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No Place Special

After Dan Carlson and Marc Peterson took their pumpkin to the 400 OTT and beyond, I started to wonder how many growers / pumpkins have actually made it to the 400 club. When I looked at that pumpkin in person, I never imagined a pumpkin being so big. I didn’t even imagine that the 1458 or 1385 would have looked that big in person. It seems to me that 400 OTT is kind of the line that separates really nice pumpkins from the true monsters or “Super Freaks” as Beachy and Welty put it. Does anyone agree with my thoughts that 400 OTT is the benchmark for true giants and that number is what we all should set our sights on?

9/2/2004 10:29:33 AM

Hudsonville, Michigan ([email protected])

Mike:
Yeah, that's big all right. But before I set my sights on 400, I'd settle for 350!!!
Frank

9/2/2004 10:34:52 AM

Sequim, WA

Well Mike, 400 OTT is a truly massive pumpkin, but just as this is no beauty contest, it's not a size contest either. I remember the weighoff where Steve Daletas pulled in with his massive 1230 and we all thought we were looking at the world record with that fruit. It wasn't to be for him that year because Geneva's was heavier and his went light. I'm with Frank, I'd love to have a 350 that was just as solid as a rock. If I can keep improving each year I'm happy. It's kind of like deer hunting, trophy racks are a once in a lifetime encounter for most, but venison in the freezer will keep most folks going out each year.

9/2/2004 2:18:30 PM

Deer Park, WI

Good post Mike- honestly, 366" on the '03 Stellpflug Martin charts is the number for me. Once you cross that threshold from 3 digits to 4 things start to get juicy. There's just something very special about 1000lbs, even in today's world of 1500lb potential. 400" is absolutly incredible, but at this point in time, only a select few will ever reach that. ON the other hand, 366" is almost becomming commonplace in many gardens. Now i suppose 3-4 years from now, 400" will be left in the dust, with the elite shooting for 425" (mind boggling). Bottom line is 1000lbs est is just plain cool.

9/3/2004 9:59:33 AM

Joliet, IL

just hit 350 today and it feels pretty good. i couldn't even
imagine wat 400 looks like or feels like. mine too is split
and still has grown over 100 lbs since doing so 18 days
ago. hopefully the boulder will continue to impress
for quite some time and continue packing on the numbers.

9/3/2004 12:18:21 PM

No Place Special

Would someone volunteer to get on the AGGC and let me know how many pumpkins have reached 400 OTT or beyond?

THANKS!

9/7/2004 7:30:43 PM

Billerica,Massachusetts

Mike: i count 12

Glenn

9/8/2004 8:55:17 AM

[email protected]

I stopped counting at 10.

One trend developed.

Only the 1385 Daletas at 403.8" (2.99% over) & the 1230 Daletas at 416" (16% over) were statistically over the chart. Jerry's 1367.5 was virtually dead-on at .04% over.

All the rest (70%) were under chart from -2.5 to -10.25%.
20% of the 10 were DMG entires (1458 & 1245 Bailey)

Very interesting. I drew 2 conclusions from the exercise.

1.) Steve Daletas has a kick-butt patch & is a really good grower.

2.) It must be wicked hard to keep a 400+" fruit together & expect it to still go over the chart.

9/8/2004 10:38:52 AM

Hudsonville, Michigan ([email protected])

Hey Trem:
I agree that Steve Daletas has a kick-butt patch. His culls are bigger than my personal best! But 1230 was 16% light, not heavy.
Frank

9/8/2004 12:42:24 PM