Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 38 Entries. Wednesday, March 19 View Page Today I started the earliest sowing of watermelons that I have ever done. One of them will grow in a greenhouse. Many thanks to Benjamin McMillin for the seeds. Friday, March 21 View Page After 40 hours. Monday, March 24 View Page Despite the rapid germination of 309 McCaslin, it has problems with cotyledon leaves. The 222 McMillin looks great. Wednesday, March 26 View Page A lot of snow has fallen since the warming. My apiary was covered with snow. Saturday, March 29 View Page I planted watermelons today. Grafted on a bushel. Saturday, March 29 View Page 309 McCasin Sunday, March 30 View Page I've been making a greenhouse frame all week. It's almost done. Sunday, March 30 View Page Today I launched the first batch of seeds. Such an early start is very risky, but if the weather does not let you down, then the result will be good. 418 McMillin and the rest of my seeds Friday, April 4 View Page The watermelon fused with the pumpkin and began to grow. 222 McMillin. Friday, April 4 View Page I launched the main batch of seeds. Monday, April 7 View Page 418 McMillin looks great. Wednesday, April 16 View Page 418 McMillin needs to be planted in the ground, but the weather does not allow. Wednesday, April 16 View Page Unfortunately, 2493 Wolf proved to be not viable. His growth point has rotted away. I replaced it with 1305 McMillin. It was planted on April 12. Saturday, April 19 View Page Winter is back. It snowed and there was a blizzard for three days. And that's after 27 degrees Celsius. Tuesday, April 22 View Page The 222 McMillin watermelon is ready for planting. Tuesday, April 22 View Page Today I planted a 222 McMillin watermelon in the greenhouse. A heating cable was placed in the ground. Additionally, a tunnel made of polyethylene was made above the plant. Frosts are possible in the coming days. Wednesday, April 23 View Page I landed 2344 Wallace under a film shelter. I hope it doesn't freeze. The temperature jumps very much. Wednesday, May 14 View Page Watermelon 222 McMillin is starting to gain momentum. Thursday, May 15 View Page 418 McMillin does not develop very quickly, but the plant is stocky with a thick main vine and closely spaced leaves. Friday, May 16 View Page Today I removed the temporary shelter from 2344.5 Wallace as the plant has outgrown it. This pumpkin grows very fast. It was very windy today, so the leaves in the photo look nondescript. Now the plants will have to acclimatize to the open ground. In case of frost, I put up supports. The forecast for the next 10 days is favorable. The length of the main vine is 10.5 ft. Monday, May 26 View Page According to the forecast, there was a possibility of frost, so I had to urgently close all my plants. Tuesday, May 27 View Page As a result, there were no frosts, but snow fell. Tuesday, May 27 View Page Watermelon 222 McMillin. A flower was pollinated a few days ago. But I haven't decided yet to leave it or wait for the next one. Thursday, June 5 View Page A flower was pollinated at 2344.5 Wallace today. This is my earliest pollination. Compared to last year by 16 days. If it hadn't been for the cold week at the end of May, when growth stopped completely, pollination could have occurred in May. Unfortunately, there was only one male flower on the same plant. It seems to me that everything went well. Thursday, June 5 View Page Side view. Thursday, June 5 View Page The general appearance of the plant. The first leaves that were under the film cover are almost burnt out in the sun and spoil the overall appearance. Friday, October 3 View Page Finally, I was able to access the website. All attempts to do this before were unsuccessful. The VPN helped. I want to share how the season went. Friday, October 3 View Page 2344.5 Wallace. This is the earliest pollination I've had. June 5th. Friday, October 3 View Page 418 McMillin. Pollinated on June 22. Friday, October 3 View Page 2344.5 Wallace. The shape turned out to be unusual. I've never had such a pumpkin before. The DAP 20 is only 70.5 pounds. Friday, October 3 View Page 418 McMillin. DAP 20. My previous achievement has been beaten. The estimated weight is 144 pounds. Friday, October 3 View Page 2344.5 Wallace didn't grow very fast, but she continuously gained in the range of 11 to 35 pounds per day, despite all the vagaries of the weather. The last 10 days of July turned out to be very cold. It even froze in some places at night. Fortunately, the pumpkin was not affected. The first half of August was very rainy and cloudy. Friday, October 3 View Page The pumpkin grew stem down. I had to dig a small hole under the stem to control it. But the pumpkin continued to grow towards her. Friday, October 3 View Page 418 McMillin couldn't stand the Siberian weather and burst. This pumpkin caught up with the weight of 2344.5 Wallace and showed a very good increase, but..... Friday, October 3 View Page Near the peduncle, the pumpkin was lower than the rest. Friday, October 3 View Page I'm in front of a pumpkin. Friday, October 3 View Page One more time. Friday, October 3 View Page The weight of the pumpkin is 1355 pounds. For the first time in Russia, a weigh-in was held, which was included in the international rating. Many thanks to Alexander Chusov, who was able to organize all this. The weigh-in took place in Moscow, and Pumpkin had to cover more than 4,000 km. Unfortunately, the shape, the huge distance and the quality of some roads led to the fact that the pumpkin was damaged and did not take part in the weighing. But this year, the number of people who are passionate about growing giant vegetables in Russia has increased significantly.