Re: Florida 494.5 News/Info/Thanks

     Hi Tim.  You said when the pumpkin was first set that it was growing 
very slow.  How much in circumfrance did it frow daily when you though it 
was going slow and does anyone know what a normal daily circumfrance 
increase should be?


>From: Tim Canniff <timpat@bhip.infi.net>
>Reply-To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
>To: pumpkins@mallorn.com
>Subject: Florida 494.5 News/Info/Thanks
>Date: Sun, 06 Jun 1999 23:53:22 -0400
>
>Hi All.. I'd first like to Thank everyone for the fine support and
>comments in this new Florida State AG pumpkin record.. There is a ton of
>fine growers who have helped make this season special and influeneced
>the end result.. actually this support dates back over the last few
>years with lots of great help from lots of great people from all over
>the Northern Hemisphere...
>
>Ahhh... where to begin this pumpkin??? The short version would be... On
>February 8th I started a 937 (567.5X946.5) seed grown by Kirk Mombert in
>1998 (Thanks again Kirk !!)  Transplanted Valentine's Day the 14th of
>Feb... The first fruit I pollinated was on April 7th --- this 6 lobe
>blossom would turn into the 494.5 ---- this fruit was about 9 feet out
>on the main vine.. (I self-pollinated this fruit)
>
>I was really impressed with this plant from the start.. pretty
>aggressive and big in terms of leaves etc even thou my "big"garden is on
>the small side about 450-500 sq ft --- The first couple of weeks being
>set the fruit seemed a bit slow... but that was probably just me... then
>things really took off.. pretty good growth ..3-4 inches in circ a day..
>In consulting a few growers... the word was to try to let it go as long
>as possible... the season really heats up fast here and I was
>thinking/hoping if I could get 60 days on the vine things would work out
>good.. anything more being a bonus --- Over the past 1-2 weeks things
>really had slowed down. Finally, I was happy to have Barb Kincaid
>(Florida's other famous giant pumpkin grower) on hand to help out with
>things Saturday --- we took a last measurement 122.5 circ --- 87.5 side
>to side and 79 end to end --- this is 289 total inches or 484 estmated
>pounds... Upon getting the fruit on the scales.. we were pretty much
>right on the charts as far as weight... I was really happy with the size
>and shape of this fruit.. we took of a ton of great pics which I'm sure
>"Scanner" Shellie Cramer will have on the net somewhere soon...
>
>I'm really excited about the whole season.. (just having a little
>trouble explaining it) --- As Brock mentioned --- I've had a bit of
>trouble the last couple of seasons... its pretty hot and humid here and
>disease can strike overnight it seems (or does sometimes) --- I'd like
>to note that I think using "Ridimol Bravo" (fungicide) really helped me
>get over the hump this year in controling any disease in the early to
>mid stages of this plants life... The last couple of years I'd start out
>with nice big plants up until fruit set.. then the plant would go
>further South on me and ultimately die... This product really seemed to
>work out well for me (Thank you Dave Hunsader --- Florida's 3rd and
>final known AG grower)
>
>Anyway... again.. the season really seemed to go well.. I was really
>unsure what to expect this year.. I owe a ton of thanks to AL Eaton for
>his continued help and support.... Al was a big part of my 459 in 1996
>and I'd like to thank him and his wife Sharon for there generousity and
>hospitiality - Al graciously invited me up for the Ottawa weigh-off in
>1996 (and 97,98 & hopefully 99) and that event really opened my eyes to
>this giant pumpkin growing --- It has really been great to meet and get
>to know a number of fine growers up that way -- (Paul Mc!, H. Baird,
>Rich Renault, hell.. I can't name them all.. its like the who's who..
>Greer Ives Orr Bax Lloyd Kennedy Greets Kline Saunders Kaye and many
>many others
>
>This list has also introduced me to a number of fine growers and friends
>whos help has also been a big part of my success... KRAMER, Brock (Vicki
>and especially MIKE) Mike Nepereny Pete Glasier Doug Keel and Roger
>Wentzell Wayne Hackney Barb Kincaid Chris A and everyone else who make
>this list great.....
>
>Wow.... just too many people to thank... it seems I've bugged and
>bothered all the heavy hitters at one time or another.. its also nice to
>see there seemingly never ending support.. It almost seems I've become
>more of a pumpkin growing fan of the growers than being an actual
>pumpkin grower myself.. I thought I just lucked out withthe 459 in 96 --
>- this 494.5 helps show it wasn't such a fluke after all..  I still
>don't consider myself a good grower.. pretty inexperienced in all of
>this still.. Big ones can be grown in the South thou it seems.. I look
>for Mike Neperany to have a fine year this year... and hopefully topple
>500#'s --- I want to see Barb with one too next year (or else!) Dave
>Hunsader (www.hunsaderfarms.com) is about hopeless (kidding) but has
>promised to reserve some space for AG's at his huge farm come early July
>---- I'll be sure to try a few of these 494's among a few others
>hopefully in his pumpkin crop for this holloween ---
>
>Also -- I'd be happy to share seeds from this pumpkin for anyone who
>thinks they might have room to try them --- I think one of the coolest
>things in this sport would be to see someone have luck from one of your
>own seeds... maybe some day I can experience this...
>
>Again I'd like to thank Kirk for helping make this happen for me.. and
>again Thanks to all you fine people.. All the best this year to EVERYONE
>!!! I sure hope to see and hear how everyone makes out..
>
>** Be sure to keep good records this year on what your plants are and
>the crosses you make... and any other pertinent info on the pumpkins you
>raise.. Mike's Curcubyte program is a good vehicle to track this info
>and its nice to see this information come the end of the year.. I'd like
>to see more info on the 400-700 pound pumpkins.. most of these come from
>great seed --- and it would be nice to hear about them..
>
>
>Ok All.. again .. thanks for the support.. hope to have some pictures
>scanned soon...
>
>
>Best of Luck to all this year.. Tim Canniff...
>
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