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Location

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Date Posted

San Diego

I know some people wax their pumpkins for looks and to help water loss from skin. Can you use regular car wax or any type of wax? Second, the contest I'm in has 5 weigh off spots, each winner goes to a final for weighing. I have a good shot at making the final. Problem is, they just tape measure for the winner at the five areas and the final is a week later. If I win, what can I put on my stem where it has been cut to help water loss during the week? It will be sitting in my garage. The stem will only be 1 inch long and is very wide after being cut. I heard of vasaline, would that work? Too hard to put a water bottle on it. I just want to get the best weight I can. Thanks, Jim

10/1/2002 4:31:47 PM

Long Island,New York

Jim...they're not supposed to cut the stem to 1 inch in lenght, they're suposed to cut the vine to 1 inch each side of the stem.Dont let them cut the stem. Bring the rules with you for the GPC. Cutting the stem will drasticly reduce the length of time the fruit will last.
Cover the fruit with a wet towel...check it everyday so no fungus starts.Rewet the towel as needed. I belive that great grower Rock Rivard did this last year to his littler 1000 lber and it lost 1 lb in a week.....G

10/1/2002 5:41:25 PM

Herndon, VA

When I cut my 683 from the vine, I left about 18" of vine on both sides of the stem and put them into water bottles. Two days later they had absorbed almost 3/4 of a gallon of water. That's several pounds that could potentially have been lost through evaporation. Since they're measuring at the 5 areas, I don't see why they should make you cut the vine until the actual weighoff.

10/1/2002 9:12:44 PM

Western Pa.

I believe that the G.P.C. has stated any oiled or waxed fruit will be disqualified.

10/2/2002 12:25:40 AM

In the shade - PDX, OR

Holy crap Kilr are you serious? I olive oiled my pumpkin last week to bring out more of the orange color.

Does the GPC have their rules availble on the net?

Thanks - Ceis

10/2/2002 10:50:40 AM

Western Pa.

I don't know if the rules are on the net, it seems like they keep changing them. The rules, as mailed to me, state:
6. No foreign matter (includes wax,lemon pledge, grafting wax,captan.) Olive oil isn't on the list yet, I'd take it anyway and take my chances. Just a "heads up" to the rest of you out there!

kilr

10/2/2002 12:35:13 PM

Key West, FL

i olive oil mined too, but it dries out within a few days, ya watch out for that light captan dusting might add like a whole .01 of a pound!

10/2/2002 5:36:42 PM

Long Island,New York

Its a safety measure mole...er...Ben. Captan is nasty stuff...if you kill or mame all the lifters we'd have to lift them ourselves.....The guys do a great job and we dont need them worrying if they got dangerous chemicals on thier hands while volunteering. Everyone should scrub all the captan off the fruits before leaving home.Personally, Ive moved to sulfer because its safer...dont need some over-zealous child getting captan in his eyes..G

10/2/2002 7:12:22 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

Aye Carumba!! now something else to worry about.
Here are the rules that I found on the net:

http://www.republicmo.com/Events/pumpkindaze/rules.htm
probably outdated though - your #6 is #8 on the above page.

Mine is still a little oily - I best wipe if off real good before loading it on Friday.

Jim- I'm doing just about what Brusier explains above. Cut the vine to 18" on both sides and stick into 1 gal jugs of water. Cheers Ceis

10/2/2002 7:17:58 PM

Ga.

G,,speaking of captan,,I had to touch fatback when I first come in at Brians..(Had to make sure ole fatback was real)...LOL... Then he tells me,,"LOOK OUT",,,got captan where you had your hands!!... So I put my hands in the bucket of water the stem of fatback was in,,,YIKES,,,,then he says I washed my hands in his homemade fertilizer....Double YIKES!! Cant win for loosing,,,what is a man to do??? LMAO....

10/2/2002 8:29:04 PM