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Eastern Pennsylvania

Norm won 3 this year. Is that where the bar is set? I am tempted to plant six 811's next year and hit six weighoffs. That means even dropping my greenie from the lineup which is very tough for me to do. G don't even start with me lol.

I think its time for us orange growers to start a new type of competition. I'm not talking about winning a Howard Dill award just cause one of your plants happens to grow an orange one. I'm talking full committment. To win more than one HD award in a year requires a lot. We could come up with some kind of cool award or something. Anyone in? Or some other neat way to measure overall success with orange pumpkins, I'm open for ideas.

10/10/2012 2:48:56 PM

NILES , CALIF

Why not start a new award or put more requirements for
the Howard Dell award;
I know it is gonna be awhile before i hit over 2000 lbs
so why not concentrate on an orange beauty;
It attracts alot of people at the shows when they
see an orange beauty!

10/10/2012 3:16:13 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

I'm not sure about an award, but I've already decided that I'm going all orange next year. If I can't grow them big, at least I can grow them beautiful.

10/10/2012 4:53:53 PM

Deerfield, Michigan

How about a "Perfect Pumpkin Award" It would be based on Howard Dill and anything else we come up with.

10/10/2012 5:41:45 PM

Johnston, R.I.

Jim,, please save me an 811. I am up for any kind of orange competition you can come up with......ORANGE RULES.....

10/10/2012 6:27:06 PM

Honesdale Pa USA

I think the pumpkin should weigh over 500 lbs. and be voted on by the growers entered in the weigh-off.

10/10/2012 8:17:12 PM

Upa Creek, MO

Depends on the weighoff, Dyberry. It was such a tough year from heat, "I think" there was only one pumpkin over 500 in the Missouri weighoff this year.

10/10/2012 9:30:52 PM

Indiana

Great idea Jim, for every one that grows orange we need a source for orange seed oh i don't know maby a only orange seed auction this winter? More lots of the same seed or combo of seeds. Not just one seed per aution. For example not just one 811 per auction but maybe 5-8 different lots with the same seed so a numeber of growers can grow that seed. Just an idea.

10/10/2012 10:05:46 PM

Stanwood, Washington

with so many people starting to selectively grow for Orange, is it possible that we are starting to see an emergence of a new variety that could be considered separate from the Atlantic Giant?

10/10/2012 11:29:01 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Some of us have always grown orange...you just were not paying attention...kilbert, stelts, calai,
They are the same variety we are just more concerned with color and asthetics..than weight.

10/11/2012 7:36:04 AM

Mercersburg, PA

an overall "prettiest pumpkin" type award would be nice after weighoffs, but it would have to be by pictures. (maybe regional)? what about growers can nominate pumpkins after weighoffs and then everyone on here gets a vote? i dont like the idea of only using dill award winners, because as we see in the diary, some are much prettier than others. also, we have seen pvery pretty kins not win the dill award this year.

10/11/2012 9:10:05 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

The other prob with dill awards is there is only one per site, so if you can only attend one weighoff you don't stand much chance. Unlike the GOTY award where you could weigh 4-5 pumpkins at a single show and still be in the running with your EXB entries. Voting on pics could get messy. It could be done but must be carefully thought out.

10/11/2012 10:19:21 AM

that last statement is not correct, you cannot weigh 4-5 pumpkins per person at 1 weighoff to count towards grower of the year

10/11/2012 10:54:45 AM

NILES , CALIF

Lets keep it simple one pumpkin at each site;
a miniumum weight symetrical ; color and to be voted on by the growers there; or a 5man team like the pap has.

Maybe more gpc people can chime in and add to this.

10/11/2012 2:39:51 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Thanks for clarifying don, I was not aware.

10/11/2012 6:51:04 PM

Bemidji Minnesota

Heck, has anyone made any good crosses with 1725 harp and a consistent orange producer? WR genes combined with color is likely a good bet.

10/13/2012 1:50:03 PM