts on weight, you may be a couple hundred pounds from a appearance on Letterman. Good luck!

8/30/2001 9:00:13 AM

Western Pa.

Letterman is a dirty word around the Giant Pumpkin circle,just ask Dave Stelts!

8/30/2001 2:03:52 PM

Omaha, Nebraska

Is there bad blood between Stelts and Letterman for some reason?

8/30/2001 3:47:36 PM

Omaha, Nebraska

Mullet,

"Shannons" circumference is 156 as of yesterday and estimated weight around 815 pounds. I thinnk "Pepper" is robbing her of some of the Gusto. I am going to let them both grow though and then next year plant 5 plants and narrow it down to just one pumpkin per plant. Im buying an acre of land from my friend for next year.

8/30/2001 4:12:41 PM

Utah

Selts was going to be on "Regis & Kathey Lee"
he had the pumpkin in a truck and on the road to NYC but
when they got to NY they opened up the back and the
pumpkin had split apart- (it was really mushy inside) so they didn't want it on the show anymore. Thanks for driving all this way but we don't want you or your pumpkin anymore.

The year before the Checkons 1131 lb-er was on Letterman.
but they only showed it for like 10-20 seconds at the very end of the show. When "the show" contacted Larry & Gerry
they made it sound like they be on the show talking with dave... but it didn't work out that way.
not sure of all the details.
anyway - the worlds best pumpkin growers have have their problems with the TV world.
although last year Martha Stewart did a nice segment on a grower near her in Conn.
g1t

8/30/2001 6:28:28 PM

Western Pa.

Guess I had a "brain fart" earlier today. It was Regis that was supposed to have Stelts. When they got to the hotel in N.Y.C. there was a hole in the top from all the potholes enroute. There were even "makeup artists" that were willing to touch it up, but Regis said "No deal!" The Checkons were supposed to be on Letterman the year before, but as g1t said ,they showed only the pumpkin for about 10 seconds. I don't even think the Checkons had a chance to meet Letterman. When I grow my record, I'm only going to settle for Leno!

kilr

8/30/2001 8:34:38 PM

Greencastle, PA

LENO ROCKS! you need to talk to him soon then the record should be yours soon, you know all there is to know about these things.

8/31/2001 12:47:18 AM

Omaha, Nebraska

Leno VS Letterman ?

Letterman is an Icon now after 20 years!

8/31/2001 12:49:06 AM

Charlotte, North Carolina

Leno likes unusual things on his show, as some of you may have seen.

8/31/2001 3:22:24 PM

Ga.

Tom,,,guess I get to goto Leno then,,,I got ya beat on the smallest AG,,,hehe,,,,,,, ^_^ ,,,just kidding with ya..But I do have you beat on smallest..

8/31/2001 6:00:19 PM

Greencastle, PA

my biggest is 30, I've got smaller ones.

8/31/2001 6:46:16 PM

Omaha, NE

Hey CC
Have you let the local news come out and get background footage for the story on Shannon yet? Whatever you decide to do with her after the growing season is over let me know if you need help.

Karen

9/1/2001 4:46:49 PM

Omaha, Nebraska

Karen,

yeah. all three stations know about Shannon. I told them they could all come out the day I cut Shannon from the vine.
Its at 855 lbs now. I think I might still be able to break the Iowa record :)

Clint

9/3/2001 11:03:03 PM

Sioux City, Iowa

I'm such a dork. I've only been involved with AG growing for two years and until now have never had one morph into a squash. Well my Watertown, SD provided Kurkowski seed from the St Lawrence growers association has become one. Eventhough it was set on the vine late (3 weeks ago) it is growing remarkably well - 150lbs as of today. But it is one strange looking thing! Hey what's the IA record for squash? Again CC I would like to get some seeds seeds. Later!

9/3/2001 11:28:09 PM

Omaha, Nebraska

I believe it is about 880 lbs. I'll check for sure later.

9/3/2001 11:29:58 PM

Omaha, Nebraska

I just checked. The record for Iowa is 833.8 . That means if the OTT weight is accurate, I've already broken an Iowa record so far!

Clint

9/3/2001 11:35:09 PM

Kuna, Id.

C.C.,Good Job!!!.When your done with that thing could you put it in a big box and ship it to Idaho?Our record is around 490#,But I think BrianC from Rexberg will break his own record.So I'am looking for a back up plan.Ken

9/4/2001 12:09:35 AM

Omaha, Nebraska

Sure! I'll send it out to different states and break all the records in other states too ... starting with idaho :)

9/4/2001 12:12:06 AM

Sioux City, Iowa

C.C. How frequently do you weigh Shannon? If daily how much has she gained from the 855lbs yesterday? Let me know when the media runs the story. I can pick-up Omaha stations from SC.
Grow baby!

9/4/2001 1:44:27 PM

Omaha, Nebraska

Mullet,

Shannon's estimated weight today is 878 pounds. The circumference is 162. Ill let you know when the media gets over here. I missed your post a couple days ago.

Clint

9/6/2001 11:03:44 PM