Mark Imhoof's 2015 Season!

June 4, 2015

Mark Imhoof's in the mix!

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

Veteran Pumpkinmania! weigh-off attendees will recognize Mark as the person supervising the weighing of the entries and engineering the sling. He's also a long-time giant giant pumpkin grower, and he sent me this picture of his vine which looks mighty nice so far! 

Note the vines are just poking through the fence...

June 5, 2015

Note the vines are through the fence, and on their way to Mark's neighbor's yard.

Blue Hills Nursery 2015 Workshop

Giant pumpkin vines can grow in containers

The vine is beginning to fruit!

Blue Hill's' prior giant pumpkin cultivation!

Blue Hills Nursery's 2015 Workshop

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

Last Sunday's workshop at Blue Hills Nursery was a little different than most. Jen Van Diest, manager, is growing a giant pumpkin in a large plastic tub (40 gallons+), so I was able to use her vine to show the attendees various parts of the plant! The attendees were even treated to an empirical example of the effects that giant pumpkin cultivation can have on relationships and obsession.

Also, Jen has graciously accepted my invitation to present one of the prizes at this fall's weigh-off and may even have an entry!

 Jen's vine has three fruit on it, so stop my when you're in Whittier to check on its progress and to get some local growing tips and supplies!

Orange County Register/Eventful

2015 Pumpkinmania! Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off & Contest

Announcment is Posted!

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

I am happy to inform you that the 2015 Pumpkinmania! Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off & Contest announcement has been posted to the Orange County Register's event calendar: Orange County Register Events

Now, you can simply refer your relatives, friends, neighbors, and other suppliers of moral, psychological and emotional support to the link above.

Remember, please save the date! 

Sunday, October 25, 2015, 8:00 a.m.!

Farm Supply Co., 2015 Pumpkin Workshop

Photo by Gisele Schoniger

Farm Supply Company's 2015 Workshop

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

I wanted to post some of the pictures that I took during my trip to San Luis Obispo for Farm Supply Company's May 9th workshop.

A big thank you to Dr. Joe Sabol, Professor Emeritus, of Cal Poly SLO for his priceless help, enthusiasm, work and help with this year's seedlings, and to Cara Crye and her outstanding management and staff for all of the preparations that go into an outstanding event.

Batavia Garden 2015

Batavia Garden Nursery's 2015 Workshop

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

I am happy to report that Batavia Garden's 2015 workshop was very fun and intimate. We had some new and very enthusiastic workshop attendees that bode well for this year's weigh-off in October. As always, it was great to see Adeline and Ray Ceja!

Thank you very much to Ron Hamada and Keiko Kakiuchi of Batavia, and all of their staff!

2015 Pumpkinmania! Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off & Contest Announcement

The First Contestants for

The 2015 Pumpkinmania! Giant Pumpkin 

Weigh-off & Contest!

Sunday, October 25, 2015, 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Tanaka Farms 

5380 University Drive, Irvine, CA 92612

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

Please save the date! This year's weigh-off will be held, Sunday, October 25th!

About the picture:

In a bid to completely psyche out his competition, Pete Yeager, of GreenCure fame, e-mailed me this picture of this year's contenders. Pete tells me that they are all about 500% bigger now, and will be monitored very carefully, until they are transplanted at some future date and ceremony...Stay tuned!