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1997
/ 1998 Season
last updated Monday, 13 April 1998 |
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Preparation |
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This year I prepared two plots
each at least twice the size of last years. I bought some premium mix loam (a combination
of washed river sand, mushroom compost, animal manure, rotted pine fines and un-rotted
pine fines) |
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As the skateboard ramp had
deteriorated and fallen into dis-use this space became available for use as my plot
#1. Wood from the ramp used for sides to the bed. The sides were held in place by copper
logs and the plot filled with premium mix. This plot measured approximately 5 m x 6 m. |
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A weeper hose was laid out in
plot #1 with a spacing of approx 60 cms. This hose is supposed to reduce water usage by up
to 60% by putting the water where the roots are. I have had good success using this
system. |
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Connecting weeping hose |
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A second plot of about 25 sq m
was prepared in a similar way. Two plants were to planned to be planted in each
plot Zehr 923F x914MP95 798 in plot #1 and Bobier 915F x850MP96 796.5 in plot
#2. |
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Zehr 798 in plot #1
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Planting |
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Two seeds were started as a trial on 5 October
97 placing them in paper-towel wet with a weak fungacide solution. The paper-towel folded
into a zip seal bag and placed on a heated propogator at 25 C - 30 C. The seeds were first
prepared by filing all sides and edges. These seeds had root sprouts in two days and all
subsequent seeds prepared in this way sprouted in two days with 100% success. The
seedlings were transfered to peat-pots until the four leaf stage then planted in the plot
in a coldframe. |
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Bobier 796.5 in plot #2 |
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Vine Growth |
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The Bobier and Zehr seeds were put into bags on
9 Oct 97 (day 0) and transferred to peat pots on 11 Oct 97. A second set were started two
days later. These plants were transfered to the plots between day 6 and day 10. Water
jacket (frost protection) was removed on day 16 as the weather warmed. Early November two
plants were reduced to one per plot and the runners were soon about 60 cm (2') long. |
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Zehr vine in Dec 97 |
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The cold frame was removed in early November
(day31) and shortly afterwards some insect damage was visible. This insect damage became
severe on the Zehr completely halting the growth of the main vine. |
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Bobier vine in Dec 97 |
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Around 50 days there are many runners and
flowers appearing. The main vines are buried to promote root growth on top and some
secondary and tertiary vines are removed. Curling leaf continues to plague the vine
probably due to spider mites and the growth of the main runner on one plant is completely
halted. |
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Damage to vine Dec 97 |
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By early January the plot is completely full of
vines despite the leaf damage caused by insects (mites) |
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Fruit Set |
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I intended to hand pollinate fruit on the main
vine at the end of the plot; however, this was not achieved because 100ºF heat caused a
failure of pollination. Insect damage is clearly visible here. |
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6 January selected open (bee) pollinated fruit
are allowed to grow as a backup in case hand pollination failed (which it did). Eventually
the fruit on the left was selected to grow full size. |
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Some of the fruit pruned from the bushes in early
January. |
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On 6 January one of two fruit allowed to grow on
the Bobier. Notice the lack of leaf damage on the Bobier compared to the Zehr. This fruit
was eventually chosen to run to maturity. |
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On 18 January (12 Days later) - the Bobier fruit
grows rapidly. |
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On 18 January Zehr fruit growing even faster. |
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A plot of the estimated fruit growth shows how
growth originally appeared on track for a record but soon tapered off to a rather
disappointing weight estimate. Very little growth occurred after mid February. 
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Measuring the change in size of Bobier
April 98 |
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Weighoff Day |
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On weighoff day I discovered the Zehr (largest
fruit) had blossom-end rot and could not compete. |
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The Bobier is cut from the vine early weighoff
morning 4 April 98. At this time all the leaves have been completly destroyed by mites |
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Rather than carry the Bobier in a tarp we
attempt to drag the pallet with the fruit on to the trailer. This is successful but wheels
would have been better. With three of us pulling we can just get it to slide along the
paving. |
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At the weighoff site Ken Ryan (left) (Australian
record holder), myself (centre) and Shaun Armitt (right) putting Shaun's 2nd placed fruit
on the scales. 152.1 kg |
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The ACT weighoff site winner (my Bobier) 168.3
kg. |
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Australian Weighoff Results -
Class 1 - Giant Pumpkins |
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| VIC |
1ST IAN MILLER, PAKENHAM, VIC. 258.4 kg
2ND T MILLER, PAKENHAM, VIC. 175.4 kg
3RD G & W STAYNER, SKYE, VIC. 165.2 kg |
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| ACT |
1ST STEWART DEANS, ACT 168.3 kg
2ND SHAUN ARMITT, SOUTH MARULUN, NSW ` 152.1 kg
3RD R FELD 131.7 kg |
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| SA |
1ST CHRISTOPHER McKINNON 160
kg
2ND D GUY 102 kg
3RD MERYLL McKINNON 75 kg |
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| QLD |
1ST RODNEY LEADBEATTER
208 kg
2ND LAWRENCE LEADBEATTER
132.5 kg
3RD GEOFF FROHLOFF 126.5 kg |
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| WA |
1ST RON WILSON, ALBANY,
WA 227.2 kg
2ND JASON SOUNNESS, MT BARKER, WA 177.7 kg
3RD AARON BIRMINGHAM, DWELLINGUP, WA 157.2 kg |
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