Re: More Kids and PUMPKINS

In a message dated 98-10-30 09:49:31 EST, you write:

From MIKE STEPHENSON..............................
 While we all want to grow the "big one" I have had the opportunity to give
 away several AG's that never made it to weigh off weights. A couple, now 3
 weeks after my local weigh-off, have hit the 400+ lb. mark. A friend and his
 6 kids came last night to take the biggest to their school for a "guess the
 weight" contest. Their yells of uniform amazement at the size of some of the
 giants was rather moving. It was neat to watch them rummage through the
 patches asking if they could take this or that pumpkin, including lots of
 little ones. What a kick watching these kids try to carry pumpkins that
 would be a challenge for their parents. Sibling calling sibling to come and
 inspect the next proposed prized pumpkin discovery. The youngest, so
 overpowered with visual input, he hardly knew what direction to go in next,
 and so pleased to show his parents he too could carry one to the truck.
 
 As they drove away, 6 excited voices screamed from the windows of the two
 trucks "THANKS MIKE!!!!".
 
 Give me the "big one" (perhaps) but don't ever take away the kids. As I have
 said more than once, kids in an AG patch is second only to kids and
 Christmas.
 
 And people ask why we do this? How could we stop would be the harder
 question.
 
 While yet a day away,  let me be among the first to wish you all a Happy
 Halloween.
 
 Mike Stephenson
 Beaverton, Oregon
 *****************************************************************************
*****************
 Reading Mike's story about kids and pumpkins, reminds of my own  experience.
 My daughter is the leader of a bunch of girl scouts, age 8-11.  I suggested
they  grow pumpkins as a project.  The local hardware store had BURPEEs
PRIZEWINNER HYBRID seeds on sale.  I bought enough packs of those and some
regular seeds so each girl could have at least 3 plants including one
PRIZEWINNER.
Off they went with their cottage cheese containers, soil mix and seeds.. As
with many children, attention withered after the seeds sprouted and were put
intothe ground.  Most, I suppose, were given scant attention and  never
amounted to much.
Many died from neglect.  Two of the girls ,however, raised pumkins that were
just under 80 lbs.  The local newspaper in the small town took pictures of the
girls with 
their orange-trophies.  This was also my 1st experience with pumpkins and the
one I raised was similar in size.  This year, the interest was much greater
and I have not heard of the groups results.  However, my granddaughter planted
a container I gave here with 2 seedlings in it near their backyard compost
pile.. The plant roots apparently found their way into the compost pile and
produced a much larger pumpkin.  My son-in-law who is fairly strong could not
lift it.  He eastimated it was about 200 lbs.  They took pix of it and I could
not believe that size could be grown with a minimum of yard space and no
special care.  This season, I gave a plant to a 4 yr old girl whose family
lived behind us.  It produced another one in the 100 lb range.  Our soil in
the residential  back yards is rocky clay.  I planted a few along
the back of my house but no female blossoms appeared until late in the season.
I wound up with a  small 50-60 pounder.  I sought information on pumpkins with
my computer and now realize there are many of you out there challenged to do
better than last year and the year before. 
I have only a small backyard and the soil is horrendous.  But the challenge is
there.
I will be out there in the spring to improve the soil where I will attempt to
grow something bigger than these little girls did. Growing a pumpkin bigger
than they had ever seen before was a real lift for them.  Kids passing by
would walk up to the pumpkin on my daughter's front lawn and  admire it.  Have
I created a group of future pumpkin growers?  That wouldn't be too bad. would
it?
Since I found this list and have been reading the msgs for a few weeks, it is
apparent that no one buys their seed from a hardware store. I would appreciate
any suggestions as to where I might get something a bit better. I will stick
to the PRIZEWINNER type.  The ATLANTIC GIANTS would probably take up my whole
yard! I will never grow a champion in my small. rocky clay yard but I am
determined to do better than ever before.  And, I would like to give more kids
a chance to have the fun of growing a  "big one."
 Thanks for reading,
Grandpa Paul in upstate NY near ROCHESTER.





  

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