The 2009 Pumpkinmania!

Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off & Contest's

Gourds Go Global!

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

I received this link to New Tang Dynasty Television's great story on this year's weigh-off:

Pumpkinmania New Tang Dynasty Television http://ap.ntdtv.com/News/Item/?id=200910270038

Some of the growers high-lighted in this story are already cult media figures in Asia.

Congratulations!

The Epoch Times Pumpkinmania! Article

Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas!

Mr. Albert Roman, the journalist for The Epoch Times that covered this year's Pumpkinmania! event e-mailed me the link to his article. It's excellent and I think captures the spirit and flavor of Pumpkinmania! in a very accurate way:

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/24459/

Happy reading!

All photos courtesy of Ty Hall

More Images from Pumpkinmania!

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

These are some pictures that Ty Hall, of Kellogg Garden Products, judge, sponsor, and senior lifting crew team member e-mailed me of this year's event! They're great since Ty captured all of the growers and the prize ceremony.

Thank you very much, Ty!

The 2009 Pumpkinmania!

Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off & Contest

Winner in Repose

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

This year's 903 pound winning pumpkin, grown by Michelle Lofthouse is resting next to an oak tree in her front yard. Part of the prize money will go toward replacing a blown head gasket in the tractor can see in the background, which was damaged moving this year's winner!

Congratulations again on a great victory, Michelle!

The second grower to enter Sunday morning, John Guaydacan

Ron Hlavac of The Orange County Blacksmiths Guild takes a breather.

It wasn't hard, back-breaking work the whole time.

Pumpkinistas celebrate the spirit and fun of Pumpkinmania!

Akili Arnold

Brian Gould

Wendy Taylor

John Guaydacan

Martha Treadway

Linda Hales

Elenore Lepe

Chuck and Joan McClain

Christy Concan

Mark Imhoof

Stacey Taylor

Gary Williams & Family

Mayson Gilmore

Stuart Shim

Gracie Gilmore

Ken Smith

Allison Van Wingerden

Talia Van Wingerden

Mae Powell

Alfonso & Katharine Lepe

Walter Van Wingerden

Warner Prodan

Mike Gray

Carol Slagle

Michelle Lofthouse Recaptures The 2009 Pumpinmania!

Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off & Contest Crown with a 903 Pound Effort!

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

The question on the minds of all the Pumpkinmania! grower/participants yesterday was: "Will Michelle Lofthouse be back in 2009?" The answer was a resounding yes, as Michelle Lofthouse regained the title of this year's Pumpkinmania! champion with a 903-pound effort! Carol Slagle with a 559 pounder, Mike Gray with a 517.5 pounder, Warner Prodan with a 419.5 pounder, and Walter Van Wingerden at 384.5 pounds rounded out the top five finishers.

Here are the results of the other prize categories:

Best Color: Gary Williams, 190 lbs., "Ginger"

Funniest Shape: Brian Gould, 45 lbs.

Ugliest Pumpkin: Akili Arnold, 17 lbs.

Best Shape: Mike Gray, 517.5 lbs.

Judges' Favorite: John Guaydacan, 77 lbs.

Most Experienced Grower: Mae Powell, 286.5 lbs.

Youngest Grower: Mayson Gilmore, 205.5 lbs.

Best Costume: Martha Treadway, 100.5 lbs.

The winning estimate for Guess The Weight of The Three Heaviest Pumpkins was 2,000 pounds, and the correct answer was 1.979 lbs.

The 2009 Pumkinmania! prizes and sponsors:

Gardner & Bloome of Kellogg Garden Products

First place Heaviest Pumpkin: $1,000.00

Second place Heaviest Pumpkin: $500.00

Third place Heaviest Pumpkin: $300.00

Best Color: $50.00 Gift certificate from Laguna Hills Nursery

Funniest Shape: $50.00 Gift certificate from Walter Andersen Nursery

Ugliest Pumpkin: $60.00 Gift certificate from Batavia Garden Nursery

Best Shape: $50.00 Gift certificate from Yamagami’s Nursery

Judges’ Favorite: $50.00 Gift certificate from Island View Nursery

Best Costume: $100.00 Gift certificate from Orange County Farm Supply

Most Experienced Grower: $25.00 Gift card from Starbucks, courtesy of The Epoch Times, and $25.00 Gift certificate from Cedros Gardens

Youngest Grower: $50.00 Gift certificate from Cedros Gardens

Winner of the Guess the Weight of the Three Largest Pumpkins:
$25.00 Gift certificate from Laguna Hills Nursery and $25.00 Gift certificate from Cedros Gardens

Prizes were also awarded in the following categories:

4th-12th Heaviest Pumpkins: 1 Quart Bottle of Neptune’s Harvest Fish & Seaweed Blend Organic Fertilizer, 1 Heated Seedling Mat from HydroFarm

13th-20th Heaviest Pumpkins: 1 Watering Meter from HydroFarm

We would like to thank the following companies for their generous support and participation:

Gardner & Bloome of Kellogg Garden Products
Crainco Crane Services
Dr. Earth
Neptune’s Harvest
HydroFarm
HB-101

U-Haul
Roadkyll Apparel Graphics
Batavia Gardens
Cedros Gardens
Island View Nursery
Laguna Hills Nursery

Orange County Farm Supply
Walter Andersen Nursey
Yamagami’s Nursery
The Epoch Times

New Tang Dynasty Television
The Orange County Blacksmiths Guild
The Heritage Museum of Orange County

GardenLive Radio

The University of California Cooperative Extension Certified Master Gardeners

We would like to recognize and thank the following individuals for their strong backs, very generous help and participation:

Ty Hall

Brian Smith

Mark Imhoof

Brian Gould

Ron Sallinger

Casey T. Shim

Jessie Chen

Lauren Shim

Phil Concan

Christy Concan

Partrick Strock

Stanley Szymczyk

Jessie Chen

Casey N.E. Shim

Greg Thiel

Milo Shammas

Nobo Azuma

Ron Kanemoto

Carolyn Villa-Scott

Chris Roy

Mia McCarville

David Ross

Katie Sorensen

Ron Hamada

Gary Matsuoka

Sharon Asakawa

John Bagnasco

Adam England

Alice Su

Albert Roman

Sharon Stolen

1,725 Pound New World Record Set October 3, 2009!

Good evening, Pumpkinistas!

It was bound to happen sooner or later! Christy Harp, a teacher in Massilon, Ohio, set a new world record of 1,725 pounds last Saturday, October 3rd!

Joe Sabol was kind enough to e-mail me this link of the weigh-off and Ms. Harp's triumphant effort:

http://www.worldrecordsacademy.org/nature/largest_pumpkin-world_record_set_by_Christy_Harp_90368.htm

We'll see if her world record stands after October 25th!

Diana in Germany's Final Harvest 2009!

Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas!

I received these great and very colorful pictures Diana in Germany's 2009 harvest this morning! I am stunned by all of the different varieties of vegetables that Diana grew this season, and how beautiful they are.

Please enjoy them!

Rick Sacks' Daughter Ashley and Her Pumpkin!

Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas!

Well, not all was lost in the south... Rick Sacks' (who works for Kellogg Garden Products in the Ventura-Santa Barbara?Central Coast area) daughter Ashley grew the monster pictured above! I think I know who I'd recommend to be part of the Southern Rebels team next season...

Congratulations to Ashley!

Kellogg Garden Products' Lockeford, CA North Stars' Pumpkin!

Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas!

It appears we have a winner of the 2009 Kellogg Garden Products Company Giant Pumpkin Growing Competition: The Lockeford, CA North Stars successfully grew and harvested a giant pumpkin! (It could be a contender for Best Color at the Pumpkinmania weigh-off!) It is pictured above. Unfortunately, the Southern Rebels, of Kellogg's Ontario facility's pumpkin developed a soft spot that became a rotten spot, and that was it.

So, with their eyes already on the 2010 season, the Southern Rebels are planning their strategy.

The North Stars are using their time to savor their victory.

Congratulations!

Courtyard by Marriott Costa Mesa South Coast Metro for

The 2009 Pumpkinmania! Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off & Contest!

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

I have good news for those growers, their families, other relatives, friends, neighbors, other loyal supporters and attendees that may be driving in for the weigh-off from out of the Southern California region. I've negotiated a Pumpkinmania!, $89.00 per night, group discount with the local Courtyard by Marriott, for Saturday, October 24th and Sunday October 25th. It's a quick, 1.4 mile, 4-minute drive to the Heritage Museum of Orange County from the hotel.

To make reservations, get directions, and other information, simply click on the following link please:

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/snasa?groupCode=pmrpmra&app=resvlink&fromDate=10/24/09&toDate=10/26/09

You can also call them at: (714) 545-1001, or (800) 321-2211, and ask for Daniel Soderstrom, our contact there, or their reservations desk. Reservations will be accepted until 5:00 p.m., October 16th, 2009. After October 16th, our rooms will be released to the general public, at the normal, non-discounted room rate.

Have a great morning!

Stuart

Bottom Rot Strikes in San Luis Obispo!

Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas!

I received these pictures and update from Dr. Joe Sabol in San Luis Obispo:

"Very sad news from the Zohns' pumpkin patch today....One of their monster 700 pounders died. It was rotting from the inside out and today it began to melt. The wall seemed very thin (well rotted too) on the blossom end. Stem end was still very thick and solid. So sad. See photos.The other monster on that same vine..... Appears and sound and solid. Fingers crossed that it stays strong and healthy.

Joe"

Jim Fredricks, San Diego, CA 779 Pounder!

Hello, Pumpkinistas!

Here's Jim Fredricks' 779 pound pumpkin during its weighing and eventual seed harvesting....! Nice size, shape and color, plus it may well be the biggest pumpkin grown in San Diego County in 2009!

"Stuart,

Here are a few shots of my pumpkin. The final measurement put the weight at 750 lbs. She weighed a little heavy at 779 lbs on a certified scale. I was hoping she would maybe go 800, but still a nice fruit. As far as I know, it is the largest pumpkin grown in San Diego County. I would have loved to brought it up for your weigh off, but October 25th is just to far away. The fruit has already been cut open and seeds have been retrieved. Very few seeds unfortunately. Still enough to have a few, but not the normal 400 you usually get. I'll send a couple more pictures, feel free to use any you want.

Jim"

Bravo and congratulations!

John and Laurie Harmon's First Season Effort!

Hello, Pumpkinistas!

John and Laurie Harmon, part of the Kellogg Garden Products, Lockeford facility-related group sent in this great picture and their update from Wilton, California.

"Hi Stuart,

Here is a picture of our pumpkin that we are growing. The boys are our grandsons Sander and Kingston. This is our first attempt at growing large pumpkins and we named this one, Tiny! We are part of the Northern Stars part 2. We are located in Wilton, CA, just south of Sacramento. This has been a great experience.

John and Laurie Harmon"

Janni from Germany's 2009 Effort!

Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas!

Good news, Janni, the only Pumpkinista that I am aware of in Germany sent in these great images of her pumpkins that she grew this season!

780 Debacco - 769 Lombardi - 741 Brunst
orange trio in my patch......

I would like to thank you, for the nice and very informative newsletters!I pursue everything always and very exactly! Really the work which you make!!!! Sorry, for my bad one in English.

Withe the best greetings for all pumpkinistas !!!!

Janni from Germany

Vielen danke, Janni!

Tschuss!

Stuart

(The 2009 Pumpkinmania! T-shirt design courtesy of Roadkyll Graphics)

The 2009 Pumpkinmania!

Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off & Contest

Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas!

I am very pleased and proud to announce this year's contest details:

Event: The 2009 Pumpkinmania! Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off & Contest

Day/Date: Sunday, October 25, 2009

Time: 8:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m., entry registration from 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., final weigh-off will begin at 12:00, high noon

Location: The Heritage Museum of Orange County, 3101 West Harvard Street, Santa Ana, CA 92704, http://www.heritagemueumoc.org/ for directions and a map

Price: Free to enter, free to attend!

Prizes: Heaviest Pumpkin, First Place, $1,000, Second Place, $500, Third Place, $300, courtesy of Gardner & Bloome division of Kellogg Garden Products. Prizes will be also awarded for Best Color, Funniest Shape, Youngest Grower, Most Experienced Grower, and more!

Activities: Arts & crafts, food, blacksmithing demonstrations, Guess the Weight of The Three Heaviest Pumpkins, and more!

Contest Rules & Regulations

1. This is an open competition to all growers in any part of the world.
2. The pumpkin must be grown by the grower and in the country where the grower resides.
3. A grower may enter only one pumpkin, and no family may enter more than two entries.
4. Entries will be received between 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. on the day of competition.
5. Entries must be sound, healthy, and undamaged. This means free of rot, holes or cracks through to the cavity, chemical residue, soil, and soft spots.
6. No foreign material is to be included in the weighing. Vine must be trimmed within 1.0” from the stem of the fruit. Judges reserve the right to fully inspect each pumpkin before the weight is announced and official. Refusal to allow inspection of a pumpkin will result in its disqualification.
7. Any pumpkin previously entered in or weighed at any other competition prior to the contest will be deemed ineligible.
8. In the event of a tie, prize(s) will be combined and split equally among entrants.
9. Decision of the judges will be final in all cases.
10. Contest sponsors and staff shall not be liable for compensation for loss or damage to any pumpkins, contestants, their families and friends, or personal property. All entrants completely and totally indemnify the sponsors and organizers of the weigh-off and contest.
Additional details: Please visit: http://www.pumpkinmania.blogspot.com/, or e-mail: sbs33@cornell.edu and interpac007@yahoo.com, media inquiries please call: (949) 683-5932.

Photo by Dr. Joe Sabol

Grown by Dr. Joe Sabol in San Luis Obispo!

Good morning, Growers!

I received this great image of Dr. Joe Sabol's son, Joey and his family, taken this past week-end.

"Good morning Stuart....

Attached is a photo of my son and his family with my pumpkin, photo taken over Labor Day Week-end. It has pretty much stopped growing in girth... hope the walls are getting thicker and seeds are fattening up!!! The stem is still green and very much alive from root to fruit.

Havvvva great Thursday Stuart!!

Joe"

Nice looking family and pumpkin!

Yamagami's Nursery's Sir Galahad Rules the Kingdom!

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

Now, this is what a giant pumpkin is supposed to look like!

For more information on their upcoming weigh-off and giant pumpkin growing tales: Go to Yamagami's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Cupertino-CA/Yamagamis-Nursery-Garden-Center/63172657808 for more frequent updates and photos or their website: www.yamagamisnursery.com

Have a great holiday week-end!

Certified Weighing This Saturday, September 5th, 10:45 a.m.!

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

Jim Fredricks needs some help with lifting his pumpkin for a certified weight this Saturday morning:

"Stuart,

Here is the most recent photo. She is sitting at 333.15" OTT, 757 lbs on the 2003 OTT chart, bigger with the new chart. I am looking for anyone who wants to help lift the pumpkin this Saturday, Sept. 5th at my house, at 10:45 a.m.. We will weigh it on a certified scale. I think the media will come out, so a chance to be on television too! Anyone interested please email me, yacobus73@yahoo.com. I haven't found anyone to buy my giant, so if anyone is willing to pick it up and transport it, they can have it as a gift to display somewhere.

I will just want the seeds.

Thanks!,

Jim
yacobus73@yahoo.com"

Gary Tovey: First Season's Results!

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

I received these images and the following report from Gary Tovey about his first season:

"Hi Stuart,

Things are beginning to wind down here as well. One of my two pumpkins looks like it took itself out in the last few days by falling over on its stem. The other is still doing well, but I'm battling powdery mildew in the patch and it's starting to win. Hopefully it will continue to add weight right on to the end.

Very happy with my first effort.

Thanks for your help!- Gary"

It's my complete pleasure. I am glad you had such a great season!

The Final Days: 2009 Season Draws To A Close!

Good afternoon, Pumpkinistas!

As the 2009 season draws to a close, I thought it would be timely to post pictures of the biggest pumpkin in my patch... Based on its dimensions, I am looking at about 200 pounds, or roughly 120 pounds LESS than last season! As you can see, it's just beginning to turn orange. The vine was ravaged by powdery mildew. From the time I first spotted the fungus to its present very dried-out state, was 12-15 days, so everything happened very quickly!

I believe that a little more focus on my part would have resulted in a bigger pumpkin. This pumpkin was actually the second fruit that set. The first pumpkin is about half the size of this one, and set on the primary vine. Unfortunately, its stem was only partially attached to the primary vine, which resulted in less than optimal nutrient and water uptake...

North Stars Shining Bright!

Hello, Pumpkinistas!

Not to be outdone by the Southern Rebels, here's the latest update and picture from the North Stars, Kellogg Garden Products' Lockeford, CA giant pumpkin growing team:

"Hi Stuart,

Attached is a picture of the North Stars' Pumpkin.
It’s doing very well…and stylish too (in a Gardner & Bloome hat)!

Todd"

Nice shade structure, but I think you might need a few more hats!

Images published with the permission of Susan Glousher

"It is a bronze medal approx 2 1/2 inches. The same medal was used for the Olympics which was held in Paris the same year. On side 1 it has a picture representative of France's national emblem "Marianne" with an oak tree to her left and the Paris skyline on her right. On side 2 it depicts a woman, presumably Victoria the Goddess of Victory, carrying a winner on her shoulders. The winner is holding the Olympic Torch. On the same side there is a plaque where the recipient's name is engraved, in this case W Warnock. The medal designer is J. C. Chaplain (1839-1909), one of the most well known medalist of the late 19th century."

Published with the permission of Susan Glousher

"I have also attached pictures of the three pumpkins on the wagon in William's garden. They were apparently 403, 385, and 370 lbs. respectively. This image is from my collection taken by Reuben Sallows, a renown Canadian photographer who was from Goderich."

Published with the permission of Susan Glousher

HOW TO GROW BIG SQUASHES
By Mr. WM. WARNOCK, Goderich, Ont.

Who grew a single specimen of Rennie's Mammoth Squash weighing 365 pounds, and exhibited at the Worlds Fair, Chicago, in 1893. Also a squash weighing 403 pounds, which was exhibited at the St Louis Exposition in 1904. My land is made in good condition, being heavily manured every year, it is of a gravelly formation with about sixteen inches of clay loam on top. A three hundred pound Squash can be grown on any part of it by the following method of cultivation: For each
hill I intend to plant, about the first of April I take two good wheelborrow loads of hen manure, and mix with four barrows of good soil taken from some other part of the lot: this is mixed a second time in the middle of April. The first of May I add four barrows of well rotted manure and mix thoroughly, then about the eighteenth of May make the hills and plant, dig out a space seven feet in diameter and fourteen inches deep, fill in my compost mixing, and with it some of the best earth which was thrown out, and when finished, the hill will be about ten feet in diameter. and six inches higher in the centre than the surrounding level. Then plant the
seed. Hills want to be about twenty feet apart; work the ground well until the plants commence to run. When about three feet long, I mulch the ground all over for twenty feet in diameter around each hill with Horse manure three inches deep, and stake the vines down with sticks to keep the wind from rolling them about, so that they may root at every joint. It is of great advantage to keep the vine from fruiting as long as possible, by pruning all fruit off until about the last week in July; this will give time enough to mature a Three Hundred Pound Squash by the first of October, for there must be a big vine to produce a big squash. I practice fertilizing a
few of the first bloom that come, when I think the vine is strong enough to grow a good specimen, by cutting off some of the fresh false bloom, trim the corolla or flower leaf off, and rub the stamen in around the fresh fruit bloom. This is necessary when fruit bloom opens on a morning that is unfavorable for bees to do their work, and it assures the setting of the specimens just where you want them. It also gives extra vigor to the growth of fruit to be well pollinized. When the first perfect specimens have set well, say four or five inches in diameter, cut all other fruit and blossoms off, and nip the ends off vines and all bloom that shows twice a
week, so that the vine is not exhausted with the great quantity of false bloom that would naturally come. Now while the great growth of the Squash is going on I use liquid manure twice a week along three or four of the principle vines of each hill, often six pails to the hill if it is in a dry time. Great care must be taken to give plenty of water; for instance, in 1893, when I grew the great specimen that was the largest on exhibition at the Worlds Fair, it was a dry time with us at Goderich, and having the advantage of the town water service, I sprayed each hill twice a week through August and the first two weeks in September, drenching the ground each time.
P.S. I expect all have heard of feeding Squash and Pumpkin by injecting milk or other stuff . This is a ridiculous silly humbug. I have practiced several methods along this line when I was younger, but it only makes me ashamed to confess it, and I am now quite
satisfied the only thing that will increase the size of the fruit comes out of the vine, and the vine must get its support from the natural roots.

The Early History of Giant Pumpkin Cultivation: Mr. William Warnock

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

Much has been written about Howard Dill and his experiments in cross-breeding that eventually led to the creation and patent of the 'Dill's Atlantic Giant' pumpkin cultivar. In fact, Howard Dill became even more famous in 1979 and heralded a new era, when he grew a 438 pounder that eclipsed the record that had stood for 76 years, the 403 pound pumpkin grown by William Warnock, in 1903.

Who was William Warnock? To find out, I contacted Susan Glousher, William Warnock's great granddaughter, in Ontario, Canada. Ms. Glousher was most gracious, and gave me permission to reprint Warnock's classic "How To Grow Big Squashes", his medal from the 1900 Paris World's Fair/Exposition Universelle for growing a 400 pound pumpkin, seen above, and gave this description of her illustrious ancestor: "William was a great writer and I believe quite well read. I have another article he wrote for our local paper called the Moralities of Horticulture (1908) that I think is brilliant. He also frequently wrote to the Canadian Horticulturalist, which I have a couple entries from their archives as well. He loved Horticulture and the fraternity created by it...his passion is quite evident in his writing. William named his son Linneaus after Carl Linneaus the Father of Taxonomy."

Thank you very much, Susan for sharing these precious materials and your account of your great, great grandfather, William Warnock!

Growing Giant Pumpkins in Long Beach, CA

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

A friend and fellow dragon boat paddler, Patricia in Long Beach, CA has embraced giant pumpkin cultivation and has the following update and link to her website below:

"Hi Stu,

Our pumpkin is late in coming, but we finally have two babies on different vines. I hope you don't mind, I've linked to your site on my website... I wonder if you would mind linking to ours on yours...

It's been several years of 'Giant Pumpkin' growing: http://www.happytomato.com/tomatospaces/t5/t5_giant_pumpkin.html

Thanks a bunch! Doing a lot of work, and having lots of fun!

Trish"

Linus on August 12th 2009!

Good morning, Pumpkinistas!

It appears that the Southern Rebels are continuing their dominance in the competition between Kellogg Garden Products www.kellogggarden.com Ontario and Lockeford, CA facilities! It's tough to estimate the exact weight by looking at a picture, but Linus is certainly a giant pumpkin. It's just beginning to turn orange, so it still has some growing to do. Plus, I can see that the foliage still looks healthy, so we'll see how many more pounds the pumpkin can gain before the fall.

Bravo!