Before Giant Pumpkin Growing Area

Giant Pumpkin Growing Area Under Construction

3' 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. See how easy it is when you have a tractor?

"Hi Stuart!



We took your giant pumpkin class a few weeks ago at Cedros Gardens in Solana Beach and were motivated to try growing our own giant pumpkins (from your pumpkin seeds).

We graded a large section of our hill (images attached) and had our guy also carve out a large trench for us to plant the pumpkins (image attached). The trench is fifteen feet long, three feet wide, and four feet deep (image attached). Our Olivenhein site gets plenty of sun from sunrise to sunset.


The giant pumpkin seeds you gave us have started to grow in their peat pots (image attached) (4 out of 12 seeds have surfaced in 7 days). Given the size of our trench, how many pumpkin seedlings would you recommend planting and how far apart?

Thank you!

Gavin"

Bravo! I'm glad to see that Gavin has embraced the fun, adventure, and major excavation that is the essence of giant pumpkin cultivation.

Note: My suggestion was 2 pairs of seedlings or a total of 4 seedlings planted at opposite ends of the trench, planted 10"-12" apart, eventually culled down to 1 seedling, per end, in 10-21 days.

Oh painful day!

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 experience for anyone who loses their vine to an accident or rodent! Train a new vine in a good position and it will become the new main vine.

As you can see, I also gave my plant a hair cut. It is always good to get rid of small leaves around the stump for air flow. So my plant is kind of naked now, but just give it a few weeks! I also have put up temporary shade cloth to help prevent leaf burn. Have a great day! Jim

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 you very much for the photo and suggestion, Bob!

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 gallon pot with planting mix and covered with plastic wrap - essentially creating a "mini-greenhouse". Within a week, it sprouted and starting growing vigorously and about a week later the roots had grown to the bottom of the pot at which point I had to move it into a 5 gallon pot. It has been in the ground for under two weeks now and has grown considerably (even has a few flowers starting). Attached are a few pics which I just took today. It is interesting to note that my planting mound was "accidentally" created when I had to shovel dirt from runoff into a pile after one of our big winter rainstorms. I had not got around to spreading the dirt out on the lot when I decided that maybe "fate" had another goal for the mound. Can't say that the soil has been "amended" but the consistency is a good sandy loam and based on the initial growth of the plant, it looks like a "good fit". With some warmer weather and a little fertilizer, I am hoping that it will really take off and Mother Nature will produce the "big one".

Take care and I will keep you updated.

Ed"

Thank you very much for your update! Looks like a very vigorous vine!

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 a minimum of stem was present under the cotyledons/seed leaves, increasing the potential root system of the vine. Medium size cardboard boxes were placed around each set of seedlings, and secured by bamboo stakes, and left partially open, to protect them from strong winds, harsh sunlight, a late season downpour, insects, and birds. They will be removed as soon as the seedlings have established themselves, in 5-10 days, perhaps sooner.

The seedlings will be eventually culled down to one seedling/vine per mound in a few weeks, sooner if it's evident that one vine is dominant.

The 2010 giant pumpkin growing season (for me) officially begins!

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 longer than it needed to be.)

Hi Tim!


Thanks very much for your pictures and message.


Indeed, I see that your seeds sprouted, and that for whatever reason, that they weren't given access to light right away. That's the usual reason that they get "leggy", or the stems elongate. It can happen very quickly, like overnight.


Not to fear. You'll simply transplant them deep enough that the soil is about 1" below the bottom of the leaves. This way, all of the stem that is now in the soil, will become part of the root system. This may mean 8"-10" deep.


Your plants look very healthy, so I wouldn't be too concerned. My suggestion, since I can see roots coming out of the coir pots, is to transplant your seedlings into your mound(s) or planting area soon... Like within 24-48 hours at the latest. You definitely do not want your roots to start circling inside of the coir pot. In fact, when you do transplant, try to gently break up or loosen up the fibers of the coir pot before you transplant it and the seedling into your mound. That way, you'll know the roots will be free to start establishing themselves into your mound.


I hope that this helps!

Good luck this season! You're off to a great start!


Stuart"

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 be a brave one with never any fears


You may have a job that provides lots of money


You may have many friends that think you are funny


You may be a politician because you want to rule


You may be a judge, meant to lock up every fool


You may have a sports car that you absolutely love


You may have a private plane that takes you above


You may have that gigantic mansion high up on a hill


You may be a daredevil and enjoy every thrill
Or… you may be a gardener and it is plants that you grow


You may have knowledge that you think that you know


You may be able to hybridize and develop something new


You may be good at propagating; it’s something that you do


You may know how to grow that picture perfect rose


Your flowers, more brilliant, of that I do suppose


You may grow an abundance of veggies and fine herbs


You think you have the greenest thumb and feel quite superb


So… your plants may grow bigger, with even more vigor


But at least I’ve earned a Ph.D.….. Yes, I’m a Pumpkin hole Digger!


Written By: Todd A. Slinde Ph. D.

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!

Jim Fredricks, San Diego, CA: So far, so good!

"Hi Stuart,

Just wanted to shoot you the first picture of my plant this year as of yesterday. The 991 Urena plant lives!!! LOL. Anyway, don't ever let small ugly, deformed seedlings depress you. My 991 seedling had one seed leaf when it came up, the other one was shrunken curled into nothing and it had a "club" root. Club roots are deformed root systems that don't develop normal at first. Let's just say she was an ugly duckling. This is a picture of her today, nice and normal looking. I was encouraged by other growers who told me Ron Wallace's 1502 world record a few years ago was a club root too.

 

Weather is cold and not so good for this time of year, so growth is moderate for now. Hope to pollinate by July 1st! I also had a change of plan, I will be growing totally organic for the first time in many years, including my insect and disease control. I will explain why later, but it is a good thing. Just more work!

Jim"

Thanks! Jim's off to a great start! (The "Urena" referred to by Jim is Leonardo Urena, one of the famous growers in the Napa area, and mentioned in the Wall Street Journal article of the last few weeks.)

In The Mix: Alex and Carmen in Montebello, CA

Good afternoon!

I received this update from Alex and Carmen from Montebello yesterday morning. They make it look so easy!

"Hi Stuart,

We started the process of amending our soil today. Here are some pictures. The hole is about 3 1/2 feet deep. Have started three seedlings in peat pots today.

Alex and Carmen

Montebello, CA"

Day 1, Mound 1

The Ingredients, (not pictured: 39, 3 cubic foot bags of Gardner & Bloome Soil Building Compost)

Day 2, Mound 2

Rocky and Joanne Doke, the Gardeners of Mercy, Lifesavers, and Incalculable Help

The Impossible: Two Days, Two Mounds, and 120 Cubic Feet of Soil Amendments!

Good evening, Pumpkinistas!

I am extremely happy to report that the giant pumpkin vines that I'll be growing at the Great Park, as part of my activities as part of the UCCE Master Gardener program, now have a place to grow.

In truly incredible and magical fashion, two square holes, that measured 4' wide, and 5' deep, Saturday, are now completely filled in, replete with mounds about 20" tall.

The odyssey began Saturday afternoon with my arrival at the Great Park, where my elation at finding the two holes dug perfectly was tempered by my discovery that the soil from the holes, (that was to be mixed copious amounts of soil amendments generously donated by Kellogg Garden Products, pelleted sulfur, agricultural lime, and Gardner & Bloome organic fertilizer) was located approximately two football fields away from the holes! (I realized immediately that I need to clarify my instructions in the future.)

So, I began moving the soil back to the holes, mixing it with some of the 40, 3 cubic foot bags of Gardner & Bloome Soil Building Compost, sulfur, lime, and organic fertilizer, and filling up the first hole. It was a truly artisan process to mix up just the right amount of each ingredient and it took more than a few tries to get the process right. Luckily, the weather was cooperating with cool winds and temperatures. As the sun began to set, Mound One was complete! I replaced the orange plastic safety cones, ecstatic that I could still walk, and began mental preparations for Mound Two.

Day Two dawned with me able to get out slowly out of bed. Dressing was a bit of a challenge, since my clothing seemed to have put on an incredible amount of weight overnight. After the morning's workshop at Batavia Garden, including a brief aside about the challenges and final triumph of Mound One, I set out to conquer Mound Two.

I was just putting on the final touches on Mound One, when a white Suburban, driven by Rocky and Joanne Doke, part of the morning's workshop attendees and gardeners of mercy pulled up! I could hardly suppress my tears of joy and thought I might be hallucinating when they began unloading a wheelbarrow and shovels! I think there was some involuntary tearing anyway...

We quickly began the process of filling in the second hole, pausing now and then to chat, document our collective mound-building effprts, and keep hydrated. Before we knew it, we were taking victory pictures, and cleaning up! My gratitude for the Dokes' generous help and sacrifice is indescribable.

Miracles and magical things do happen. (Without them, I would still be working on Mound Two!)

Photo courtesy of Alex and Carmen Morales

In Orange, Orange County, California!

Good evening, Pumpkinistas!

It's always great to be back in Orange County, CA, where I was born, grew up, and still live. This week-end I had the pleasure of presenting at two nurseries that have been part of Pumpkinmania! and the giant pumpkin growing workshops since their beginning, yesterday morning at Orange County Farm Supply, at the invitation of Chris Roy and Ron Goss, and this morning at Batavia Garden, at the invitation of Ron Hamada, very ably assisted by Keiko Kakiuchi, and the Hamada brothers. As always, I had a great time, and it's always a plus to speak to a receptive and friendly home crowd! Long time growers, Alex and Carmen Morales, and Rey and Addie Ceja were in attendance. It was great to see so many familiar and supportive faces.

Thank you all very much for making this week-end so very special.