LIFESTYLES PO Me Be ISP : prises see: WW - Friday, Ocober 13, 1989 - North Shore News dh a | LIFESTYLES 2 SELMA REE, EVEN RANK AMATEURS CAN GET MONSTERS TO WEIGH OVER 100 LBS. It's easy to grow a giant pumpkin WHAT IS it about the character of rotund objects that makes people happy? Nere can deny that the larger and closer to spheroid the object, the warmer our hearts; but why? Seriously, look at some of our favorite comedic screen stars: John Candy, Rosanne Barr, Dom Delouise, etc. All portly and yet as dear to our hearts as chocolate- pecan pie. Can you imagine a skinny or even physically fit Santa Claus? Bouncing babies, chubby cherubs, fat pay cheques, plump dumplings, and jolly fellows all br- ing smiles to our faces. Even the term jelly belly carries undertones of endearment and envy. What is this preoccupation with cor- pulence? We even like fat food. No, not food that is fattening; I mean food that displays the rotundity that we find so desirable. Look at the 7 *tezagusaee” SAVINGS pumpkin as an example. Pumpkins have the ability to make us smile, and the bigger the pumpkin the bigger the smile. over the ‘garden gate Geoff Tobiasson There are few accomplishments in the garden that can match the sense of fulfilment derived from growing a really huge pumpkin. This classic example of oigger is better is demonstrated by our an- nual pumpkin growing contests. Van Dusen Gardens held theirs over Thanksgiving; the winner was a fourth grader from across the border in Washington. Matt Holland’s 433 pounder earned him the blue ribbon and made him proud as punch. The best we could do locally was Jim and Linda Spranger of Surrey. Clearance of our entire selection of pavingstone, patio slabs, clay pots, concrete planters and more... Their 340 pounder won them third prize, The world-wide winner was a 755 pounder from Quebec. If you would like to try your hand at producing one of these vegetable behemoths, here are a few significant facts. ‘Big Max’ is the most commonly sown variety when trying to grow a heavy weight champion. Even a rank amateur can get these monsters to tilt past the 100 pound mark; with a few ‘tricks’ you should be able to surpass 200 or 300 pounds. Of primary importance is good, rich soil in a sunny location. Sandy soils which have been enriched with compost and composted ma- nures are best. Bonemeal is useful as a source of root-and-flower-producing phosphorus and potassium, as well as essential trace elernents like cal- cium, magnesium, etc. A commer- cial fertilizer, designed for vegetable production and contain- ing other trace elements (especially boron) will be of great assistance. Not much you can do about the low percentage of sunlight we get on the North Shore, short of hang- ing some high intensity sodium diode lights. I say this half in jest and half knowing that there wiil be some overly-competitive, pum- pkin-crazed fool that will give it a try. (Let me know how you make out.) The next essential is water. CEDAR PLANTERS * Natural end prestained fmshes ure avaiable in a selection ot styles and IMPORTED PLANTERS FROM THE 4 CORNERS OF THE WORLD ¢ Mexco © Malaysia ¢ Kelowna Maly OPEN THIS SUNDAY 10-5 Landscape Ties and pressure treated tumber 1s alt avadable for your landscaping project, trom the smallest Jawn border to the largest ietaining wall, Visit our store for . Uneks ‘MH Blocks has gathered in one location many umque and wondertul planters and pots in both glazed and ungiared tinshes. For year-round use. choose from sevetat “Frost Proot” models. Creative and umque ideas on how to best use tins wide selection of product and sizes: 6x6, 4x6 and 224, 2x6 and Jatger. Most of the stock we carry 6s available in both green and brown firushes. Custom pressure eating is also avatlable for those unusual siluabons. SERVICE: INSTALLATION: W pride ourselves on the absolute best poasibie SERVICE, hom advice on that special backyard project to prompt delivery It we don’t know the answer to any ol your landscaping questions, We work wilt the finest installers and designers in {he business If you shoutd require anytiing, from a Quote an an exstng praect to a complete tandscape desigh. we would be Nappy to obtian 45 Many quakted companies 45 you May require we know who does’ Across from: Venice Bakery on Main Street (bright yellow awning) Pumpkins increase their weight by water retention. In order to at- tain the prize winning size, you must maintain a consistent supply of water. Eight inches of rainfall or sprinkler-supplied water per week will be necessary to produce the seven to 10 pounds of required daily bulk for the real champions. Overhead sprinklers should be avoided because they can slow down the rate of growth and cause the spread of disease. One trick is to use intravenous feeding — seriously. Put a wool wick into a holiow tube and insert it into the stem of the pumpkin. Put the other end into a gallon jug containing beer or milk. This is the pumpkin’s equivalent of the high-protein diet. Never let more than one fruit develop on each vine. Thinning them out in this manner will con- centrate all of the plant’s energy into one, really big specimen. Pumpkins are best planted on ‘hills’ — areas of the garden that have been built up into mounds roughly six feet across and two feet high. This provides good drainage and the vining nature of the plants. Put four to six seeds on each hill one-inch deep and six inches apart. Thin each group down to two of its healthiest vines in 12 to 14 days after planting. Once the female flowers (they have tiny pumpkins at their base) have emerged, it’s best if you pol- linate them by hand. Use a water color brush to pick up the pollen from the males (no pumpkinettes) and transfer it to the female. Let five to six fruits form on each vine and then thin down to the best looking specimen with the strongest looking stem. Remove all others on the vine and continue removing flowers as thcy form. Do not let the vine root near the fruit stem as it can be pulled out of the pumpkin. ‘Big Max’ has very limited uses other than in growing a prize win- ner. Try ‘Jack O° Lantern’ if you want to grow a good carver and ‘Sugar’ or ‘New England’ for pies. I never know when to write these articles; when the subject has everyone’s attention or during the correct planting time. This time I chose the former. If this is not to your liking, well, sow it grows. 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