Bio-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June 17,1989
Zoann Parker, director of Lancaster County 4-H, watches
as Michele Roosenberg of Manheim, plants pumpkin seeds
in anticipation of the Pumpkin contest to be held on October
14.
BY LOU ANN GOOD
All around Lancaster County,
kids are planting pumpkin seeds
for the great pumpkin-prize give
away.
Local businesses are giving the
seeds and instructions to any one
between the ages of zero and nine
teen. Then, On October 14, a
Pumpkin Festival will be held at
the Lancaster Farm and Home
Center, 1383 Arcadia Road.
Kids should choose one of their
pumpkins to exhibit at the festival.
Prizes will be given for the largest,
ugliest, and best decorated.
Imagine, you can win a $5OO
savings bond for placing first; a
$lOO one for second placing; and a
$5O bond for third prize.
More prizes will be given to the
top ten best carved pumpkins.
This week in Penryn, many boys
and girls were busily planting their
seeds. Nine-year-old Michele
Roosenberg of Manheim, said she
thought growing a pumpkin would
be fun. She planned to plant her
seeds in her mom’s garden.
Elcvcn-year-old Victor Joiner
of Manheim said he had never
planted anything before, but he is
looking forward to watching the
seeds he planted grow into" huge
orange pumpkins. .
Cousins Jonathan and
Hershey of Manhcim plan to plant
their seeds. Their parents will help
them find a 3x3-foot area in full
sun will) well drained soil to plant
the seeds.
According to the instructions,
the pumpkin patch should not be
near trees or buildings. Turn the
soil over with a shovel and break
up the larger clods. Rake smooth.
To get the largest and best pump
kins, seeds should be planted about
a foot apart Plapt the seeds 'A to
1-inch deep in the beginning of
June. Plant when the soil is moist
but not wet.
Once the pumpkins appear, be
on the look out for insects. Most
insects can be removed by hand
and crushed. Pull weeds before
they grow tall. Be careful not to
injure the pumpkin vine. As the
vines grow, they will become quite
large. If they invade areas where
they are not wanted, carefully lift
them and turn them so they head in
a different direction. Never cut or
step on the vines because that
could kill the plant. Water the plant
at least once a week.
Harvest your pumpkin before
frost. Leave the stem attached and
be careful not to bruise or cut the
pumpkin.
To exhibit your pumpkin at the
festival, choose one that has a firm
stem, no cuts or bruises. Wash it to
remove dirt. Pack it in a box
stuffed with newspaper so that it
will not roll and get damaged on
the trip to the festival.
If you have any questions about
growing your pumpkins, call Penn
Plant Your Pumpkins
Now For The Great
Pumpkin - Prize Give Away
These kids eagerly study the directions that came with their pumpkin seed pa
They hope to raise the largest or ugliest or the best decorated so that they can win a
$5OO prize. From left: Laura Hershey, Michele Roosenberg, and Jonathan Hershey
State Master Gardeners: Richard
Artz, 717 397-0910; Charlie Good,
717 687-6923; and Willard Petrie,
717 442-4421.
According to Zoann Parker,
director of Lancaster County 4-H,
there are 10,000 packets of pump
kin seeds to be distributed. So far,
about one-half of them have been
distributed.
My name is John Zook. I have
two brothers. Their names are Ste
vie, 9; I’m 7; and Elmer, 5. My dad
and mom’s names are David and
Malinda Zook. We have 42 big
pigs, seven mules, 22 steers, 2
horses, 4 sheep, 1 dog named Patsy
and 5 cats. Their names are Kitty-
Cat, Frisky, Me, Puff, and Fluffy.
Puff and Fluffy are twins. Prince,
the cat died. Tony the cat we gave
away. We didn’t really give it
away. One of our little cousins
wanted it so much ’cause one of
their cats had died so we let them
have it.
We saw a Baltimore Oriole on
May 30.
Bye,
John Zook, Ephrata
Hello!
My name is Mary. Fisher. My
parents’ names are Levi and Lydia
Fisher. I’m eight years old. My
birthday is August 26,1980.1 go to
Pine Grove School. My teacher’s
name is Sylvia Fisher. I’m in
fourth grade. I have 3 brothers and
3 sisters. Their names are Anna,
17; Benuel, 16; Sarah Ann, 14; Eli,
12; Amos, 10; Mary, 8; Ruth E., 8
month.
We have 38 cows. We have 12
If you would like to participate
in the program, pick up seeds and
instructions at one of the following
places; Boscov’s Department
Store, Brook Lawn Farm Market,
Funk’s Farm Market, Huber’s
Nurseries, P.L. Rohrer & Bro.,
Inc., Stauffer’s of Kissel Hill, and
Lancaster County 4-H extension
office.
Readers Write
heifers and some little ones. Our
horses names are Tim, Betty, Dick,
Jane, Jerry, Tony and Molly. Our
drivers’ names are Bess and»6on
ny. We have two dogs. Their
names are Pepper and Frisky. And
we have a lot of cats. I like to read
Kid’s Komer!
Bye, Bye,
Mary Fisher, Paradise
My name is Elam Lapp. I’m 9
years old. My birthday is May 31.1
live on a farm. I’m glad school is
out. Next term I’m going to be in
4th grade. I have two sisters and
three brothers. My grandparents
and Aunt Nancy also live on our
farm. I like summertime because
then we bale hay. I like to drive the
baler. We also have a goat but it is
not ours. Her name is Fem. I don’t
like to mow the yard, but I help
anyway.
Elam Lapp, Leola
Dear Readers,
I’m Melvin Lapp. I live on a
dairy farm. We have 34 cows and
about 200 pigs. We have 8 cats, but
we don’t have a dog. My birthday
is April 6,1979.1 have two sisters
and three brothers: Barbie, 12;
Melvin, 10; Elam, 9; Dannie, 5;
See you at the Pumpkin Festival
on October 14 from 10 a.m. to 1
p.m. Register your pumpkin
between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., there
will be pony rides, a petting zoo
and exhibits to enjoy. Judging will
be done between 11 a.m. and noon.
Prizes will be awarded between
noon and 1 p.m.
Mary, 3; Amos Jr., 314 months.
My parents are Amos and Mamie
Lapp. I go to Sunnyside West
School. I’m in the Sth grade next
term. We have one horse Penny.
We also had a pet bird, but it got
away.
My name is Emma. I am 10
years old. My birthday is March
i 9. I have three sisters and three
brothers. We have 41 cows and
twin calves. We have two goats
and also have four workhorses and
three driving horses. One of our
driving horses has a little colt. It
was bom May 27. We have three
nests of kittens, 24 guinea pigs and
a puppy named Judy. I wrote this
May 28. I like to read Kid’s
Komer.
Melvin Lapp
Leola
Emma Stoltzfus
Quarryvilie
w
SOMETHING TO
CROW ABOUT-.