The Olde Towne Farmers & Artisans Market's Giant Pumpkin Workshop

 

 

Before the workshop...

 

 After the workshop.


At The Old Towne Farmers & Artisans Market!

Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas!
 

The tour traveled back to Orange to The Old Towne Farmers & Artisans Market this morning. Under clear, aqua skies and warm, unpredictable breezes, the very patient, engaged and good-natured workshop attendees asked some excellent questions. The twelve lucky attendees who won seedlings looked eager and ready to plant them. Other winners received caps from Kellogg Garden Products and GreenCure organic fungicide. All attendees seemed anxious and excited to germinate their seeds!

2013 Giant Pumpkin Transplanting and Garden

 

 

Michelle's Garden

Transplanting is finished!

Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas!

Michelle and I transplanted our seedlings for the 2013 season yesterday evening. I've included a few other pictures of this year's garden/the area that won't be covered in giant pumpkin vines.

2013 Extreme Gardening: How to Grow a 500 Pound Giant Pumpkin World Workshop Tour

The 2013 Extreme Gardening: 

How to Grow A 500 Pound Giant Pumpkin World Workshop Tour!

Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas!

Now that Michelle is a highly-opinionated, self-directed, and rapidly developing 3 year-old (pictured above), it is time to go out on the road to bring the thrills, happiness, and fun of growing giant pumpkins to the gardening public again.

Here's the 2013 World Tour Schedule:

1) Sunday, April 21, 2013, 1:00 p.m., Tanaka Farms, 5380 University Drive, Irvine, CA 92612. For a map and directions, please visit: www.tanakafarms.com or call (949) 653-2100. Please RSVP to: events@tanakafarms.com

2) Saturday, May 11, 2013, 10:00 a.m., Farm Supply, 224 Tank Farm Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. For a map and directions, please visit: www.farmsupplycompany.com. Please RSVP at: (805) 543-3751

3) Sunday, May 12, 2013, 10:30 a.m., Seven Day Nursery, 3301 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA, 93105. For a map and directions, please visit: www.7daynursery.com. Please RSVP at: (805) 687-8036, or e-mail: 7DayNursery@Gmail.com

4) Saturday, May 18, 2013, 10:00 a.m., Sheridan Gardens, 817 North Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505. For a map and directions, please visit: www.sheridangardens.com. Please RSVP at: (818) 841-8845

 903 pound giant pumpkin grown by Michelle Lofthouse

5) Sunday, May 19, 2013, 10:00 a.m., Batavia Gardens, 1730 North Batavia Street, Orange, CA 92865, please RSVP at: (714) 637-2360

6) Saturday, May 25, 2013, 10:30 a.m., Old Towne Orange Farmers & Artisans Market, 304 North Cypress Street, Orange, CA 92866. No RSVPs are requested for this workshop. First come, first seated! For information, please visit: www.orangehomegrown.org

7) Saturday, June 1, 2013, 9:30 a.m., Walter Andersen Nursery, 12755 Danielson Court, Poway, CA 92064. For a map and directions, please visit: www.walterandersen.com. Please RSVP at: (858) 513-4900

8)  Sunday, June 9, 2013, 1:00 p.m., Tanaka Farms, 5380 University Drive, Irvine, CA 92612. Note: Advanced Class-This workshop will be the sequel to the regular workshop with advanced tips and growing techniques highlighted for attendees of previous workshops. (This will also be an opportunity to salvage your season, since giant pumpkin seedlings will be given away as door prizes, and complimentary giant pumpkin seeds will be provided to workshop attendees.) For a map and directions, please visit: www.tanakafarms.com or call (949) 653-2100. Please RSVP to: events@tanakafarms.com

All of the workshops are free to the gardening public. Since seating can be limited, reservations are requested except for the May 25th workshop at Old Towne Orange Farmers & Artisans Market.

Hope to see you soon! Save the date!

Start of the 2013 season!

The Season Begins!

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

With Memorial Day just around the corner, and the full moon for May occurring this Friday, May 24th, I am very happy to inform you that the Susan and Mike Gray of Baldwin Park, veteran prize-winning giant pumpkin growers, are back for the 2013 season.

Here's Susan's comment that accompanied these great photos:

"Hi, Stuart! It's getting close to planting time. Yaaay! Sending you the starting up pictures for the big day. Can't wait! The Grays, Mike and Susan" 

I'll be transplanting my seedlings this week...

Please e-mail me your photos, and I'll post them right here. 

 

 

Batavia Garden: Outstanding again!

 

 

Good evening, Pumpkinistas!

 

 

Ron Hamada and Keiko Kakiuchi of Batavia Garden did a great job as always this morning! It was great to see some old friends and to make some new ones. 



Photo by Toby LeBron

Sheridan Gardens' Maiden Workshop!

Good evening, Pumpkinistas!

Burbank was this morning's stop as part of the 2013 workshop tour. It was also the first time that Sheridan Gardens hosted a giant pumpkin growing workshop. In addition to all of the hard work and preparation for the workshop, Arlene Lewis, the manager, suggested that we transplant some seedlings to show attendees exactly how it was done. So, if you happen to be in the vicinity of Warner Brothers Animation, swing by Sheridan Gardens to see how their giant pumpkin cultivation efforts are doing! They are located just past Clarke Avenue, on the left-hand side, if you're using the Ventura 134 Freeway to get there.