Just to give an update, this is harvest time for me. We took my smaller pumpkin up to a bigger weigh off this year to see what it was all about in Cooperstown on Saturday. Festival was in the rain, but when they started to weight the pumpkins, it stopped raining just in time. Whew.

At any rate, my pumpkin placed 11th at 802.5 pounds. Not enough to win an award or prize money, but, for a first trip up, it was a great time, and I did very well. A new personal best for me now. I came in a 275 last year, and this year 802.5. Not bad.

I still have one more pumpkin to take to get weighed this weekend. It's still out in the patch and much bigger. I think it may go over 1000 pounds. I would be very surprised and pleased with those numbers given I am still a rookie at growing these giants. Third season and a very difficult weather year besides. Time will tell, and it's a very anxious week lifting a 1000 pound pumpkin on a tripod and putting in the back of a truck to haul all the way across the state for weight, is loads of fun.

The drive back from Cooperstown (3 hours) with my birdbath pumpkin uncovered was a sight. People rolling down windows with cameras out taking pictures. Others asking, is that a pumpkin? You grew that how big? LOL.. All good stuff.

Diamondlady
Peer Moderator

Amazing! How do you get it from patch to truck? And how many people does it take to lift it?

I got just two pumpkins from my garden this year (one for each daughter!), but they didn't turn orange before the first frost and I had to pick them. They are slowly turning but I don't think they will turn all the way--green/yellow jack-o-lanterns for us! However, I did get tons of gorgeous flowers, dozens of cucumbers and peppers. I'm already planning next year's garden!

Laura,

I have a diary that shows how we lifted it. I have one more pumpkin in the patch and that will be harvested on Friday for another weigh off on Saturday, LOL. I'm hoping it will be much bigger than the last one.

To answer your question we used a chain fall, and a 15 foot tri pod using 3 4x4's. Success! Here is the link below, enjoy!

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryView.asp?season=2008&grower=36421&action=L

Diamondlady
Peer Moderator

They are fantastic pictures, thanks for sharing, I'm amazed at how big they are! I guess I'm just used to small veg here in the UK!

Well done! 11th place is fabulous.

And here is the event we took my lovingly called "bird bath" pumpkin to. We went to Cooperstown, NY, home of the baseball hall of fame, for a giant pumpkin weigh off. In these pictures you'll also see the new US and NYS record giant squash as well (read all green), and at least for now. There are other weigh offs coming and that title may change, but here are the rest of the photo's from the weigh off. Enjoy!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/axion-photos/sets/72157607565579332/

Diamondlady
Peer Moderator

And a final update...

My biggest pumpkin came in fourth place at Oswego, and the only lady grower in the top 10. Woo hoo! 938.5 pounds. SWEET! Next year 1000 pounds.

Diamondlady
Peer Moderator

Well done! I'm seriously impressed :D

how simply fabulous! What a wonderful improvement you made this year over last year...

ON BBC Breakfast TV this morning, they showed a guy in the US who had a giant pumpkin, has hollowed it out into a boat and is rowing round where he lives to raise money for disadvantaged kids!

Jackie, Peer Moderator
www.iqps.org