New Pumpkin Blog

North Portland Giant Pumpkin Blog - will post summaries of 2009/10/11, then update for 2012 going forward.  Questions / Comments / Growing Tips are welcome!  =)

The 2012 weigh off has been set for the weekend of 10/6/12... Mark's calendar invite:

Sunday! Sunday! Sunday! 2012 is shaping up to be a serious pumpkin growing year. Expanded pumpkin patches, secret fungi and enigma seeds – who's going to take home the coveted Gilded Pumpkin Trophy?? This year, Mark "Mulcher" will vie to retain the trophy and best his personal record (and the NoPo competition's heaviest) of 76 pounds. Is a newly expanded pumpkin patch, re-tooled with "thermal-mass reservoir" bricks, just the thing he needs to keep the trophy for one more year?

Chris "The Composter", bitter from last year's defeat, is coming out of the gates with one goal in sight: 2012 Champion. Can his redesigned pumpkin patch "runway", with the patent-pending 90DegreeTurn® produce the big gourd he needs? He's sure to have a few tricks up his sleeves.

This years NoPo Monster Pumpkin Weigh Off is going to be EXTREME!

2012 Pumpkin Contest - The Quest for 100 Pounds

Worked through the rainiest March on record to devise a new pumpkin patch, better sun positioning (plus the reflection of the new bank of windows on the house... most expensive pumpkin patch heating project ever...)

Mixed in some good dirt/compost, and topped with organic 4 way later on from Mt Scott Fuel.  Also cleared another 4 feet at the end of the turn, moving the compost bin... planning on one plant at each end, then letting them cross and expand over the lawn

Mark is rocking an expanded bed, heat-absorbing bricks, root enhancing xtreme pumpkin additives, and a lucky troll.

He's already got a couple sprouts- seeds from his pumpkin last year, and some others

Just finished my cold frame with other plant starts in there.  Ordered seeds from Hester Farms last week: will either go with the 953 Hester 2007, or 1286 Hester 2010... maybe both.  Plus a Prizewinner in front for carving.

A Summary of 2011

A Summary of 2011

New bed with upgraded soil this year

Ditto for Mark, but limited space for him

Sewing my starts outdoors this year... 6 of them... perhaps too many =)

Popped up in a hurry, ready to rock

They look so harmless and innocent

Until they start taking over the yard

With major construction abound, space was limited

Got a solid one on right away with decent shape

Tried a new system for slug/rot prevention...

Up to 50" in a hurry, should be a new personal record

But Mark was well ahead and stayed that way

The final weigh off... Mark came in a little light at 76 lbs and 62.5" around, but easily besting mine at 58 lbs and 49.5" around (8 lbs heavier than last year at same circumference).  Mine had a little spot of rot on the back, but not all the way to the core... scraped it away, and filled with candlewax to keep it fresh for carving.

Too cute not to include- Mark with his big pumpkin... and a little pumpkin

And a new dog tag for the trophy

Then we went to Bauman again to see the real giants - new OR state record

Nothing left to do, but carve.  We went for Tiki Bar theme this year

Mahalo for another great year.  I owe you a case, Mark

A Summary of 2010

A Summary of 2010

Had to up the game with some better seeds

Incubating in the sun... on a heating pad

A modest start in the backyard for the Atlantic Giant

The front yard got in on the action with an Atlantic Giant, Prizewinner, and a volunteer

Which took over the whole front yard...

Backyard Giant had some space to grow

And with a little pollinating help

We soon had about 20 pumpkins growing

Mark and I would chart the most promising ones

But splitting...

And rotting...

Got the best of several of them

Harvested the one on the left after finding rot (and likely cross pollination with an ornamental), and the prizewinners on the right for carving

Mark's was growing quick, but also succumbed to rot before it's time

A latecomer started growing on the wall after my biggest split

Final 2010 Chart

And topped the scales at 50 lbs

Thus, the trophy is passed on...

And the dog tag is added

Then we go to Bauman Farms to see the real giants...

Some day... if one of us has a farm with unlimited space and full sun...

In the meantime, it made for some fun carving (Super Mario is the 50 pounder)

And we had the block help us carve a total of 31 pumpkins for Halloween   =)

Then composted them for next year