This is the first time I've read the thread completely through! What a complicated process.
I was laughing at all the posts, drat, til I got to the cracked one.
Now I feel sad. Horribly sad. All that work shot to hell with one crack.
If I grew a 400 lb pumpkin in my yard, I suspect the squirrels would have a field day munching.
Please keep us updated. Even though I'm late to the pumpkin patch, I'm very, very interested!