Jeff's Giant Pumpkin Adventures

03/10/2023

Just under a week before this beauty is raffled off! Did you remember to buy tickets if you aren't able to attend the event? Shipping is available for those outside of BC. PM me if you are interested. Drawing is during the event awards ceremony on Saturday, October 7th at Krause Berry Farms in Langley where the quilt will be on display as well!).

Good luck to those who are entered! 🍀🍀🍀

10/09/2023

Alrighty gargantuan gourd groupies...we're headed into the final stretch! Things are still growing pretty well!

Fenway (1997 Tobeck 2022 giant squash) is climbing towards 900lbs and getting lumpy! This would be the 2nd biggest squash ever grown in BC!

Garfield (2145 McMullen giant pumpkin) is slowing down now, but is around 600lbs

Esmeralda (219 Pelletier 2019 bushel gourd) is around 150lbs. Getting a cool crackly patina too!

Mr. Green Jeans (158 Dabrowski 2021 marrow) is over 100 lbs!

Arnold (179.5 Kurzreiter field pumpkin) is over 100lbs and has filled out nicely! Great colour too! 🎃

One of a few still-growing giant tomatoes I have. Hopeful it'll ripen by the competition.

And lastly, our remaining long gourds are in great shape!

Come out to Krause Berry Farms in Langley on October 7 to see the BC Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off Competition. Starts around 11am and is loads of fun! Plus, a fantastic venue!

23/08/2023

The horse race has taken a turn! Pokie takes the lead 🐎🐎🐎

Hades here I come! Had to dig more to make room for Pokie (168.25 Eaton long gourd). Have another foot of room to grow now 🌱

31/07/2023

Weekly update from the patch!

Fenway (1997 Tobeck 2022 giant squash) is growing well! Looks like she'll be well over 300lbs for August 1st. Always a great place to be!

Heathcliff (1368.5 Lopresti giant pumpkin) is beautiful and growing very well considering its shady location. Looking like it will go dark orange!

Garfield (2145 McMullen giant pumpkin) turns day 15 today and put up one of the biggest day 15 numbers I have had at nearly 60lbs! Hoping it keeps up that growth!

Esmeralda (219 Pelletier 2019 bushel gourd) is waaaay ahead of where the 219 was at same time of pollination (and has an extra 36 days!). Feeling very excited about this!

Gumby (152.25 Yohe long gourd) is day 16 and 5 ft long now!

And finally, meet Arnold (179.5 Kurzreiter field pumpkin)! The seeds are from the Austrian record field pumpkin, hence the name 😉💪. Super long and growing fast!

21/07/2023

Fenway (1997 Tobeck 2022 giant squash) hit DAP 20 today! What a difference 5 days makes! She's sitting at 121lbs and looking very pretty!

04/05/2023

And now the giant pumpkins are in! First, we have Garfield - the incredible 2145 McMullen (so excited!)! Second, is Heathcliff - the 1368.5 Lopresti. Hoping for two BIG ORANGE fat cats! 😻

15/04/2023

Well friends...they stay the first step in achieving a major goal is to put it out there so you have some accountability! My goal for 2023 is to put some points on the board for the GPC Master Gardener. There are 8 categories judged - Giant pumpkin, giant squash, bushel gourd, long gourd, field pumpkin (jack-o-lantern pumpkin), tomato, marrow and watermelon. You have to get 5 of the 8 to the scales. I'll be growing in 7 categories this year. Here's my 2023 lineup with a few additions including my 122 BC record field pumpkin and 219 BC record bushel gourd seeds. If I get all 7 to the scales, then your top 5 point totals count towards your overall final score.
My more specific goals are:
-Break the BC record squash record (the squash will be in the main patch this year as they score more points than an equivalent size giant pumpkin)
- Break my own BC bushel gourd record
- Break my own BC field pumpkin record
- Break the BC giant tomato record (seeds germinated and growing already! 100% germination success).

It's going to be a ton of work (and fun!) but I'm up for the challenge! HUGE thanks to Cindy Tobeck for the help with getting some amazing seeds!

10/10/2022

A nice bit of press for a very fun day!

For the second year in a row, a man from Richmond, B.C., has the massive honour of growing the province's heaviest pumpkin.

11/09/2022

Coming down to the wire! Betelgeuse (1204 Sundin 2014) is still growing! Sure is a good looking pumpkin!

02/09/2022

2020) was only pollinated on August 11, already over 100 lbs! Not bad for being on a secondary! Grow baby grow!

28/08/2022

A few cool nights and BAM... ORANGE! Betelgeuse (1204 Sundin 2014) really going dark now!

22/08/2022

Betelgeuse (1204 Sundin 2014) still growing! She's really developing a lovely colour now too!

17/08/2022

Betelgeuse (1204 Sundin 2014) is going lumpy again, but growing nicely (and I'm loving that colour!)! Sitting around 500lbs now.

09/08/2022

Well pumpkin pals, we're nearing 400lbs now. Betelgeuse (1204 Sundin 2014) may not be the biggest, but really looking lovely!

29/07/2022

It's your Thursday update from the patch pumpkin pals! Betelgeuse is closing in on 200lbs (my goal by August 1st) but is assuming a super funky shape! Weight gains are ramping up with the warm weather! Loving the orange colour though!

19/07/2022

Well pumpkin pals, news from the patch. We're all in on Betelgeuse pumpkin no. 1 (1204 Sundin 2014)! The second candidate didn't pollinate, so off we go with this beauty. And it looks like I finally stumbled upon some orange genetics! It's a few days away from day 20 and already over 50lbs (even with this lousy weather). Should start going gangbusters with the nice forecast ahead! Fingers crossed 🤞🎃

14/07/2022

Happy Thursday morning from the patch! Betelgeuse (1204 Sundin 2014) hit DAP (days after pollination) 14 today - which means we take our first official measurements. She's coming in at 28lbs. She sure is pretty!