Re: Cucurbits, pumpkins, squash, squmpkins--AHHH!
It seems strange to me that this group should wish to debate whether to redefine
what defines our hobby in the first place.
This debate seems in some ways to mirror the "tolerance" issue in society as a
whole. There are those who feel that there are no absolutes and that anyone who
believe in a set of standards is "intolerant."
Call me "intolerant," but I believe in a standard. Perhaps I am a relic from
the past (along with a few others of you out there), but when it comes to
curcurbits I live by the dictum that "Pumpkins are orange." There may be shades
of orange, BUT since we cannot separate pumpkin genetically or morphologically
from squash in any other way, the ONLY workable definition ever of pumpkins is
based on color. UNLIKE the skin on people, when it comes to curcurbits color
does matter!
The giant pumpkin growing hobby is about growing giant ORANGE curcurbits. I
believe that any other stance dilutes the hobby and will confuse the public. I
have never won any big prize money, but without the support of the public,
nobody will. There is a mystique to these giant orange objects that has
captivated us and that captivates the public enough to garner sponsors for the
weigh-offs around the country. How many fall squash festivals are there --
compared to how many fall pumpkin festivals? How many parents take pictures of
their kids surrounded by squash of any color versus orange pumpkins?
Finally, HONESTLY how many of you got into this sport to grow something other
than a humongous ORANGE curcurbit? I'd venture to say that, despite all other
intriguing parts of this hobby and regardless of equal prize money, almost all
of you would be disappointed if your fruit wasn't (at least a shade of) orange.
Orange is the only tenable standard in this sport!
Regards,
Chris Wilbers
Springfield, MO
"Thompson, Paul S." wrote:
> Earlier in this thread, Ray mentioned the Guinness Book of World Records.
> Are they considered the ruling authority on what is and what is not a
> "pumpkin"? I know they have rules concerning the entries they allow in their
> book -- do they insist that a pumpkin be orange, cream or yellow with no
> green?
>
> If that is the case, in order to have them recognize a fruit as a "world
> record" pumpkin, we either need to accept the fact that pumpkins are orange
> or we need to change their definition. I suspect the latter isn't easy. It
> may have taken quite a bit of work to get them to recognize Atlantic Giants
> as a pumpkin (orange or not) in the first place.
>
> What are the rules for entry into the GBoWR?
>
> Paul Thompson
> Armada, Michigan
>
> Register your opinion on pumpkin colors -- take our survey:
>
> http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/GiantPumpkins
>
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--
Regards,
Chris Wilbers
Springfield, MO
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