Speaking of Big...

Good evening, Pumpkinistas!

As many of you have heard at my workshops, soil and mound preparation is critical to successful giant pumpkin cultivation. Usually, right after I extensively explain why it's necessary to dig a deep hole and prepare a mound to transplant one's giant pumpkin seedling into, invariably a hand shoots up and the question, normally in a high-pitched, whiny voice comes: "Do I have to dig a deep hole?", as if the questioner is special, and if I say they don't have to dig a deep hole, that they'll still have a chance at growing a big pumpkin?

Well, the pictures you see above are not for Those People.

These pictures chronicle the hole digging efforts of Mr. Lawrence Stice, mentioned yesterday as the grower/human parent of the seedlings for Kellogg Garden Products. Yes, Larry's missile silo, I mean hole, is roughly 6 feet deep, and 5 feet in diameter. This is the kind of hole I can only dream of. It helps to have relatives with access to heavy equipment.

In fact, I believe that it is the largest hole ever dug in Southern California for the express purpose of raising a giant pumpkin! If anyone has proof of a bigger hole, please send it in. I will be happy to post the evidence to this blog.

Stay tuned for a list of the ingredients and soil amendments that went into Larry's mound!

Have a great evening!

Stuart