Giant pumpkin seedlings are transplanted!

Seedlings are transplanted!

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

I took advantage of the slightly cooler temperatures yesterday and transplanted four seedlings in the mounds that I prepared last week at a (still undisclosed) location somewhere in Southern California. All aspects of the transplanting went well. I am using a dual soaker hose and battery-operated timer configuration with a 500-gallon tank to provide water. Since it's gravity fed pressure, watering times will be two to three times longer than usual. There's a large rabbit nearby, but thankfully, a new crop of beans is close by to provide a diversion. I may even add some additional heirloom pumpkins next week.

The Grays are ready!

The Grays are Ready!

Good morning, Pumpkinistas! 

Susan and Mike Gray sent in these photos yesterday. As you can see from the top photo, they are VERY ready for this year's giant pumpkin season. Their planting area looks a lot like a putting green without the grass, it's so flat and smooth. Do you also notice that it's in a very sunny and open area?

Best of luck to all growers this season!

Giant pumpkin mound and ground preparation

 Two holes, approx. 4' deep, have been excavated about 40-50 feet from each other.

The area is covered with asphalt gravel 

so getting to the soil takes some initial digging.

 Note the very sandy soil in the foreground.

2012 Giant Pumpkin Mound Preparation

At An Undisclosed Location in California-Well, the season has finally begun! I have obtained permission to grow some giant pumpkins in a very flat, very sunny, and open location somewhere in California for this year's attempt To Escape the Curse of 500. I am very excited. The soil is quite sandy so drainage should be excellent. I will complete the mound preparation over the next 4-7 days, and have begun germinating the giant pumpkin seeds that will become the seedlings that will be planted next week. Hopefully, planting a few weeks later than usual will result in some very vigorous vines due to the warm weather we've been having so far this season.

 Holes are filled in, ready for irrigation!

 The existing sandy soil was amended with worm castings, 

steer manure, and commercially available soil amendments.

Stay tuned for further developments and good luck to all!

Full moon planting dates for giant pumpkins 2012

Full moon planting dates for 2012

Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas!

Here are this season's best transplanting/seed planting dates for your reference:

2012	May	6	03:35	Sun
2012	Jun	4	11:12	Mon
2012	Jul	3	18:52	Tue

Mae Powell, left me a message asking if I would be planting so early in May a couple of weeks ago. I will not, and most likely wait until late May-early June before I transplant my seedlings.

Best of luck to all this season!