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Austria

Maybe. And maybe not ... The media seem to like its offsprings here in Austria ... It was in TV (ORF) yesterday (reportage of 3-5 minutes) and looked great ... It was in the biggest newspaper of our state on saturday. It is on the Cover of the second most read newspaper of our state/province today ... and it is mentioned twice in a reportage of that newspaper. They got Owen`s name wrong, so it reads. Der "628 Ohlsen 03" ... media coverages and reporters asking for interviews keep going. It is a true media sensation here ... people I don`t know keep talking to me, if it was my pumpkin in the news ... Had to take half a day off to give interviews all afternoon long. My neighbours are already shaking their heads ...

Exhausted, Heino

9/27/2005 5:00:55 AM

Knopp, Germany

LOL Heino, congrats, but it is not the 628 Olsen that deserves the credit, it is the grower. Even with the best seeds that money can buy, nothing will grow well without a grower that has prepared their patch and cared for their plant. Job well done!

9/27/2005 5:12:33 AM

Austria

Thanks Owen, it is also your credit for creating a cross which does so well in the patch of a first time gardener.

9/27/2005 5:25:44 AM

Austria

Owen, I`ll get you that newspaper. You will like both, the pictures and the story, I`m sure.

9/27/2005 5:27:32 AM

Knopp, Germany

Merci.

9/27/2005 6:19:00 AM

Buren Ameland,West Frisian Islands, Netherlands

Heino,
Nice and exausting!
You got the largest pumpkin of Austria it seems?
I cannot find you on the diary, am I correct?

My 226,5 and 200(?)kg pumpkins brought me on Frisian (regional) tv: 6 minutes, regional newspaper: frontpage colourphoto, National 'weatherforcast pre-pictureshow' comercial tv station RTL, local cable-newspaper and local monthy magazine.
What will happen when I beat our National Pumpkinking Harry Poels next year? LOL

Heino, tell me more of your Olsen succeses!
With kind regards, Theo.

9/27/2005 9:24:01 AM

Austria

@theo: I have a diary as well. Look for "Steel". Haven`t updated it for a while now of course. Congrats to all the media interest. If this results in an increase of people growing these beasts, it would be a nice effort. My 628 Olsen is estimated 216 kg. It went 20% heavy for Owen last year, That would mean 17 % heavy to the new chart I guess. The cover story of the newspaper comes with some great pictures. I have that only availabe as pdf file. Email is on the way ...

9/27/2005 9:41:10 AM

Knopp, Germany

Theo, here is a little history of the 628 Olsen 03 and where I am heading with the genetics.

It was grown off of the 707 Toftness and was 7.6% heavy. It was pollinated with a 805 Pukos, that went 6.8% heavy.

In 2004 I grew it and the resulting AG was pollinated late, but went 24% heavy, unfortunately that pumpkin had a stem split.

This year both Heino and myself are growing it again. My hope is to prove that it has consistent heavy genetics. I have also pollinated the 628 Olsen I am groiwng this year with another 707 Toftness trying to purify this seed line. I have also done the reverse cross of pollinating the 707 Toftness I am growing with the 628 Olsen.

If I am successful then the resulting seeds from this years 628 Olsen, that will be weighed this weekend, will be both heavy, and have some of the orange (not dark) trait of the 707 Toftness.

I will not know that until next year when I plant seeds from this years 628 Olsen offspring.

owen

9/27/2005 9:43:55 AM

Buren Ameland,West Frisian Islands, Netherlands

Owen,
The pumpkins look very nice, true.
I saw them through Heino's sending.
And 216kg may be so much more, is really an advantage in your first growing year!
May be some try out on Ameland next year?
Regards, Theo.

9/27/2005 12:08:45 PM

Knopp, Germany

Theo, I am always willing to share my seeds wiht anyone, if you are interested, send me an email.

regards,
owen

9/27/2005 12:10:25 PM

Buren Ameland,West Frisian Islands, Netherlands

Heino, I could not find Steel, only Steelydave...
in the diary, how far down I should look?

Owen, thanks for your great offer.
I surely will try some of your seeds!
From Jos I will get some ghaye seeds of this year.
Making a cross of olsen and ghaye with the new name kiewiet... :-)

9/27/2005 12:22:16 PM

Itzetown City

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryView.asp?season=2005&grower=30244&action=L

HTH

9/27/2005 12:40:55 PM

Hilpoltstein, Bavaria, Germany

Theo,

Just a little hint to save time... if you click on "Nick Name" on top of all the diaries the diaries will be listed in an alphabetical order which will make it easy to find a specific diary if you know the nick name.

Martin

9/27/2005 4:08:55 PM

Belgium Europe

Thanks Martin...
I didn't know that trick either .

9/27/2005 4:12:16 PM

Buren Ameland,West Frisian Islands, Netherlands

:)
thanks, i'll try.

9/27/2005 4:20:11 PM

Itzetown City

It seems that it only works in IE. :-(

9/27/2005 4:24:24 PM

Wallingford,CT

Owen,
It's nice to see my 707 contribute to so much success in Europe. To add to you results with the 707, I grew the 707 again this year myself. It produced 905.2 pounds for me which is 10% heavy by the current curve. If we use the curve of its time then it would be 18% heavy. This years 707 was crossed with the 898Knauss.
Bart

9/27/2005 6:28:48 PM

Knopp, Germany

Thanks for adding to this thread Bart. The 707 is also being grown by Peter Frei this year, he has been quiet, but I am looking forward to what he brings to the weigh off this Sunday.

Your cross this year 707 Toftness x 898 Knauss has the potential of throwing very heavy offspring. I am sure we will stay in contact this winter.
owen

9/28/2005 1:06:24 AM