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Halifax, Nova Scotia

Well, between the recent leaf burning while testing out baking soda and dish soap for fixing my mildew problem, and todays hail storm that rolled through, tearing holes in every leaf and damaging all pumpkins except for one (under a shade), I've pretty much given up hope of achieving my goal of a Regatta worthy pumpkin. I will not be racing in my first Atlantic Giant. It looks like my hopes will now rest on the abilities of other local growers that I hear will sell their pumpkins to those crazy enough to want to race them. So if any of the Nova Scotia growers were planning on leaving a 350 pound or larger pumpkin at home come October, and would be willing to sell, I'll pay fair price for it. Otherwise I'll be at the Windsor weighoff with the rest of the crazy buggers trying to get my hands on a "yacht". Good luck to everyone, send the hail my way, can't do anymore damage now. I'll try again next year.

8/9/2004 8:10:42 PM

hamilton,Ontario

hey i would luv to see a video of this pumpkin boating.....canada

8/9/2004 8:29:27 PM

Southern Illinois

Don't count them out yet. I had a storm come trough about a month and a half ago. I had hail damage to every leaf, all the vines were rolled over on there sides and about half of the stems on the leaves were bent and kinked over. I thought it was a total loss but now two on these plants have pumpkins around 400 lbs.

8/9/2004 9:06:29 PM

Colo.Spgs.CO. Pikes Peak Chapter @ [email protected]

We just had our 14th hail storm here today, and no I am not exagerating, with more in tomorrow's forecast. Here is a link to the hail protection I am using this year,today I watched marble to quarter size hail bounce around on the stuff like a trampoline....Works great. Good luck...JK.. http://www.pakunlimited.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=142&mode=thread(

8/10/2004 2:38:13 AM

Halifax, Nova Scotia

ENG6900, I grew up in Dundas. About 15 years ago, my next door neighbor grew the largest pumpkin weighed in the Ancaster fair, that's part of the reason I got into it when I moved into my home here. As for seeing a tape of it, I should be able to get some videos on my digital camera, but in the meantime, check out http://www.worldsbiggestpumpkins.com/main.htm for last years results.

As for growing my own, I won't give up yet, I'll throw a little fertilizer down and see if I can't get something to come back.

8/10/2004 9:19:21 AM

Edmonton, Canada

Holes in pumpkin leaves aren't that bad. As long as you can still see soem greem, some where, the plant will keep going. Just hang on and you might be surprised.

8/10/2004 11:12:19 AM