Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 10 Entries. Sunday, September 17 View Page It's time to make a few diary entries before the season is completely over! I haven't done a diary in 2 or 3 years but I have been growing each year. I just got a little lazy with the diary entries. This year has turned into something worthy of firing up the diary for. A big thank you goes out to Glenna Rea for sending me some seeds that made this year so much fun. I had to pick one or the other so I went with her 1977 Rea. If the pictures come out sideways or upside down my apologies. Its been a while since last posting.   Sunday, September 17 View Page For pollination purposes I grew the 2006 Wolf in the smaller patch. I wasn't really planning to grow a second plant this year but Jim (Duster) had started too many plants to grow in his patch so he gave me the 2006. The 2006 was an excellent grower and had me at times questioning whether I shouldn't have went with it as the main plant. The 2006 popped off a pumpkin close to an estimated 1100 Lbs. with almost no care at all except regular watering and an occasional fungicide or pesticide. No ferts used at all on this plant. I didn't even prepare the soil in the spring other than tilling it to break it up. I guess years of building up the soil carried this plant. My plans were to use it to pollinate the 1977 then yank it out. It was growing so well I just decided to let it do it's thing. Here's what it produced.   Sunday, September 17 View Page At the beginning of the season I increased the size of my main patch by nearly doubling it's size to 600 sqft. Something I had been wanting to do for some time. The 1977 Rea made itself right at home in the extended patch filling the whole place with no problem and then growing beyond its borders for additional size. The 1977 has been an amazing plant and a pleasure to grow. The pumpkin growth has been the best I've ever had. I broke every personal record I had in daily weight gains, day 20, 30 and day 40 weights...day 30 weight was at 581 Lbs.   Sunday, September 17 View Page Our Southern California weigh off is less than a week away and I cant wait! We have the greatest group of guys that support each other and we share information with each other for the betterment of all so that we all become better growers together. What more could you ask for in a group of rabid pumpkin growers?   Sunday, September 24 View Page Its been quite a season and here are the results. In an earlier post I said the pumpkin on the right estimated just under 1100...well, that was based off measurements taken several weeks earlier and I never got around to giving it a final measurement. The 2006 Wolf (right pumpkin) had a final OTT of 375 estimated at 1187 lbs. This pumpkin is full of nice surprises.   Sunday, September 24 View Page Weigh off day has finally arrived. It's a no doubter that this pumpkin will be a new PB for us this year.   Sunday, September 24 View Page I have a feeling the last picture may have come out sideways. Try again.   Sunday, September 24 View Page Hats off to Chris and Kevin and all the good folks at Irvine Park Railroad that did such a great job organizing and putting together a great weigh off! We had the largest Southern California weigh off yet with 32 entries and hundreds of people in attendance. Everything went smooth start to finish and many left saying how much fun they had at the event. A few left feeling inspired to give it a try next year...I hope they do! It was great to meet up with our fellow growers and also the many new growers who were experiencing their first weigh off and making them feel welcome. We have a great core group of growers who are willing to share our experience with all who desire to grow bigger pumpkins and it shows in the increasing weights of the pumpkins showing up at the weigh off. We knew going into the weigh off that the the top spots were probably going to be very competitive, and they were which made it all the more fun for all. A big hand to all our growers!   Sunday, September 24 View Page Here are this years results. Congrats to Kevin Donahue at 1708 winning it all, with the top spot, the Howard Dill Award, and growing the new Southern California record pumpkin! Oh, and a new PB too. Congrats to Jim Fredricks coming in a bit under the radar with his pumpkin weighing in at 1695... 8% heavy to take the #2 spot and narrowly missing his PB of 1705. My pumpkin had the size to compete with the top dogs but needed to go a few percent heavy. She weighed in 3% light and slid into 3rd place. A new PB! What a thrill this season has been!   Sunday, September 24 View Page My new PB, weighing in at 1601. Super happy to be in the 1600's! The cross is (F) 1977 Rea X (M) 2006 Wolf. Thanks again Glenna for the seed!