Remember Drat, our pumpkin growing friend? FINALLY, the pics!!

[Snowwark]

Here's one of his last posts, from Sept. 2003.

"Well...here it is. One of the last posts of the season. I'll stick to the good news - bad news format.

Bad news: The split went into the inside of the pumpkin. It started to show signs of rot this week.

Good news: Five friends came over and helped me lift the pumpkin into the back of my truck on Wednesday night. Then they helped me lift some beers.

Bad news: When we lifted the pumpkin there was a rotten hole in the bottom where it was losing liquid. This was definitely bad.

Good news: I took it to the Caledonia Fall fair. When it was weighed, it turned out to be much heavier that expected...475 pounds! I'm sure at one point, while it was still healthy, before the split and it started to rot and lose weight, it must have been darned near 500 pounds which was my goal for the year.

Bad news: I only won fourth prize.

Good news: At least for fourth prize I got a ribbon at this fair!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This year drat's giant pumpkin weighed in at 660 pounds !!!

He also won 3rd prize at this year's Caledonia fair!!

I do have some pics that he sent me, put I'm having some trouble with them. When (and if) I get the problem worked out, I'll post them!

Congrats to you and your big boy, Dave!!!

 

[amid chaos]

660!!! Holy cow, that's alot of pumpkin pie!!!!! congratulations Drat. kim, hurry up with those pictures!

 

[bobbiwoz]

That is so amazing!

Bobbi

 

[Tulirose]

That's one big pumpkin!!!!

Congrats to Drat!!!

 

[olena]

WOW! That's a great pumpkon, to be sure! How many pies can you get out of that? Can we see it or is it now a great jack-o-lantern?

 

[Mamu]

Congrats Drat!

I was wondering How do your Pumpkins grow? Mr. Drat. Very well I see As I get ready to attend The 5000 Jack-O'-Lantern Speculator at Roger Williams Zoo. You and your pumpkins have been on my mind.

Thanks Kim for the 660 LB. update.

 

[DebºoºS]

660! Wowza that is one great big pumpkin. How exciting it must be to watch that grow. Congrats again to Drat for another big one!

I was just thinking about the giant pumpkin thread. Thought of doing a search to see if there was any mention of how he protects them. Some of ours are too big for bushel baskets. We used a wheel barrow on the biggest.

 

[Snowwark]

Originally posted by DebºoºS
660! Wowza that is one great big pumpkin. How exciting it must be to watch that grow. Congrats again to Drat for another big one!

I was just thinking about the giant pumpkin thread. Thought of doing a search to see if there was any mention of how he protects them. Some of ours are too big for bushel baskets. We used a wheel barrow on the biggest.

I don't know how he protects them, Deb. Hopefully he'll stop by and let you know. I know he was here the other day...he busted me for not having his pics up yet!! LOL

I hope our friend can finally get my new computer running tonight, and that I'll be able to get Drat's pics up in the next few days.

The poor guy who's helping us (a friend of Drat's also!), is having a terrible time with my computer. He thought it would be an easy 1 night thing, but it's turned into 4 nights, and still problems. I don't think he'll ever want to come back to my house again!!

 

[nativetxn]

I can't even imagine a 660 pound pumpkin. That is amazing!

 

[Snowwark]

Finally!

Drat's 660lb. pumpkin!!!

Also, another pumpkin of Drat's, a 440lb.'er (I think!), and a friends of his, trying it on for size!

 

[amid chaos]

Great pictures, kim...great pumpkins, Drat!!!

 

[gina2000]

I can't even imagine a pumpkin of that size! I don't know if I've ever seen one!

Congratulations, Drat!

 

[nativetxn]

Amazing! Thanks for posting the photos, Kim

 

[drat]

Hello everyone. Sorry for not posting anything sooner but it has been a busy summer and fall for me. 660 pounds is a new personal best. It's a far cry from the 1000 pounder I was shooting for but, there's always next year.

Since I did not reach my goal I will be doing this crazy hobby for at least one more year. I took the 660 to another local fall fair here in Ontario and won $100 for 5th place. Also a new personal best as far as winnings are concerned!

The world record this year was 1446 pounds grown by Al Eaton of Richmond, Ontario, Canada. Please check out www.bigpumpkins.com for more info.

I didn't do anything special to the pumpkins this year. I just followed the pumpkin growers mantra of: Good seeds, good soil and good luck!

I have saved some seeds from the 660 so if anyone wants to try some next year let me or Snowark know. Remember you need lots of room for pumpkins, at least 400 sq. ft. per plant.

Drat

 

[Snowwark]

Hey Drat, it's great to see you here!!

Congrats to you on your $100 win!!!!

That is one monster pumpkin Mr. Eaton grew, although, it does look a little squished in the middle. Is that normal?

I'm glad you're going to give it a grow for another year, and maybe you could try and talk DH into trying it out too!

I'm glad you stopped by! Good seeds, good soil, and good luck, to you too!!

I love that mantra, maybe we should adopt it on the F&G also!