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Edmonton, Canada

The pumpkin namimg contest is just starting to be promoted on the air at the radio station, and a winer will be announced a week from tomorrow. Ernie's entry of "Charlotte" has been officially entered, and the prize is a gift certificate to a local greenhouse. This is all gearing up to our grand prize in October where listeners will see a picture of my pumpkin on our station website, and try to guess the correct weight. Nothing is for sure as of yet, but this prize will be a biggy. Should be tonnes of fun!!!

8/1/2002 12:00:03 PM

Sask, Canada

Yippy...

Well if yer adding an extra weight guess to the contest I'll have to put in mine since I've been following your grower diary and I've got a very good idea. I don't understand why your using words like "a biggy" and "tonnes of fun" as with the cold weather you got... well I guess that's part of the fun of growing Giant Punkins, "Day Dreaming"...(LMAO)

Ok. Ok. my guess is 187lbs. and that is being generous.

Have ya been in contact with pappy for some of fatbacks seeds. Don't forget the seeds...

TTYL
Ernie
Giant Veggies

8/1/2002 12:43:24 PM

Edmonton, Canada

Oh Ernie, I can barely wait to see the look on your face when I bring in a "biggie" to Smoky Lake. (I hope. I really have to make sure I get more than 187 pounds, and with the weather here, that might not be easy)

Pappy did say he'd contribute to the cause, and some seeds may have to be a part of the grand prize.

8/1/2002 1:38:05 PM

Webster, NY

Smitty, what is the url of your stations website???

8/1/2002 2:13:49 PM

Sask, Canada

Hey Smitty:

On a serious note, how long have you been growing AG and what is your personal best. Any info on that Lobay fellow that seems to sweep the weigh-offs every year... (or the rest of his family.(lol)

what's up with Darby been kind of scarce lately, is he alright?? busy?? I see you guys live quite close been to his patch?? any empty milk jugs kicking around his place (grin)

If you want ya can e-mail me...(if yer imbarrased about your personal best)

TTYL
Ernie
Giant Veggies

8/1/2002 2:15:20 PM

Sask, Canada

SteelyDave:

It is:

http://www.cker.ca/main.htm

Hey Smitty maybe we should change yer name to "preacher"

8/1/2002 2:22:38 PM

Edmonton, Canada

No preachin here, I just stick to being the guy in charge of news and sports!

Check out this URL:

www.cker.ca/inspirational/ontheway/djs.html

Go to the bottom of the page, and presto, there I am! I even talk about pumpkin growing in my bio.

This is my third year growing. The first year was at least a decade ago, and I had no idea what I was doing. No embarresment on my personal best. Last year's pumpkin got to 106 pounds, and that was in a flower bed! With a bigger garden, and a bit more knowledge, I'm thinking the sky is the limit! (ignorance is bliss) I just need the weather to smarten up.

I got an email from Darby a couple of days ago. I haven't been out to see his patch, but I should go, if invited. I only live about a half hour away, so it would be an easy drive. If you read this Darby, we should get together and share some hints, so we can make Ernie's pumpkin look like a grape!

Smoky Lake should be a blast Ernie.

LMAO

Cameron.

8/1/2002 2:57:06 PM

North Ga

Smitty, send me your snail mail addy and I'll send 10 seeds in a week or so.

8/1/2002 2:59:36 PM

North Ga

Ernie, In case you don't win the contest. I have a few seeds with your name on them.

8/1/2002 3:08:00 PM

Edmonton, Canada

Thanks Pappy, I've sent ya an email.

8/1/2002 3:15:11 PM

Sask, Canada

Mucho Gracia, Merci, Thanks Pappy

I've got just the spot for Fatback jr.

Like you said send me your snail mail addy and I'll throw a SASBP in the mail...

Thanks again

Oh almost forgot Smitty check out today's grower diary, got to go get some pics and I'll post them....(snicker)
(LMAO)

TTYL
Ernie
Giant Veggies

8/1/2002 3:32:45 PM

North Ga

That's too much strain on our postal service Ernie. Just give me your addy and I'll take care of it. Thanks, Brian

8/1/2002 3:47:01 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

Hey Ernie - Do you have a space heater in the patch?
Or is it just the remay that keeps it warmer?
Or are you just teasing us and snapped your photo with the thermometer 'just out of the house'? (er hooouse)

We have had a couple of nights down to 40 degrees and the growth on my pumpkins have nearly come to a stand still.

Lemme know - Ceis

8/1/2002 7:09:43 PM

Key West, FL

when has it gone down to 40 degrees Ceis? i live across the river in vancouver and the coldest its got to my knowledge was low 50's like 52 i think. Are you having problems with the wind right now? it just wont stop blowing here. i have wind breaks but still have a few bent leaves.

8/1/2002 7:33:14 PM

Sask, Canada

Cies:

Funny ya should mention that...

No The pic was taken inside the patch (covered), you guys will probably get a laugh out of it so I'll fill ya in on the details.

I was so frantic with the cold snap, I ran out and got 2 rolls twine, 3 rolls duct tape, two rolls packing tape with one of those roller do' hicky's, 1x1500' roll of 6 mil heavy duty poly and a 12 of beer. Plus to keep it nice and toasty I also bought a top of the line 80,000 btu propane heater for a measely $499.95.

I was thinking of getting a huge 155,000 btu heater with 100L propane tank which would run just about $900.00 but thought the wife wouldn't go for it so I got the smaller one instead.

Got home and began piecing the poly together in three sections using packing tape. I throw it on and the 25km winds tore it to shreds, well not to be beat I did it again, this time layered, taped on two sides with duck tape and the baby holds. Would have been nice to get one piece but no time for that, every day counts.

Well the wife came home, me smiling at my fine job of my latest project and finishing off the last beer I took her over to tour the new improved patch, Not paying attention to my fine craftmanship she notice's the 20L propane tank sitting just out side of the poly and says "why do you have the barbeque tank over here" "It's not the barbeque tank it is one I bought for my new 80,000 btu heater" I quickly replied, smiling ear to ear.

Then it hit me, the coldest glare that I have ever gotten. Well I didn't get to show her the inside of the patch, under the cover, but I did manage to hear her thoughts on the matter as she stormed in the house, Something about a damn pumpkin and about me sleeping out there with it giving it body heat to keep it warm.

Well to keep an already long story short (which I'm good at) and to answer your question Cies, the patch is being heated by a 3,500 btu heater I picked up cheap from Crappy tire.

TTYL
Ernie
Giant Veggi

8/1/2002 8:25:34 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

LOL!!!!
That sounds like a pretty nice heater! Can you give her an extra $20? (refering to your diary a couple of months ago)


Benface - It was 40 in my patch on Wednesday a.m. and 46 this morning. My pkin hardly grew yesterday and I was really disappointed when I took the circmference measurement.

Cheers - Ceis

8/1/2002 8:53:37 PM

Key West, FL

what time of the day is that? i think the low at me house was like mid 50s. where do you live? near the coast?

8/1/2002 9:22:01 PM

Stony Plain, Alberta (near Edmonton)

Don't worry, Ernie, Darby is still here holding my deck close to my chest! GORT is putting on weight, albeit slowly because of the very cool weather, and now I see it's only 4C in Moose Jaw this morning... Iv'e been working at a part-time job elsewhere, but I'm still here!

Dave

8/2/2002 7:42:18 AM

In the shade - PDX, OR

Ben - That was about 7 a.m. or so on 7/31. I think it was 58 today. I'm on the westside of Portland - near Beaverton.

Good news: I got about 10 lbs. out of both pkins yesterday.
Bad news: 45 deg. lows predicted.

Hey Ernie are you willing to loan out your heater for a couple of days?

LOL - Ceis

8/2/2002 11:28:32 AM

Key West, FL

Ya Ceis it was pretty cool last night, my plants didnt grow much. Its been a bit cool and windy this week and it is sapposed to get worse this weekend with some rain and even cooler temps. I wish it would go back to lows in low 60s and highs in mid 80s

8/2/2002 2:43:56 PM