Photo by Mike McLain
From left to right, Mike McLain, Kellogg Garden Products, Janet Clay, Manager, Garden Shop Nursery, and Eileen Stramm, Master Nursery
Two of the features at Garden Shop Nursery
Photo by Mike McLain
Photo by Mike McLain
Photo by Mike McLain
Note the combined auto/rock display
A fascinating vist to the local rock shop in Fallon!
A display of the fossilized record of the earliest organic fertilizers
Kimmy (left) and Michelle (right) of Flower Tree Nursery
The grand door prize, a Giant Pumpkin Grower's Kit!
Photo by Mike McLain
Photo by Mike McLain
Scott Goodpasture, of Pioneer Farms, Fallon, Nevada, reigning Nevada State Giant Pumpkin Champion, (715 pounds, grown in 2000) holds court
Scott Goodpasture demonstrates his powerful magic!
Scott Goodpasture shows the ideal vine position for a giant pumpkin
Scott Goodpasture shows how to slide a giant pumpkin from growing position to the ideal transportation position
Striking it Rich in the Silver State!
Good morning, Pumpkinistas!
The world tour visited Nevada for the first time May 9th and 10th this past week-end and it was a very fruitful trip! A couple of weeks ago, Doug Bookey, the de facto leader of the Northern Nevada Giant Pumpkin Growers contacted me and let me know that he wanted to distribute some giant pumpkin seeds at the workshops that were going to be presented in Nevada. Doug's generosity and initiative allowed Nevada workshop attendees the ability to obtain some superior seeds for the 2009 season! Doug joined Mike McLain, Kellogg Garden Products, and me at the workshops conducted at the Garden Shop Nursery and Moana Nursery in Reno, Saturday, May 9th, and gave us seeds to give away at Flower Tree Nursery's workshop, in Fallon, Sunday 10th.
In addition, also at Flower Tree Nursery's workshop, Scott Goodpasture, a local commercial vegetable grower, and current Nevada State Giant Pumpkin Champion (715 pounds, 2000), joined in and let the rapt workshop attendees know some of the growing methods he employs to adapt to local growing conditions. Since Fallon is at 4,000-4,500 foot elevation and can receive snow in June, Scott's methods include strategically placed hay bale shelters and 25-gallon black plastic pots turned upside to protect seedlings from the wind and cold. He also suggested replacing plywood for the (traditional and perhaps dated) wooden pallet as a growing platform.
All of the workshop attendees seemed dedicated, excited, and anxious to grow giant pumpkins.
I'm anxious to see how the Nevada growers do this season with their very special seeds...
Thank you very much to Doug Bookey for his initiative and Scott Goodpasture for his giant pumpking growing insights, suggestions, and advice!
