Google is Tracking My Pumpkin's Every Move

This just in.  I've recently discovered that Google has been tracking my pumpkin growing from outer space!  The most recent satellite photos from the Google Satellite clearly shows my pumpkin ready to be taken to the weigh-off.  I suspect that some member of the growing community (I'm watching you Wiz and Scherber) has put Google up to this.  I may have to start covering the pumpkin as the satellite makes its pass overhead each day.

Satellite Photo:

What to Do During the Pumpkin Off Season

This time of the year can seem long to a pumpkin grower.  We are now half way between patch prep time and the end of last season.  This time of year is spent working on my website design business, family, friends, church, skiing and studying up on the latest techniques for growing a giant pumpkin.  I have to admit that for the later I haven't done as much as I would have liked.  The holiday season was crazy busy.

This  off-season I'm reading Teaming with Microbes.  Definitely a worthwhile read.

Right now I'm planning on adding a second water line to the patch so I can get a little better water pressure to the dan micros.  Other than that I plan on doing things about the same as last year.  My patch prep was different this last fall however.  I add a lot more nutrients into the soil which I hope will translate into more pounds on the pumpkin.

The Patch is (Mostly) Tilled and Fall Patch Prep is Done

Today I tilled into the pumpkin patch 2.5 yards of compost, 20 pounds of gypsum, 4 pounds of sulfur, 3 pounds of blood meal, 25 pounds of humic acid, 5 bags of leaves and lawn clippings, 150 pounds of alfalfa pellets, 2 pounds of magnesium and 4 pounds of Organic Richlawn 5-2-1.    The full patch didn't get tilled because I had a belt problem on the tiller with about 40% of the patch left to go so in those areas I just put some compost on top of leaves and will leave it to sit.

After tilling the patch I sowed some Winter Rye, Winter Oats and Hardy Vetch.  Temperatures are forecast to be above freezing for the next 7 days so I hope to get that seed going before it gets cold.  With temperatures in the 60s and low 70s for the next week that shouldn't be a problem.

My plan for next year is a little more organic matter and a fair amount more nitrogen in the patch.  I didn't see the growth in my vines that I would have liked to have seen this last season and after seeing some soil reports and talking with top growers I've decided that additional nitrogen in the soil is a good idea. With all of the organic matter that I've put down I'll need the extra nitrogen to make sure all of that material is broken down by spring.

9New's TaRhonda Thomas with Pumpkin

I think giant pumpkins are one of the most beautiful things in the world.  The one way to make them more beautiful is to have modelesque TaRhonda Thomas pose with your pumpkin.  Thanks for stopping by TaRhonda.  You guys are a lot of fun.

A Real Jack-o-lantern.

I kind of got into giant pumpkin growing because of a jack-o-lantern.  The first pumpkin plant that I bought at a local nursery was because I wanted to have the biggest jack-o-lantern on the street.  This year, for the first time, I carved my own pumpkin.  We've done the kids pumpkins in the past but I never got around to carving my own either because of rot issues or a lack of time.  I can be 99.9% sure I'll have the biggest jack-o-lantern in Arvada this year.

Compost for the Pumpkin Patch

Today I picked up 2.5 yards of compost and put down two nice piles into the patch mixed with some shreaded leaves from the yard and grass clippings from the neighbor.  I hope to till these in next month.  In the spring I'll put in another 2.5 to 4 yards.  I'd like to see my organic matter come up another 3% by planting time next year.  The compost that I got today wasn't fully composted but was very nice horse manure with a lot of alfalfa in it.  Should be ready in another 1.5 months.

Now is the Time to Start for Next Season

Seems like the season is done, but next season is already starting.  70% of your success or failure right now is going to be determined by what you do right now.  Getting the soil ready during October and making sure the nutrients that you need for next season's plants are in the soil is going to determine in a big way how big that pumpkin is going to grow next year.  After getting a soil test you are going to want to add the appropriate organic material to your patch.  I'll be adding some compost and shredded leaves to the soil and tilling that in during the next couple of weeks.  If the weather is good, I hope to plant a cover crop as well.

The Giant

Pumpkin with the 2nd biggest measurements ever comes out of the weeds today!

I've known Thad Starr for almost 4 years now and have been to his home in Oregon twice now.  I built him a website 4 years ago and he has always been real good to me.  His pumpkin is going to the scale right now in Half Moon Bay and I wish him the best of luck.

About three weeks ago we were talking about some of the big pumpkins (and claims for big pumpkins) that were out there.  And then it occurred to me me that Thad had been pretty quiet about his own pumpkins.  I said to him, "I know you guys had a cool spring but you've had a great summer up there in the Pacific Northwest.  I'm guessing there is another big one growing up in Oregon that SOMEONE isn't talking about."  His reply, "Ya, but my pumpkins always go light."  I had to laugh.

After a few more conversations he hadn't ever elaborated but when I told him that I would be up in Oregon and that I would probably swing by he slowly revealed that he had a pumpkin estimating over 2,000 pounds!

I told him that I would help him load up his pumpkin that he would be taking to Bauman's Farm the next day.  I didn't realize that this year Half Moon was the next Monday and that I would be helping him load a potential World Record with the other pumpkin.  That is both an honor and kind of scary.  Big prize money this year for a world-record pumpkin over one ton.  Potentially $20,000-40,000 on the line as well as the claim to fame.

His pumpkin measures 459.5" OTT.  That estimates to something like 2,060 pounds which would easily break the current record of 2009 pounds set this year by Ron Wallace.  The pumpkin was grown from a 1725 Harp seed and it is just a great looking pumpkin.  In photographs pictures don't do this pumpkin justice.  It is so symmetrical that in photos it doesn't show it's real size.

I shot some video and while at the airport I made this video because I didn't have anything else to do.  Below are some pics of the pumpkins.

 

 I've already given Thad a bubble.  Lol

They Grow Em Big In Oregon

I conveniently arrange for a business meeting to be the same time as the big Bauman Farm weigh-off in Oregon.  It is an amazing experience to be able to see multiple pumpkins over 1,700 pounds.  The following are some of my pics from the trip.  More to come.

The first pic is of Steve Deletas 1,799.5 pounder.  This one went down to rot around the stem a month ago.  The pumpkin went from 18 pounds a day down to 14 and then two days latter it drop to 2 pounds a day.  As you can see in the third picture it was thick inside.  Steve claimed the pumpkin had lost 50 pounds since it was initially weighed.  They dropped this pumpkin latter that day from a crane.  The earth must have rippled.

The second picture was the winning pumpkin.  Also over 1,700 pounds and also grown by Steve Deletas.  Not nearly as big but it went very heavy.

Thanks to Thad Starr and family for putting me up over the weekend.  Had a great time with them.

A Good Finish to the Season

Today we took the pumpkin to the scale and had a pleasant surprise. I kind of thought my pumpkin would go heavy but I didn't expect it to go 9% heavy which pushed me up to 837 pounds and a 4th place finish overall. A big thanks for the support of my wife and family in allowing this season to take place. Also a big thanks to the growers in the RMGVG.

Top honors today went to Joe Scherber with a very nice 1,225 pounder. A very nice pumpkin.

A new world record pumpkin was weighed yesterday. An absolutely amazing 2,009 pounds grown by Ron Wallace of Rhode Island. I've had dinner with Ron and he is a class act so a very big congrats to him.

New World Record Pumpkin!

Congrats to grower Steve Geddes for a new world record pumpkin weighed at the Deerfield fair N.H. An amazing 1843.5 pounds! More big ones to still come to the scale over the next couple of weeks so we will have to see if this record will stand.  There are rumors of pumpkins estimating much bigger than this still out there.

Pumpkin Party Time

The cutting of the vine will be happening between 6:30-7:00 tomorrow.  Much hotter than average weather and disease has made this season challenging but I've learned from this season and enjoyed it.  On Saturday morning we will find out finally what Christine the pumpkin weighs.  Pictures from the weigh-off will be posted here and on www.facebook.com/giantpumpkins along with weigh-off results on Saturday.

The Pumpkin Experiment Might Have Worked

I haven't measured the pumpkin this week but my little experiment might have worked.  I noticed when I uncovered the pumpkin this morning that there were some cracks on the surface of pumpkin from new growth.  These cracks aren't anything for me to worry about, just mild cracks because the surface of the pumpkin is getting brittle from being old.  You often see that this time of the year.  The good news is that this means the pumpkin is growing.  If she can hold together for about 30 more hours we will be good.  Vine cutting tomorrow!

How to Blow Up a Pumpkin

Monday I decided to take a risk with my pumpkin to add on some final weight.  On Monday evening I gave my plant about a cup of liquid seaweed (0-0-1) both as a drench and foliar, along with 1/3 cup of Big Bloom (.5-.5-.7) and a tablespoon of Sol-Po-Mag (0-0-22).  On Tuesday between watering and the most rain we have seen in weeks I gave the plant got a healthy dose of water.  This is a good way to slit your pumpkin open wide if you aren't careful.  Particularly if you were to do that during the rapid growth stages earlier in the season.  However, I did this as a calculated risk.  This pumpkin has only been putting on 4-5 pounds a day at this point and it seems to be thick.  A bit of a spike in growth I think it could handle and this pumpkin isn't going to break any records for me so I figured I would do a little experiment.  The fertilizer was evenly spread  over the whole plant so I don't have to worry about jacking up the soil.  I don't expect a lot of extra growth but since potassium helps regulate water movement in the pumpkin plant it could help hydrate the pumpkin and add a few extra pounds that way.

Almost Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off Time!

The following is information for the next two weigh-offs.  I'll be taking my pumpkin to Jared's one week from today.  Stop by and say high if you see me.

Jared's Nursery Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off & Festival
Saturday, September 29th
9:00am Registration, 10am until 5pm
10500 W. Bowles Ave, Littleton, CO 80127

Nick's Great Pumpkin Weigh Off 2012
Saturday, October 5th
9:00am Registration, 11:00-2:00
2001 South Chambers Rd, Aurora, CO 80014

There are two other weigh-offs after these so watch for additional information to come.  If you have kids the above two weigh-offs they will love.  Lots of games, food, giant pumpkins and activities.  If you have never seen a pumpkin over 1,000 pounds these two weigh-offs will the place to be.  At Jared's grower Don Young is supposed to be bringing a pumpkin.  They have had tough weather in Iowa this year but Don in the past has grown a number of pumpkins over 1,600 pounds and is a really nice guy.  You may have seen his giant pumpkin on Conan O'Briens show a few years back get crushed by a monster truck.

At Jared's or Nick's, rumor has it, that a possible state record pumpkin will be brought that may weigh over 1,400 pounds.  We will just have to wait and see.

Some Big Bloom for the Pumpkin

This evening I gave the plant some foliar and drench Big Bloom fertilizer.  On Monday I'm going to try something new to get some last pounds added to the pumpkin before the weigh-off.  Wish I could grow on a scale so I could see if it actually works.  If the pumpkin ends up 15% heavy then maybe we can say it worked.  One week from tonight I'll be cutting the pumpkin from the vine!

Warmer Weather Means Better Pumpkin Growth

In this cool part of the growing season it can be hard to get descent gains late in the season. Cooler weather on a tired plant makes it harder for the pumpkin to get at nutrients.  There is something like 200% more biological activity in the soil between 72 degrees and 80 degrees.  Cold temps mean the little guys in the soil aren't breaking down as much material and as a result the plant gets less nutrients.  Saturday and Sunday we had above average temperatures and it showed on the pumpkin.  I wasn't sure if the pumpkin had stopped growing but nearly 8 pounds of growth a day Since Saturday which was a pleasant surprise.  I know the tape wasn't lying because it was the first time I had trouble getting between the poles and the pumpkin when I was measuring.

I gave the plant some foliar and drench Neptune's Fish & Seaweed this evening. 

Two Weeks from Vine Cutting

The clock is ticking down now. Just 14 days from when I cut the pumpkin from the vine. Just did a measurement and the pumpkin is still growing. At this point in the season you just hope the pumpkin stays together. Water, fertilizer and checking for soft spots is pretty much all there is left to do before vine cutting.

A Little Liquid Seaweed and Big Bloom for the Pumpkin

Yesterday evening I gave the plant some liquid seaweed and Big Bloom both foliar and as a drench.  I haven't measure the pumpkin in a number of days now but I can see the pumpkin is still growing.  Looks like weather is going to be very nice for the new few days and I want to take advantage of that as much as possible.  Two weeks from today I'll be cutting the pumpkin off the vine.

Wet Stuff Falling from the Sky

What are these liquidy drops falling from the sky?  I can't say I've seen any real rain in ages at the house.  Nothing waters a pumpkin patch link good old rain.  I use an under the leaf watering system as well as an over the top watering system on a daily basis and nothing gets the ground soaked more evenly than rain.

Cool temperatures for the next two days and then we will be back on a warming trend in the mid 80s to put some pounds back on the pumpkin again.