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Maine

Only kids. She read all of your response on the pinhole in her pumpkin in a deep ridge, and was all bummed out. Then she decided one person was right about the hole possibly letting air in, and most telling us to PLUG it, which would disqualify her....so two days ago, I found her in the patch with the bleach water, q-tips and bandaids...bandaids?? Yup, she bleached it, let it dry out, put two q-tips over the pinhole, and put two bandaids over it to hold them in place to block the hole.....and today (two days later) the OTT went to 287 from 285, after sitting there at 285 for 8 days...we measured 7 times, couldn't believe it. Huh. Can anyone explain THAT one??!! And the hole hasn't gotten bigger than the circumference of a piece of hay. Growth is the stem to blossom measurement. I'm stunned.....good girl!!

9/12/2012 5:25:43 PM

43.841677 , -79.086692

So the hole is gonna disqualify her no matter what. From my experience the pumpkin will grow a bit more before starting to rot. If you seal the hole it could last a month or more before the fruit breaks down.
Regardless of whether it is disqualified or not. Nothing can take away what she has accomplished. She should be proud. Remember, many of these heavy hitters are growing 6-12 plants. They loose fruit all the time. It's just a numbers thing.

9/12/2012 6:40:23 PM

Maine

Oh, I agree....the key now for weighoff on the 30th is did it get to the cavity?
I think at age 12 (and the third year for doing this) she has learned the value of working hard, and seeing the end results...she knows she got her PB (last year was 443#, this one went almost a 100 over), and there is satisfaction in that...and many lessons learned. And she is now completely addicted to this message board!

9/12/2012 6:53:59 PM

Ma.

Anne,Hate to be the bearer of possible bad news,but it has been the unfortunate experience of many of us that when circumference increases and your over the top #s are the same or less the pumpkin is going down. If you check your otts and they have gone up. your pumpkin is growing.Good luck ,hope I am wrong.Your grand daughter should be proud of her achievement.All of our goals should be a personal best and lessons learned to apply to our next growing season.

9/12/2012 7:35:04 PM

Maine

circumference stuck at 120...it's the OTT from blossom end to stem that has gone up..I figured it would go DOWN. We'll see!
This is my last year with her....moving south. I think she's addicted and will do it again next year! Just such a weird thing - KIDS - thought I'd post it. It is what it is! I am very, very proud of the hard work she's done this year on it. Good for her!!!

9/12/2012 7:53:49 PM

West [email protected]

sometimes mother nature finds away (Jurassic park....lol)

9/12/2012 8:34:59 PM

So. Maine

I hope it makes it to the scale in one piece to get an official weight . BEST of luck !

9/12/2012 10:17:17 PM

Maine

slow growing...all OTT from blossom to stem, only about 1/2" to 3/4" a day....no change in circumference. Just bizarre. She's going to weighoff on 30th, and totally set to be disqualified, but the hole is still just a pinhole, no smell, no rot...
Check out damariscottapumpkinfest.com...we do it up!! At least she grew a boat for the regatta AND beat her PB by 100+!
We'll post on the 30th to let you know. It is what it is.
Wait Til Next Year, it was your post about air getting in that made her bandaid it....still cracks me up!!!

9/14/2012 6:40:54 PM

So. Maine

Lol Anne . It's a big thing IF you catch it ASAP and " patch it " . Even though it cannot be entered for the contest prizes at least it can continue to grow till seasons end .

Then , next year you have a benchmark to chase after ...

9/14/2012 8:41:55 PM