So the book has rained on my parade a little, in a sense.

It turns out that my little backyard is nowhere near large enough to support a single RHP (Ridiculously Humongous Pumpkin). A single pumpkin can take up an area as large as 750 sq. ft. That's a circle of about 30 ft. in diameter. (as a side note, I'm going to keep this blog metric most of the time, but I didn't feel like converting what I read in the book).

So I was talking to the crew at the Danforth Center today, and we've all decided that what our fancy, high-tech plant science research center really needs is a good ole' pumpkin patch out back. I'm going to track down Howard, the facilities coordinator, tomorrow and have a chat with him about it. I'll let you know what he says.

XOXO,
Bert

"You see, this is about much more than growing a few pumpkins. This is about humanity; you and me accepting our personal and united challenge to grow the world's largest pumpkin."

-How to Grow World Class Giant Pumpkins II

They're here!

I have never seen such enormous pumpkin seeds. Jesus god. I got the book, too. I don't know what to think.

They're sorta teardrop shaped, and about 5 cm long and 2.5 cm wide, and about a centimeter thick. The book has lots of illustrations. Jenny did a very good job of not opening it. I'll let her tell that story in a comment, and I'll keep this one short.

XOXO,
Bert

Last Thursday, I ordered some giant pumpkin seeds and a copy of How-to-Grow World Class Giant Pumpkins II: Sequel to the Classic Book on Growing Giant Pumpkins from Ray and Mary Waterman at P&P Seed Co. in Collins, NY. I used the internet to confirm that Ray and Mary provide only the finest in ridiculously humongous pumpkin seeds.

I am going to use those seeds to grow a ridiculously humongous pumpkin in my backyard. I am going to use this blog to document the experience and share it with my friends and loved ones scattered around the nation and the globe.

If you are reading this, you are my friend and/or I love you.

This is going to be the greatest summer ever.