Big Things Grow in Glengarry County in Ontario! Read what Jim Reid has Accomplished !
Jim Reid tells us his growing story.
Growing giants is a passion for growing, takes at least 2 hrs a day and more on my days off to maintain each plant. This year I grew 9 GT. Pumpkins, 19 Field pumpkins, 3 GT Cabbages, 3 GT Tomatoes, 3 Rutabagas, 4 GT corn, 2 GT Squash, 2 GT Carrots, 1 GT onion, 1 GT Beet and 4 GT. Sunflowers. ( Pictures to prove the story) This year was the hardest due to the lack of heat in the early stages of growth and the excessive amount of rain which caused a lot of rot in nearly all my vegetables. I grow the giants on 3 separate pieces of ground in all about 1 acre, in the fall compost mainly manure ( given to me by good neighbors) and large quantities of maple leaves are added to the ground. I erect small green house frames for each pumpkin plant. Come January Terri and I get the auction bug and start biding on seed packages from various organizations around the world in order to get a winning gene cross. Also at this time I start cabbage, rutabaga, onion and carrot seeds in the house. Come April I start studying the gene combinations and then make a selection of what seeds I will start and what ones I will cross pollinate in July. Come April I will put plastic sheeting on my hoop huts to heat up the soil faster ( needs to be 60 degrees F), then soil samples are taken to determine what nutrients are low or depleted. Once this is completed its off to the Giant Vegetable Growers of Ontario seminar, which I’m a member (Christmas Gift from Terri); to buy the foliar spray nutrients that need to be sprayed on the plants on a weekly bases.
In May, with my soil test results I go to Munro’s for fertilizers which they mix up according to the test. Plants are now in the ground under their little green houses, heat is also set up for the night time in case the temperature goes down. Nitrogen at higher rates than normal are applied to the plant so the main vine of the pumpkin plant gets out of the green house as soon as possible ( done to extend growing days, 102 down the road). From here we wait for female flower to appear so I can cross pollinate from another plant; important to keep the bees out to get a known gene cross. To do this we tie up the petals to keep the bees out. The next big job is keeping weeds down, and start foliar spraying to keep our nutrients up, keep the soil balanced and the bugs off and deceases at bay. Use compost tea from the manure, carbon from coal mines, worm castings, whole milk, maple syrup and molasses. Giants need to have a weekly dose of fertilizers starting with small amount of XXX them xXX and then a xxX . Now we cross our fingers that weather storms don’t destroy the plants or we don’t over fertilize and blow up the pumpkin.
Jim has been growing all his fruits and vegetables at his home in Martintown, South Glengarry, Ontario for 6 years and in his rookie year won the giant pumpkin award at 1,148 lbs. Terri , Jim’s wife and a ‘70 grad, does a lot of work with the plants, watering, covering up plants ( which is done on a daily basis ), keeping track of the weather and she also has a keen eye for bugs arriving and plant diseases showing up.
Bruce Munro , former owner of Munro’s Agromart and a ‘70 grad, has always loaned Jim the use of his truck to transport to the Wellington Pumpkin weigh off. Jim said without the use of the truck he would be limited in the amount he could transport to the competition. Grads do work together! When Doug MacPherson became one of the new owners of Munro’s he graciously told Jim he would continue the transportation.
The pictures show Jim and Terri’s growing talents. Jim contributes to the community every year when he supplies a pumpkin for the Fresco Food Store Pumpkin Drop. This is a fund raiser for Rachel’s Kids. Rachel Navaleen, a dentist in Cornwall, raises money to help under privileged children in Cornwall and overseas. Last year $9000 was raised and the drop will be held again this October.
Kemptville grads working together show the Kemptville College Spirit!
