It's the Great Pumpkin, Walter Andersen!

Final Entry...

We sure had fun seeing our pumpkin patch grow this summer, and we wish we could report a happy ending. However, we were the victims of pumpkin failure. Our giant pumpkin got to be about 30 pounds, then rotted. Store Manager David Ross' giant pumpkin he was growing at home suffered a similar fate, but it did reach just over 300 pounds. The store was able to harvest its Big Max pumpkin that went on to complete its life as a carved jack o' lantern.

The giant pumpkin growing seminar we held at the Poway store in May, however, did have some success stories. Pictured is Jim Stevenson, a class attendee who managed to harvest three large pumpkins.

September 9

Our pumpkin patch finally looks like a pumpkin patch, at least a little bit of one since we're not overrun with pumpkins. Here's a view of part of the pumpkin patch. The pumpkins have grown enough that we can identify them. Not knowing what was what was like waiting to open birthday presents to see what the wrapped packages held, as some things that were planted were not identified. However, the orange pumpkin at the bottom of the photo is a Big Max. The pumpkin at the top of the photo is believed to be a Dills Atlantic Giant Pumpkin
Here's Big Max. We don't expect it to grow much more and it is ready to harvest. Within the last couple of weeks, it developed a nice orange color. The vines are beginning to mildew and look scraggly which signifies the end of the pumpkin growing season.
These two yellowish-white colored pumpkins are believed to be Caspers. Casper pumpkins are white ornamental pumpkins and are good for eating.
Here's what we think is our giant pumpkin. A tennis ball is next to the pumpkin so you can get an idea how big it is. When it doubles or triples it size, we'll have to place it on a palette so it won't risk rotting while growing on the damp ground.

August 20, 2008

Well, the great pumpkin finally looks like a pumpkin. It's color has turned from a lemon yellow to light orange and it is no longer completely smooth as it has developed the lines that run from top to bottom that give it sort of a segmented look. The pumpkin is about the size of a basketball.

While admiring the pumpkin patch a brand new emerging baby was noticed that is forming from a flower.

August 6, 2008

What a surprise! What was a cute baby pumpkin less than one week ago grew to 19 inches around in only days. The pumpkin is the size of a cantaloupe and another baby pumpkin has appeared. It looks like the pumpkin patch is off to a good start. On Aug. 8, the pumpkin plants were fed with Gro-Power Flower 'N' Bloom.

July 30, 2008

These photos were taken July 30 and show just how large our vines are growing. They have developed flowers and a careful look under one big leaf revealed, a baby pumpkin that measured 6.5 inches in circumference. You may note that the mushrooms growing among the pumpkin vines appear to be thriving. There's not much you can do to thwart mushrooms from growing. They are a fungus that occurs as wood products decompose in the soil. You can add sulfur to change the soil pH, or they are easily pulled out.

July 11, 2008

Our pumpkin plants are growing nicely and quickly. These photos were taken July 11, just 22 days after they were planted. Placing cages over the seedlings prevented further damage from snails and rats. Most of the plants are big enough now that we removed the cage. We used Sluggo to rid the patch of snails and we’ll keep an eye out for rat damage.

June 20, 2008

How are your pumpkins? Our attempt at creating a pumpkin patch was an overwhelming success – for the rats and snails.

David Ross, our store manager, carefully incorporated into the soil Dr. Earth Fruit Tree Fertilizer. The first to go in the ground was a Dills Atlantic Giant, a variety of pumpkin that grows to record sizes; the most recent record setting specimen topped the scale at more than 1600 pounds.

(See www.howarddill.com for growing information).

We put in a Casper pumpkin, a tender annual white-skinned ornamental pumpkin with thick orange flesh of excellent eating quality, and two mystery plants that we’ll see once they grow if they are gourds or a squash. David topped the plantings with Mulch Block mulch, and then we watered thoroughly.

Unfortunately, during its first week, the giant pumpkin was reduced to half its size by rats and snails. We cured this problem by placing wire cages over the pumpkins and sprinkling Sluggo around the area.