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Location

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Date Posted

Goffstown,nh

New Hampshire has done it again! Bruce Whittier has produced the largest yet, 1458lbs uow... Yes your reading the numbers correctly, 1458lbs uow. It was still growing but developed a small crack so he decided to cut it off, have it officialy weighed and save the seeds.Grown from the 582Hester x 695Handy. Check out the photo gallery under JimB for a few photos...

9/9/2003 9:14:23 PM

Connecticut, USA

Unreal!! Congrats Bruce! That thing is a monster!

9/9/2003 9:20:23 PM

New Hampshire

Couldn't happen to a better guy

9/9/2003 9:21:55 PM

Rhode Island

OMG Congrats

9/9/2003 9:28:27 PM

[email protected]

WOW! And didn't we just sit here debating 2000?

CONGRATULATIONS!!! I hope it weighs on or long.

9/9/2003 9:33:37 PM

Leicester, NY

Glad I got to see this one on the NH tour when it was "only" 1200 pounds. Awesome Bruce!

9/9/2003 10:02:12 PM

Morris, Connecticut

Amazing! who knows what else is lurking out there...

9/9/2003 10:16:12 PM

South Hill, Virginia

Wow, pretty soon you could show up with a half ton pumpkin and lose by 500 pounds. This guy has been unbelievable the last three years.

9/9/2003 10:24:54 PM

New Brunswick

Wonder what the heck he uses for fertilizers???

9/9/2003 10:41:47 PM

colorado

That is just amazing, my hats off to Mr. Whittier, what a great feat in this sport, a new WORLD RECORD, ok, maybe it is UOW, but really, it is the WORLD RECORD, very well done Mr. Whittier!!!!!!! Steve

9/9/2003 10:52:43 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

Wonderful Job well done Bruce. Now does this count as the New World Record? New Hampshire must of had some nice weather this summer. Congratulations again Bruce.

9/9/2003 10:58:42 PM

Utah ([email protected])

Congrats Bruce!!!!!!
Nice photos Jim!

9/9/2003 11:19:36 PM

nanaimo,B.C,Canada

congrats Bruce, wonder how many other big ones are coming off the 582 hester.

Dave

9/9/2003 11:52:45 PM

Puyallup, WA

I am speechless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

9/10/2003 12:02:12 AM

Puyallup, WA

I've caught my breath....what are the OTT measurements?

9/10/2003 12:10:25 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Double YIKES!!!! Absolutely Awesome....Still muttering to myself...Great Job Bruce!

9/10/2003 12:25:16 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Wowzers...Thats a mighty big pumpkin.

9/10/2003 12:32:37 AM

Sancoins / Cher / FRANCE

Félicitation bruce, I am super satisfied for your record.
jean louis

9/10/2003 12:54:51 AM

Chesterfield, MO

WOW!!!...what is the cross?

9/10/2003 1:03:13 AM

Enumclaw WA

Wowee!!! Congrats! What an inspiration.

9/10/2003 1:10:43 AM

Knopp, Germany

Unbelieveable......hope it goes heavy!

9/10/2003 1:14:28 AM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

That is not a pumpkin, that's a house!!! I would like to live into!
Oh my Godness! I wouldn't like to be in the Bruce skin when he decided to cull it knowing it was still growing. Yikes, only think that it could get the 1500 barrier for 42 lbs!
Unbelievable, I take of my hat for that man, what a grower indeed!
And I was all the summer looking for a 582, now is going to be even harder.
Enjoy the moment Bruce and congratulations!

9/10/2003 1:19:18 AM

Okla

Way to go Bruce.
Thomas

9/10/2003 1:23:24 AM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

Hey Jim B, give us a little of information, please. What is going to happen with the pumpkin now. How were the seeds, good, many? Oh! I would like to have the jet ready to fly there to see it, just to sit down in the front and see it for one or two hours, no more.

Well, Ken and John, you already know whom will be demmand to come to the next BP featured grower chat.

9/10/2003 1:33:09 AM

Key West, FL

Wow, very cool....yeah, what was the OTT?
Congrats

9/10/2003 1:42:19 AM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

Yes, please, what was the OTT, planting date and pollination date?

9/10/2003 1:43:53 AM

nanaimo,B.C,Canada

would love to know what Bruce is putting in his soil???????

Dave

9/10/2003 2:32:25 AM

Gloucester, MA

Wow!

9/10/2003 3:40:57 AM

Wow!!!!!
All I can say is: INCREDIBLE!!!
And what a great shape and color it has!
My sincerest congratulations to Bruce Whittier!
Where did it split? Blossom end, rib, dill-ring?
What were the OTT measurements?
Best wishes,
Martin

9/10/2003 4:42:55 AM

Bristol, ME ([email protected])

Nice job Bruce...Congratulations.

9/10/2003 5:38:43 AM

[email protected]

Looks like it's time to dust off those 582 Hester seeds!

9/10/2003 5:58:01 AM

Goffstown,nh

Bruces pumpkin was 71 days old. It tapped out at 420" ott
It was the 582Hester x 695Handy. Bruce is the most dedicated grower you'll ever meet. He won't think twice about staying in his patch until midnight weeding and burring vines ect.As those who went on the patch tour will tell you his garden is just awesome!!! All these huge pumpkins have come with a price, Hard Work....
The pumpkin developed a small hole at the blossom end on August 23rd, (the day of the patch tour)It was tapping 1250lbs that day. This Sunday it developed a small crack in one of the rib lines, so Bruce decided it was time to make the cull. It was still growing 12-15 lbs per day...
Jim B

9/10/2003 6:15:22 AM

North Ga

Duhhhh!!!

9/10/2003 6:24:24 AM

Ga.

CONGRATS Bruce!! Way to go!
J

9/10/2003 6:33:49 AM

KENTUCKY

Congrats!

9/10/2003 6:34:14 AM

Sparta, NC

Great job! I wish Bruce could have left it on.

9/10/2003 6:40:11 AM

Carrollton, Ga.

Great job.

9/10/2003 6:45:06 AM

Appalachian Mtns.

unbelievable, amazing, gosh!!

9/10/2003 6:51:47 AM

Belgium/brussels

Well done, bruce !!
Weigh to go !
LOL

9/10/2003 7:11:36 AM

Billerica,Massachusetts

congrats Bruce! saw that one in August glad it held up!

Glenn Peters

9/10/2003 8:26:51 AM

Indiana

Congrats! Bruce

9/10/2003 8:27:54 AM

Whistler, BC, Canada

WOW!...Congrats to Bruce!

9/10/2003 8:38:27 AM

Commack, NY

Congrats Bruce.......amazing!
Scott

9/10/2003 8:51:05 AM

Deer Park, WI

Absolutely amazing. Look at the ribbing on that fruit. I'd say the 582 stock price just went thru the roof. Congrats on the worlds largest!

9/10/2003 8:52:53 AM

Commack, NY

i cant believe it.......the 1400 Pacelli has fallen! LMAO!!

9/10/2003 8:54:26 AM

Cooks Creek, Manitoba, Canada

I'm speech less. I saw the picture and all I could say was holy crap! that thing is huge, I then I saw the weight! Job well done!

9/10/2003 9:57:09 AM

ipswich, ma usa

Congrats Bruce............Spare a seed? :). See you at Topsfield with your next biggie.

John (5150)

9/10/2003 9:58:19 AM

Edmonton, Canada

Wow, that is amazing! Will this count as the new world record?

9/10/2003 10:55:09 AM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

I wonder why those dam pumpkin walls aren't thicker and stronger. Maybe we could cross one Atlantic Giant and one Carolina Cross watermelon and get a pumpkin without a central cavity. LOL

9/10/2003 10:59:19 AM

Monrovia,CA

Holy Smokes!! What a great inspiration for next season. My heartfelt congratulations!
Michelle

9/10/2003 10:59:21 AM

Choctaw, OK

amazing.....didnt think it could happen so soon....

case

9/10/2003 11:15:56 AM

New York

Unreal!! that's the magic of pumpkin growing..congrats Bruce

9/10/2003 11:56:55 AM

Southern Sweden

My greatest CONGRATULATIONS!!!
I hope you will give us much of information, on BigPumpkins.com, about how you grow the 1458.

9/10/2003 11:59:05 AM

Massillon, Ohio

i was just driving and listening to paul harvey when i heard him mention something about a big pumpkin. WOW. congrats goes to mr. whittier; you know you're famous when you are mentioned on paul harvey !!!!!!!!!

9/10/2003 12:44:56 PM

Germany (Kirchheim / Bavaria)

Unbelievable, that`s more than a "wonder of the world"!
Peter

9/10/2003 12:47:28 PM

Utah

HOLY COW... 1458 lbs ! congrats
71 days old... i'm guessing set june 30th.
that's an average of 20.5 lbs per day.
i'm with steve- still think 2000 lbs is a long ways off ? :)

9/10/2003 1:01:22 PM

Utah

http://www.wftv.com/newsofthestrange/2468829/detail.html

9/10/2003 1:01:38 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

I think I'm in shock....

That it truely amazing.
Congratulations to Mr. Bruce Whittier!

I really want to know what his fertilizer recipe is.

This also just makes you wonder what the heck will show up at all of the weigh-offs on 10/4.

9/10/2003 1:17:25 PM

Key West, FL

Wow, the largest in size also, thats a BIG pumpkin!! I still think 1500 or 2000 is a ways off, I'm talking about 1500 with no splits.

I know what I'm planting next year..

9/10/2003 1:21:05 PM

Pulaski Tn [email protected]

all mine together wouldnt weigh that!!!! good job i say old chap!!!

9/10/2003 1:41:07 PM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

A truly amazing feat. Congratulations

9/10/2003 1:41:11 PM

Walkerton,Ontario, Canada

hey Bruce congradulations, would you be kind enough to donate a seed

9/10/2003 2:31:10 PM

Schenectady,New York

Congratulations Bruce, that's one big pumpkin. Great job, your hard work has been rewarded with a new record. Ray

9/10/2003 2:52:18 PM

wilmington,ma.

Cpngratulations Bruce great job. On the tour it looked
like a giant.
Geo.Caron
{Ahab]

9/10/2003 3:25:15 PM

Montoursville, PA

Jimminey Crickets..........did that sucker's great great grandmother have the name Santa Maria? There were bombs lighter than that in WWII. Congrats to you.

9/10/2003 4:20:26 PM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

420" OTT is 1474 lbs estimated, so 1.1% light.

9/10/2003 4:56:49 PM

Ann Arbor, Mi

Congrats Bruce....Truely amazing
Bob Wells

9/10/2003 5:20:04 PM

Mastic Beach, New York

wow..thats huge!!! congrats bruce

9/10/2003 5:20:39 PM

derry n.h u.s.a.

Wow,Congrats bruce,nice job,simply amazing.
John

9/10/2003 5:45:03 PM

Syracuse, NY

Juuuusstt abooouuuttt DOUBLE MY PERSONAL BEST.....i am soo humbled! the highest congratulations are in order!
you could sell frozen pieces of it for 10 bucks apiece...
and yes, i would look for that one stray seed! outstanding!

9/10/2003 7:26:23 PM

Western Pa.

Bruce W.,

Congratulations on this tremendous feat! I remember Charlie saying at Niagara Falls that he thought he could grow another World Record this year. Thanks for filling in!

Booooooyaaa!

9/10/2003 7:45:24 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

I wonder if this will spur on replicant crosses of the 582 Hester. (Brett has got to be proud)

Probably pretty difficult to replicate unless your seed library has got depth.....
940 Mombert 98 x 1026 Holland.

Also can some one tell me the genetic background of the 695 Handy?

I'm still in shock....just amazing!

9/10/2003 7:59:59 PM

porterville, calif.

How do you describe it in one word? WOW!! When I first saw the pic on the diary i didn,t even read what it had said. I thought man he might have a record there. Then when I had looked at all the pics. It dawned on me what i was looking at and all I could say and think was WOW!!!!

9/10/2003 8:07:17 PM

Tipp City, Ohio

Congratulations! This is amazing...Tom

9/10/2003 8:43:57 PM

Il

Congrats Bruce Way to GO!!!!

9/10/2003 9:06:00 PM

[email protected]

I love the quote from the grower.

http://www.cmonitor.com/stories/news/local2003/091003_pumpkin_2003.shtml

__________Clipped from above linked article_________

And aside from the standard fertilizers and tender loving care, what did the Whittiers feed the pumpkin to make it grow so large?

"People," Bruce Whittier said. "And it hasn't eaten today. So don't get too close

9/10/2003 9:36:20 PM

Mulino, Oregon

Bruce, weigh to go! All's I can say is "wow". How many more are in the garden? Did you just cut off the small one? One can only hope! Congratulations!

Jim

9/10/2003 11:01:46 PM

Puyallup, WA

According to the AGGC site, the 420" OTT is .....

Estimated Weight/Variance is 1513.2 pounds

That is why Bruce was disappointed that it didn't weigh 1500#. He will still be remembered for the first 1400 pounder!
It just gets discouraging when I look at my 800 pounders and think that they are huge!!

9/10/2003 11:15:25 PM

Hamilton, MT

Awesome, Awesome, AWESOME! You've provided great motivation for the rest of the world of growers - weigh to raise the bar! Kim

9/10/2003 11:23:00 PM

Taber, Alberta

That's an amazing pumpkin. Great job!

Alan

9/10/2003 11:48:48 PM

So. Maine

I knew you could it Bruce, now wish me that kind of luck for next year. Al

9/11/2003 1:06:44 AM

So. Maine

Minor correction: I new you could do it Bruce, dito dito dito.......

9/11/2003 1:09:02 AM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

OK, I used the old chart, so it was 3.64% lighter. Maybe in 4-5 days it would get the 1500 barrier... but maybe it...
I can't wait to see it in the AGGC!

9/11/2003 1:28:38 AM

Sequim, WA

Yeah, that's it just keep raising the bar so I have more headroom as I pass under it. Maybe I can get a 10 gallon Stetson now, and ride a tall horse. Seriously, this is truly awesome and I can't wait to see what starts hitting the scales in October. Good thing I have another 940 Mombert 98 and a 1026 Holland for next year. Bruce has really taken his production to a whole new level that will be hard to duplicate over the past few years. Great job, too bad it couldn't hold up.

9/11/2003 1:35:51 AM

Whistler, BC, Canada

Is there a rental fee on the pumpkin? Monthly Payments? Im looking for a new place to stay...Thanks for any information, Kyle

9/12/2003 7:10:51 PM