Response to recent post to Al Eden

[Al]

Yes we are having the tractor pull on Sunday October 7. Thhis is the 2nd day of the 2 day of Pumpkinfest. Anamosa Ia is the home of 1 of ten weighoff sites in the world for The world champion weigh offs. Always the 1st Saturday and Sunday in October. We have had pumpkins weighing over 1000 lbs. The garden tractor pull starts at 12.00 o-clock, 12 classes, AMPI rules. We typically have 100 to 120 hooks and the program usually runs about 4 to 5 hours. We draw some of the best tractors in the Iowa Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota areas. One of the Pro stock tractors that has pulled here 8 of the last 10 years, won the Jack Daniels Nationals a year or so ago. There will be some very good competition and it is free. NO ADMISSION CHARGED. Our Dealership[Edens Ltd] and 5 other local businesses sponsor it. Invite anyone to come and look at some of the Pro-stock 16 Kohler block engines that dyno out around 60hp on alcohol.

[powermax_paul]

Al, Sorry, can't make the "pull", but what's the secret to growing 1000 lb. pumpkins (even 100 lb.)

[JimV]

Injecting them at the stem is one way to grow em big.

[Al]

I don't know, It is a science in itself, I know one of the problems is that some grow so fast they "blow up" split open and rot. There are seeds developed in Canada that many growers use. This is a worldwide event and this is one of 10 places where the weigh offs are done. A friend of mine grew one that weighed 700 and the vine covered an area about 40 feet square and gets about 3 or 4 inches thick where it comes out of the ground. When the blossoms set they study them and eliminate all but one, and they sometimes shade the pumpkins from the hot sun. It is too complicated for someone no smarter than I am. I have engine problems that I can't figure out sometimes, and I have had a little experience with that. Just enough to be dangerous. I have learned that when I think I know all the answers, I just haven't seen all the questions. Engines can humble me let alone trying to do something like grow a big pumpkin. Al