Not-so-giant Atlantic giants - Claire's Allotment part 155

[TheMaineman1963]

claire I have good luck piling up a good size pile of horse manure and mix in a bale of peat moss and plant seeds right in the pile

[clairesallotment]

@TheMaineman1963 Oh that sound a good idea. I did put a load of manure in the hole before planting, but I will try your idea this year. I will one year harvest a huge one!! I hope.

[mamastaci]

what is an allotment?

[clairesallotment]

@mamastaci It's basically a large piece of land, owned by the local Council, and people can rent out a certain part of it to grow vegetable on. See video number 72 as it explains it in more detail.

[HomesteadAcres]

Our pumpkins didn't do well last year either. It was to dry. But my kids want to try the Atlantic giants this year!

[clairesallotment]

@HomesteadAcres I'm going to try them again this year also. I am determined to one year grow a whopper!

[Lydvan]

I think mine was all beginners luck. I only got 3 pumpkins 2 big ones. Didn't think to weigh them but one of them was 14" in diameter 9" high. the other 10" in dia and more rounded not saucer shaped like the other. This is my first year and pleased to have grown anything given the heavy clay I started with. Carrots, on the other hand were a complete disaster, I guess the roots can't get into the clay but will try again next year.

Thanks Claire, your videos have helped me through the year.

[Lydvan]

I think mine was all beginners luck. I only got 3 pumpkins 2 big ones. Didn't think to weigh them but one of them was 15" in diameter 9" high. the other 10" in dia and more rounded not saucer shaped like the other. This is my first year and pleased to have grown anything given the heavy clay I started with. Carrots, on the other hand were a complete disaster, I guess the roots can't get into the clay but will try again next year.

Thanks Claire, your videos have helped me through the year.

[clairesallotment]

@Lydvan Wow! They sound fantastic. They obviously like it where you grow them. It could be the clay, as it holds the water in. If you have got heavy clay and would like to grow carrots, you can either dig in loads of organic matter (leaves, manure etc). Or grow the carrots in a raised bed or old bath. That way you can put a load of topsoil in, and know that it's suitable. I'm so glad you find the videos useful.

[Lydvan]

@Lydvan Thank you for the advise, I think I will try that.

Regards

[pimpmydibber]

don't be down about the not-so-giant-atlantic-giant pumpkin. At pimpmydibber we're used to total failure - yours is only partial failure. And by the way, our new video is up; not a patch on yours for education but we are diverging to our own space.

loveyoubye

from willrichben

[clairesallotment]

@pimpmydibber Size isn't everything. It'll make a great lantern I'm sure.

[bowler8]

the green on the pumpkin is because of the rain

[clairesallotment]

@bowler8 Which is bizarre really, as we haven't had much for months. That section was on the soil though.

[allotmentdiary]

I grew a 51lb Marrow this year and to be honest I neglected it.

It seems that the less Nitrogen you gve them the less leaf they grow and the more they are tempted to produce a fruit.

It just got so much water due to the rain,so I think that is the key.

Plus I only sowed it in late June.

Crazy...

[clairesallotment]

@allotmentdiary You never can tell how they're going to grow. We've had a very dry year. I'll try again next year. Maybe I give them too much TLC.

[AussiePharmer]

Your Atlantic Giant has a strange crease running right through the middle that looks like a Turks Turban pumpkin. Perhaps the seed you grew this one from wasn't pure bred and may have been cross pollinated along the line. Better luck next year! You might just need a lot more warmth and sun next time so try growing it in a plant tunnel.

[clairesallotment]

@AussiePharmer I does look a bit like a Turks turban doesn't it. But it's definitely a pumpkin, especially if you look at the other side. I think it's having a personality crisis. Stange things happen on the allotment, so it could be a bizarre breed. Even though the year has been dry, it's not been scorching hot. The Spring was hot, but then the beginning of Summer was too cold. I think our season were the wrong way round this year.

[Teddybearcop48]

I was glad to see your new video, This was my first year to ever grow pumpkins.. All of mine turned out like your small ones very cute. I can't remember if you have a worm bed or not for your garden.. but my worms love blinded pumpkin.. good to see your videos again thank you !!!

[clairesallotment]

@Teddybearcop48 I don't have a worm bed, but they seem to enjoy my soil anyway. I always come across them when I'm weeding. I'm glad you enjoyed the latest video. Thanks.

[woringersteve]

It's your cute little face that I like!

[clairesallotment]

@woringersteve It's nearly as wrinkly as my pumpkin.

[cooper68ns]

hey claire utube 'windsor nova scotia pumpkin regatta' to see the home of the atlantic pumpkin.hope you get a kick out of it .all the best and keep growing.

[clairesallotment]

@cooper68ns They look fantastic. I've got to go some way before I could fit in my pumpkin. Maybe a fairy could fit in mine?

[woringersteve]

Ahhhh...

[clairesallotment]

@woringersteve It's his little green face that I really like.

[davidsquall351]

Whenever I grow pumpkins I use them for target practice. I havent carved a pumpkin in years.

[clairesallotment]

@davidsquall351 It's great fun with the kids. Carving them, not shooting them.

[aerdna16]

maybe its a record for the smallest giant pumpkin ever?!?!

[clairesallotment]

@aerdna16 As long as I break some kind of record, I'm happy.

[ukgardener1]

It was signs of frost here in newcastle this morning but just got the right side of the thermometer for it. sorry your pumpkin was a bit shy but better luck next year lol

[clairesallotment]

@ukgardener1 Bloody cold this morning, just above freezing, the top of the car was frozen, and so was the grass.

[ukgardener1]

@clairesallotment Its given -1 for wednesday night across most of the country but then getting warmer by the weekend [not sunshiney warm]

[clairesallotment]

@ukgardener1 Was very cold last Wednesday evening. I was out in it. Chilly, chilly! I had to get my gloves and scarf out. The allotment is the first to get frost, and then my garden at home. The nasturtiums are still growing, which I'm very surprised about.

[saabtonyb152]

Bless you Claire, And i thought our Giant Atlantic was small at about 40lb. Its stopped growing i think. Frost is forecast for this coming week so may have to bring it in.

I cut the top and bottom off a pop bottle and the cut it open and place that under ours. better luck for next year. Only allow a single fruit to grow and water and feed evey week.

[clairesallotment]

@saabtonyb152 I'll try that next year. I'm determined to grow a whopper one year!

[Greengate777]

Claire, did you just say the "F" word?.... how's that possible, it's just half way through October..... is your garden in one of those frost pockets?

[clairesallotment]

@Greengate777 The allotment is in a frost pocket, but not my garden at home. In fact I got in the car this morning at 6.30am (yes that time does exist on a Sunday) and the car thermometer said 1.5!! I wore my scarf and mittens.

[AnitaGofradump2008]

Forgive my dirty mind, when you said i've been really busy and got a blister on my hand, i cracked up laughing. And then to top it off, you said you hope you will get a bigger 1 next year, with a big smile. Forget the Gardening Claire, you should write innuendo comedy material :D lol. Oh and btw, nice pumpkins! I have never got round to growing any yet, I might next year. As always, liking your videos. :)

[clairesallotment]

@AnitaGofradump2008 Mark (hubby) always find the words I use rather rude too! Maybe the fact that he was filming me at the time helped. For my 200th video, we're thinking of doing a compilation with some odd phrases that I say....watch this space.

[kokonutbaby1]

I am saving the outer shells to make "boats" to sail for my grandson, Ethan. They are cute and float quite well. I will glue little pirates inside and make sails for them. =) I thought we could "launch" them in the bathtub when Mom's not looking, LOL ;)~

[clairesallotment]

@kokonutbaby1 I've never tried that. Much more fun than bath toys.

[kokonutbaby1]

I didn't plant any pumpkin this year, but glad yours did well. Even though small they can make good pumpkin pies or ornamental jack'o lanterns. I cant remember if I told you about that acorn squash I was watching. I picked it but the outside was very woody (thought I needed a chain saw to open it, LOL) but I was determined to bake it as it did have some meat inside. Put pumkin pie spice, butter, & brown sugar inside then stuffed it with stove top chicken & dressing, it was wonderful tasting!

[clairesallotment]

@kokonutbaby1 I'm so glad you finally managed to get into your acorn squash. Sounds wonderful the way you cooked it.

[diaryallotmentgarden]

You win!! Mine was only 3.2kg (7 lbs).

[clairesallotment]

@diaryallotmentgarden I don't feel so bad now. We'll grow larger ones next year.