'Yow-to" Hintsjor May Gardeners Grow Your Dum "Great Pumpkin" Gardeners who have an interest in pumpkins specifically-and competi­ tion in general-should this month begin sowing the seeds that could lead them to produce the world's largest pumpkin. "Great pumpkin" growers may enter their gigantic squash in this year's World Pumpkin Weigh-Off, and win not only fame and glory, but also substantially large cash prizes. The Weigh-Off is spon­ sored by the World Pumpkin Confed­ eration, headquartered in Collins, New York, and will take place in Oc­ tober of this year in nine locations around the world. Last year, Bob Gancarz, grower of the gargantuan winning entry, which weighed in at a whopping 671 pounds, received a to­ tal of $4,000 in prizes. Now that you have all the inspira­ tion and incentive you need, here are a few practical tips from Wayne Bob Gancarz and his brother Ed, shown here with Bob's record-setting 671-pound Hackney, Eastern States Champion pumpkin, dominated the World Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Collins, New York. Pumpkin Grower, and Peter's Profes­ sional® Plant Food: Plant seeds one-half inch deep with Pumpkins need plenty of water, Begin at the beginning; choose the pointed end of the seed facing but they can make their water last a seed with the best genetic potential. down. A grow light placed six inches long time. A deep soaking once The World Pumpkin Confederation from the seedlings will produce every five days, after which water has one cultivar available that has sturdy plantS in about 10 days. penetrates at least one foot into the proved itself: 'Dill's Atlantic Giant'. Fertilize potted seedlings within soil, is usually enough. Start seeds indoors in peat pots filled the first three weeks of emergence. Some special tips for prize­ with sterile potting soil, and keep Fertilizers with high levels of phos­ winning pumpkins include making temperatures at around 80 to 85° F. phorous, such as a 15-30-15 blend, sure the plant is growing in full sun­ will help promote healthy root light, spacing plants 16 to 20 feet growth. For starting seedlings, use apart, picking all pumpkins that de­ one teaspoon fertilizer per gallon of velop on the vine except one you water at each watering; once in the have singled out when it reaches the garden, plants can utilize one to 1V2 size of a soccer ball, and cutting off American tablespoons per gallon of water on a roots that grow on the bottom of weekly basis. the vine near the pumpkin (left un­ Horticulturist When the third leaf starts to ap­ trimmed, the roots create a tension VOLUME 66 NUMBER 5 pear, the plants are ready to go out­ that may split the vine as the pump­ PUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR, Barbara W. Ellis. EDITOR, side. Before transplanting, be sure kin grows). A. Brooke Russell. ART DIRECTOR, Rebecca K McClimans. ASSOCIATE EDITOR, Brian C. Little. PRODUCTION your soil is suitable. Sandy loam with Further tips on combating pests ASSISTANT, Lynn M. Lynch. ASSISTANT TO THE EDITOR, a pH of 6.5 is ideal, but any soil can and diseases may be gleaned from Manha Palermo. MEMBERSIIIP DIRECTOR, Sallie Hutcheson. ADVERTISING, Cindy Weakland. be conditioned with large amounts your local Cooperative Extension Address all editorial correspondence to: The Editor, of compost, peat moss, and com­ Agent or directly from the World American Horticulturist. American Horticultural Society, Box 0105, Mount Vernon, Virginla 22121. pacted cow manure (not fresh Pumpkin Confederation, 14050 AMERICAN HO RTICULTURIST, ISSN 0096-4417, is published manure-it will burn the plants). Gowanda State Road, Collins, monthly by the American Hon iculrural SOCiety, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22308, 703·768·5700. Loosen the soil in a 20-foot circle, to NY 14034. And, if after all your hard Dues for membership in the Society Start at $25 per year, $1 2 a depth of one foot, before planting. work your pumpkin appears to be a of which is for AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST. Copyright ~ 1987 by the American Honiculrural Society. The Ame rican It is helpful to fence the garden with prizewinner, write to the World Honiculrural Society is a non-profit organization. burlap, plastiC, or plywood in order Pumpkin Confederation at the above Comributions are deductible for income tax purposes. Second-class postage paid at Alexandria, Virginia and at to break the wind. You may wish to address for further information on additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please send Form install an electric fence if animals are entering the World Pumpkin Weigh­ 3579 to AMERICAN HO RTICULTURIST, Box 0105, Mount Vernon, Virginia 22121. a problem. Off. 2 • MAY 1987 Planting a n d an anti-transpirant to the foliage and Tra nsplanting Shrubs stems. (Anti-transpirants fo rm a coat­ ing to reduce the amount of mois­ It's that time of year again, when ture loss from the fo liage and stems, gardeners spring into action and joy­ thus preventing or reducing desicca­ ously begin to implement the plans tion, which in its turn can cause wilt­ that have been circulating in their ing, shock, and even death.) These winter-weary heads for months. The steps should help the plant recover weather has fi nally stabilized; it's from the stress due to the move. planting ti me. In order to ensure that When preparing to plant the the shrubs they put in the ground shrub, carefully remove it from its will also stabilize, gardeners should container. If its roots have begun to follow a few simple steps during the wind in circles (a response to being transition time between the nursery cramped in the container), gently un­ and the home planting site. roll them with your hands before Two of the most serious problems placing the shrub in the ground. Or, encountered at this ti me are overex­ if there are no major feeder roots, posure to the sun, and excessive gently loosen the outer two inches of moisture loss. If shrubs are bought at fibrous roots with your hands or a an indoor garden center, or at a dull knife. This will reduce compact­ nursery where plants are kept in ing of soil around the roots, release semi-shade, they should not be feeder or fibrous roots, and promote moved into direct sunlight immedi­ healthy, outward growth. Continue to ately. Rather, they should be left pot­ water your shrub two or three times ted or balled and burlapped, and a week until fa ll. Apply an anti­ placed in a shady, protected spot. transpirant every two months or Gradually move them into the sun so, if necessary. over a period of a week or two. If If you're planning to move estab­ fertilizers on the same vegetables you eat? Now you can grow even you notice that new plants look lished shrubs, the main threats to life better vegetables and flowers with wilted or sick after a move, it may be and limb are loss of moisture and Ringer's Natural fertilizers. Using due to moisture loss. They are ac­ root damage. Again, the water short­ special organisms, enzymes and tually losing more moisture through age problem may be due to the organic material, our fertilizers will their foliage than they can absorb shrub losing more water through help you grow better tasting and more abundant vegetables and through their roots. There are a transpiration than it can absorb larger, more colorful blossoms. All number of things one can do to through its roots. The remedies are without harmful chemicals! combat this problem: give the shrub similar to those for newly acquired University proven. a thorough soaking up until about 24 plants: faithfully water, this time hours before planting, provide pro­ several weeks before the actual tection from strong winds, and apply move, and treat the foliage and stems Don't Prune Oaks May througbJune According to D.W. French, a research "Although it's highly unlikely that Send for our FREE CATALOGUE: pathologist for the University of Min­ trees would be inoculated by insects Ringer's Natural Lawn & Garden nesota's Agricultural Experiment Sta­ in months other than May and June, Products. Indoor & outdoor tion, oak trees should not be pruned we recommend that dressing be gardening, composting, lawn care during May and June in order to used whenever oaks are pruned," and more ...all completely Natural! avoid the spread of oak wilt, a devas­ French added. r----------:I tating fungal disease. Oak wilt can also spread from in­ I 0 Send FREE color catalogue! I Last year, French reported that fected oaks to healthy oaks via com­ I NAME I "studies during the last 27 years mon root systems at any time during I ADDRESS I show overland spread of oak wilt by the active season. For more informa­ insects occurs only in trees wounded tion on this insidious disease, which I CITY I during May and June, specifically kills thousands of oak trees annually : STATE ZIP : from May 15 to June 15." According in Minnesota alone, send a check for to French, fresh wounds are required $1.50, payable to the University of I -Pi M I'1nfl I for overland spread of oak wilt, but if Minnesota, to Distribution Center, I ~--~ RESEARCH I the wounds are immediately painted Oak Wilt Information, 3 Coffey Hall, I Ringer Research-Dept. 7301 I with a non-toxic tree wound dress­ University of Minnesota, 1420 Eckles 9959 Valley View Road I L_~ ________ ~ ing, infection will not occur. Ave. , St. Paul, MN 55108. I Eden Prairie, MN 55344-3585 AMERICAN HORTICULTIJRIST • 3 with an anti-transpirant.