tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60647132012-01-26T11:59:05.887-08:00"Changing the World, One Pumpkin At A Time." This is the communications center for the Southern California Giant Pumpkin Growing Community, Extreme Gardening Workshop Attendees and the Pumpkinmania! Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off and ContestStuartnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5671100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-41127802805229499632012-01-26T11:59:00.000-08:002012-01-26T11:59:05.981-08:00

Hello, Pumpkinistas! On behalf of Pumpkinmania! and the Cosumnes Community Services District (CSD) Department of Parks and Recreation in Elk Grove , CA we would like to invite you to The 2012 Giant Pumpkin Grower's Forum. Held Saturday, March 3, 2012, the Giant Pumpkin Growers Forum provides the opportunity to network with your fellow growers. Come learn, share tips, swap seeds and more!

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-29138647856346538672012-01-26T11:42:00.000-08:002012-01-26T11:42:31.049-08:00

Plant Hardiness Zone Map New USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map! Good morning, Pumpkinistas! Well, something I always suspected has been finally brought to light. Yes, the USDA has just released a new Plant Hardiness Zone Map, and there are now allowances made for some warmer areas throughout California and also Hawaii. The link to the new map, which also allows users to search by zip

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-2399108402816266242012-01-12T14:56:00.000-08:002012-01-12T15:19:32.962-08:00

                 Attention all Pumpkinistas!  The pleasure of your company is requested at the: 2012 1st Annual GPC (Giant Pumpkin Commonwealth) Big Show! Circus Circus Las Vegas, Nevada February 24th – 26th 2012 Please RSVP to Jim Sherwood at: jim@greatpumpkincommonwealth.com or go to our website at: www.greatpumpkincommonwealth.com Hotel

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-28397114065114843162011-12-19T11:25:00.000-08:002012-01-12T15:20:44.518-08:00

 Meriwether Lewis' journal notes describing the Eulachon fish, February 24, 1806 Notebook entry from Olorgesailie, Kenya, 2003 by A.K. Behrensmeyer, National Museum of Paleobiology, Smithsonian Institution Field Notes on Science & Nature edited by Michael R. Canfield Good morning, Pumpkinistas! I just finished a fascinating book that I think would be worthwhile reading

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-40868661735831347582011-12-13T17:16:00.000-08:002012-01-12T15:21:07.243-08:00

More seeds! Good evening, Pumpkinistas! A recent article in the Financial Times mentioned Franchi Sementi, Italy's oldest family-owned seed company, founded in 1783, and the fact that they have a global following. Their U.S. distributor's website is: http://www.growitalian.com Plant seeds are such an affordable luxury, that I find them very hard to resist. These Franchi seeds were

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-16489638699757079602011-12-07T10:15:00.001-08:002011-12-07T10:27:26.037-08:00

2012 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds Catalog Good morning, Pumpkinistas! One of the more anticipated events of winter is the arrival of many and different seed catalogs in the mail. I've been ordering hard-to-find and rare squash and pumpkin varieties from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds for a few years. (I've ordered from them twice in the last month. I am planning on growing some cherry tomatoes

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-28825073860068183042011-12-04T13:11:00.001-08:002011-12-07T10:29:00.316-08:00

Ross in Washington State's Season! Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas! I received these great pictures and a brief account from Ross in Washington, near Lynwood: "This years fruit of the vine. The largest was an unofficial 225 lbs. I made lots of mistakes, had stem splits on all the vines, and what I thought was going to be the largest got the mold. These are progeny from the seeds that

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-40540671436000717632011-12-04T12:51:00.001-08:002011-12-07T10:28:18.513-08:00

A Report From Germany! Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas!  Or, perhaps even better, Guten Nachmittag, Pumpkinistas! I received an update from Janni, a veteran Pumpkinista and vegetable grower in Germany and she included these great images of her season and the following report: "Hi StuartI'm still alive. Even if I had a bad season.Storm

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-3039711761535295092011-11-21T12:50:00.001-08:002011-12-07T10:25:36.751-08:00

Paul Rys' latest beauties, November 18, 2011 Seeds harvested from the latest beauties! Paul Rys' Latest Beauties! Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas! Here's a great picture from Dr. Joe Sabol of Paul Rys' beauties from this season taken last week. Do not adjust the color on your monitor, these pumpkins are really that orange and colorful. Paul's been working on developing giant pumpkins

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-61156122805677547052011-11-13T15:56:00.000-08:002011-11-13T15:56:33.376-08:00

 Classic pumpkinmania!  The weigh-off team from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo  The winner 745 pounds, grower Jodi Waples  Even the local fire station members participated! 6th Annual Central Coast Giant Pumpkin Contest Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas!  I received these great pictures from Dr. Joe Sabol, in San Luis Obispo. The community involvement in this event held on October 20, 2011 is tremendous

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-78600631663623937872011-10-25T09:55:00.000-07:002011-10-25T10:00:44.535-07:00

 Some of the many pumpkins for sale and on display at Peltzer Farms! Stanley Szymczyk (L.) and Casey Shim (R.) prepare to register growers and their entries. Lauren Shim (L.) Christy Concan (M.) and Michelle Shim (R.) selling shirts.   Michelle Shim warms up the tractor before the entries start arriving.  Peltzer Farms' office  Entries began arriving at 9:30 a.m..  Mike Gray prepares 'Tiberius'

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-8807542645251202112011-10-20T16:27:00.000-07:002011-10-20T16:29:13.298-07:00

 Easy to see and read sign! Plenty of pumpkins!  Corn maze!  Gold panning!   A nice shady picnic area!   Petting zoo!   The 2011 Pumpkinmania! Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off & ContestUnloading/Loading and Weigh-off Area Peltzer Farms! Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas! I took a look at the this year's venue and had a brief meeting with Charlie Peltzer, of

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-40280721866608620042011-10-20T15:35:00.000-07:002011-10-20T16:06:25.871-07:00

Grower alert! Grower alert! Grower alert! The 2011 Pumpkinmania! Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off & Contest New Location! Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas! I am very happy to announce a new location for this year's competition! Day/Date: Sunday, October 23, 2011 Time: 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Entry registration: 8:30 a.m.-11:45 a.m., weigh-off begins at 12:00 noon. Location: Peltzer Farms, 39925 Calle

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-13387367199854910912011-10-20T14:11:00.000-07:002011-10-20T14:18:53.245-07:00

Stuart,With the weigh off close at hand, time to start tearing down the patch. I know I have had fun this year with all of my secret missions and rumors. So I thought for my last post, I would put a couple pictures of my pumpkin on the blog as it sits as of today. I am blessed to have a great shape and nice colored fruit! Now the fun will be loading it up safely soon. May everyone have a safe

Jim Fredrickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16343466708580923244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-64703609066902911192011-10-19T14:14:00.000-07:002011-10-19T14:14:01.521-07:00

Susan and Mike in Baldwin Park: Where there's a truck, ramp, A-frame, and hydraulic lift, there's a way! Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas! Well, entries are being readied for this Sunday's weigh-off, Susan and Mike's entry included! As you see from the photos, one of the challenges of giant pumpkin cultivation and competition is transportation. Obviously, it was no small task to get their pumpkin

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-34717195053861232882011-10-10T18:40:00.000-07:002011-10-10T19:00:24.923-07:00

Susan and Mike in Baldwin Park: Wet and Wild! Good evening, Pumpkinistas! The wet weather has put a slight damper on Susan and Mike's pumpkin in Baldwin Park. Their pumpkin is still growing but it has slowed down...

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-32436442717458459972011-10-10T18:39:00.000-07:002011-10-10T18:51:38.873-07:00

Spartacus is turning orange! Some pumpkins are very optimistic... Back in Huntington Beach! Good evening, Pumpkinistas! As the season winds to a close and weigh-offs are being held on what seems an hourly basis, I am pleased to report that the second pumpkin, which I think should be named Spartacus for the lash marks that have miraculously appeared in the last few weeks, is beginning to turn

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-56067050116636829242011-10-04T19:06:00.000-07:002011-10-04T19:28:31.455-07:00

Me and my wife and son went up to a local growers patch. Tom is his name and he grew about 8 pumpkins in his patch. He is a great guy and fun to talk to. Below are some pictures of his patch. Tom on the left, myself on the right. Serious pumpkin talk going on here! :) Trading growing secrets maybe? Or just having fun and talking pumpkins. What a beauty of a pumpkin this one is!!!What is this in

Jim Fredrickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16343466708580923244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-26442044460497277662011-10-03T10:42:00.000-07:002011-10-03T10:59:26.410-07:00

Stuart,I wanted to report on a secret mission! I grabbed my camera and headed for an undisclosedpumpkin patch to confirm the rumors we have been hearing about a possible new san diego county record pumpkin! Unfortunately, I was only able to get one shot off of his patch before I was chased away!!!!!!!! :) I got one shot of his patch, but the pumpkin was only slightly visible in the photo.

Jim Fredrickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16343466708580923244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-22907799315235963222011-10-02T19:40:00.000-07:002011-10-02T19:40:12.282-07:00

Susan and Mike in Baldwin Park: Still in the Game! Good evening, Pumpkinistas! Through a combination of skill, luck, and generous applications of worm castings, Susan and Mike are still in the game. Susan has reported that her plant is still healthy and pumpkins are still putting on weight!

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-75835268638974271522011-10-01T12:26:00.000-07:002011-10-01T13:01:52.428-07:00

The State of the Patch: October! Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas! With all of the organizing activity for this year's weigh-off at Peltzer Farms, it was nice to take a few minutes today to show Michelle some of the new developments in the pumpkin patch. The main contender is becoming more orange. Pumpkin #2 is still putting on weight. Overall, as you can see, the ravages of powdery mildew have

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-31488761550986933322011-09-29T18:20:00.001-07:002011-09-29T18:27:50.381-07:00

Stuart,I wanted to report that there are some pretty big rumors going around in the San Diego County area! Rumor has it that there are a "couple" big pumpkins down here. Yup, you heard it here first, not one, but two big ones! How big? Where are they at? Well, rumor has it that two different growers have produced personal best's in their patches and one of them "might" be a new San Diego County

Jim Fredrickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16343466708580923244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-68508123724988594692011-09-28T11:00:00.000-07:002011-09-28T11:20:41.681-07:00

Good morning, Pumpkinistas! This announcement arrived today for the Elk Grove, CA giant pumpkin competition this week-end. If you have never attended it is a fun and unforgettable experience. "Shiver Me Pumpkins!" It's Time for the 2011 CSD Giant Pumpkin Festival of Elk Grove Avast me hearties…are you looking fer a fun filled family event? The 17th Annual CSD Giant Pumpkin Festival of Elk

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-25262581562889752462011-09-26T15:20:00.000-07:002011-09-26T15:20:25.788-07:00

World's Largest Human Being Growing a Giant Pumpkin! Aloha, Pumpkinistas! Rob in San Diego sent in this image of his thumb and his giant pumpkin earlier today. Under most circumstances, this would be of passing interest. What makes this image unique, is that Rob possesses a left hand that measures roughly10' long and 3' wide, or so he claims. This means that his hand is certainly worthy of a

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-28808320598284095082011-09-26T10:41:00.000-07:002011-09-26T10:41:04.590-07:00

Update: Susan and Mike in Baldwin Park Good morning, Pumpkinistas! Susan and Mike in Baldwin Park continue to soldier on in the face of fluctuating temperatures, intermittent sunlight, and powdery mildew. Note the ongoing use of fans to keep air circulating, and the health of their leaves and vines. (My vine(s) look like something out of an Old Testament punishment.)

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-19040716794082281912011-09-19T14:44:00.000-07:002011-09-19T14:44:59.135-07:00

Update: Susan and Mike in Baldwin Park Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas! The heat and humidity of the last couple of weeks slowed but hasn't stopped the growth and health of Susan and Mike's pumpkin in Baldwin Park. Note the use of fans in the top image. That's a good way to keep powdery mildew at bay: lots of air, moving through the patch and vines. Impressive effort, no?

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-21817292103205545342011-09-18T17:30:00.000-07:002011-09-18T17:30:13.974-07:00

Back at the Patch in Huntington Beach Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas! Well, it appears that the technical issue that was preventing me from downloading images from my camera to my computer has been finally solved! Here are some pictures taken near the end of August of my pumpkin. Since it's growing underneath a lemon tree with some fairly long and sharp stickers, I haven't measured it to get an

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-18767858579180447442011-09-10T13:29:00.000-07:002011-09-10T13:29:11.816-07:00

Susan and Mike in Baldwin Park: Update! Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas! The unseasonable hot weather we've had this week has caused Susan and Mike's main contender to slow down some. Fortunately, they have a new fruit shown above.

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-45437086925179541112011-09-10T13:26:00.000-07:002011-09-10T13:26:33.085-07:00

Stuart, Here is some photo evidence for all pumpkin growers, beware of sow bugs!!!! They cause damage on leaves, roots, vines and pumpkins

Jim Fredrickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16343466708580923244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-20106204564047501832011-09-07T21:19:00.001-07:002011-09-07T21:30:19.067-07:00

Stuart, here are some photos from my patch a few weeks ago. My plant has taken a beating and looks much worse now then these photos. The battle rages against sow bugs and disease. These little sow bugs are furocious and give me nightmares! Here is the photo proof below! The little guys feasting on my plant at night. Chow time! Lol They deform the base of the leaf stalks from so many bites until

Jim Fredrickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16343466708580923244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-21666569614652198162011-09-06T14:28:00.000-07:002011-09-06T14:28:37.486-07:00

Susan and Mike in Baldwin Park: Big Wheel Keeps on Turning! Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas! Well, Susan and Mike in Baldwin Park continue to thrive in spite of the weird, hot then cool, then hot weather we've been experiencing. As you can see from these photos, their leaves and vines are still very healthy. That is the key to a giant pumpkin, a healthy vine, late in the season.

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-47162936165539745912011-08-20T20:51:00.000-07:002011-08-20T21:25:31.395-07:00

Since Stuart mentioned about cover crops, so I wanted to include a picture of a cover crop I grew at my patch a couple years ago. This was a mix of rye, peas, and hairy vetch. They can grow pretty tall given time and water. They are very good for your soil. A horrific site in any patch that will give any grower nightmares! An empty spot where a once growing pumpkin used to be! Say it ain't so!

Jim Fredrickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16343466708580923244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-83300785491059055692011-08-19T16:25:00.000-07:002011-08-19T16:25:18.175-07:00

$2,000 School Garden Grant Program! Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas! I know that many of the individuals interested in growing giant pumpkin are teachers and students. A collaboration between, The Whole Kids Foundation, Whole Foods Markets, and FoodCorps is taking applications for any non-profit school to receive $2,000.00 for their school garden. Here's the link: http://wholekidsfoundation.org/

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-85902018277325812792011-08-19T11:44:00.000-07:002011-08-19T11:44:29.212-07:00

Cover Crop Basics... Good morning, Pumpkinistas! For those growers whose seasons may have ended abruptly and certainly for no good reason, it may be time to begin your strategy for the 2012 season. So, I thought that this video Peaceful Valley, might be helpful for any growers that might want to consider planting a cover crop to help improve the quality and tilth of their growing area in

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-77262523687723226512011-08-18T22:25:00.000-07:002011-08-18T22:25:15.183-07:00

Susan and Mike in Baldwin Park: Appointment with Destiny? Good evening, Pumpkinistas! Susan and Mike's efforts in Baldwin Park continue to astonish as you can tell in these photos. Note that the leaves on their vines are still a very nice dark green and that their pumpkin, although already pretty large, is a nice pale color. Normally this indicates that the season is still young for the pumpkin

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-62150311911120583512011-08-17T22:22:00.000-07:002011-08-17T22:22:10.583-07:00

Michelle enjoying the view! Russ Price in Rancho Santa Margarita! Good evening, Pumpkinistas, It's great to be able to report on a happy story. Russ Price, veteran grower and campaigner for a number of years, has quietly grown a monster pumpkin in an undisclosed location in an industrial office complex, in Rancho Santa Margarita. Michelle and I took a look and some pictures of Mr. Price's

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-30032206567884616622011-08-17T22:12:00.000-07:002011-08-17T22:12:41.900-07:00

 Be careful when trying to move a giant pumpkin.   Plan B The current state of the patch Moving a Giant Pumpkin: Dos and Don'ts Good evening, Pumpkinistas, Well, the previously heralded fruit is now a moldy, foul-smelling reminder of how carefully one must be when moving a giant pumpkin. Yes, I succumbed to needing to move it "Just 3 more inches!", when I heard the unmistakeable sound of stem

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-75775280209907295652011-08-11T15:33:00.000-07:002011-08-11T15:33:55.776-07:00

Pumpkinmania! 2011 Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off & Competition, October 22, 2011! Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas! I am very happy to announce that this year's Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off & Competition will be held Saturday, October 22, 2011, 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Island View Nursery, 3376 Foothill Road, Carpinteria, CA 93013, (805) 684-0324, website: http://www.islandviewnursery.com/! This year's weigh-off

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-91935227313153248732011-08-08T13:35:00.000-07:002011-08-08T15:43:26.334-07:00

Transplanting day!  Keeping the ground moist! Susan & Mike in Baldwin Park: In the Game! Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas! Susan and Mike in Baldwin Park are having a great season. As you can see from the images, from a mere seedling the amount of vine and leaf growth and fruiting, in ten weeks, has been staggering. Now that they have a couple of "baby" giant pumpkins, the real fun and growth

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-55921301969592959622011-08-02T13:08:00.000-07:002011-08-02T13:08:09.667-07:00

Meanwhile, back in San Diego... Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas! Rob Smith, geneticist and avid giant pumpkin grower, has successfully combined canine and plant DNA, the results of which you can see above. The question is how big the eventual pumpkin will be, and if will be able to play fetch, maybe even with itself. Thanks to Rob for his update! I've forwarded his research to the Nobel people in

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-22641655373391590982011-07-31T13:08:00.000-07:002011-07-31T13:08:07.867-07:00

There's a pumpkin in there! Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas! I am very happy to report that I have one pumpkin that has fruited in Huntington Beach. It's about 30-40 pounds so far, and I am, of course, hoping to beat the curse of 500 this season. We shall hope and see...

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-52304717230640018172011-07-24T21:17:00.000-07:002011-07-24T21:17:29.659-07:00

There were many ripe coffee cherries on the trees when we arrived. Close up view of the ripe coffee cherries.  Michelle sampling a ripe coffee cherry.  After picking the cherries, they are pulped, fermented overnight and then dried. Horses grazing in the pasture, coffee trees on the right. View from the back patio Back from Kula, Maui!Good evening, Pumpkinistas! As I mentioned previously,

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-47293949970840385612011-07-24T20:49:00.000-07:002011-07-24T20:49:55.006-07:00

Time for an Update! Good evening, Pumpkinistas! I have been on vacation and have finally had some time to post these images from mid and late June. The vines are doing well. I have culled the weakest of the trio, and will be reducing it down to one soon. At last count, there was one male flower ready to bloom, and a few female flowers just beginning to form. 

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-56528348920196539632011-06-23T14:26:00.000-07:002011-06-23T14:26:53.726-07:00

A New Cultivation Method! Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas! My long-time compadre and relatively new San Diego-based giant pumpkin grower, Rob is trying to coax his plants to grow by simple bribery as you can see in the image above. So far, the plants have not responded to $1 or $2 dollar bills, so Rob has upped the ante to $5. Good luck!

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-58438687436186115322011-06-21T11:44:00.000-07:002011-06-21T11:44:11.330-07:00

Summer Solstice! Good morning, Pumpkinistas! Here we are, the longest day/shortest night of the year, and first day of summer. For a more in-depth look at the summer solstice, I found following information on www.Chiff.com: Sol + stice derives from a combination of Latin words meaning "sun" + "to stand still." As the days lengthen, the sun rises higher and higher until it seems to stand still in

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-76423738824717956062011-06-18T18:51:00.000-07:002011-06-18T18:58:29.491-07:00

Celebrating the planting Full Moon Transplanting at the Huntington Beach Community Garden Good eveing, Pumpkinistas! The folks at the Huntington Beach Community Garden http://www.huntingtonbeachcommunitygarden.com/ took advantage of Wednesday, June 15th's full Strawberry Moon to launch their first season of giant pumpkin cultivation. Four pedigreed seedlings were planted in a very

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-61417177472257582282011-06-18T18:20:00.000-07:002011-06-18T18:20:12.766-07:00

 State of the Patch Good evening, Pumpkinistas! This season's patch is doing better after a reduction in watering. There are still 3 plants in the mound so the Big Decision time approaches. Which one to keep, which ones to sacrifice?

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-52961947146704888722011-05-30T19:31:00.000-07:002011-05-30T19:31:47.219-07:00

The Box is Off: Week 2 Begins Good evening, Pumpkinistas!  These are the latest pictures of this year's efforts one week after transplanting. The pictures were taken this morning, about 11:00 a.m..You can see the second leaves just developing in the middle photo. These leaves will eventually become the primary vines, which will be growing to the right---> when they begin developing in the coming

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-60538952870452370042011-05-24T13:23:00.000-07:002011-05-24T13:23:54.374-07:00

Progress in New York! Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas! Pete Yeager was kind enough to send these latest images of his New York-based, giant pumpkin cultivation efforts. Yes, that is a 4' deep hole in the top picture. Pete says that his plants have doubled in size since they were transplanted. For more details, including a specially designed cage to protect his vines from animal damage, please

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-80691424305492504662011-05-23T13:20:00.000-07:002011-05-23T13:20:31.325-07:00

One of many displays at Farm Supply, in San Luis Obispo Some of the 'Atlantic Giant' seedlings germinated by Dr. Joe Sabol and his teamA new attendance record was set at Farm Supply's workshop! The entrance to the indoor retail area at Island View Nursery Veteran and new giant pumpkin growers at Island View Nursery's workshop Central Coast Week-end! Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas! The only

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-91368225804318467992011-05-23T10:51:00.000-07:002011-05-23T13:27:51.973-07:00

This year's hole was about 42" deep The finished mound Soaker hose applied to the mound. Michelle, patiently waiting for her 1,000 pound pumpkin to appear. 2011 Soil, mound, irrigation, seedling transplanting chronology Good morning, Pumpkinistas! Well, here it is. I have posted pictures of the hole dig, mound creation, soaker hose application, and finally, seedling transplanting, above. My

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-73990268049668790872011-05-19T11:42:00.000-07:002011-05-19T11:42:43.889-07:00

Report from New York: The Right Stuff Good morning, Pumpkinistas! This in from Pete Yeager, a first-time grower in upstate New York: "Stuart: Big news here. Doc Miller my pediatrician / gentleman farmer friend just dropped off a load of finely aged Belgian and Percheron draft horse manure. Big horses should make big pumpkins, and nothing gets any bigger than these horses. The garden is

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-71391854068228091602011-05-17T08:02:00.000-07:002011-05-17T08:07:16.016-07:00

Exploding Chinese melons: A Cautionary Tale Good morning, Pumpkinistas! A very interesting and educational article from the Associated Press about Chinese farmers overfertilizing their giant pumpkin-related plants. More is not necessarily better... http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110517/ap_on_fe_st/as_china_exploding_watermelons;_ylt=AiOzCSWwsAfShVC8GYGMhgFwGLl_;_ylu=

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-12596960135385497422011-05-12T11:00:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:36:40.221-07:00

GreenCure's Seedlings! Good morning, Pumpkinistas! Just in: Pete at GreenCure, ( a long-time sponsor of Pumpkinmania, and an excellent organic fungicide, http://www.greencure.net/ ) e-mailed me this picture of his seedlings and the following update from his patch in upstate New York: "Stuart: At present 6 of 7 seeds germinated / sprouted. We've had so much rain that we haven't been able to set

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-12575954046009660372011-05-11T08:53:00.000-07:002011-05-11T08:53:22.619-07:00

Seeds have sprouted in San Luis Obispo! Good morning, Pumpkinistas! I have just received an update from Dr. Joe Sabol regarding the giant pumpkin seedlings for this Saturday's 10:00 a.m. workshop at Farm Supply, http://www.farmsupplycompany.com/, 224 Tank Farm Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401, (805) 543-3751: "Hi Stuart... We have hundreds of seeds germinated, planted and up!!! They are in 4

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-64990017197807544542011-05-06T12:38:00.000-07:002011-05-06T12:38:57.759-07:00

Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas! I have an update from Dr. Joe Sabol about next week-end's workshop preparations at Farm Supply in San Luis Obispo...If you're in need or would like an expertly germinated seedling, you may want to RSVP for the workshop at (805) 543-3751. "Thanks a million to all four of you (Cara's Mom too) for a very productive planting party this morning!!! This morning in

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-30023031069075091902011-05-02T15:01:00.000-07:002011-05-02T15:01:37.480-07:00

Mason bees released! Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas! The latest development in the patch was the release of a tube of Mason bees on April 23rd. As you can see in the pictures above, the large tube in the top row is empty. (That's how the bees were shipped to me. The other tubes are for nesting.) So, presumably, they are out pollinating the trees and flowers within a 300' radius of their house.

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-48832059895980462962011-04-01T16:11:00.000-07:002011-04-01T16:11:14.482-07:00

2011 Lunar Giant Pumpkin Planting Dates! Good afternoon, Growers! Yes, it's time to start strategizing for this season's giant pumpkin cultivation efforts. Here are the full moons for April, May, and June: Monday, April 18, 2011 Tuesday, May 17, 2011 Wednesday, June 15, 2011 Exact times will vary from location to location. Transplanting your seedling(s) between 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. local time,

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-54648355589920113842011-03-30T13:58:00.000-07:002011-04-01T16:13:32.466-07:00

2011 Extreme Gardening World Tour Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas! As I mentioned previously, this year's workshop schedule is greatly abbreviated so I can focus growing a giant pumpkin for Michelle. That said, I've scheduled two workshops for mid-May in San Luis Obispo and Carpinteria. As always, there will be lots of fun, laughter, and surprises, so I hope you will make plans to attend! As any

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-24747140177508201212011-03-20T15:16:00.000-07:002011-03-20T15:20:44.299-07:00

2011 Santa Barbara International Orchid Show Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas! I had a chance to drive up the 101 last week-end to see this year's Santa Barbara International Orchid Show. This year's theme was Route 66. So, the various displays had a road or automobile touring theme to them. As always, it was an opportunity to see some of the finest and beautiful orchid displays in North

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-10687123285368894472011-03-20T15:01:00.000-07:002011-03-20T15:48:02.650-07:00

Susan G. Warren, Author Review of "Backyard Giants" by Susan G. Warren Good afternoon, Growers! While planning my strategy for 2011, I read "Backyard Giants" by Susan Warren, http://www.backyardgiants.com/, Bloomsbury USA, New York, 10010, First U.S. Edition 2007. It's a very entertaining and fascinating account of the 2005 season of the Rhode Island father-son giant pumpkin growing team, Dick

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-82030387195610822882011-03-06T20:01:00.000-08:002011-03-06T20:04:42.343-08:00

This year's venue was the pavilion in Elk Grove Park, Elk Grove, CA Growers line up early! The anticipation for the seed swap was palpable Four thousand seed packets were collected and distributed to hopeful growers! Brant Bordsen, California Giant Pumpkin Record Holder, 1,645.5 pounds, 2010 2011 California Giant Pumpkin Growers Forum Good evening, Pumpkinistas! One of the most interesting events

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-68662101140401656532011-03-04T10:26:00.000-08:002011-03-06T20:49:26.206-08:00

(Photo courtesy of Crown Bees) Getting prepared for the season:Pollinating with Mason Bees Good morning, Pumpkinistas! After a long winter hiatus, I am happy to post for the first time in 2011! There are a couple of things that I'd like write about. Many growers have voiced their concerns about the lack of fruiting of their giant pumpkin vines in the past. That is, they grow a beautiful green

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-1515171677218117132010-12-27T16:52:00.000-08:002010-12-27T17:10:39.461-08:00

Stuart,Just wanted to update you on our year! Both Vince and myself had planned on coming up to the weigh off, but when the date and location changed, we were unable to make the trip. So here is a quick look at our fruit. Above is my pumpkin and myself. She weighed in at 860 lbs, a little lighter than I thought she would go, but still a great fruit. Vince's pumpkin weighed in at 727 lbs. We were

Jim Fredrickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16343466708580923244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-45965090513895463662010-11-09T15:43:00.000-08:002010-11-09T15:43:13.720-08:00

This year's competition was held on the grounds of Island View Nursery, Carpinteria, CA 1,138 pounds, Terminator, and the winning entry! Island View's Pumpkinmania Weigh-off & Contest Huge Success! Thank-you, Thank-you to everyone who made the drive to Island View and attended this year's Pumpkinmania event! Because of Pumpkinmania, our annual Fall Festival soared to new heights with

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-43998260064254948162010-10-06T14:30:00.000-07:002010-10-06T14:33:46.561-07:00

Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off Details! Good afternoon, Growers! Just putting the final details together for this year's weigh-off...Yes, there will be a weigh-off, just not in the same location, date, time as in the past. Here are the details: Saturday, October 30, 2010, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., at Island View Nursery, http://www.islandviewnursery.com/ as part of Island View Nursery's Fall Festival,

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-10458261900484944322010-09-15T13:16:00.000-07:002010-09-15T13:24:24.121-07:00

Stuart, Here is a peek at my pumpkin on day 70. She is partially uncovered in the photo from her tent home! This is the time of year that you get to sit back and truly enjoy your pumpkin. It took a lot of work to get to this point in the season, and many growers don't ever get rewarded for all the work they do. Many disasters abruptly end many a' growers seasons, and this year, so far, I have

Jim Fredrickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16343466708580923244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-56873233634096885372010-09-15T09:38:00.000-07:002010-09-15T09:38:37.164-07:00

Well, my pumpkin growing season ended when my dog (who didn't eat the vine) but ate the irrigation hose that fed the plant. After licking my wounds and calling animal control, I was surprised to see a plant thriving on it's own. This sunflower was grown at my kids' school in the garden. I planted it with a first grade class back in May. When school started last week, I dropped by the garden to

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-68828438028806833862010-09-14T09:53:00.000-07:002010-09-14T09:58:12.931-07:00

Ed in Carlsbad is at it again. This is a picture of his pumpkin with his neighbor Bill behind it. Bill said it was the biggest pumpkin he had ever seen! Sure is a beauty in color. Keep up the good work Ed, and have fun showing it off!

Jim Fredrickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16343466708580923244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-13704156788866636562010-08-24T15:37:00.000-07:002010-08-24T15:41:29.467-07:00

Ed in Tustin has a great pumpkin growing! His friend is pictured with the pumpkin above. Looks like a beauty in color and a contender in size. Keep her going Ed and keep us posted on how she does. Great job!

Jim Fredrickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16343466708580923244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-68650894160330571962010-08-17T10:50:00.000-07:002010-08-17T10:56:20.309-07:00

Hi Stuart, There was a mysterious sighting in the patch! It's big, orange, and round. I haven't identified the object quite yet, but it looks pretty big. Hopefully it will get bigger! There is also another object just as big or bigger in the same area, I will have to look into it and get back to you! Have a great day. Jim

Jim Fredrickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16343466708580923244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-71957222648732333262010-07-21T11:16:00.000-07:002010-07-21T11:26:52.523-07:00

Well, the Fredricks farm is coming along now. My plant and vince's plant are just a few feet away from meeting now. Two pumpkin huts are now up! Our plants were loving the high heat the past week and pumpkin growth exploded with big gains for small fruits. Now the temperature is way below normal and growth has slowed down, but still steady. A really weird summer so far for the weather. Forecast

Jim Fredrickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16343466708580923244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-46890677274450758852010-07-14T11:00:00.000-07:002010-07-14T11:13:44.709-07:00

Stuart,Here is my little guy at day 9. She is growing nicely so far and ahead of my numbers from years past. Could this be a good sign? I have no idea, but time will tell! It's getting hot hot hot hot hot! Misters on full and water water water! A view of my plant. She is really ripping now in growth and size. I am going all organic this year for a special reason. I am spraying milk, water, and

Jim Fredrickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16343466708580923244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-44897104914066327672010-07-12T13:38:00.000-07:002010-07-12T13:38:35.076-07:00

Ed in Tustin nee' Carlsbad Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas! Ed in Tustin's cucurbit juggernaut continues: "Hi, Stuart, Not quite the size of a small horse yet...but getting there. Guess it is the size of one of those exercise balls at this point (dwarfing the Coke can on the left side). Needed to tent it since the sun is starting to heat things up and I want to keep the skin pliable. Will probably

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-4696629851001195482010-07-10T15:47:00.000-07:002010-07-10T15:47:00.625-07:00

Bob of San Juan Capistrano: A Worthy Challenger! Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas! Just when you think that you have the biggest pumpkin in Orange County, and perhaps, in the region, something unexpected happens... This update just in... "Stuart, Attached are a few pictures of the pumpkins which are growing in San Juan Capistrano. They seem to be doing very well. Besides hoping for a high weight

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-14406855407475748412010-07-10T15:34:00.000-07:002010-07-10T15:34:19.471-07:00

Ed in Tustin: What a Difference a Day Makes! Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas! Here's a great example of how quickly a giant pumpkin can grow in just 24 hours... It's probably the size of a small horse by now...

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-65903988684603465122010-07-10T15:29:00.000-07:002010-07-10T15:29:08.487-07:00

Ed in Tustin: Growing Like a Giant Pumpkin Should! Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas! Attention has shifted for Ed from Carlsbad to his effort in Tustin, and rightfully so... "Good afternoon Stuart, Another update for you: The Tustin Bhaskaran pumpkin is growing like crazy. When I sent the last picture in on the 4th, it was the size of a softball. Hard to believe but it is now the size of a

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-84779828630063082582010-07-08T15:44:00.000-07:002010-07-08T15:44:53.561-07:00

Tustin Memorial Academy: Great so far! Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas! Here's the lastest from the most recent crop of growers at Tustin Memorial Academy: "Hi Stuart, So far, so good...I think. The leaves on these pumpkins are huge. They remind me of an elephant's ear. Anyway, I've attached some photos, so you can see the progress. Do you think we are on target for some really big pumpkins? We

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-23720649295640087172010-07-08T15:14:00.000-07:002010-07-08T15:14:29.686-07:00

Ed in Carlsbad & Tustin Fresh Fruit! Good afternoon, Growers! After being laid low by an unknown bug for a few days over the 4th of July holiday, I am back, happy to report on Ed in Carlsbad's/Tustin's recent developments... "Hi Stuart, I'm having a little friendly competition...with myself. As you know from previous postings, I am growing a seed from a 942 Breznick in Carlsbad. The plant was

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-67720640559364012852010-07-03T12:39:00.001-07:002010-07-03T12:49:45.198-07:00

Hi Stuart, here is an update from the patch. Above, is the 1424 Werner plant really growing well now for me. But the real story is in the two pictures below. My friend Vince is off to a great start with his plant as you will see.... This is a picture of the other San Diego competition. My friend Vince is growing the 901 Hunt seed and he is way ahead of my plant right now. Do you see something

Jim Fredrickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16343466708580923244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-67692243753453142192010-07-02T09:48:00.000-07:002010-07-02T09:48:50.732-07:00

By now all you good pumpkin growers have plants that are thriving in the long days of summer. In years past I've grown a few large pumpkins. The largest at about 250# but most in the 100 pound range… big enough for people to say “wow!” but not large enough to be competitive. A few years ago I started growing sunflowers for a few reasons but the deciding factor was space. I don’t have a whole lot

Ericnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-56955563286948255782010-07-01T13:17:00.000-07:002010-07-01T13:17:43.568-07:00

Garden Center Magazine : Products Vertical EroScape

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-77554740291774039462010-06-27T19:29:00.000-07:002010-06-27T19:34:41.478-07:00

Stuart, This is the 1424 Werner as of Sunday evening. She is really starting to run and size up as a plant now. The main vine is around 10 feet long. You can see a pumpkin on the vine, but it was too close to the stump for my "keeper". I have a pumpkin that will be about 12 feet out on the main vine, she will be my target fruit. Hopefully I can pollinate around July 4th. I sprayed with garlic

Jim Fredrickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16343466708580923244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-4283904317606596852010-06-20T20:33:00.000-07:002010-06-20T20:33:24.146-07:00

Ed in Carlsbad: Reflections of June 20, 2010 Good evening, Pumpkinistas! An update and some thoughts from Ed in Carlsbad: "Hi Stuart, Hope you are doing well. Sometimes we all get caught up with the chores of amending the soil, pest control, fertilizing, pruning, etc. and "forget" to enjoy the beauty of the moment. Here are a few pictures that I took today which show how nature has a way of "

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-61884644211593084922010-06-20T20:06:00.000-07:002010-06-20T20:06:14.221-07:00

Y-Valve to Timer to Hose Connected to Soaker HoseMound One Soaker Hose DetailMound One Soaker Hose System LiveMound Two Soaker Hose ExposedWatering System Installation Complete! Good evening, Pumpkinistas! I am happy to report that the watering system for the giant pumpkins I am cultivating at the Farm and Food Lab at the Great Park of Orange County as part of my activities as a UCCE Master

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-24305405760837046802010-06-19T12:37:00.000-07:002010-06-19T12:45:07.467-07:00

Here is a really ugly looking scene! Oh the horror of this hobby:) This was the demise of the 991 urena seed. I blew out my main vine, used another vine and it blew out. So I tried one last vine and pop, she blew out too. A world class plant was given a funeral today and hacked up into many pieces by the grower's anger lol. So, on to plan B.... Here is the 1424 Werner 08 seed. After the demise

Jim Fredrickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16343466708580923244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-26393556451437664312010-06-15T12:54:00.000-07:002010-06-15T12:55:02.237-07:00

Mound One Day 14Mound Two Day 14Great Park Day 14: Wire Enclosures Installed! Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas! Wire enclosures have been installed around the mounds and giant pumpkin seedlings that are growing at the Orange County Great Park this season, as part of my activities as a UCCE Certified Master Gardener. The staff at the Great Park did an outstanding job fabricating and installing the

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-19981880120926976692010-06-13T21:01:00.000-07:002010-06-13T21:01:28.118-07:00

Gavin in Olivenhein III Good evening, Growers! I received these photos and a message that the largest trench/mound complex on the West Coast is completed and seedlings have been transplanted as of this early evening. I am sure Gavin is feeling the elation that the pharaohs must have experienced after completing the pyramids! Congratulations! Now, the fun begins!

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-978331984216601732010-06-10T18:20:00.000-07:002010-06-10T19:40:26.277-07:00

Gavin in Olivenhein II Good evening, Growers! The saga of quite possibly the most elaborate and biggest mound preparation ever attempted on the West Coast continues! "Hi Stuart, We took delivery of our weed-free dirt today (including manure and wild mushrooms). We used a delivery service because we needed 5 cubic yards to fill our hole and don't have a big truck. Now we have to mix our dirt.

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-61873607982953171952010-06-09T13:53:00.000-07:002010-06-09T14:00:13.531-07:00

Ed in Carlsbad: First pumpkin of the season! Good afternoon, Growers! Ed in Carlsbad filed the following update on his season last night: "Stuart, Hard to believe considering the cool weather we have had so far this season in Carlsbad, but it looks like my vigorous Breznick is already producing its' first pumpkin...and I haven't even started any fertilizing yet! I had a profusion of male flowers

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-73140134227013970842010-06-08T10:54:00.000-07:002010-06-08T10:54:47.046-07:00

Mound One, 7 Days OldMound Two, 7 Days Old 7 Days Old: The Seedlings at The Great Park of Orange County Good morning, Pumpkinistas! Here are pictures from yesterday of the giant pumpkin seedlings that are planted at the Great Park as part of my activities as an active University of California Cooperative Extension Certified Master Gardener. They are now about one week old, and, you can see

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-71874086926841245302010-06-07T16:13:00.000-07:002010-06-07T16:13:59.167-07:00

Finale of the 2010 World Tour: Seattle! Hello, Growers! The final week-end of workshops of the 2010 season were presented in Seattle. Working for the first time with Naomi Murray, Territory Manager of Kellogg Garden Products, the tour visited Emery's Garden, My Garden Nursery, and Bellevue Nursery. Attendance was a little light at Emery's Garden Saturday morning but was more than made up at My

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-51977212196860503182010-06-07T13:02:00.000-07:002010-06-07T15:38:23.927-07:00

Before Giant Pumpkin Growing AreaGiant Pumpkin Growing Area Under Construction3' wide, 15' long, 4' deep, trench/mound hole! (You can see the skyline of Shanghai if look carefully!) Gavin in Olivenhein: Going for it! Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas! The San Diego area growers are very active this season. I received the following update and the four pictures above from Gavin in Olivenhein yesterday

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-91664111306509018822010-06-04T11:00:00.000-07:002010-06-07T15:57:37.230-07:00

Good morning Stuart, I must warn you, the pictures are painful! What you are looking at is my main vine. It grew too fast a couple days ago and blew up on me. Ouch!!!!! I hate when that happens. So I cut it off about a foot behind the break. But the good news is that all is not lost! As the pictures show, I am training a new vine from the stump area as the new main. It is a good learning

Jim Fredrickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16343466708580923244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-90405588270393992742010-06-03T12:22:00.000-07:002010-06-03T12:22:19.558-07:00

A Potential Application of Pumpkinmania Contest Entries? Good afternoon, Growers! Bob of San Juan Capistrano was kind enough to send in this photo and a suggestion that contestants in the Pumpkinmania! Weigh-off & Contest might consider being part of the attempt to capture the World's Biggest Pumpkin Pie. Why not? It might be a great and creative way to use the pumpkins after the contest! Thank

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-11654339686207071462010-06-02T21:17:00.000-07:002010-06-02T21:17:03.733-07:00

Ed in Carlsbad: Impressive Beginning! Good evening, Growers! This update just in from Ed in Carlsbad! "Hi Stuart, Hope you are doing well. This is from Ed in Carlsbad. Obtained this seed (parent was a 942 lb. Breznick 2007) from a Giant Pumpkin Grower (Steve in South Hero, Vermont) and it seems to like its' new home in Carlsbad. I soaked the seed when I received it and then put it in a 1

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-85906121399191542952010-06-01T15:09:00.000-07:002010-06-01T15:09:23.498-07:00

Mound One Mound Two Seedlings Transplanted at The Great Park! Good evening, Growers! I am very pleased to inform you that four giant pumpkin seedlings were transplanted yesterday afternoon into the two mounds at The Great Park that were dug and filled last week-end as part of my activities as an active University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardener. The seedlings were planted so

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-34642369618379932962010-05-31T17:51:00.000-07:002010-05-31T17:51:34.250-07:00

A Slight Dilemma for Tim Lane in Santa Barbara! Hello, Growers! I received the following message from Tim Lane in Santa Barbara: "Hi Stuart, I think something went wrong with my pumpkins plants. The stems to the first and second leaf are very long. How far down do I plant them? I'm planning on only keeping one plant. Thanks, Tim Lane Santa Barbara, Ca." My response, (which was probably

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-14552082103296063632010-05-30T20:24:00.000-07:002010-05-31T17:26:59.990-07:00

Something Literary from Todd Slinde Good evening, Growers! This very timely poetic contribution from Todd Slinde comes when many growers have recently, or soon will, prepare their giant pumpkin patches and growing areas. It was inspired by Todd's experiences digging his hole last season and this past week. Thank you very much, Todd! Ph.D. You may have education that comes out your ears You may

Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6064713.post-57466497616714790132010-05-30T20:06:00.000-07:002010-05-30T20:06:50.783-07:00

Alex & Carmen in Montebello: Day 7 Good evening, Growers! I have a brief update from Alex and Carmen in Montebello: "In 7 days after last Saturday's workshop, we have plants. We will put them in the ground soon!" Well done! Thank you very much for your update and picture!

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