THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Sunday, November 20, 1994              TAG: 9411160064
SECTION: HOME                     PAGE: G1   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: ROBERT STIFFLER
                                             LENGTH: Short :   46 lines

SO IT'S NOT THE GREAT PUMPKIN - IT'S CLOSE

WHEN YOU EAT pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving Day, think of how many pies could've come from Tom Tye's pumpkin. The Chesapeake man grew the third-largest pumpkin entered in state competition this year.

Tye raised the 187-pound pumpkin on two acres in the Kempsville area of Virginia Beach, where he owns property. In addition to pumpkins, he grows sweet corn, corn for popcorn, watermelons, cucumbers and squash on a 100-by-100-foot plot.

Helped by his 5-year-old son Russell, Tye watered the pumpkin patch three times a week. The seed was started in peat pots in their home.

``We'd been buying a big pumpkin for our front porch every year,'' said Tye, a real estate appraiser. ``Last year I had trouble finding a large one. Then I read an article in the Wall Street Journal about large pumpkins, so I decided to try to grow my own.''

The package of Atlantic Giant variety pumpkin seed he bought contained 15 seeds; seven grew into vines.

To prepare the soil for the plants, he added 3,000 pounds of chicken manure from a Suffolk grower who was cleaning out his broiler house. In addition to the manure, he used 500 pounds of 10-10-10 fertilizer.

The vines covered 10,000 square feet with leaves chest high, Tye said. ``Many (pumpkins) rotted on the vine during the July rains,'' he said.

It wasn't until the last day before entries closed that Tye decided to enter the State Fair of Virginia contest last month. The winning entry in Richmond weighed 363 pounds and was the same variety seed as Tye grew. The second-place pumpkin weighed 220 pounds and was a Big Moon variety.

Atlantic Giant seed is available from P & P Seed Co., 14050 Gowanda State Road, Collins, N.Y. 14034. The father and son team plan to grow pumpkins again next year. Although he hasn't made a commitment, with any luck, Tye will be at the 1995 State Fair. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

ROBERT STIFFLER

Tom Tye and his 5-year-old son, Russell, raised a prize-winning

187-pound pumpkin.

by CNB