Issue #2                                                                 June 2011

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Fresh From the Patch...

In This Issue
The Latest Dirt...
Calling All PumpkinHeads...
The Great Pumpkins' Favorite Picks...
The Pumpkin Store
The Latest Dirt...
Castlebay and van reid to perform a Harvest Review at Lincoln Theater on Friday, October 7th at 7pm.  Tickets will be $12 adults, $5 children.

 

Become a participant of the Pumpkin-Posse!

For more information on how to join in the fun and make family memories that will last a lifetime click here.

 

Calling All Pumpkinheads...

Volunteering for Pumpkinfest is not only tons of fun, but it feels great to get involved in the wonderful community in which we  live.  There are many levels of participation, that cover a variety of different interests.  Join us to find your niche and become a member of the  Pumpkinfest family.  Volunteer Opportunities Available:

 

Pumpkin Hurl/Catapult Event                          Immediate Opening

For more information about this volunteer position, please email  [email protected]

 

How Does Your Pumpkin Grow?

 

Ladies and Gentlemen... Feed your Babies!!!!

 

Here's the Dirt on how to make your plant flourish during the next month, according to our expert grower Bill Clark...

juneplant

Master Grower, Bill Clark's plant as of last week.  Note the crossed sticks that he gently placed under the vine to support it and keep the tender leaves up and out of the dirt where they might get moldy, dirty or eaten by grubs

 

 -It is now time to remove the hoop houses (if you used one) as the vine is hearty enough to be unprotected.

- Pumpkin plants do not like extreme heat and will not tolerate the cold. Therefore you need to do everything you can to keep the plant happy. At night, place a bucket or a box over your plant and cover with a blanket to retain as much of the day's warmth as possible. Uncover in the morning when the temperature is above 45.

- Water your seedling as needed to keep the soil moist but not wet. Luke warm water is better than cold for watering.

- Your plant should start to vine in about 2-3 weeks, depending on the temperature and soil moisture. If your plant decides it wants to vine in the wrong direction, you can turn it in the right direction over the course of a couple weeks using a few stakes and moving the vine a little bit each day during the heat of the day, starting when the vine is about 12' to 18' long. At around 5 weeks old, your plant vine will grow up to 1 foot a day so be prepared to stay on top of it from this point on.

Important Notes:  At this stage it is important to feed your young plantlets generously (for the next month or so) and bury the vines so that they start growing roots all along the vines, acting like a huge feeding system.

 

Follow Don Langevin's blog at http://www.giantpumpkin.com/email_5-31-11.html

 

 

Weather patterns are a crucial element in growing a champion pumpkin which makes it critical to be informed of what's ahead.  A great resource to do this is:

http://radar.weather.gov/radar.php?rid=GYX&product=N0R&overlay=11101111&loop=yes

The Great Pumpkins' Favorite Picks...
Round Pond Parade                                        4th of July 

Our pumpkinfest mascot hopes to see you all at the legendary 4th of July Parade in Round Pond!   

 

 

Event Re-Caps....

plantletgiveawayDespite the gray skies and cool temps, a steady stream of volunteer growers showed up for the plantlet giveaway, and all told, some 400 giant atlantic pumpkin plantlets were given out!  (Since then, 200 additional seedllings have been given away, totaling over 600!)

 

togusnkids

Though Togus was a bit tuckered out from all of his recent book signings, he managed to cash in on plenty of 'lovin' from his young fans!  And the scuttlebut around town is that he was seen to take a little "nip" now and again -- catnip, that is!

 

 

 

 

Check out the Event video at http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=robinsflix#p/u/0/n4WC40cRzZ4

 billmemorialparadeDamariscotta Memorial Day Parade

 

Looks like fun Bill and Tom!!!  Do you need a special license to drive a pumpkin?  The pumpkinfest was very well represented at the Memorial Day parade that took place in Damariscotta last month. 

The Pumpkin Store...
Purchasing merchandise from our Pumpkinfest collection is an excellent way to help promote and support the Event and  Maine Artists alike.  Not to mention the added benefit of sporting really cool gear!  

 hatsnpins
Commemorative Caps, T-shirts & Pins are now available for purchase,as well as our NEW 2011 Tee's...be one of the first in town to sport the new design fresh off the press!  For more information on how to purchase email [email protected]

 

More Pumpkin Connections...

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Charter Sponsors...

And Last But Certanily Not Least...

A Pumpkinboat-Load of Thanks To Our Generous Sponsors....

We couldn't do it without you!!!!

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