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(the carved pumpkin at right is just a small pumpkin carved — NOT the huge one)
We actually harvested the pumpkin purposely a bit too early, to make the entry date for the 1991 Montgomery County Fair in Gaithersburg, MD. In theory, if would have gotten about 6 more weeks of growth if we'd let it mature. Back then, huge pumpkins were pretty rare, so Farmer Ben's pumpkin won by a landslide... I'm sure the competition is tougher these days.
Ben started the seed in the greenhouse and hardened it off (got the young tender plant used to being outdoors) for several days before planting it in a special place in the field. He put it in a place where visitors seldom visit, so although the plant became enormous, it was bothered hardly at all. Very important. A mis-step onto one of the growing stems and PRESTO, the plant dies.
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