Rumors are running wild!

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 record. Rumor also has it that they are headed north for a weigh off soon on the 23rd. As for my patch, here is my big pumpkin for now!!! :) 5 days old and growing strong! Grow little girl!

Jim Fredricks

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 Grove is the place to be. Elk Grove's largest family event returns in 2011 with a theme that's puttin' pumpkins and piracy together for a weekend of family fun. Captains, first mates and scallywags of all ages are invited to run aground at Elk Grove Regional Park October 1 & 2 from 10 am to 5 pm daily.


Many of the Festival's favorite attractions return this year including the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off. Feast yer eyes upon the great orange orbs as they hit the scales on Saturday morn. Can a new California record be set? It happened last year when Brant Bordsen brought his hefty 1,645.5 lb. pumpkin.


Sunday, October 2, will feature the 5th annual Pumpkin Regatta, a fierce boat-like competition. For the complete article, visit: www.yourcsd.com/article/?id=73

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 Guiness Book of Records entry, which also make him the largest human being growing a giant pumpkin.

Rob also requested that we postpone the weigh-off in order for his giant pumpkin to grow into an even larger giant pumpkin.

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.)

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?

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 idea of its weight. I think it might be a couple of hundred pounds, we shall see!

Now that the powdery mildew has really taken its toll, there are hardly any functioning leaves left, and even these have started to show signs of the fungus. The hot and humid temperatures along the coast didn't help.

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.

Stuart,

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

sow bugs, sow bugs, and more sow bugs.

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 the leaf decides to give up all hope and......

Don't look, it's a horrible site!! Leaf being destroyed by sow bugs. I really hate these little guys.

Notice how the vine color of green and yellow is missing? Totally chewed off!!!! Sow bugs.

HHHmmmm, something orange is hiding in there... wonder what it is:)

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.