bummer!

Matt added wrong. He wrote down the numbers I gave him and somehow got 181 inches. It's really 151 inches or ~79 lbs. Still the biggest one we've ever gotten but not over 100 lbs. :(

Woo-hoo!

I think we've got our biggest pumpkin ever! The first picture is the biggest pumpkin which is 181 inches or ~130 lbs. It is starting to look a little darker yellow (maybe even a hint of orange in it) so it might be pretty close to being done but I'm hoping to get another 50 lbs in it. The second pumpkin picture is the second biggest. I honestly don't know how big it is. It's not in a place where I can get to it to measure it very easily. But it's still really yellow so maybe it will pass the big one...

Montrose Pumpkin Part 1

Montrose Pumpkin Patch - In the picture below the biggest pumpkin can be seen in the back shaded by the tarp. At the time of the picture (9/1/09) the pumpkin measured 193 inches corresponding to a weight of 155 lbs.Below is another picture of the large pumpkin. On 9/7/09 it measured 213 inches and had an estimated weight of 204 lbs.

Game Over

The Colorado weather finally got the best of the Wilson (Champion0607) pumpkin patch. A heavy hailstorm last evening pretty much eliminated any chance of growing a substantial pumpkin. Take a look at the pictures and try not to cry (we couldn't hold our tears back). Well, maybe it will give a chance to the other "competitors" to take first prize...

The 2 plants had pretty much covered our 400 sq ft plot. Everything outside the hoophouse got destroyed. Leaves that were 18 inches across are now just shreds. Note the healthy leaves inside the hoophouse compared to what's left outside...

Here's a closer shot of the damage...All of the pumpkins that had set are now heavily pitted from the hail. Even the young female flowers that hadn't even opened yet were all hit.Here is our biggest pumpkin (almost volleyball size). Even if it continues to grow, it isn't going to be a pretty pumpkin. But at least it can't be as bad as the Adams' entry a couple years ago (or could it)?

So next year we're going to get serious...I've already been looking up hail netting on the internet. I'm going to cover our entire 800 sq ft of garden for next year. We won't settle for less than 500 lbs.

Good luck to the rest of you. Hopefully the warm weather will hold through early October so we can see some giant ones...

Life lessons and pumpkins

Brett teaching his sons about "the birds and the bees" of pumpkin growing.

Orion pollinating a female pumpkin plant.Brett and Orion looking for more female flowers.

We have about a dozen pumpkins this size - that is Orion's hand sitting on the pumpkin, not Sabrina's

The spies were out again ...

This is what the spies found in the Strizichs' pumpkin patch. Looks like they are trying to pull a fast one.Upon closer inspection the spies found what the plant is actually growing.
At least this one is orange.

This ought to get things moving!!

Herbie's birthday present (from my sister and brother-in-law) to help the pumpkins along. Guarenteed by Harding's Nursery

Be on the lookout for spies...

I found these pictures, left anonamously, of the Wilson pumpkins. Don't worry Wilsons, I was assured that no sabatage was done.





The plant's pretty big and leaving the greenhouse but no evidence can be found of male flowers...


There was one female flower though open outside of the greenhouse. Brett, you're missing you window for polination!


I think the spy came to the conclusion that the Wilson's haven't been posting this year because there's nothing to post about...

Monument Hail July 20th, 2009

About 11:30 pm Monday night a pretty good storm went through. Lots of hail, rain and wind. The pumpkin house took a beating but the pumpkin plants came through it pretty well. Herbie is out side right now redesigning the pumpkin house. We also have our first male flower!!

Wayne's Pumpkins 20 Jul 09

Here are updated pictures of Wayne's pumpkins. There are so many leaves that he can't even see what's underneath. The winner could be growing as you read this. Wayne had to hurry to get pictures taken of the pumpkins because the mosquitos are really bad this year. He swears they are as big as the butterfly.