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Edmonton, Canada

I can finally understand what some of you in the deep south have to deal with. The weather here has been in the high 80's and low 90's!!! (which is very hot for this part of Canada) I went to check my plant yesterday afternoon, and it looked as though it was dead!! But I went outside and gave it a quick misting, and in about 10 minutes, it looked good as new! Now I know why some of you have misting systems. Now, all we need is rain, it's turning into a desert here!

6/24/2002 11:46:26 AM

Stony Plain, Alberta (near Edmonton)

Had a nice shower in Stony Plain this morning, and it certainly perked up my pumpkin. The porous soil was wetted to a depth of about an inch, but like you say....more gentle rain!

6/24/2002 2:44:30 PM

Puyallup, WA

I learned the hard way this year that pumpkins do not like a 90° spike in the weather! Burned many, many leaves this year as a result in a rapid increase in temperatures. The third leaf from the end shriveled up like a prune!!

6/25/2002 1:37:12 AM

Edmonton, Canada

Still no rain in site, and the forecast is for 90's all week long. Yikes!!! I thought this was Canada!

6/25/2002 10:09:53 AM

Stony Plain, Alberta (near Edmonton)

Hey Smitty, it's just making up for the late spring we had!!! My pumpkin loves this weather. Just do your watering in the morning before it gets too hot. My plant should start vining in a couple of days. And talk nice to your plants too!

http://www.pumpkinnook.com/growing.htm

6/25/2002 10:20:54 AM

Sask, Canada

Nice to see fellow Western Canadians, I take it both of you will be weighing off at smokey mountain, first year grower here, well did start one last year but lost it in july.

My plants are doing great and yes the heat out west here is going to be brutal for the next week I'm going to start misting in a few minutes, I just hope we don't get any bad thunder storms or hail with all this heat.

Hey Darby and Smitty how long have you guys been growing and what are your personal bests, any pics of your plants available.

Keep in touch, you guys can email me any time [email protected] and lets show them what Western Canadians can do...

TTYL
Ernie
Giant Veggies
http://www.members.shaw.ca/giantveggies/

6/25/2002 1:31:52 PM

Stony Plain, Alberta (near Edmonton)

Thanks Ernie, I'll be looking for you at the Smoky Lake weighoff!
I had a look at your giant veggies page-- great stuff! I'm into big things in the garden. My personal best for a pumpkin is 80# for "prizewinner" variety (not Atlantic Giant) As for the other stuff, my biggest turnip was 22# for a Purple top White Globe, 37" circumfrence. My biggest Sunflower was 10' 5" with a head 15.5" across. Ask me about my Rhubarb! currently 64" tall with stalks as thick as my arm. Tomato- 2#3oz. (bush beefstake)

6/25/2002 2:14:28 PM

Edmonton, Canada

Hey Ernie, I'll be at Smokey Lake as well. All 3 of us will have to have a pumpkin pow wow. I went last year and won the prize for best looking pumpkin in Western Canada!!!

This is my second year of growing Atlantic giants. My first effort was 110 #'s, and I'm hoping for way more this year. I'll email you a picture from last year.

Cameron.

6/25/2002 2:41:25 PM

Edmonton, Canada

By the way Ernie, what part of Saskatchewan are you from? I grew just across the Alberta border!

6/25/2002 2:43:51 PM

Edmonton, Canada

I grew up just across the Alberta border. Not that I'mm all that grown up!

6/25/2002 2:46:21 PM

Stony Plain, Alberta (near Edmonton)

Hello again Ernie and Smitty, Wanna see some big veggies? Pumkins notwithstanding...

These are from Alaska.

http://www.recordholders.org/en/records/vegetables.html

Incidently, I've been gardening since I was five. Now I'm just a few years older. I'm going to post a picture on my message board diary of some of my produce 2 years ago.

6/25/2002 4:02:49 PM

Sask, Canada

Smitty:
I'm from Moose Jaw, no doubt both of you have heard of it, We have the legandary Tunnels of Moose Jaw and soon to be Punkin Capital of the west (hopefully)

Darby:
Yes I know that site I have talked with John before and actually use his Compost Tea and have gotten quite a bit of info from him as well as info of what he puts into his garden compost and such.

It takes a great bit of dedication and near perfect growing conditions for his type of growing, I have incorporated some of this into my giant tomato growing and breeding.

well got to go mist again
TTYL
Ernie
Giant Veggies

6/25/2002 4:35:13 PM

Stony Plain, Alberta (near Edmonton)

I mist you while you were out misting. In fact I was giving mine a shower too. Weather here is sunny with high clouds, 28C RH 63%

Dave.

6/25/2002 5:24:23 PM

Sask, Canada

Ok boys, I've decided to weigh-off at Smoky Lake and even went to the website for info. Ya I know I'm way ahead of the game but I was trying to find out were the H--- it is so I can tell the wife, Seems she's not fond of the idea of me driving a punkin 800-1000 km just to weigh it and then turn around and haul it back, She doesn't understand that this is what I'm doing all this for, that 10 cent ribbon they give you. (LMAO)

Well actually she won't really mind as long as we use it for a holiday as well maybe go to Calgary, we just have to take the 3/4 ton and haul the baby.

Any idea on how to sneak a 800-900 lb (crossed-fingers)punkin into the truck so the wife won't notice...

TTYL
Ernie
Giant Veggies

6/25/2002 9:24:35 PM

Stony Plain, Alberta (near Edmonton)

Ernie,
Smoky Lake is about 110km northeast of Edmonton on Highway 28. If you're coming from Moose Jaw, head up the Yellowhead Hy 16 once you reach Saskatoon. Then head north on 857 and 855 once you reach Vegreville. I'll see if I can get a map on www.Mapquest.com of Mapblast.com

Dave

6/25/2002 10:54:37 PM

Sask, Canada

Thanks Darby:

Never thought of mapquest now I know exactly were it is,according to the maps Total Estimated Time: 8 hours, 40 minutes Total Distance: 737.04 km well a 9:00 a.m. check in would mean leaving here at around 11:00 to 12:00 am the night before. Well it is a good thing I found out now, at least this way I have 3 months to beg, plead or bribe my way there. If worse comes to worse I can always run out for the loaf of bread trick.

Thanks again
TTYL
Ernie
Giant Veggies

6/26/2002 12:10:20 AM

Stony Plain, Alberta (near Edmonton)

Hi Ernie, saw your posted pic this morning... your plant is slightly more advanced than mine, but not by much, maybe 4 days. I noticed a few yellow spots on your leaves, hoping it is nothing serious. I have 3 plants, and they all look vigorous even in this hot weather, No yellowing, just lush greeen! They are in their vegetative state of growth right now. Stumps are 5/8- 3/4" diam. I am consulting an old botany textbook for tidbits of stuff that I will post here on the message board from time to time.

6/26/2002 8:38:11 AM

Edmonton, Canada

Hey Ernie, you should go to the weigh off the day before and stay for the night. The whole town of Smokey Lake puts on a huge party, it's a blast!!!

6/26/2002 10:14:39 AM

Stony Plain, Alberta (near Edmonton)

Right on, Smitty, Smoky Lake is a good place to pick up some great Ukrainian goodies in the Farmers Market, specially the kubassa, cabbage rolls and perogies! Lots of hand made handicrafts too. The museum there is a treasure trove of history and they usually fire up the old Case steam tractor and do some threshing. I think the population of the town triples during the Pumpkin Fest!

About the yellow spots on your leaves, it could be a deficiency of zinc and/or manganese according to my botany book. When it shows on the tips of the leaves, or spots on the center, it's zinc.

6/26/2002 11:00:10 AM

Sask, Canada

Well the yellow spots is due to to much water, would you believe the soil is a sandy type but tons of manure and compost holds the water really well. I was watering every three days had to cut back to once a week and let the soil dry a bit other than misting it only gets drenched once per week. The new growth has started to show much improvement with no yellowing. Ya Smitty an over night would be good we can always go to Edmonton and the truck just happens to break down at smoky lake after we sort of got lost and of course I would just happen to have my prize punkin in the back as luck would have it... LMAO

TTYL
Ernie
Giant Veggies

6/26/2002 11:41:59 AM

Edmonton, Canada

Lol, it will be great to meet both of you. I hope you both make it!

6/26/2002 11:50:55 AM