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Show The Great Pumpkin Race. . . "Grow Big or Go Home!" : - ' . - - - - - Came Fox fed her pumphn liquid fish and powdered seaweed and literally watched it grow 25-40 p'ntndi a dav, topping off at 550 pounds. by Geri Taylor Three years ago Kyle and Carrie Fox of Pleasant Grove decided to try their hand at giant pumpkin growing and with the help and encouragement of Kevin Card, or "Pumpkin Man", they grew a 380 pound, 22nd place State winner. Thus began their odyssey into the world of "Grow Big or Go Home." The following year it didn't take long for the couple to realize they each knew best how to raise the largest pumpkin and the competition began. Their individual plants were hand pollinated, watered, and babied as they regularly measured to approximate how large each was growing. At the weigh-off, Kyle's pumpkin outweighed Carrie's by 200 pounds and took 3rd place in the State. So what do you do with a 742 pound pumpkin? Thinking out of the box comes natural to the Fox's and soon they had G & S Crane Service donating a million dollar crane to hoist the pumpkin to drop on a donated car at Hee Haw Farms in PG. The first annual Pumpkin Drop was a huge success. It was decided to drop Carrie's pumpkin instead and donate Kyle's to the Hogle Zoo for the Thanksgiving "Feast for the Beast" event where it was fed to the elephants. Carrie said it was amazing to watch the mammal place her front feet on the pumpkin and rock up and down until the pumpkin broke, then with her baby consume it in 30 to 40 minutes. The seeds were harvested from both pumpkins, dried through the winter and in the Spring the Fox's sons planted them in small pots to sell for $1 each. Purchasers often went away with many more than they paid for, a tribute to the philanthropic spirit of these future pumpkin growers. This year Kyle chose a neighbor's garden while Carrie tended hers at home. The competition was now serious, with bragging rights at stake. Carrie fed her pumpkin liquid fish and powdered seaweed and literally watched it grow 25-40 25-40 pounds a day, topping off at 550 pounds, a ninth place ribbon and a place of honor at PG's Macey's. Kyle's pumpkin may have weighed less, but its demise was a "smashing" success as it was dropped on a makeshift office including desk, chair, lamp and accessories. Carrie's was dropped into a plastic swimming pool to the delight of many observers. This year a large portion of the proceeds were donated to charity in the name of Utah Giant Pumpkin Growers, G & S Crane Services and Hee Haw Farms. Next year's great pumpkin race is already being planned as special seeds are sought, fertilizer spread and strategies finalized. With a win for each, and a rogue neighbor beating Kyle's pumpkin, next year is sure to create more than a little excitement around the Kyle's pumpkin demise was a "smashing" success as it was dropped on a makeshift office including desk, chair, lamp and accessories at Hee Haw Farms. neighborhood. Watch for the giant pumpkin seeds next Spring and go to utahpumpking rowers. com to learn all the secrets of growing a giant pumpkin. |
