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Taber, Alberta

After showing my pumpkin taping at 328 inches to my wife's friends yesterday, and after all the oohs and ahhs, I go out today to find a blossom end pin hole that goes all the way through to the cavity. It's done for official competition, but how long does the pumpkin have? Is there any chance I can make it to Halloween, and if so, how do I do it?
Thanks,
Alan

9/14/2004 6:27:23 PM

derry n.h u.s.a.

caulk it with good silicone,it will last! if the hole is sealed quickly.My 1107 had a dime sized hole in mid august a few years back at about 750 grew till it taped about 1040 and went past holloween,when i cut it open it had a couple of small strands of black.Caulk it up ,best of luck,hope this helped.John

9/14/2004 6:49:12 PM

Lloydminster/AB

That sucks. I patched mine with black silicone and it does work. Keep on top of it because if it keeps growing the split will too. Continue to smear silicone every time it stretches and you will keep it sealed. With our cool weather it will probably be good till it freezes. Good luck. Don

9/14/2004 7:32:37 PM

Taber, Alberta

At the absolute most the hole was open 18 hours. I bought some Benemyl (sp?) and put a paste over the hole. I've got a fan drying this off, but should I take that off and put the caulking on, or put the caulk over the fungicide paste?
It stinks that I can't enter this at Smoky Lake, but that's the game, I guess. This is my first really serious year at growing these things and I should be happy with what I accomplished. The real reason I got into this was to see the kids' reaction at Halloween when they see it so I guess that's my goal now.
Thanks for the help, Alan

9/14/2004 7:52:32 PM

[email protected]

Alan
I really feel bad for you also, SPLITS SUCK, I had 3 last year and the gut wrenching, dirt kicking, anger is more than a human should have to take.
As the other growers have said, Silicone and a prayer and it should make it to Halloween
If you can keep it together, you should still bring it to Smokie, as an exibition anyway.
Next Year, and a green house and some heaters and grow lights, and fertilizer, and soil thermometers, and 6 truck loads of manure and some feed grade molasses, and you'll try again. LOL
Eddy

9/14/2004 8:16:09 PM

Taber, Alberta

I never thought of taking it as an exhibition fruit. Do other growers care if you bring an exhibition fruit? My 300 pounder won't win any weight prizes and is kind of ugly. This splitter is a really nice shape. I'm starting to accept this more, but it still bugs me that I had a shot at the Alberta record. Oh well, thems the breaks.
You're right about next year. I'll get the silicone out and seal her up.
The greenhouse is going up in the spring (my wife doesn't know yet), I've got the heaters, plus a load of manure and manure compost lined up for my 400 square feet at home, as well as my winter rye (we'll try that), plus a lot of soil amendments for the farm patch. I wasn't too serious about that this year as I don't have the time to baby it. But I know with a little bit of care I can do something good there too. I'm looking to next year.
Thanks guys for the words of encouragement.
Alan

9/14/2004 8:34:10 PM

Edmonton, Canada

Hey Alan, you have mail!

Good luck.

9/15/2004 10:41:38 AM

[email protected]

Allan
If I had the split pumpkin I'd take it as exibition. you get to see the actual weight, and if it goes a few percent heavy, you can claim the unofficial record for biggest in Alberta. Also take your 300+ pumpkin as your official entry.
As a spectator I'd want to see as many big pumpkins as I can, damaged or not, just my 2 cents

Eddy

9/15/2004 11:39:43 AM

Taber, Alberta

I posted a few pics in my diary of what it looks like. My stem looks like it may be starting to rot. Any ideas how to fix this?

9/15/2004 12:44:03 PM

Sask, Canada

Alan:

As Eddy has said already "Splits Suck" we went through this last year with our biggest the 727, we cut it from the vine when ours started to open up and had it weighed at the grain elevator before it went through to the cavity.

But as was thought it would most likely not make it to Smoky Lake. Sure enough the next day after weighing it the last little bit of intact inside flesh gave way most likely from the moving on and off the truck.

What I'm trying to get at with out ruffling any feathers as I do not want in any way to start a controversy with my good pumpkin buddies that attend Smoky Lake as I respect and admire each and every one of you, Like yourself, Eddy, Don, Cameron, Archie etc. is I don't believe exhibtion fruit should be allowed at the weigh-offs.

I'll continue this in the next post

9/15/2004 1:07:31 PM

Sask, Canada

Here is my take on this topic and this may not fit for all weigh-offs sites but with the problems that went on with Smoky Lake last year I just don't think it is a good idea at this site.

I'll Explain:

I'll get this one out of the way first, but remember I was in the same spot last year. Leaving the wife's 727 behind and taking up our only sound pumpkin left the 457.

1) Giant Exhibition fruit take away from the awe and admiration from other growers and spectators for the grower that actually brought a sound competitive fruit.
Like Eddy said "As a spectator I'd want to see as many big pumpkins as I can" They don't care it split.

Example: 1st place went to a guy that grew a 650lb pumpkin
maybe he's a new grower or a guy struggling for 5 years to get a big one then another guy brought a 1,000lb exhibtion pumpkin, the first place winner would probably feel cheated of his accomplishment by all the attention given the other giant. Solid or not.

2) Smoky Lake has always struggled to meet the 2:00 GPC Deadline for weighing fruit, but this one I believe can be solved by putting a minimum weight requirement of say 50 or 100lbs then they wouldn't spend the first hour weighing fruit from 12lbs, 26lbs, 35lbs etc. This would also prevent people from buying a pumpkin at the wagon out front
and entering it as happened two years ago, If you didn't grow it you can't enter it. Which still surprises me the Lobay boys get away with it because if you ask them how they grew it they won't say because they have no idea how to grow them, The one lives in Edmonton and works on the oil riggs yet he grows his pumpkin at his mothers at smoky lake, ya ok...

9/15/2004 1:37:25 PM

Sask, Canada

But enough of that,

3) They would most likely weigh exhibtion only fruit at the same time which would slow down an already slow weighing as mentioned earlier. If you had every one bring their solid fruit and exhibition fruit think of the time needed to lift this by the lifters and time etc.

4) Smoky Lake doesn't allow any one in the back to view the pumpkins I believe Eddy got them this year to allow the growers back there as last year they didn't even want us back there. So the people only see them on the stage they don't set up a viewing area as I think other sites do.

5) If you competed in any other sport and got Dq'ed youre out. So I feel if the rules state only sound healthy fruit are allowed to enter there is no spot for all the exhibition fruit that will take up resources, time etc.

Now if Smoky lake had a public veiwing area and weighed the exhibiton fruit out side the official weigh-off well then that would fix some of my concerns.

Sorry Alan I have followed you since you started growing and you are right up there as one of the best growers in Western Canada we know what you can do as well as yourself.
But my advice would be to weigh your fruit at home so you know it's weight, enter it on AGGC as a DMG fruit and be proud of the fact you grew that and bring your sound fruit to the weigh-off then sit down with Don, Eddy, Cameron and myself afterwards and have a much deserved beer.

9/15/2004 2:10:52 PM

Sask, Canada

Like I mentioned earlier as well as Eddy we have all been their it is just part of this addictive hobby and last night after a special event here which I'll mention in my diary later today I read your post and my heart sunk I hate it when a good friend and grower has one goes down and would have liked to compete against that monster. Sorry but 700 - 800 lbs is a monster for me in our area.

I'll stop now but please guys don't take this the wrong way it is just my opinion on the matter. Friends don't always have to agree but understanding we might not agree on all things makes us closer friends.

TTYL
Ernie
Giant Veggies

9/15/2004 2:11:02 PM

Taber, Alberta

Hey Ernie, thanks for the advice. I still haven't figured out what I'm going to do, but you have some really valid points. On one hand, 36 hours ago the staff at school asked me how my pumpkin was and I said 'pretty good', knowing that it could grow a lot more and be something special. Today, it my response was 'crappy', but then explained it and didn't feel as bad. It's been a roller coaster of emotions, probably the same as everyone else who has gone through this.
I don't know if I would care or not if someone else brought a much bigger exhibition fruit, and mine was one of the top ones. I guess I would have to be in that position to know(next year???lol)
I've got a weigh-off at school I'm organizing next week and a certified scale is being brought in. I could weigh it there and show it off. We've got about 30-40 people entering it, but so far the biggest I've heard of is about 2-300, but I think mine might kick start some people for next year (although I think half of the town has gone down the back alley to take a peek at mine)

Hey, it all may not matter if it goes down in the next week or two. Scarface, my 300 (major hail damage when it was young, but has grown well and healed nicely, just is ugly), will be much easier to transport almost 8 hours.
Anyways, I really value your opinions Ernie. It's too bad Smoky Lake has gone through the grief in the past few years (I had no clue people bought pumpkins then entered them)
Anyways, I'm looking forward to seeing everyone there and yes, I would love to have a beer or two and we can all share our split fruit stories (Hey I'm a member of that club now) of the one that got away.

9/15/2004 2:51:22 PM

Taber, Alberta

Hey, why does the GPC have a 2:00 deadline anyways? Seems kind of stupid for us western time zones. What's the harm with a few more hours?
Anyways, (there's that word again), thanks everyone for your advice. Are there any more opinions out there? I know my wife wants me to take it.
Alan
ps, Ernie, keep that biggie safe so we can gawk at it on the 2nd.

9/15/2004 2:51:47 PM

Sask, Canada

Alan:

You don't know what a relief it was to read your post, Sorry but that is my opinion and I felt you would take it the wrong way, but then again I know you are a good grower/friend and competitor and that you look at both sides of the coin if you will.

As far as my biggie you'll have to read my diary, some good, some bad which had me shaking my head and feeling a
bit disappointed.

TTYL
Ernie
Giant Veggies

9/15/2004 3:26:35 PM

[email protected]

Hey Ernie, your points are very much valid and taken that way. I was more or less thinking of the Weigh off site, I know they have a minimum size weight of 50 lbs, they have a complete new stage and are going to have a backup scale.
And also the limited numbers of 500 plus pumpkins makes it more intereting for the the onlookers.
I took 4th last year with a 558.5 pounder, so an extra biggy is good.
Any way this is another thing to discuss at the beer gardens in 16 days and 1.5 hrs, not that I'm counting. LOL
Eddy

9/15/2004 8:30:35 PM

Taber, Alberta

Speaking of beer gardens (not that I'm counting days either) when is everybody showing up, and when do the beer gardens open up? I'm showing up later Saturday morning and would love to get togther for a drink.
Just to let everyone know, I'll be taking Scarface (currently 288) I went back out today and the stem is getting softer, so I'll weigh my biggie at my school contest next week, after that, it's seed recovery time. Plus this means more soil prep time.
Alan

9/15/2004 10:47:15 PM

Edmonton, Canada

It sounds like Smoky LAke will be runn a little better this year. I think Eddy might have something to do with that!!!

Alan, and Ernie, you should both be really proud of what you've done. Growing anything over 500 pounds in this climate is incredible. Sounds like Don and Eddy have done the same thing. Early harvest or not, split or no split, that is some damn good work!

9/16/2004 10:21:48 AM