From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Omaha, Ne.

some of the pumpkins. are so shiny. oil? car wax?

10/2/2014 9:54:00 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

Just a soft cloth. It shines them up real nice. Any additives can get the pumpkin disqualified, and if it makes them slippery there is a chance they can slip through the lifting straps. If you look at my diary from last year, you can see how shiny my son's pumpkin got just with a cloth.

10/2/2014 10:03:47 PM

Concord, CA.

Brylcreem!

10/2/2014 10:13:11 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Wet cloth and a bit of olive oil does the trick Darren.

10/2/2014 10:23:51 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=210462 Shows the pumpkin after being shined up with dry cloth. GPC rules state: 3.No foreign material (i.e.: fungicides, caulking, skin additives et cetera) will be permitted in the weighing of any fruit. Vines must be trimmed to within one inch of the stem of the fruit. The judges have the right to inspect any and all fruit before weights and measurements become official. Refusal of any inspection to an entry will cause the entry to be classified exhibition only. After it is weighed, maybe some oil might be permitted. They judge for Howard Dill Award after they are weighed. I did hear a rumor of one being shined with Armor All. I would check with Greg before using any oil to be safe. That pumpkin of yours is a real beauty.

10/2/2014 11:38:33 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Couple drops of olive oil on a damp rag won't upset anybody in the GPC.

10/3/2014 12:29:43 AM

Bethlehem CT

Rub it like an apple, it will shine right up.

10/3/2014 7:38:10 AM

JACKSON, WISCONSIN. ; )

Soft cloth is all that is needed... Rub rub rub... Makes em shine

10/3/2014 8:11:34 AM

Mulino, Oregon

North Shore Boys, that could be an expensive 'couple of drops'.

10/3/2014 10:22:34 AM

Eastern Pennsylvania

True orange pumpkins have their own wax/ oil and do not need anything other than a soft cloth.

10/3/2014 10:25:10 AM

Buffalo, MN (Billsbigpumpkins@hotmail.com)

Darren after the weighing and back on your skid a little olive works well to bring out the orange, if it is already a nice orange a soft cloth is all the is needed.

10/3/2014 10:56:26 AM

Jericho Vermont

We only use 1 tblspoon of bleach in a gallon of water to clean and disinfect the pumpkin so that it will hopefully last longer for our Halloween display. I agree with orangeneck that the genetics play a huge role and no extra "help" is needed to make them shine.

10/3/2014 11:55:38 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Soft cloth..ya thats the ticket...that's all I do..

But all you have to do is mention a couple drops of oil for someone to want to whip out the rule book...cmon guys...

10/3/2014 8:39:01 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Good point VTJohn thanks for mentioning the bleach in water...so bleach is OK but a few drops of vegetable oil is not...someone needs to do a little explaining...

10/3/2014 8:40:48 PM

oil =slippery , most ropes, slings rely on friction to lift pumpkin

10/3/2014 10:23:34 PM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

Been wiping the hackberry sap off mine with the bleach water .I've always used it to preserve gourds longer.

10/4/2014 8:27:25 AM

Smithville, Tn

Nature!!

10/15/2014 11:13:25 PM