Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: lacewing on January 15, 2010, 10:36

Title: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: lacewing on January 15, 2010, 10:36

                  You may have seen my Giant Pumpkin in The Garden News, 10th November 09.
    Readers may be interested to know that I have put the seed on e-Bay in aid of    Mcmillan Cancer Support. 100% to the charity! Please support this worthy cause!
                   Enter 'charity pumpkin seed' on the e-bay search. My user name is homegarden09.   THANKS ALL!

                   
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: gypsy on January 15, 2010, 10:42
I am off to have a look on ebay. that is a good cause you are supporting. CC
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: gypsy on January 15, 2010, 10:49
I just bought a pack, I hope they do not grow too big. Good luck with your fund raising, Catherine
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: zazen999 on January 15, 2010, 11:13
Were the seeds hand pollinated?
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: lacewing on January 15, 2010, 12:00
Were the seeds hand pollinated?

Yes they were hand polinated to get them off to an early start. Pumpkins need a long growing season.
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: digalotty on January 15, 2010, 12:08
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CHARITY-PUMPKIN-SEED-ATLANTIC-GIANT-in-aid-McMILLAN_W0QQitemZ330395448258QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN?hash=item4ced1a73c
here is a link
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: lacewing on January 15, 2010, 12:23
I just bought a pack, I hope they do not grow too big. Good luck with your fund raising, Catherine

Great!   You are the first to purchase, and have started the ball rolling.
Many thanks for your support.
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: digalotty on January 15, 2010, 12:23
hi lacewing i dont need the seeds but would like to contribute a small donation and im sure others will do the same,   :)how do i go about it should i still go through ebay
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: DD. on January 15, 2010, 12:30
A gentle reminder that according to the Site Policies "Posts & PM's may not solicit donations", however in this case the mods are sure that had permission to post been asked, it would have been granted and we are happy to let this run.

Please don't take this thread as a precedent - ask first.
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: purplebean on January 15, 2010, 12:35
I've just bought a pack, I think my 6 year old wll enjoy trying to grow this :D
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: digalotty on January 15, 2010, 12:36
my apologies dd, both my parent have recieved help in th last 2yrs from them so a worthy cause indeed
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: DD. on January 15, 2010, 12:39
No need to apologise, it is a worthy cause, my amateur radio group has recently donated £1,000 to them.

I hope you can appreciate the site policy as laid down by John is to prevent a flood of appeals and it is done in the best interests of the membership.
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: robbodaveuk on January 15, 2010, 14:49
OK, my donation on the way. Can anybody point me to a thread that tells me how to grow pumpkins please. never grown squash before.

  Robbo.
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: mashauk on January 15, 2010, 15:00
Bearing mind my family are about to be using fantastic McMillan nurses, I'm happy to oblige!
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: Ropster on January 15, 2010, 16:34
just grabbed a packet, hope I can grow a monster, although I wouldn't know what to do with it once I had. what did you do with yours ?
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: lacewing on January 15, 2010, 17:33
hi lacewing i dont need the seeds but would like to contribute a small donation and im sure others will do the same,   :)how do i go about it should i still go through ebay

Thanks for the offer..........
 Better that you buy the seeds through e-Bay. (Money goes straight to charity!)
 Can you not exchanenge/swap with, perhaps other growers etc etc??
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: lacewing on January 15, 2010, 17:37
A gentle reminder that according to the Site Policies "Posts & PM's may not solicit donations", however in this case the mods are sure that had permission to post been asked, it would have been granted and we are happy to let this run.

Please don't take this thread as a precedent - ask first.

Sorry DD should, of course, have asked first! Thanks for allowing to run!
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: lacewing on January 15, 2010, 17:52
OK, my donation on the way. Can anybody point me to a thread that tells me how to grow pumpkins please. never grown squash before.

  Robbo.

 Many thanks for the donation!! The 'Doyen' of all pumpkin growers must be Don Langevin.
 His books are published by Annedawn Publishing www.giantpumpkin.com
 Good Luck !  Hope you grow a monster.
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: lacewing on January 15, 2010, 18:02
just grabbed a packet, hope I can grow a monster, although I wouldn't know what to do with it once I had. what did you do with yours ?

Thanks for your donation!! I'm happy to say that the children at the local Girl Guides had great
fun with it at their Halloween party! Local organisations often appreciate the offer of one!
Good luck with your monster, and what you do with it is up to you. :D
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: digalotty on January 15, 2010, 22:43
thanks lacewing i have bought my seeds and will grow them somehow, you do realise you will be bombarded with questions on  growing the perfect pumpkin :D :D :D
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: Yorkie on January 15, 2010, 23:19
you do realise you will be bombarded with questios on rowing the perfect pumpkin :D :D :D

Across the Atlantic or Pacific ?  ;) :lol:
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: digalotty on January 15, 2010, 23:58
that will teach me to not read it through  :D :D
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: lacewing on January 16, 2010, 07:19
you do realise you will be bombarded with questios on rowing the perfect pumpkin :D :D :D

Across the Atlantic or Pacific ?  ;) :lol:

I have read that some American pumpkin growers carve out their giant pumpkins into rowing boats, but I doubt they would make it across the Atlantic or the Pacific! :D

As for growing advice, well, i'm happy to answer any questions, so long as you understand that every pumpkin grower have their own secret recipe!!  :D :D
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: Rangerkris on January 16, 2010, 16:54
Your more than welcome to drop the seeds off if you want hahahahha, we used the mc millian cancer nurses right to the end with my step dad back in november.

Good to see something being done for them.
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: lacewing on January 17, 2010, 09:01
Your more than welcome to drop the seeds off if you want hahahahha, we used the mc millian cancer nurses right to the end with my step dad back in november.

Good to see something being done for them.

Looking forward to seeing the new plot, kris, and the fishing chat!
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: gypsy on January 18, 2010, 11:17
Got the seeds thanks,  :) I wish it was planting time. CC
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: lacewing on January 18, 2010, 11:34
It won't be long now, gipsy, weather is improving. Thanks again!
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: goodegg on January 18, 2010, 15:29
i bought some of your pumpkin seeds as well ,and i hope you realise we will all be letting you know how heavy we managed to grow them . not me of cause because i have never been able to grow a pumpkin bigger than a base ball but good luck to all who bought them.
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: lacewing on January 18, 2010, 16:06
i bought some of your pumpkin seeds as well ,and i hope you realise we will all be letting you know how heavy we managed to grow them . not me of cause because i have never been able to grow a pumpkin bigger than a base ball but good luck to all who bought them.

I can guarantee you will grow a BIG ONE with these seeds.  All they need is PLENTY food, water, and a sunny spot. Good Luck, and Thanks! again.
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: DD. on January 18, 2010, 16:07
Order's gone in.
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: lacewing on January 18, 2010, 16:17

Good on you, DD, seeds on their way.
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: DD. on January 18, 2010, 16:41
Their horse poo is already reserved!
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: growmore on January 18, 2010, 21:18
Seeds are ordered. Thankyou and well done for a very good cause. I shall enjoy trying to grow a whopper!
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: lacewing on January 18, 2010, 22:22

With a name like that, you can't fail  but produce a whopper! Thanks for the support!
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: digalotty on January 19, 2010, 16:16
recieved my seeds today thanks :)
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: lacewing on January 19, 2010, 18:28
recieved my seeds today thanks :)

Great,  hope you grow a big un! Thanks again for your support.
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: DD. on January 20, 2010, 11:56
Seeds arrived, thanks!
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: lacewing on January 20, 2010, 15:07
Seeds arrived, thanks!

Hope you have lots of space! Thanks again.
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: DD. on January 20, 2010, 15:14
800 sq yards enough?
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: lacewing on January 20, 2010, 15:34
800 sq yards enough?

That should just about do it! :D
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: lacewing on February 13, 2010, 23:15

Just to let everybody know that our e-Bay listing in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support has
now ended!  I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported us!
The final total for MacMillan reached  £84. Again Thank you all! Good luck with the pumpkin growing!!
                    Judy.
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: Rangerkris on February 14, 2010, 09:45

Just to let everybody know that our e-Bay listing in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support has
now ended!  I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported us!
The final total for MacMillan reached  £84. Again Thank you all! Good luck with the pumpkin growing!!
                    Judy.

Well Done Judy, what a great cause that is close to ourr hearts in the Ranger Family.
Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: Ropster on February 14, 2010, 09:53
When should we be planting these ?
I have a conservatory (heated a bit) and a greenhouse which is going to be frost free as soon as I get the electric wired in

Title: Re: Giant Pumpkin for Mcmillan
Post by: lacewing on February 14, 2010, 12:31
When should we be planting these ?
I have a conservatory (heated a bit) and a greenhouse which is going to be frost free as soon as I get the electric wired in



 Three weeks before the last frost, in a propagator or airing cupboard. Once germinated, grow on in a heated greenhouse or conservatory. Harden off for a few days before planting out in a preparde bed which has plenty organioc matter added. Once the fruit has set, give a high potash liquid feed weekly.  If you are aiming for a 'big one'  choose the best looking fruit, to grow on and remove all the others.  Good luck!!