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Location

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Date Posted

British Columbia, Canada

Is it different than growing any other pumpkin? Just plant a seed proven to grow orange and hope for the best? Or is there different techniques for growing orange?

8/3/2015 1:06:08 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Same way of growing. You plan your seeds based on an educated guess of what your desired results should be. I go for color and to the chart. Protect the fruit when it is young. Give it some sun around Mid September.

8/3/2015 1:29:22 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

The bad thing is, it is left to the judges to pick the biggest prettiest most symmetrical orange pumpkin. Sometimes they get it wrong.

8/3/2015 1:31:56 PM

New England

you deal with personal opinion and the luck of genetics. despite genetics; seeds that are supposed to grow "pretty" can quite often grow very ugly :)

8/3/2015 4:27:34 PM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

It's a commitment. It will take space in your patch that could be used for heavier but less colorful options. In my case I want more than one HD capable seed so that I can make crosses that will preserve the color, (and then you find that one of them didn't really give the color you expected...) Most of the time the genetics that go really colorful have lighter weights. My HD winner last year measured close to 1000 and went 849.

8/3/2015 5:07:09 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

You never know how it will turn out. My son won it once, and 2 other times we thought he could win it until we got to the weighoff. One time a pumpkin just 1# lighter than his had just slightly better shape, and another time the judges gave it to a young kid with a field pumpkin. Just like anything else, all you can do is try your best and hope it works out.

8/3/2015 6:10:03 PM

British Columbia, Canada

Do you think the HD judging is sometimes biased?

8/3/2015 6:26:40 PM

Honesdale Pa USA

Yes, judging for HD is biased, thats what judging is, its what you judge as the the best pumpkin. Its not like a set weight or the length of something. Its in the eye of the beholder which is biased per each judge.

8/3/2015 8:25:18 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

At all the events with a Howard Dill award that I've attended, this is a very sought after and prestigious prize...it is as hard or harder to grow for big, orange and pretty than for heavy and ugly.

Of course not everyone is going to agree, but usually there is a "standout" orange and pretty pumpkin that stands out and is deserving of the Howard Dill award.

Mr. Dill sent me my first seeds with a personalized note, I'd be thrilled to win the award given in his name.

8/3/2015 8:43:50 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

There are usually 4 or 5 pumpkins at doylestown that would win the HD award at any other weighoff.

8/3/2015 9:31:20 PM

Johnston, R.I.

Every seed that I start is with the intention of winning a HD award.. You have to remember a HD is an opinion of one or more persons and it depends on what weighoff you go to. What might not win at one could have won at another.. Have fun, life goes on..

8/4/2015 2:28:28 AM

Western NY

I usually grow at least half of mine that "should be pretty" based on the seed. Of those, less that half are great looking specimens by the end due to split, rot, or just an off shape. Then you have to get a little lucky at the contest and hope an even prettier one doesn't show up.

8/4/2015 8:07:03 AM

Smithville, Tn

Last year I was beat by 1 vote. They let the crowd vote and one entrant had 15 family members(some to young to walk and granny in a wheelchair)and a few from the crowd. All were counted.I had no additional family, just my husband and 19 from the crowd.

8/4/2015 1:16:05 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

The Doylestown vote is conducted silently with one vote per grower who weighed a fruit that day. This eliminates large crowd favorites, uneducated participants, irrelevant opinions. It is as close as we have gotten so far to fairness over such a qualitative decision.

8/4/2015 1:32:39 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Yes... Orangeneck's way works well. When the crowd iZ involved they do not have the background on what criteria is needed...

8/4/2015 1:55:47 PM

SF Bay Area, California

At Half Moon Bay, there is always a large crowd at the weighoff, sometimes including the local High School Band. They do a crowd clap-off. The pretty pumpkins are raised above the crowd on a forklift one at a time and the pumpkin which generates the loudest response from the crowd wins. Somewhat arbitrary but the crowd loves it...

8/5/2015 9:24:59 AM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

I do like what the Utah weighoff does... They have a panel of about 5 experienced giant pumpkin growers who vote on it. And, of course if it's a Howard Dill award it should be grown on an Atlantic Giant seed!

8/5/2015 12:10:02 PM

NILES , CALIF

I do agree with Orangeneck and Mr Wizzey, all should be done this way as far as the Howard Dill;
If you let the crowd decide, they have no idea what a
Howard dill award is,they think its some kind of a
Kosher pickle or somethin else I wont mention,
Most of the crowd are thinking cutsey type looken so they
cheer on that.
Gpc get us all inline so its all the same for
everyone no matter where or what state you go to!!!!!!

8/5/2015 12:43:55 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

Old Rookie... I will bring this up in our next GPC meeting...for roundtable discussion and consumption by the GPC committee....

8/5/2015 1:18:23 PM

Cornelius, Oregon

Have a 20 buck plaque made for 'Prettiest Pumpkin' that the crowd 'votes' on in the many examples listed above. Please the masses. Open to all pumpkins be they someone's seconds or whatever.
Have the Howard Dill be voted on by growers only, one vote a piece, blind vote. The Howard Dill used to go to not always the prettiest pumpkin, but to the combination of grower and fruit that best represented the spirit of what Howard, and the rest of the Dill family, brought to the giant pumpkin growing world. Maybe I am too old school, and have been away from the hobby too long, but I do remember the creation of the award and what the intentions were.

8/5/2015 3:06:34 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Rumor has it,, some guy named Glenn up your way is gunning for the Howard Dill this year Jordan.

8/5/2015 4:56:10 PM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

Very interesting Pumpkinguru... I had no idea that it was ever anything but the prettiest, most colorful and pleasing shape.

8/5/2015 5:58:43 PM

Langley, BC,Canada

Look out Glenn.... I'm on your heels for that Howard Dill this year.....

8/7/2015 6:05:29 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Glenn won't let that happen!:)

8/7/2015 6:34:18 PM

British Columbia, Canada

Ahhh lots of competition in BC this year, I like it!

8/7/2015 8:30:44 PM