Elroy's 2009 giant pumpkin growers diary, Growing pumpkins to the extreme

[EMorgan]

finally my last of the pollination.Pollinated this 1026 female with the 1385 jutras this morning at nearly 20 feet.My 1385 pumpkin already has several stem splits and some are deep.I will monitor this one alot.Still buring vines but I do see an end in the next couple of weeks.Now I wait and see how the pumpkins are going to do!

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[EMorgan]

here is my 975 now has a circumference of 23 inches.This pumpkin is starting to take off.

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[EMorgan]

this is the rodonnis 1566 growing slow has a circumference of 24 inches.This pumpkin has a few deep stem splits but are healing ok.

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[EMorgan]

this is the 1385 jutras now has a circumference of 27 inches and wants to grow too fast.Stem has 7 splits and one that goes from the pumpkin across the stem and into the vine but now showing signs of healing.

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[EMorgan]

here is my 1026 less than a week old.Seems like its already starting to take off.I didn't do much in the patch today since I was in baxter state park and climbed the sentinal mt. near mt katahdin.It was 3 miles up and the scenic was ausome once we got to the top.

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[EMorgan]

I know I haven't posted in awile but the pumpkins was not growing like it should and all pumpkins are behind from last year at this time.Here is the rodonnis 1566 est weight at 167lbs.

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[EMorgan]

here is my 975 morgan est weight at 168lbs

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[EMorgan]

here is the 1385 jutras my biggest in the patch est weight 184lbs.My 1026 was a late pollinater only 30lbs now and had stump rot,tried to recover it and now its foaming like ocean foam.Stump on the 1026 now rotted completly off and the stump going into the dirt has turned to mush.This will be my last post on the 1026 now only 3 pumpkins left.My jutras pumpkin has picked it up to 22 lbs a day.I may not get any record breakers this year unless the pumpkins all pick up in growth in the next week or so.I'll try to post next monday evening!

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[EMorgan]

I have no pics since my computer can't find device for my camera so I'll tell you.My rodonnis is at 322lbs my 975 is at 312lbs and the jutras is at 341lbs and now pollinating the long gourds 2 last night and 3 tonight.

[EMorgan]

heres a pic of my 975 morgan.Pumpkin is trying to grow back on the stem and Im trying like hell to keep from doing that.Pumpkin is at 485lbs and found some soft spots on the stem as well.Pumpkin only wants to grow 21 or 22 lbs a day.This is my smallest pumpkin in the patch!

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[EMorgan]

this is my rodonnis 1566 been growing around 27 to 28 a day but today grew 31 lbs my all time record for growing giants.This pumpkin grew 184lbs since last tuesday also my new record on growing giants in a week at day45.No splits,soft spots,rot,nothing on this plant.The pumpkin is still very smooth.estimated weight is 533lbs

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[EMorgan]

here is the 1385 jutras,my biggest pumpkin in the patch est at 547lbs.I been watching a split from the stem into the pumpkin for a week now.My last check was sunday and didn't check until tonight when...yes kapow striaght through the pumpkin!weight gain sunday was 28lbs to 26 to 24 today and so now I put wax to seal up the stem.I hope I'm not too late that the air got inside.I will continue to monitor and if it did keep the air out and continues growing I got nothing to lose now with this pumpkin.I will add the ferts like theres no tommorrow and see how far I can go before I really blow it up!

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[EMorgan]

the wax sealed the split on my 1385 jutras and it just gained 30lbs today.Tommorrow will be over 600lbs with this pumpkin.Its just an exibition pumpkin now.since it already split my motto is "Grow em when you already blown em"By the way the long gourds are growing good with this weather,longest one at 31inches at 10 days

[EMorgan]

my 1566 rodonis grew another record for me today at 33lbs!my long gourds are 45 inches at day 13

[EMorgan]

Here is my 1566 rodonis day 51 at 691lbs.Been growing 25 to 30 a day for awile now but cooler temps are comming end of week and it will drop my growth spurt down some.I record the growth from sunday to sunday on a sheet and this pumpkin grew my best ever in growing giant pumpkins at 197lbs in one week.My long gourds are growing at an ausome rate.my 106 lovelace grew 53 inches in 15 days and my 111 lovelace grew 55.5 inches in 13 days and thats my all time record for growing long gourds!

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[EMorgan]

here are my 106 lovelace long gourds growing slow now at 70.5 inches

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[EMorgan]

here is the 111 lovelace long gourd just to right now at 87 inches and despite the cold weather it has been growing 4.5 inches a day and during hot humid conditions it was growing 7 inches a day.Its been day 20 now.40 inches to go before it hits dirt

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[EMorgan]

threat of frost tonight far north but not taking any chance.I have my frost blankets on just my biggest pumpkin the 1566 rodonis.This pumpkin is still growing despite the cold weather lately but warmer weather is comming.My 1026 that got weighed in last year est weight was only 750lbs on this date and the 1566 is well past that.Still not sure if I will beat the maine record this year but it may be close too soon to tell!

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[EMorgan]

the 1566 rodonis has gained 183lbs after day 50 now at day 60 and still growing 15 to 20 a day!The bangor mall has sparked an intrest at this pumpkin possibly placing it at center court in the mall with maybe haybails around it for the last 2 weeks in october!I told them anything could happen to the pumpkin in 4 weeks still on the vine.Just talks right now and I'll know more as the weeks go on!My long gourd is at 93 inches and still growing!

[EMorgan]

here is my long gourd day 29 at 108 inches,now growing about 2 inches a day.I hope for 115 inches before it stops growing.The 1566 rodonis growing around 15lbs a day now and I hope to beat my personal best this year and its looking like I might.I may bring this pumpkin to damiscotta to be weighed in oct 4th but I'll see!I had a light frost this morning only effected just a few leaves of my 975 which is still growing est weight is around 700lbs.I did cover the 1566 leaves and not a leaf touched by frost!

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[EMorgan]

here is the lovelace 111 long gourd day 35 at 119 inches.Still growing about 2 inches a day but after 40 days it doesnt grow much.I never thought I could grow long gourd this good.Few more inches and it hits dirt and I may have to dig down some.Long gourd heading for topsfield in 3 weeks!My 1566 rodonis still gaining around 12lbs a day and constantly feeding this pumpkin to keep it growing.Still hoping for 1100lbs by the 27th.I will bring it down to cumberland.Elroy

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[EMorgan]

here again is my 111 lovelace LG now approaching the world record!My LG is now at 125inches and still growing half inch a day at day 42!I ran out of space to grow this long gourd and now I dug down about 4 inches in the ground so it can countinue the growth.Next year my trellis is going to be taller and better and already have some plans started!My pumpkin still growing 5 to 8lbs a day and now start seeing some signs of powdery mildew on some leaves and also I see some on my long gourd leaves!Still covering up on the nights with frost and all leaves still look good.Warmer temps most of this week so I'm hoping for more growth before cumby.I will post friday evening!

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[EMorgan]

My pumpkin gained a few more lbs this week.I will not be taking this pumpkin to cumberland but I will be taking it to damiscotta for the weigh offs there.My pumpkin may set a new Maine record on oct 4th!Also my long gourd has not grown for 2 days now and has tied the world record at 127.5 inches.I will not cut it down until oct 2nd and will be heading to topsfield to get it measured in.I will try to post next week! Elroy

[EMorgan]

My pumpkin weighed in damariscotta at 1,210lbs!!!!A New Maine Record!!!What a year with a longest gourd ever grown in maine at 127.38inches 5th place in the world.I will be down to damariscotta for the pumpin fest this weekend!Elroy

This post has been edited by EMorgan on Nov 21 2009, 01:43 AM

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[EMorgan]

I finally got 20 yards of composted manure spread along with compost,gypsom,lime and also spreading sand around my planting area to hopes for better drainage next year.My plants are going to be rotated for next year and my long gourds are going in a different spot also.Now its time to rototill.Pumpkin never made it to the bangor mall and still is on my truck until nov 1st and I will cut into it to get the seeds out.If the seed count is good and your a member of the Mepgo you will get a seed packet from my 1,210lbs along with other seeds from other growers in the spring.Now the quest for a 1500lber in maine in the next 2 years may be comming!Fingers crossed!Elroy

[EMorgan]

Heres a pic of my niece and I with the long gourd! 127.38 inches and 5th in the world.

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[EMorgan]

Here is the plaque for the largest pumpkin ever grown in Maine!

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