From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Grittyville, WA

Is there a lot of variability naturally? Do growers actually rub the pumpkin to give it some shine? I know adding anything foreign is forbidden.

I guess there is a lot I still don't know... Thanks.

9/7/2017 2:46:14 AM

Morgantown, WV

My shine is always 100% natural. Some do "polish" them after weighing to enhance the display, but I feel 100% natural is only way to go.

9/7/2017 5:58:24 AM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

As long as you don't put anything on the skin of the pumpkin, you are legal. I have heard of applying olive oil or Armor All, but they make the pumpkin slippery and dangerous to move. We found that a wet cloth, water only, to remove dust, bug poop, etc., followed by a soft dry cloth can bring out a good shine and still be within GPC rules.

9/7/2017 7:19:15 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

All Natural here. I wipe mine down 3 times a week with a clean dry cloth, then buff them with a soft cotton rag. I then spray them with a fungicide. Once they are weighed. I polish them with a car wax. This gives them a protective layer for the 100's of people touching and climbing on them.

9/7/2017 7:47:05 AM

Grittyville, WA

Thanks guys. I love this site. I think Linus might be being ironic? :)

9/7/2017 6:06:51 PM

Minnesota(dw447@fastmail.fm)

I actually took what Linus(Shannon) said, as being what he actually does. Maybe I'm gullible, though. If anything Shannon wrote surprised me a little, it was spraying the fruit with fungicide.

9/7/2017 6:19:23 PM

Grittyville, WA

My bad... it does makes sense. If you are serious about displaying a pumpkin why not? Same thing with the apples we eat from the grocery store... thankfully we are not eating the pumpkin. But its normal to do this for things we eat, why not for something that is meant to for display-only? thanks all

9/7/2017 6:56:46 PM

Grittyville, WA

sounds unnatural so... its a little ironic:)

9/7/2017 6:58:33 PM

Jericho Vermont

Once we get them on the pallet from the patch we wipe the pumpkin down with a 10% clorox and water then wipe dry so there isn't the white film left from the mixture. Some are naturally glossy and some are more flat. Can't polish a turd but cleaning a glossy will make it sparkle.

9/7/2017 7:28:03 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

You put the lotion on the skin...I seriously buff them every time I measure them. If it has the right genetics, and that apple like skin. The orange and pretty comes out. If it is an ugly fruit, you are just rubbing a pumpkin and that is wrong. People will start talking about you.

9/8/2017 7:55:23 AM

Bethlehem CT

Shannon, do you spray the fungicide right on the skin of the pumpkin? I didn't know you could do that. What is a good fungicide to use? I had some problems with mine rotting this year. I am wondering if the fungicide would help.

9/8/2017 5:57:01 PM

Mission Viejo, CA

I tried Shannon's fungicide polish with some daconil. It does in fact work great!

9/8/2017 6:15:13 PM

Grittyville, WA

Kinda cold in Wisconsin :(

9/8/2017 9:58:45 PM

Westford, MA

Like VTJohn, I use a 10-20% bleach.
I use it couple times a week, with a med. rough cloth I think you polish off some of the mold and rough spots that develop.
I think this may allow more sun to help with turning a more uniform orange.

I wipe them down after the weigh-offs with WILT-PRUF.
It's an anti-transpirant, keeps the fruit from loosing moisture.

10/2/2017 10:54:37 AM

Grittyville, WA

Thanks.

10/3/2017 10:03:30 PM