Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 139 Entries. Saturday, February 25 View Page Planned Lineup for 2012 (future changes possible): AG: 410 Wouters 11 (587 Rupf 08 x 932 Jager 10) 587 Rupf 08 (1385 Jutras 07 x 1207 Young 07) 1087 Bhaskaran 08 (843 Heyne 05 x 1290 Poirier 07) Marrow: 59.1 Andres 10 (206.5 Wursten x 73.6 Wursten) 70.5 Wursten 11 (206.5 Wursten x sib) 76.9 Wild 11 (110 Glazebrook x 73.6 Wursten) 135.5 Wursten 11 DMG (206.5 Wursten x self) 206.5 Wursten 09 (118 Glazebrook x open) Field pumpkin: 81 Wolf 09 (88,5 Leland x 145 McInnis) 85 Eaton 11 (81 Wolf x 142 McInnis) 103 MacKinnon 11 UOW (145 McInnis x 81 Wolf) Saturday, February 25 View Page Soil test report Monday, April 16 View Page Started today: AG: 410 Wouters 11 (587 Rupf 08 x 932 Jager 10) 587 Rupf 08 (1385 Jutras 07 x 1207 Young 07) 1087 Bhaskaran 08 (843 Heyne 05 x 1290 Poirier 07) Sunday, April 22 View Page All 7 AG seeds germinated. Tuesday, April 24 View Page Started today: Marrow: 135.5 Wursten 11 DMG (206.5 Wursten x self) 206.5 Wursten 09 (118 Glazebrook x open) Field pumpkin: 81 Wolf 09 (88,5 Leland x 145 McInnis) 103 MacKinnon 11 UOW (145 McInnis x 81 Wolf) Friday, April 27 View Page Both Field Pumpkins have germinated. Saturday, April 28 View Page Started today: Marrow: 59.1 Andres 10 (206.5 Wursten x 73.6 Wursten) 70.5 Wursten 11 (206.5 Wursten x sib) 76.9 Wild 11 (110 Glazebrook x 73.6 Wursten) Field pumpkin: 81 Wolf 09 (88,5 Leland x 145 McInnis) - number 2 85 Eaton 11 (81 Wolf x 142 McInnis) Sunday, April 29 View Page Marrow 206.5 Wursten has germinated. Tuesday, May 1 View Page Germinated have: Marrow: 70.5 Wursten 11 (206.5 Wursten x sib) 76.9 Wild 11 (110 Glazebrook x 73.6 Wursten) Field pumpkin: 85 Eaton 11 (81 Wolf x 142 McInnis) Wednesday, May 2 View Page Germinated have: Marrow: 59.1 Andres 10 (206.5 Wursten x 73.6 Wursten) Field pumpkin: 81 Wolf 09 (88,5 Leland x 145 McInnis) - Nummer 2 Thursday, May 3 View Page Started today: Marrow: 76.9 Wild 11 (110 Glazebrook x 73.6 Wursten) - number 2 135.5 Wursten 11 DMG (206.5 Wursten x self) - number 2 (the first one doesn't show a real development) 206.5 Wursten 09 (118 Glazebrook x open) - number 2 92.1 Wild 11 (73.6 Wursten x 110 Glazebrook) Field pumpkin: 63 Andres 10 (100 Starr x 90 Starr) Friday, May 4 View Page Made a frame for a hoophouse today. Added organic fertilizer (N). Saturday, May 5 View Page Build a second (but smaller) frame for the second, smaller hoophouse. Went on loosening the soil. Sunday, May 6 View Page Planted 4 AG today. Sunday, May 6 View Page Covered the hoophouse. Sunday, May 6 View Page 410 Wouters 11 Sunday, May 6 View Page 410 Wouters 11 (number 2) Sunday, May 6 View Page 587 Rupf 08 Sunday, May 6 View Page 1087 Bhaskaran 08 Monday, May 7 View Page It was a cold night, so I put five candlelights in the hoophouse. Tuesday, May 8 View Page This evening I planted in the big hoophouse (approximately 7 x 4 meter): Marrow: 59.1 Andres 10 (206.5 Wursten x 73.6 Wursten) 70.5 Wursten 11 (206.5 Wursten x sib) 76.9 Wild 11 (110 Glazebrook x 73.6 Wursten) 206.5 Wursten 09 (118 Glazebrook x open) Field pumpkin: 81 Wolf 09 (88,5 Leland x 145 McInnis) - two times 85 Eaton 11 (81 Wolf x 142 McInnis) 103 MacKinnon 11 UOW (145 McInnis x 81 Wolf) And afterwards I covered the big hoophouse with foil. Wednesday, May 9 View Page Picture of the big hoophouse I covered with foil yesterday evening. Wednesday, May 9 View Page The big hoophouse is suffering from strong wind today and more is to come. I fear, it won't hold. Thursday, May 10 View Page The big hoophouse is still in one piece, although strong wind (at least 6 Beaufort) is trying hard to ruin it. Monday, May 28 View Page Marrows and field pumpkins in big hoophouse. Monday, May 28 View Page FP 81 Wolf 09 Monday, May 28 View Page marrow 206 Wursten 09 Monday, May 28 View Page AGs in small hoophouse Monday, May 28 View Page 410 Wouters 11 Monday, May 28 View Page 587 Rupf 08 Monday, May 28 View Page 1087 Bhaskaran 08 Monday, May 28 View Page Big hoophouse with the FPs and marrows. Small hoophouse with AGs in the background. Saturday, June 9 View Page Fixing the wind damage of the big hoophouse. Monday, June 11 View Page Marrow and FP inside the big hoophouse. Monday, June 11 View Page 81 Wolf 09 if I'm not mistaking. Monday, June 11 View Page 410 Wouters 11 Monday, June 11 View Page 587 Rupf 08 Monday, June 11 View Page 1087 Bhaskaran 08 Sunday, July 1 View Page Overview of the first half of my patch Sunday, July 1 View Page Inside the big houphouse, which is damaged by strong wind by now with a hole of 3 metres. Sunday, July 1 View Page Marrow 206 Wursten 09. Sunday, July 1 View Page AG 410 Wouters 11 Sunday, July 1 View Page AG 587 Rupf 08 Monday, July 9 View Page First half of the patch with FP and marrow plants. Due to lack of time I fail to pollinate, as does nature itself. Illnesses and cold weather keeps the bees out of sight. In consequence it doesn't all look too good here. Monday, July 9 View Page AG 587 Rupf 08 taking over. 410 Wouters 11 had a broken main vine at 3 metres, where it left the hoophouse, because of wind damage. A female flower was at the end of it. If it was succesful (open) pollinated I will have a go at it. Otherwise it's over for that plant. A second 410 Wouters 11 was pulled for flatvining. 1087 Bhaskaran 08 was pulled to give space. Monday, July 9 View Page Wind damage on the big hoophouse with FP and marrow plants. Friday, July 27 View Page 81 Wolf 09 x open, stem side Friday, July 27 View Page AG 587 Rupf 08 x open Friday, July 27 View Page Marrow 206.5 Wursten 09 x open Friday, July 27 View Page FP 85 Eaton 11 x open Sunday, July 29 View Page FP 81 Wolf 09 x open, blossom end side Sunday, July 29 View Page Marrow 76.9 Wild 11 x open Sunday, July 29 View Page on second plant: FP 81 Wolf 09 x open Saturday, August 18 View Page AG 587 Rupf 08 x open. I built a roof over it this evening to protect it against sun and rain. Saturday, August 18 View Page FP 81 Wolf 09 x open, blossom end side. I realy like this plant and fruit so far! Saturday, August 18 View Page FP 81 Wolf 09 x open, stem side. Saturday, August 18 View Page Marrow 76.9 Wild 11 x open. Largest one I had so far. Saturday, August 18 View Page Marrow 206.5 Wursten 09 x open. I would have preferred the fruit a bit longer. Saturday, August 18 View Page Another FP 81 Wolf 09 x open. Impressive growth is splitting the blossom end bit by bit. I can't predict, how much longer it remains in one piece. Saturday, August 18 View Page FP 85 Eaton 11 x open. Saturday, August 18 View Page 103 MacKinnon 11 UOW x open. Sunday, August 19 View Page AG 587 Rupf 08 x open Sunday, August 19 View Page FP 81 Wolf 09 x open Sunday, August 19 View Page Marrow 76.9 Wild 11 x open Sunday, August 19 View Page Marrow 206.5 Wursten 09 x open Tuesday, August 21 View Page Patch overview, FP and marrow side Tuesday, August 21 View Page Patch overview, AG side Wednesday, August 22 View Page This BES got through today. Luckily it wasn't my best 81 Wolf 09 x open (the best one is stil OK so far). Nevertheless a loss for it was quite a considerable FP. Thursday, August 23 View Page FP dream is over. Both 81 Wolf 09 x open fruits suffer from BES now. The first one was expected from the beginning. The last one came as a shock. The last one is not through yet, but I don't expect to keep it in one piece till weighing. I regret the last BES even worse, as the fruit is much more beautiful, as well in color as in shape. Saturday, August 25 View Page Harvested this 81 Wolf 09 x open this afternoon to prevent BES from revealing the inside of it. And because I so much like the looks of it. I hope, I will be able to obtain the 81 Wolf 09 seed once more to plant it next year. Saturday, August 25 View Page Measurements: OTT 129,5 cm H 49 cm B 60 cm D 49 cm Saturday, August 25 View Page Checked again this very minute; BES is through. Saturday, August 25 View Page Transport of FP is much more easy than of AG. That is the reason for giving FP the best soil this year. I don't expect to pick the fruits of that decision any more this year. Although some smaller FP's are still there and growing. Saturday, August 25 View Page Luckily I can still enjoy the looks of it (until it will start smelling). Monday, August 27 View Page AG 587 Rupf 08 x open, CIRC 108,5cc Monday, August 27 View Page with Dill ring Monday, August 27 View Page AG 410 Wouters 11 x open Sunday, September 2 View Page AG 587 Rupf 08 x open Sunday, September 2 View Page AG 587 Rupf 08 x open, the other side of it Sunday, September 2 View Page with Dill ring Sunday, September 2 View Page and stem split Sunday, September 2 View Page and I won't wait, till it splits into the cavity, so I made some cuts. Sunday, September 2 View Page FP 85 Eaton 11 x open Sunday, September 2 View Page FP, either an 85 Eaton 11 x open, otherwise an 81 Wolf 09 x open Sunday, September 2 View Page FP 81 Wolf 09 x open Sunday, September 2 View Page Marrow 76.9 Wild 11 x open Sunday, September 2 View Page Marrow 206.5 Wursten 09 x open Sunday, September 2 View Page AG 410 Wouters 11 x open Sunday, September 2 View Page AG 410 Wouters 11 x open, the other side of it Sunday, September 2 View Page another AG 410 Wouters 11 x open on another, even smaller, plant Saturday, September 8 View Page AG 587 Rupf 08 x open, 115cc Saturday, September 8 View Page Cut it off almost completely to prevent stem split revealing the cavity. Saturday, September 8 View Page AG 410 Wouters 11 x open, 84cc Saturday, September 8 View Page an other AG 410 Wouters 11 x open on an other plant Saturday, September 8 View Page This is left of the split FP. Saturday, September 15 View Page AG 587 Rupf 08 x open, 116,5cc Saturday, September 15 View Page with stem split, which is not into the cavity Saturday, September 15 View Page AG 410 Wouters 11 x open only just fits under the garden table. Saturday, September 15 View Page I hope, it won't devellop BES. Saturday, September 15 View Page Another AG 410 Wouters 11 x open on another very small plant. Saturday, September 15 View Page Third marrow on 76.9 Wild 11 shows impressive growth. Saturday, September 15 View Page Enough FP's on 81 Wolf 09 Saturday, September 15 View Page but beware of BES risk. Saturday, September 22 View Page AG 587 Rupf 08 x open Saturday, September 22 View Page stem side of it Saturday, September 22 View Page Dill ring Saturday, September 22 View Page Third fruit on Marrow 76.9 Wild 11 x open. Monday, September 24 View Page stem split, not through Saturday, October 6 View Page 490 Wouters 12 (587 Rupf 08 x open) 4th place in Dutch Giant Vegetable Championship Saturday, October 6 View Page and acknowledged as most beautiful pumpkin of the dutch competition (left pumpkin in picture) Saturday, October 6 View Page Marrow 80.4 Wouters 12 (76.9 Wild 11 x open) 1st place in The Netherlands this year Saturday, October 6 View Page Field Pumpkin 85.2 Wouters 12 (81 Wolf 09 x open) 1st place and DUTCH RECORD I hope, I will be able to obtain the 81 Wolf 09 seed once more to plant next year. I lost a 100+ lbs FP on the plant this year due to BES and I would like to make up for that next year, as the 85.2 was just the follow-up fruit and not even fully grown or ripened at the time of weigh-off. Saturday, October 13 View Page Correction of the incorrect measurements I mentioned in this diary at August 25th 2012. The correct measurements of the 81 Wolf 09 Field Pumpkin I lost to BES were: OTT 171 inches SS 50" EE 50" CIRC 71" Saturday, October 13 View Page After this loss the same plant provided me with a new Field Pumpkin on a tiny sidevine. A smaller, lighter, younger and not even ripened fruit yet, but nevertheless a dutch record at 85.2 lbs (the green one in the picture). Friday, October 26 View Page Virginia Pumpkin Festival in Virginia, Ireland! Start of a fabulous long weekend with weigh-off and lots & lots more. I flew to it friday-morning 26th and was picked up by organising comitee member Paul Glackin at Dublin Airport. What a service. You could sense the friendliness of the Irish in every way. They don't say "hi" or "hello" but "how are you?"; just think about the difference of that. Thank you Donal McEvoy of Pergola Nursery in Virginia (Ireland) for inviting foreign growers with a minimum pumpkin weight of 500 lbs. And what an invitation it was! Ryan Air flights free of charge to Dublin Airport and back, staying in luxury Park Hotel Virginia for free as well as free transport of the pumpkin to Ireland. From the street you wouldn't think of Pergola Nursery as a big garden centre, but once inside it's astonishing; a quarter mile long. Friday, October 26 View Page What a luxury to stay at Park Hotel Virginia in Ireland for the weigh-off. It was built for a lord in 1670. And I felt like a king staying in it. Eating in the dining room with great atmosphere. Walking in the great surroundings belonging to the hotel: forest, golf course, rose garden, greenhouse, etc. They told me it is for sale and 6 years ago the price was 8 millions. Of course it's another time and now it's a bargain at € 750.000,-. And then you'll have more than enough soil to grow pumpkins! The Virginia Pumpkin Festival is more than 'just' a weigh-off. It has a programm for every member of the family. Starting of at friday evening with the 'Haunted Forest Walk'. Realy scary for the children, of which more than 1.000 attended. Virginia isn't that big a village realy, so I suppose these children came from all over the county. It was a nice scary walk with a burger and a bonfire at the end of it, at lake 'Lough Ramor'. The adults weren't forgotten with “The Ultimate Garth Brooks Experience” with Trevor Smith und Line Dancing at night in the huge party tent. Saturday, October 27 View Page Saturday morning in Ireland started off with beautiful weather and lots of sun. Very nice to have a walk, as I did accompanying other pumpkin growers and having a nice chat. In the afternoon we went to the Artisian Food & Craft Market and I bought myself some delicious pumpkin soup. After that I thought, it was culture time and I enjoyed visiting a children's play by Mike Kenny "The song from the sea". I loved the way, they performed it. I walked my way back to the hotel afterwards and met grower Dries van der Vennet of Belgium and his girlfriend and they invited me to accompany them on dining. Of course I was glad to do so. Saturday, October 27 View Page That night we (the foreign pumpkin growers) went to The Mill Bar, proud supporter of the Irish weigh-off. Another option was to enjoy the band Hothouse Flowers, a rock group that combines traditional Irish music with rock, in the huge party tent. We did so for a while and returned to The Mill Bar. Sunday, October 28 View Page Sunday morning started of with heavy rain. Oh no! Luckily the rain stopped during the weigh-off. A wonder in itself, because as soon as all the pumpkins were weight the rain started again, and severely. Sunday, October 28 View Page First place: 1538 Meier 12 (1789 Wallace x 934 Schieder 11) from Switzerland winning serious money; € 2.000,-! Sunday, October 28 View Page It was from swiss grower and actual European Champion Beni Meier, who could not be present himself. Therefore his brother took care of that. Sunday, October 28 View Page Second place: 1454 Cutrupi 12 (1495 Stelts x 1634 Werner) from Italy winning € 1.000,-! Sunday, October 28 View Page Donal McEvoy of Pergola Nursery clearing the way for the italian pumpkin going to the scales. Very friendly, warm and enthousiastic man with a twinkle in his eyes all day. Sunday, October 28 View Page The italian pumpkin had a stem almost as big as a head. Look at the size of it! Sunday, October 28 View Page Italian grower Stefano Cutrupi and Benedetta Lanza together with the face of Ireland, Anita Brady. Sunday, October 28 View Page Third place: 1260 Molter 12 (1634 Werner x 1304 Sperry) from Germany winning € 750,-! Sunday, October 28 View Page 4th place 1004 Sanders 12 from Germany 5th place 984 Van der Vennet 12 from Belgium 6th place 960 Eckardt 12 from Germany Sunday, October 28 View Page 7th place: 798 Carter 12 (633 Langley x ?) from the United Kingdom It was the only foreign pumpkin not previously weight. And it was the first weigh-off the grower attended. So it was a realy exciting moment. Sunday, October 28 View Page 8th place 672 E. Langheim 12 from Germany 9th place 632 Webber 12 from Germany 10th place 624 Löffler 12 from Germany 11th place 622* Ott 12 from Germany, only true green squash that attended. Sunday, October 28 View Page Lovely Joanne Brady together with the 12 foreign pumpkin growers. Thank you very, very much Joanne for taking care of us so well and making all the arrangements! You made sure our visit would be a joy. Sunday, October 28 View Page Dries van der Vennet harvesting seeds after weigh-off. Sunday, October 28 View Page And so did Jan Molter. Sunday, October 28 View Page And Stefano Cutrupi. Monday, October 29 View Page Safe at home again. Thank you Ryan Air for bringing all the foreign pumpkin growers to Ireland and back home. Wednesday, October 31 View Page The grower of it, Jan Molter, got interviewed during the weigh-off. As every attending pumpkin grower was. Wednesday, October 31 View Page Malcolm Carter being interviewed after doubling up his personal best. Wednesday, October 31 View Page 12th place: 476 Wouters 12 (587 Rupf 08 x open) from The Netherlands won the best price of all: being invited to the Virginia Pumpkin Festival in Ireland with Ryan Air flights free of charge, staying in luxury Park Hotel Virginia as well as free transport of my pumpkin. Wednesday, October 31 View Page Every shop in the village was devoted to the Pumpkin Festival. Even paintings on the wall. The Virginia Pumpkin Festival in Ireland is unique in its kind and is the weigh-off you realy don't want to miss. So make sure you are part of it next year! Monday, December 31 View Page Who can and would like to help the Irish? Would be thankful for your email about this question received: 17 th September 2013 Dear Joost, The 7 th International Virginia Pumpkin Festival and even bigger event than before takes on a new direction. 2013 marks the Special year of �The Gathering�, Virginia College formally known as Virginia Vocational School is celebrating 50 years in existence and to mark this special milestone in co-junction with Virginia Pumpkin festival will host a weekend of celebration this October Bank Holiday Weekend (25-31 st October 2013) For more information on this year�s festival please see http://pumpkinfestival.ie/events.html Unfortunately this year we will not have a competition for International Giant Pumpkins but rather we are running a number of workshops with schools and associations to promote and encourage the art of Pumpkin growing in Ireland. In this regard we are planning to show case one Giant European Pumpkin, not in competition scenario but to demonstrate to our Young Irish Pumpkin Growers what can be achieved when cultivating Pumpkins We very much appreciate your interest in the Virginia Pumpkin Festival in the past and would request your assistance in sourcing one Giant European Pumpkin to showcase at this year�s festival. The pumpkin will be transported free of charge to its destination, Virginia, and the pumpkin itself and/or its seed will be returned immediately after the festival. We are holding the details of all previous participants in the Giant Pumpkin Category on file and will contact everyone in good time for next year�s competition � Perhaps we�ll have some Irish Contender in this category in the future. Look forward to hearing from you. Best regards Joanne Brady Assistance Secretary (Virginia Pumpkin Festival)