5/30/08 - Boulder - Growin Fine !

I was updating Paul's posting and just realized I hadn't posted anything in awhile on my Jaradale. I fed it some triple phosphate last week. I've seen quite a bit of leaf growth since the feeding, but then the warm temperatures could be helping too. I just bought some organic fertilizer from McGuckins that I will be giving it in the future too.

We had 3-4 days of rain over memorial weekend and cool temperatures. It's been in the 80's the last few days here. I'm still covering my pump at night

5/23/08 - We finally hear from Eastlake, CO

Before I left work last December, I gave Paul several seeds. Unfortunately I can't remember if I gave him seeds for the pretty orange pumps (I think I did) or the palish ones I grew last summer. Guess we'll just have to wait and see. Both seeds came from pumps that were over 100#.

He lives in Eastlake which is near Denver. I hadn't heard anything from him recently so I sent him a note. I found out that his wife doesn't believe in planting anything before June 1 so he was still holding onto his seeds. I told him Memorial weekend is an ok time to plant but we still have to watch out for hail.

Here's Paul's latest report....So far, 4 of the 8 seeds germinated, and it has been only a few days.....one with a shoot almost 2 inches long !
Moved them from the wet paper towel birthing area to a pot and wet them down.. they should get a lot of wamth in the back yard...


pictures as of 5/29/08

5/22/08 - Tornadoes in Windsor, some hail in Boulder

Windsor, Co was hammered with tornadoes today and experienced very serious building damage. Windsor is about 40 miles NE from Boulder.

We had on and off light rains throughout the day and around 4 pm a fast wave of hail came through. The hail was about 1/2" in diameter. It was enough to get me excited. I was a reluct hero and grabbed an umbrella and went out and covered my pumpkin and a few other plants in case the hail got any worse. About the time I finished covering everything, the hail stopped. Hopefully I can keep up this routine throughout the summer.

I was hoping the hail wouldn't show up till later in June like in 2006, guess it wasn't to be so.

5/21/08 - Boulder Jaradales

We've been having day temperatures in the 80s F and nights in the 50s and 60s so the pumpkins are starting to show more growth. I decided to bet my load and planted All my seedlings outside. I haven't taken off the cold frame yet. I'm keeping the plants covered at night. These warm temperatures really help with growth, my other garden plants have shown lots of new foliage lately.

I looked at 2006 to check on the frost date that wiped us out, and it was the end of June, a month away. Hopefully we'll be lucky this year like last. Just in case, I have all my hail protection out in the yard ready should the need arise.

5/21/08 - The Toronto contingent

We have competition in Toronto this year. Del provided pictures of his brood and reported that they're having temperatures around 14 C (I think that's 56 F). I told him once he gets these babies planted outside, and they get established, they'll take over his yard and he'll have more time to go riding since he'll be spending less time mowing.

5/6/08 - The Raleigh competition weighs in

It looks like we will have some very strong competition coming out of Raleigh, NC this season. I thought I had a pretty strong start, but now that I see the Gerney seedlings, mine is pretty insipid. It almost makes me want to pull up my Jaradale and replant it with a giant pumpkin, NOT!

5/4/08 - The 2008 Season begins

The 2008 pumpkin growing season has begun! Neighbor Dave moved to Utah and has sadly decided NOT to grow giant pumpkins this year. I have 3 seeds from a >800# Longmont pumpkin in my seed stash tempting him for next season. Since it's no fun to grow giant pumpkins without a neighbor to compete against, I decided I'd grow edible pumpkins this year instead. I puchased some blue Jaradale seeds when I was in Texas in March. The packet describes them as good eating and can get to 10# in size.

I decided I needed more vegetable growing space this year so I'm putting my pumpkin in a hole in the middle of my back yard so it can grow at will. I filled the hole with some of my own compost and bone meal. I set out a Jaradale seedling yesterday, Sunday 5/4. I have 2 other seedlings indoors in case this one gets hit by frost or hail. I'm covering it at night but will leave it open to the elements during the day.

Last years pumpkin took over several of my raised beds and prevented me from planting anything else in those beds. Hopefully the sunnier spot will work out well for both it and me.

I've mailed pumpkin seeds to friends in Longmont, CO, Raleigh, NC, and Toronto, Canada, so hopefully we'll have some virtual competition this year.