Courtyard by Marriott Costa Mesa South Coast Metro for

The 2009 Pumpkinmania! Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off & Contest!

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

I have good news for those growers, their families, other relatives, friends, neighbors, other loyal supporters and attendees that may be driving in for the weigh-off from out of the Southern California region. I've negotiated a Pumpkinmania!, $89.00 per night, group discount with the local Courtyard by Marriott, for Saturday, October 24th and Sunday October 25th. It's a quick, 1.4 mile, 4-minute drive to the Heritage Museum of Orange County from the hotel.

To make reservations, get directions, and other information, simply click on the following link please:

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/snasa?groupCode=pmrpmra&app=resvlink&fromDate=10/24/09&toDate=10/26/09

You can also call them at: (714) 545-1001, or (800) 321-2211, and ask for Daniel Soderstrom, our contact there, or their reservations desk. Reservations will be accepted until 5:00 p.m., October 16th, 2009. After October 16th, our rooms will be released to the general public, at the normal, non-discounted room rate.

Have a great morning!

Stuart

Bottom Rot Strikes in San Luis Obispo!

Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas!

I received these pictures and update from Dr. Joe Sabol in San Luis Obispo:

"Very sad news from the Zohns' pumpkin patch today....One of their monster 700 pounders died. It was rotting from the inside out and today it began to melt. The wall seemed very thin (well rotted too) on the blossom end. Stem end was still very thick and solid. So sad. See photos.The other monster on that same vine..... Appears and sound and solid. Fingers crossed that it stays strong and healthy.

Joe"

Jim Fredricks, San Diego, CA 779 Pounder!

Hello, Pumpkinistas!

Here's Jim Fredricks' 779 pound pumpkin during its weighing and eventual seed harvesting....! Nice size, shape and color, plus it may well be the biggest pumpkin grown in San Diego County in 2009!

"Stuart,

Here are a few shots of my pumpkin. The final measurement put the weight at 750 lbs. She weighed a little heavy at 779 lbs on a certified scale. I was hoping she would maybe go 800, but still a nice fruit. As far as I know, it is the largest pumpkin grown in San Diego County. I would have loved to brought it up for your weigh off, but October 25th is just to far away. The fruit has already been cut open and seeds have been retrieved. Very few seeds unfortunately. Still enough to have a few, but not the normal 400 you usually get. I'll send a couple more pictures, feel free to use any you want.

Jim"

Bravo and congratulations!

John and Laurie Harmon's First Season Effort!

Hello, Pumpkinistas!

John and Laurie Harmon, part of the Kellogg Garden Products, Lockeford facility-related group sent in this great picture and their update from Wilton, California.

"Hi Stuart,

Here is a picture of our pumpkin that we are growing. The boys are our grandsons Sander and Kingston. This is our first attempt at growing large pumpkins and we named this one, Tiny! We are part of the Northern Stars part 2. We are located in Wilton, CA, just south of Sacramento. This has been a great experience.

John and Laurie Harmon"

Janni from Germany's 2009 Effort!

Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas!

Good news, Janni, the only Pumpkinista that I am aware of in Germany sent in these great images of her pumpkins that she grew this season!

780 Debacco - 769 Lombardi - 741 Brunst
orange trio in my patch......

I would like to thank you, for the nice and very informative newsletters!I pursue everything always and very exactly! Really the work which you make!!!! Sorry, for my bad one in English.

Withe the best greetings for all pumpkinistas !!!!

Janni from Germany

Vielen danke, Janni!

Tschuss!

Stuart

(The 2009 Pumpkinmania! T-shirt design courtesy of Roadkyll Graphics)

The 2009 Pumpkinmania!

Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off & Contest

Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas!

I am very pleased and proud to announce this year's contest details:

Event: The 2009 Pumpkinmania! Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off & Contest

Day/Date: Sunday, October 25, 2009

Time: 8:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m., entry registration from 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., final weigh-off will begin at 12:00, high noon

Location: The Heritage Museum of Orange County, 3101 West Harvard Street, Santa Ana, CA 92704, http://www.heritagemueumoc.org/ for directions and a map

Price: Free to enter, free to attend!

Prizes: Heaviest Pumpkin, First Place, $1,000, Second Place, $500, Third Place, $300, courtesy of Gardner & Bloome division of Kellogg Garden Products. Prizes will be also awarded for Best Color, Funniest Shape, Youngest Grower, Most Experienced Grower, and more!

Activities: Arts & crafts, food, blacksmithing demonstrations, Guess the Weight of The Three Heaviest Pumpkins, and more!

Contest Rules & Regulations

1. This is an open competition to all growers in any part of the world.
2. The pumpkin must be grown by the grower and in the country where the grower resides.
3. A grower may enter only one pumpkin, and no family may enter more than two entries.
4. Entries will be received between 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. on the day of competition.
5. Entries must be sound, healthy, and undamaged. This means free of rot, holes or cracks through to the cavity, chemical residue, soil, and soft spots.
6. No foreign material is to be included in the weighing. Vine must be trimmed within 1.0” from the stem of the fruit. Judges reserve the right to fully inspect each pumpkin before the weight is announced and official. Refusal to allow inspection of a pumpkin will result in its disqualification.
7. Any pumpkin previously entered in or weighed at any other competition prior to the contest will be deemed ineligible.
8. In the event of a tie, prize(s) will be combined and split equally among entrants.
9. Decision of the judges will be final in all cases.
10. Contest sponsors and staff shall not be liable for compensation for loss or damage to any pumpkins, contestants, their families and friends, or personal property. All entrants completely and totally indemnify the sponsors and organizers of the weigh-off and contest.
Additional details: Please visit: http://www.pumpkinmania.blogspot.com/, or e-mail: sbs33@cornell.edu and interpac007@yahoo.com, media inquiries please call: (949) 683-5932.

Photo by Dr. Joe Sabol

Grown by Dr. Joe Sabol in San Luis Obispo!

Good morning, Growers!

I received this great image of Dr. Joe Sabol's son, Joey and his family, taken this past week-end.

"Good morning Stuart....

Attached is a photo of my son and his family with my pumpkin, photo taken over Labor Day Week-end. It has pretty much stopped growing in girth... hope the walls are getting thicker and seeds are fattening up!!! The stem is still green and very much alive from root to fruit.

Havvvva great Thursday Stuart!!

Joe"

Nice looking family and pumpkin!

Yamagami's Nursery's Sir Galahad Rules the Kingdom!

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

Now, this is what a giant pumpkin is supposed to look like!

For more information on their upcoming weigh-off and giant pumpkin growing tales: Go to Yamagami's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Cupertino-CA/Yamagamis-Nursery-Garden-Center/63172657808 for more frequent updates and photos or their website: www.yamagamisnursery.com

Have a great holiday week-end!

Certified Weighing This Saturday, September 5th, 10:45 a.m.!

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

Jim Fredricks needs some help with lifting his pumpkin for a certified weight this Saturday morning:

"Stuart,

Here is the most recent photo. She is sitting at 333.15" OTT, 757 lbs on the 2003 OTT chart, bigger with the new chart. I am looking for anyone who wants to help lift the pumpkin this Saturday, Sept. 5th at my house, at 10:45 a.m.. We will weigh it on a certified scale. I think the media will come out, so a chance to be on television too! Anyone interested please email me, yacobus73@yahoo.com. I haven't found anyone to buy my giant, so if anyone is willing to pick it up and transport it, they can have it as a gift to display somewhere.

I will just want the seeds.

Thanks!,

Jim
yacobus73@yahoo.com"