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Cologne / Germany

That was in the newspaper this morning. A farmer near Brescia in North Italy did that record (for the present). He will also go to the European contest in Switzerland in October.
Hi Don Q, I don´t expect too much competition for what you will probably carry there;-)

9/9/2003 4:57:16 AM

Knopp, Germany

Pretty cool what is happening in Europe this year...Spain, Sweden, France all growing pumpkins either at or over 1000 pounds, Italy has at least one over 800, Switzerland is bound to have a couple heavy ones...England...what you guys got out there Alun, AXC.....The German Weigh-off, though not nearly at those weights ought to have quite a few pumpkins approaching the 700 pound mark this year...congrats to all for their great accomplishments.

9/9/2003 5:27:16 AM

Itzetown City

By all this may i ask: How many people in Germany are committed in growing big pumpkins? What do we do to make BP growing popular in Germany? Is Ludwigsburg the one and only weight off contest? Look at this web-site http://www.grapeseek.com/pumpkins/pumpkinsde.html
it drives me tears in my eyes. I´ll think it over and if i have the time may be i´ll do something in this way. But
last week (as you may see in my diary) i call in the tv and the newspaper. They made a good job, but from the people there was no response.
Have the germans only interest in pumpkins to cook soup from "uchiki kuri"?

9/9/2003 6:10:31 AM

Werner,
Ich denke schon, dass sich immer mehr Leute in Deutschland für die Riesenkürbiszucht interessieren. Bei der Deutschen Meisterschaft 2000 waren es drei, 2001 sechs und letztes Jahr bereits 19 Teilnehmer. Die wirklich guten und engagierten deutschen Züchter lassen sich aber mit Sicherheit an beiden Händen abzählen, da hast du völlig Recht. Aber es braucht halt alles seine Zeit... Wenn man sich vorstellt, dass es vor 4 Jahren noch überhaupt keinen Wettbewerb gab ist das jetzt immerhin schon ein wesentlicher Fortschritt.
Was wir hier in Deutschland bräuchten ist meiner Meinung nach eine richtige Organisation von allen deutschen "Profi-Züchtern", so wie es Michel White in den letzten beiden Wintern versucht hat aufzubauen. Dieses Vorhaben ist dann allerdings immer aus irgendwelchen Gründen gescheitert.
Ein solcher Verein von Kürbiszüchtern (GGPGA) würde bestimmt einiges bewirken können.
Wenn sich irgendjemand bereit erklären würde die Organisation von einem solchen Verein zu übernehmen wäre bestimmt ein großes Interesse vorhanden. Allein die regelmäßige Herausgabe eines Newsletters wäre bestimmt hilfreich...
Beste Grüße,
Martin

9/9/2003 6:38:19 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

HeY does Beste Grube mean Grow em Big! Nice job Guys!
Chuck

9/9/2003 6:43:57 AM

Beste Grüße = Best wishes

9/9/2003 6:50:31 AM

Knopp, Germany

Interesting where this message chain is going.....people in my village think I am crazy. Maybe I am, but I am having fun being crazy. I also called the paper when I had my 641 weighed, nice article, all of Rheinland Pfalz, I got a total of one call for seeds. So what, this website is my pumpkin growing family, and even though I may not be able to say that I went to "The Big E" or "Canby" or "Topsfield" or "Smokey Lake" or "Circleville" or "Puyallup" or "Half Moon Bay", just to name a few, I can enjoy and celebrate the fantastic results that all of my "virtual" friends accomplish from this site at these weighoffs. Yeah, maybe our weighoff here in Germany small, pretty insignificant for that matter, but I tell you what, the prize money last year was pretty damn good if you look at some of the stateside weighoffs, and, I got to meet some really great people while I was there. This year I am going to go to Switzerland regardless of how good or bad I do in Germany, it is all about meeting people, talking pumpkins, and having a good time. I would, like most support a German Giant Pumpkin Growers Association here, but it will not ever affect how I go about enjoying "our" wonderful hobby/support. Wow, time to get off my soap box and into the patch...LOL.

9/9/2003 7:16:01 AM

Cologne / Germany

Right Owen, the AG lifecycle starts with a seedling and ends (provided you have something to show) with a weigh-off, whereever that takes place, whatever it´s called or how much the prize money is. See all of you in Ludwigsburg again (maybe Don Q can loan out one of his big ones LOL)!

boehnke, that´s pretty much work to organize a pumpkin growing association. Most people (including me) are running out of time from May till September having a job, a family and of course a patch. Something for the "seniors" though? Maybe we can talk it over in Ludwigsburg, hope we´ll all meet there.
Ingo

9/9/2003 7:50:51 AM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

Congratulations to the Italian growers. I know two of them, Antonio Santantonio, who lives near Milan, and Paolo Ermacora, who live in Udine, near Venezia. Don't know if one of them is the grower.
Wow! will be great to meet so many growers and friends in Seegraben. It will be very international.
I've already asked for permission in the job. OK, they said. So I got 15 days off, but... without salary. No problem, money is not the first thing on life. At least not for AGP growers, I believe.

Only I wish the 950.4 to still being in good shape, and no surprises, please.

Ah! Do you know if people in Seegraben speak English? My German is very very short. LOL

Carlos

9/9/2003 12:57:19 PM

Udine, Italy

The new Italian record grower is Mr. Sergio Moretti that lives in Cologne (Brescia). Mr. Moretti won also in 2001 with a 301 kgs. The web site of the event is (only Italian and actually not updated with the new results) http://www.clubmaspiano.it/

Paolo Ermacora

9/10/2003 2:26:03 AM

Cornwall UK.(50N 5W)300ft.

Well Done Mr.Moretti.
I haven't heard of anything really big over here yet but you never know what's out there a friend of mine always say's "It doesn't matter what you got,somewhere down the line theres always somebody with something bigger and better".
I'm going to the monster pumpkin challenge in Hertfordshire on the 16th October and would also like to go to Seegraben but I haven't worked out if its possible to get it all in or what paperwork would be required to take it across borders.Anyone know about that?

9/10/2003 5:49:42 PM

Caceres, mid west of Spain

I hope no paper will be need to enter the pumpkin in Switzerland. For the rest of The Common Market sure it doesn't.
Martin, help!!!

9/11/2003 2:02:27 AM

Carlos,
In order to participate in the contest in Seegräben you have to fill out one paper called "Anmeldeformular".
Please check out your emails. I will send it to you as a Word attachment and explain you what you have to write down in the single lines.
Best wishes,
Martin

9/11/2003 5:20:37 AM

Knopp, Germany

Martin,

I went to the Jucker website and couldn't find the anmeldeformular, would you please send it to me also?

thanks in advance,
owen

9/11/2003 6:54:30 AM