Workshop Update/Germinating Your Seeds

Good morning, Pumpkinistas,

Last night, I spoke at the Orange County Organic Gardening Club's May meeting. I was very pleasantly surprised that about 35 members attended. I gave away 12 "pedigreed" giant seedlings to interested and anxious members, and seeds from Paul Rys that are part of his giant orange pumpkin genetics research.

If you're interested in participating, Paul can be reached at:

Mr. Paul Rys (Pronounced ‘Rees’)
P.O. Box 1502
San Luis Obispo, CA 93406
(805) 235-1302 (The best time to reach Paul is in the evening.)

(Mr. Rys is conducting a 6-year project to produce giant brilliant orange pumpkins. The pumpkin seeds you’ve received have a 75% chance of producing a giant brilliant orange pumpkin. For pictures of some of Paul’s award-winning pumpkins, please visit: www.flickr.com and search for “beautiful pumpkins” or “Paul Rys”.

In order to keep the seed pure, please plant and keep one final vine, and please keep one half of the seeds from any pumpkin(s) grown for Paul to continue his project in the fall of 2006/winter 2007. Please make sure that no other “Cinderella” pumpkin vines or other “Atlantic Giant” pumpkin vines are within 500’ of your vine. All other cultivation methods for growing giant pumpkins will apply.)

This Saturday I'll be presenting at The Huntington Library, in San Marino, at 10:30 a.m.. If you're in the area, please stop by. Again, I should more giant pumpkin seedlings than ever before to give away.

Finally, if you've been waiting to sprout your giant pumpkin seeds, NOW would be a good time to start. The best lunar seedling transplanting time will be May 16th and 17th. I placed my pre-soaked giant pumpkin seeds for my 2006 growing efforts into their respective peat pots last night at around 9:30 p.m..

Have a great afternoon!
Stuart