Hi Folks, a lot of positive developments has happened (and continues to happen) in our club since the spring seminar. FYI, I am working on a meeting summary and update to be emailed to all GVGO paid members in the next week or so. After that, the information will be posted on this site. Happy growing everyone! Pat

The auction closes at noon today. Now is your chance for last minute bids. The response looks great. Thanks for your work on this Chris!

AE was kind enough to send another photo (attached) taken by the local newspaper a couple days ago. It gives a good perspective on how long this gourd is as it towers over the roof line. Great photo!

After the Bracebridge weigh off Al Eaton sent a photo of all three record LGs he grew this year. The LG on the left is his 167" UOL that he nicked with a shovel and rot started. This LG was on the same plant as the 173 3/4" WR! AE must be the first grower in history to grow three world record LGs in the same season and with two on the same plant. What a truly incredible achievement. I mentioned to Al a comment I received from Fred Hain the other day. "AE is amazing, breaks the record not just by inches but by feet" I think that sums up what everyone is thinking as this sinks in. I said to Al to be ready for the onslaught of requests for interviews, how to requests for information, etc. He is truly a champion grower!

Congrats to Al Eaton on another record breaking year!

Hi Bob, Please sign me up. (Pat Watson aka TheFireGuy). PB 4.83 Thanks!

Anyone who does not have a Facebook account would need to set one up before the above link to the GVGO group page will work properly. Let me know if you are having difficulty.

RIP Dave. Big shoes to fill and a very nice person. He made a point of coming over to Ben & I at Port Elgin and congratulated Ben on his pumpkin. I scored a bottle of his pumpkin wine. Just a super guy! Condolences to the family.

Hi Folks, I will be helping manage the club Facebook page with Graham Barrett, a member from the UK. Graham will keep the page up to date with current news from overseas and I will try to keep the page fresh with news from Canada and the USA. Keeping the page current will increase followers over time and hopefully help bring in new members. We know lots of members don't use Facebook so the website will also continue be a great resource for information, membership renewals and communicating with the membership. We are working with Kirk at this point trying to figure out how to switch over the administration of the Facebook page. As soon as we get a few things figured out you can expect to see more GVGO activity on Facebook. A big thanks goes out to the hard working volunteers who have made this club so successful. The club membership is enjoyed by many and if you can spare a bit of time to help out with Kirk's request it will help ensure the future of the club. Many hands make light work. Please let Kirk know if you have any time to help out. Cheers, Pat Watson aka TheFireGuy Cell/Text: 519-871-1781

Headed your way Jeff...(not John). Sorry about that.

I've packaged up a bunch of tomato seeds. Headed your way John, thanks for doing this.

The first 1 ton pumpkin in Canada. Congratulations Jim & Kelsey! Still 1 weighoff to go......will lightning strike twice in 2021. Let's hope so!

Congrats Jane & Phil, Joel and everyone who worked so hard to organize this event.

Forgive me. I am just catching up on the club news and checking out the diaries. Congratulations Chris! Nice job on a new Canadian record Tomato!

Yes, I ordered some goodies from WOW and they arrived three days later. Very fast service, hopefully the pumpkin grows as fast...lol. Thanks Dave, good luck this season!

Thanks Jane & Phil, I ordered what I need through Amazon.

It was a fun day and I enjoyed seeing many of the GVGO growers again although it was from a distance. Thanks to the crew who did a great job in Port Elgin under difficult circumstances. We loved watching all of the entries and the excellent online show. I think we have planted the growing seed in Ben this year as he is talking about going full boar next season.....time to buy a tiller...lol. Congrats to all the winners! Ben was in line to weigh his pumpkin after Bob & Elaine MacKenzie so I managed to snap a nice photo of their new PB.....attached. Good luck all growers who have not yet weighed in, we hope to see the one ton barrier get broken soon. Pat & Ben Watson

Day 4 July 2 Day 1, June 29 150 Sq. Ft. Patch almost full July 10 Peas and zucchinis are awesome this year Day 12 on July 10, 2020. Day 12, Managing stem stress on July 10

Here is our 3rd female, this one is on a secondary after our main vine was chewed off by a squirrel (Photo taken June 21) Giant tomatoes are pretty small but growing (June 21)

This photo was taken on Monday June 16. The day before we had our 2nd female emerge on the plant about 10-11 feet out and Ben said this was far enough. Let's go for it. The next day a dam squirrel had our main vine for breakfast. You can our our little pumpkin laying in the dirt. What now! We thought about pulling the plant but decided not to. I recalled a conversation with John Butler a few years ago and if I remember correctly he said mix up a bit of cayenne pepper and spread it on the new growth. When the little critters get a taste of it they will never return. Let's see what happens. This is the closest new growth to the end of the main. Our plan is to try and keep the new growth from getting eaten and start another female soon.