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ontario

ok folks what about starting a championship for these great long monsters........I notice more a more growers are jumping on the quest.......wellChris Lyons and Al Eaton you must have something to say about this subject, because I know your sure promoting it.......so lets see the responses folks. yes or no.....I am sure we can find a trophy to do it justice....................................wayne

2/25/2006 6:15:39 PM

you guys should least get the plant type correct. Which is Japanese long gourds.

2/25/2006 6:20:33 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

I asked Ray Waterman what the latin name was a while back but got no response.

For the record....I think Long Gourd competitions are cool.

2/25/2006 6:49:18 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

We have had some friendly competition for long gourd growers here in PA for awhile. We had about 7 or 8 entries in our contest last year and Bob Attaway walked away with the honors. As we speak some of our growers are out hustling around for seeds. Why not have a trophy for long gourds. In PA we gave away a plaque last year?

2/25/2006 6:55:38 PM

Topsfield, Ma.

Great idea Wayne. Right now I believe the GPC leaves it to indidvidual sites to recognize LG's or not. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. Having an "official" measurement is good enough for me!
Duff

2/25/2006 7:23:35 PM

Hamburg, NY

The variety is "Collins Long" GOURD. I developed it from 3 varieties specifically for competition. The varieties were "baseball" gourd and "dipper" gourd from the Ritz brothers (John & Hugh) from Canton Ohio area and the Italian edible gourd from a US seedhouse. It took 6 years using the 3 crosses and 5 selections overall to stabalize the variety and break the world record in 1990. The record became 99 inches. This measurement does not include the stem. So correct measurement is from the base of the stem to the blossom end. These are night flowering and sometimes need to be hand pollinated to get any set at all depending on the local temps and insect activity at night. The gourd will naturally curl if grown on the ground so we use a trellis to weight extend all the specimen as possible and create a straight gourd. I've been thinking about offering a $1,000.00 award for a new world record. Not yet decided. I would need a revenue source from the sale of seeds or something. If anyone has any creative suggestions I would appreciate hearding from you - Lgourd@aol.com or if you would like to acquire seeds from the originator go to www.bigseeds.com Steve - I will send you the latin name in 2 weeks. Sometimes I get a little busy doing what I need to do to get by. The only Japanese connection this has is that I have sent a bunch of seed over there in the last several years and have even sent a whole gourd over for a TV show back in the 80's. Best of luck, Ray Waterman

2/25/2006 8:42:05 PM

sorry ray but it looks spot on to a Japanese long gourd

2/25/2006 10:16:06 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

The Secret Society Of Long Gourd Growers is a very tough club to join...I have been trying for years

2/25/2006 11:01:18 PM

ordinary,VA

THANKS TO DUFF
going to give the long gourds a try this year.

2/26/2006 12:15:26 AM

Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, Germany

to answer your question, Wayne, definitely yes!

2/26/2006 4:25:32 AM

Ontario

I have an Italian neighbor who grows these long gourds. He says they have been growing them in Sicily for decades, before the 50's, when he immigrated to Canada. He calls them a Sicilian long gourd.

drew

2/26/2006 7:52:22 AM

ontario

A yes or no would help the cause

2/26/2006 8:43:48 AM

Cologne / Germany

Simply yes.
Another great idea for growers with limited space.
Would like to attract some growers over here and involve them into the 2006 weigh-off, all what is needed are some good seeds to get it started.

2/26/2006 8:54:47 AM

Nashville, TN

Hmmm... And here I've been growing gourds for all these years - just to paint into whimsicle creatures with mouths open to 'swallow' the birds that use them to nest.. It's quite entertaining for the kids.. Made some 'my little ponies' and some 'aliens' with them this fall...

Maybe I'll add a few of those Japanese long gourds to the new 'gourd growing' area I'll have.... You see, we've just built an covered arena right next to my pumpkin garden. I'm going to nail some cattle panels to that side. I'll have a 20' high X 46' long trellis of various gourds!!

Guess if I don't 'win' I can dry them out and paint them into 'snakes'????

2/26/2006 9:09:50 AM

Newcastle England

that sounds a great idea,where would be able to buy seeds from,its another category we could add to our giant veg show.thanks peter.

2/26/2006 9:59:59 AM

ENGLAND

Wayne
Great idea
Yes

2/26/2006 11:47:45 AM

Roanoke Il

glad to see you alive wayne--yes to the question
mark

2/26/2006 7:12:24 PM

Ontario

Wayne,I'm in.

2/26/2006 7:41:16 PM

Norton, MA

I'll be growing this year. Great idea Wayne, good to see you back. Yes. AleX Noel.

2/26/2006 7:57:10 PM

Butler, Ohio

I grew em for the first time last year and had alot of fun. They have a category for them at the canfield, Oh weighoff. A national championship would be cool too!!

2/26/2006 8:07:46 PM

Iowa

yes....great idea!!!!

2/26/2006 8:29:16 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

yes

2/27/2006 9:56:50 AM

Massillon, Ohio

i like the idea

2/27/2006 11:01:48 AM

Jackson Twp, Ohio

I'm in.

2/27/2006 2:34:37 PM

Ann Arbor, Mi

yes

2/27/2006 5:31:24 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

A big yes from Anamosa

2/27/2006 7:05:43 PM

Creston, Iowa

Maybe we can get a long gourd contest to go along with the largest pumpkin at the Iowa State Fair. I know that I'm going to try it this year.
Frank of Iowa

2/28/2006 6:13:15 PM

Syracuse, NY

i didn't build that 11-foot high trellis for nuthin'---yes!

3/1/2006 12:58:18 PM

Jericho Vermont

Yes from VT.

3/1/2006 5:48:07 PM

ontario

anymore yes's.......

3/1/2006 5:55:28 PM

Utah, brysterz11@hotmail.com

great idea, yes
Bryson Ensign

3/1/2006 6:01:30 PM

Flowery Branch, Georgia

Gentlemen and Ladies:

Long Gourds have been grown for centuries in many parts of the world, let's forget these different names, they are Long gourds.

Al Eaton and Geneva Emmons have shown the way in terms of Integrity and character by dis-qualifying their own lg's due to splits, both of which would have broken the previous World record.

As far I I know there are no rules on measuring lg's, but I
would like to propose that any lg measured from today forward must be measured end to end and not down the length.

I stil have a few 107.5 seeds if anyone is interested.

long Gourds are a lot of fun to grow, let's all get back to
growing and quit worrying about the identity, they are all
Long Gourds.

Just my opinion:
Bob Attaway
Flowery Branch, GA

3/3/2006 6:44:43 PM