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Hamilton - New Zealand

Hello, I have a question for people running a GPC weigh-off site anywhere in the world.

Does every site register every single weighed pumpkin with the GPC? We have quite a few pumpkins we weigh in, and while we do promote the GPC and explain what it is about etc only the really big growers really know what it is. So in the past we've only registered the really big giants data.

Part of this is due to the fact they are the people that know what the parents of the pumpkin are, the other 99% of ppl have no idea.

I checked through last year's results and see there are a lot of very small pumpkins data registered, some without parent data or OTT, is this even useful?

Just wanted to hear what other people do.

4/4/2017 11:50:11 PM

Mulino, Oregon

it's not a matter of being 'useful' it's a matter of treating all the entries with the same respect they deserve. If possible it would be great to get all the growers and their fruit listed.

4/5/2017 2:05:30 AM

Central Illinois

Seeing their pumpkin registered may be the boost they need to grow another year

4/5/2017 10:34:15 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

GP NZ...JMHO...every weighoff site I have been to registers every official AG, that drives into their site. If quite a few means several dozens, then you prbly have to thin it out to those who know & those who don't. If quite a few is 30 or so...then I would suggest that you record what all the entrants know, and send that to the GPC. Make up a paper form for all entrants to fill out, those with all blanks...could be discarded??? Maybe an educational print-out could be made available to those w/blank forms? Peace, Wayne
I sorta agree w/baitman...a lil education, could boost their interest for next year!!!

4/6/2017 12:35:22 AM

Central Illinois

you can weigh those little ones fast if you can pick them up by hand

4/6/2017 9:43:31 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Oh, thanks baitman...like mine last year...hauled it to the weighoff in the back seat of a Malibu...car, not station wagon!!! LOL Peace, Wayne

4/6/2017 1:31:12 PM

Georgetown, Ontario

The whole idea of the GPC is so that every pumpkin gets treated the same no matter what the size or no matter where you take it. I can see where there is genetic info missing but there really is no excuse to be missing the OTT measurments. The rules state that the site is required to take those measurments. Its also nice for everyone that participates to see they are treated the same as "the big guys"

4/6/2017 7:08:52 PM

Buffalo, MN (Billsbigpumpkins@hotmail.com)

Every now and then someone will look at the genetics of a small pumpkin and grow it. If Shannon wouldn't have tried my 359 no one would have. It has produced nice orange pumpkins up to 1533 lbs.

4/6/2017 8:47:02 PM

Galt, CA

I grew for my first year in 2016 and seeing my name and my daughters name on the website was sooooo awesome! and I had open pollinations and did not know the "parents" I hope all GPC weigh offs will collect and record all the entries

4/6/2017 10:56:23 PM

Central Illinois

They pay you weigh.

4/7/2017 8:35:42 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

King, I am rather positive, that the GPC weighoff, in KY. will continue to collect, and enter all pkns & melons that come to our site! Two thumbs for the daughters!!! Peace, Wayne

4/8/2017 1:22:58 AM

Hamilton - New Zealand

Thanks for all the comments and advice everyone. We will continue to promote the GPC and get as many people interested as we can, things are a little different in this part of the world though.

No one pays to enter our event, we cover all the costs and prizes (as well as sponsored stuff)

Our biggest hurdle as I see it is that we start growing at the end of October (so Halloween isn't really a thing here) and "weigh offs" (usually an event with pumpkins in the corner) happen in March or April.

The growing through Christmas and New Years puts a lot of people off, everyone heads to beach etc for holidays.

And yes we weigh pumpkins pretty quickly, 80% we can pick up by hand, usually only need machinery for a couple, and those are the ppl whose data we usually capture. This year only Tim knew where his seed came from.

Now we just have to wait until our season starts again :)

4/10/2017 5:15:43 PM