Stuart,

I know we have been quiet from the Fredricks patch this year but this will catch you up. We decided to grow our own 980 Fredricks seed this year. Photos above are of my son Joshua, myself with the weed blower and sprayer using a fun and cheap way to spray the plant, and of Mr Chris Dunn, last year's pumpkinmania champion who visited the patch. Pumpkin is small now but hopefully not for long!

Jim Fredricks, San Diego CA

Chris Dunn's 2014 Season

An update from Chris Dunn...

Hey Stuart! Just a little Pumpkimania update. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a 2009 Wallace last year. Here she is at 13 days in the patch. I started everything two weeks later this year in hopes of getting in on that late season warm weather we get! I'm rolling the dice and hoping for a strong Indian summer late into September. I have a couple other plants going but nothing picture worthy yet:)

Hope your plants are doing well and the family is good!

Chat soon,

Chris

Good morning, Stuart! 

Here's a shot of the 2009 this morning. It's had a few issues but all in all is coming around nicely. Even though I waited a couple weeks later to plant, I'm still right about where I was last year on the same date. Funny how these things do that:). Looks like I'll be in position to pollinate my first one in 5 or 6 days with the next female flower being a few days behind that.

Hope yours are doing well and chat soon!

Blue Hills Nursery 2014

An update from Blue Hills Nursery!

"Hi Stuart,

I just wanted to thank you again for our wonderful seminar. Everyone really enjoyed it. Also here's an update on my pumpkin it's growing quickly! All the customers really enjoy watching it grow as well."

I received this message and images from Jen Van Diest at Blue Hills Nursery. What makes their effort particularly interesting is that Jen's growing their pumpkin at their nursery and in a large container!

So far, so good!

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

Jen from Blue Hills Nursery in Whittier e-mailed me yesterday and included the pictures that you see above.

"Here's she is. She's growing by the day. I've named her "Maggie Mae". We have a bit of mildew we are treating. She seems to be growing well. Soon I'll break out the umbrella and give her shade from the afternoon heat."

Looking very good!

At an Undisclosed Location, on the Planet Earth...

 Mike, The Mystery Gardener

At an Undisclosed Location, on the Planet Earth...

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

I am happy to announce that my giant pumpkin seedlings are in the ground. Because of space limitations, I'll be growing this year in a new location, a location that has never been used for giant pumpkins ever before. My growing partner, Mike M., "The Mystery Gardener" has graciously agreed to be part of this season's adventure, providing an outstanding growing area, with plenty of sunshine, a sturdy back, and a very positive outlook!

The seedlings were transplanted yesterday, early evening, about 5:30 p.m., and everything went well.

The hot weather will be a challenge, but we wanted the seedlings in the ground for tonight's full moon!

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

The seedlings that were transplanted May 13th, have been growing nicely. It's been a month since these weeds were germinated. There have been no unprovoked insect or animal attacks yet, and they even managed to survive the record-setting heat of late May. Other than some rather light green leaves, I have no issues.

Cucumbers are ready!

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

While I am waiting for this season's giant pumpkin seedlings to develop, I thought that it might be interesting to show you what's going on in the vegetable garden.

The cucumber vines are fruiting, and even though you can't see them too well, I am expecting some tomatoes soon! This season I planted a number of heirloom cherry tomato varieties that are supposed to be not only rare but tasty too.

Michelle can't wait!

Sheridan Gardens, Burbank, CA

 Arlene Lewis, manager at Sheridan Gardens prepares the door prizes!

Sheridan Gardens' Pumpkin Patch, corner of Clark and North Hollywood Way

(Before workshop)

 Sheridan Gardens' Pumpkin Patch (After seedling transplanting ceremony!)

 West Floral Park Neighborhood's Annual Garden Day Event

May 17, 2014

 Bruce Bauer, Giant Pumpkin Seedling Provider, first row, far left.

Blue Hills Home & Garden Center, Whittier, CA

 Blue Hills is growing their pumpkin this season in a large container.

 Giant Pumpkin Chief Assistant & Princess on the right.

The Final Week-end of the 2014 World Tour!

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

The final week-end of the 2014 World Tour is complete! 

Saturday morning, the tour moved to Burbank and Sheridan Gardens. This workshop's highlight was transplanting a giant pumpkin seedling at Sheridan' pumpkin patch at the corner of Clark and North Hollywood Way. It's easily visible from the street plus it gets plenty of sunshine. It will be interesting to see if they can beat the 300+ pounder that they grew there last season.

Saturday afternoon, the tour moved to the West Floral Park Neighborhood's Annual Garden Day Event, in Santa Ana, CA. This was a lower-key neighborhood event featuring classic cars, home garden tours, and people getting out and having fun. Bruce Bauer, pictured in the front row, farthest left, in the photo above, germinated some giant pumpkin seedlings that were distributed to all of the rapt attendees. I anticipate 5-10 additional Pumpkinmania entries as a result of Bruce's efforts.

Sunday morning, aided by Michelle, the tour's 2014 final stop was Blue Hills Nursery in Whittier. (Because of the unexpected number of attendees, Michelle and I almost didn't have enough seeds!) We were joined by John Sach, Pumpkinmania! Champion, who informed the crowd about keeping the soil moist under the leaf junctures to encourage rooting, as an alternative to vine burial.

Blue Hills is growing their pumpkin this year in a very large container. I can't wait to see their final results, and hope that they grow a monster!

Thank you very much to all workshop attendees and hosts!