Congrats to our good friend & long time grower Chris Lyons & his new Canadian record tomato. Chris weighed his biggest mater of the season on Friday. Official weight was 7.88# making it a new Canadian record beating the old record of 7.43#. Way to go Chris. Chris will post a picture on his diary page soon.

Jane & I have decided that this will be our last year growing giant pumpkins. After 30 years in this sport, my back has decided that it no longer supports me & all the work it takes to grow these things to championship level. Time to go fishing & enjoy the other things in life. We have many pumpkin related products (fertilizers to backpack sprayer & everything in between) that we'll be giving away or selling. If there is anything your looking for, email us at janephilhunt@gmail.com We might just have it. Will provide list at a later date once we've figured out that all we have. We look forward to seeing you all at Port Elgin this fall. Good luck to all. Phil & Jane

Thought I'd re-post this in the general discussion board to get more views. Black Earth Humic Products Mini Granule dry carbon 50lb bag------------$20.00 Organo Liquid hume-humic & fulvic acid---$5.00/l Liquid Fulvic-------------------------------------$5.00/l Organic Gem Liquid Fish----------------------$4.00/l Agrigro Bio-stimulants Ignite 2 soil and starter supplement-----------$14.00/l Foliar Blend--------------------------------------$14.00/l Monty's Liquid Plant Food 8-16-8 growth formula--------------------------$14.00/l 2-15-15 root and bloom formula---------------$14.00/l Liquid calcium nitrate & corn sugar-----------$3.00/l Molasses-------------------------------------------$10.00/10 litres Email your order to be delivered to the 2020 GVGO Spring Seminar pcdettweiler@gmail.com Thank you Paul Dettweiler

It's official. My water deliver guy told me that we are now in the worst drought since we built our place 30 years ago. We have received only 3/8" of rain in the past 6 weeks in this area. Trees are dropping leaves, weeds are dying & both Chris & I have been ordering extra water for the past month, as rain as avoided this area like the plague. The farmers are all talking about heavy crop losses here as their crops are either too far gone or don't have enough moisture or time to see the crop to mature properly. We are now concerned that if we ever get a real heavy rain that it could split our pumpkins. Oh well, can't control mother nature. Pumpkins are currently a bit behind last year's numbers. Hopefully with a good Sept we can try to get some of those pounds back. Plant health is key to max growth on the last few weeks. I know some areas have received plenty of rain & some are like ourselves that haven't gotten enough rain. Was wondering what your region is like this summer & how is it effecting you? Good luck all.

World renowned soil biologist Dr Elaine Ingham is coming to speak about soil biology & the soil food web on July 20th at the Woodville/Eldon Community Center. Woodville is located @ 10 minutes west of Lindsay, ON. Also speaking is Dustin Mulock & Mary Beerman. They will be discussing how native plants, cover crops and minimum tillage will support and grow your soil biology, build soil structure, reduce compaction, and increase water and nutrient holding capacity. This one-time opportunity to listen to one of the World's top soil biologist is being put on by The Glen Road Organics Ltd. John Montague, the owner is a former student of Dr. Ingham & he & his company produces the compost the we use in our patch to bury vines. John operates a teaching/research farm, producing composts, potting mixes, etc for the certified organic farm community. Sign-in is between 8 & 9 am on July 20th, 2019. There will be a Q& A period. Snacks, beverages and beef BBQ lunch will be served. For more information, go to: www.theglenroadorganics.com Registration cost is $175 + HST. Registration deadline is June 30th, 2019.

The spring weather has been real crappy in Ontario this year & all this rain is making the soil too wet to get in to do any real work on it. The boards to walk out to the planting sites squirt water out the sides when I try to walk on them. At this rate, plants won't be seeing dirt for at least 2-3 weeks. I was hoping for early May, but will have to settle for mid-May, if it doesn't stop raining soon. Morning temp was -1. On a good note, my seeds are up & looking good. We planted 3 - 1959's, a 2145 Mcmullen (replaced my earlier Daletas choice) & the 1855 Matesa. We have room for 2 plants, 1 will be the 2145 & the other will be our own 1959 Hunt. The others are back-ups. Our 1959 is off to a great start & is already ahead of the 2145. They are only 8 days old, but there is a noticeable difference between it & the rest of the plants. Lets hope that is a good sign for this season. Lets hope for some warmer weather soon.

To the coordinators or volunteers of each weigh off site. Please send your results to our webmaster Kristine Jarvis so she can put the results on the website. You can contact her at: Kristine Jarvis gvgowebmaster@hotmail.com Your help & support is gratefully appreciated. Phil

Congrats to my good friend John Matesa on winning the Erin Fair with an incredible 1736#. Awesome results this year after losing everything to the hail last year. Congrats also to all the other winners & to all those who participated.

Just a shout out to our fellow GVGO member from Kakabeka Falls in the Thunder Bay area. Congrats my friend on an outstanding season. 3 really big pumpkins. WOW!! 1726# to win 1st 1624# Exhibition - good sound pumpkin 1422# Exhibition - good sound pumpkin Unfortunately Ben has only one weigh off within a 15 hour drive, so all his pumpkins had to be weighed at his local GPC event that he has helped organize for many years. Way to go Ben. Cheers, Jane & Phil

Last chance for Canadian growers to join in time to qualify for the GVGO's 1-Ton Challenge & a chance to win a prize of up to $6500 ($6000 for the 1st 2,000# pumpkin or largest over 2,000#, if 2 or more are weighed in the same season + $500 if grown on a GVGO seed). Deadline is June 10th, 2018. Membership dues are only $30 per year single ($40 for Family) & that includes many benefits. 1. A great variety seed pack, consisting on many varieties of giant vegetables, including pumpkins, tomatoes, peppers, sunflowers, watermelons & many others. 2. Free entry to the GVGO spring seminar 3. 3 very good & informative newsletters. (Feb, July & Nov). 4. Qualify for the $6,000 1-Ton Challenge 5. Discount on soil samples Email us at gvgogrowers@gmail.com Thanks to all those who have join or renewed for the 2018 season. Cheers, Phil & Jane Hunt GVGO

Dear fellow GVGOers Jane & I would like to wish all GVGO members & all our other fellow growers a very Merry Christmas & a happy & healthy New Year. Hopefully 2018 brings you all a new personal best in one or more different veggie categories. We hope to see many of you at the spring seminar to help celebrate our previous year's award winners, product trades & grower networking. Enjoy the off-season. Cheers, Jane & Phil GVGO

Hi fellow GVGOers The GVGO "Other Veggie" of the year for 2017 was the heavy carrot. We are looking for the heaviest carrot grown by any GVGO member in 2017. If your a member & grew one, we would like to know what your heaviest carrot weighed. There will be plaques for the top 3 carrots. All GVGO members from anywhere around the globe are eligible to win this category. If you have any questions or want to register you carrot's weight, please email us at gvgogrowers@gmail.com Thanks, Jane & Phil GVGO

The GVGO is looking for those Canadian GVGO members who this season had the largest increase in their PB over their previous personal best pumpkin. We do not keep records for this, so you must contact us by Dec 31/2017 to tell us where & when you grew your previous PB & your current PB. Both pumpkins must have been weighed at a reputable Canadian weigh off events. There are 3 prizes for this award. 1st - $300 2nd - $150 3rd - $50 Email us at gvgogrowers@gmail.com if you feel like you have a winner. REMEMBER: THE GVGO DOESN'T KEEP THESE RECORDS, SO PLEASE CONTACT US WITH YOUR INFORMATION ASAP. Thanks, Jane & Phil GVGO

I will be placing an order for the beige GVGO jackets. Many members already have one. Anyway, if anyone would like one, please email me your size. Cost is $58 + tax & that includes embroidering. gvgogrowers@gmail.com Thanks, Jane & Phil GVGO

Dear growers We are looking for some pictures from the many different weigh offs here in Ontario. If you have some decent pictures & would like to share them, please send them to our webmaster, Kristine Jarvis. She will add them onto the GVGO site. All the best, Phil & Jane GVGO

I have a company that is looking for 3 pumpkins approx. the same size @ 800# - 1000#. They require them for a team meeting the week of October 23rd in Mississauga. They will likely be at the Miss. Meadowvale Hilton or at their Office on Meadowpine Blvd. They plan on carving them up in a team building exercise & are willing to pay a fair amount for each pumpkin, but that will be between you & the company to figure out. I'm not sure about delivery, so that would be something you need to ask about as well. If you have a pumpkin that will fit the bill then contact: Yvette Gillespie Regional Manager Rental | Western Canada Hilti (Canada) Corporation 2360 Meadowpine Blvd I Mississauga, ON L5N 6S2 P 1 800 363-4458 I F 1 800 363-4459 I M 604-218-4638 Email address: yvette.gillespie@hilti.com www.hilti.ca

Hi All Here is the right prize list that I received for 2017. Pumpkins 1st - $2000 2nd- $1000 3rd - $750 4th - $500 5th - $250 6th - $150 7th - $125 8th - $100 9th - $75 10th - $50 11th through to 15th place is $30 each Squash 1st $400 2nd - $200 3rd - $100 Tomatoes, FP, LG, Watermelon, Tall Corn & cabbage 1st - $150 2nd - $100 3rd - $50 Tall Sunflower & Carrot 1st - $100 2nd - $50 3rd - $25 Bushel Gourd 1st - ? To be announced 2nd - ? 3rd - ? HD award - Plaque Hope to see you all there. Good luck, Jane & Phil

To all you squash growers in Ontario, Que, NB, NS. I have a guy that needs a big squash for an event this weekend. He has been looking for a while with no success, so he reached out to me. His name is Mike Boxer & you can contact him at: 1-514-519-1302. I'm not sure what he is willing to pay, but I mentioned $500+/- or .50+ cents per #, depending on the size. He would like to get one at least 6-700#, but would really like one much bigger. If any squash growers have a good green/grey squash & are willing to sell it this week, please give Mike a call. Thanks & good luck. Jane & Phil GVGO

How long does it take for the seeds to be ready once you see the carrot starting to flower? I have one that has it's 1st flower up now & was wondering how long I needed to keep it going before the seeds are ready to harvest. Do I have enough time before the frost/below freezing temps arrive? Does anyone know which Ontario weigh offs have a heavy carrot as a category all on it's own? It would be nice to know, as it is the GVGO featured other vegetable & it would help our growers know which weigh offs to take their carrots to. I'm sure there will be quite a few carrots out there. Hopefully someone can break the Canadian record, if not the WR. Good luck to my fellow carrot growers. Thanks in advance. Phil & Jane