Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 38 Entries. Tuesday, January 1 View Page Happy New Year. My cover crop is looking good on this cold New Years morning. Sunday, January 6 View Page We have received 20" of rain so far. Well above our normal average.. The legumes don't seem to mind. Sunday, January 13 View Page 24° here and my cover crop is not happy. Sunday, February 10 View Page Cover crop doing it's thing. I love California!! Sunday, February 10 View Page Our ratter. Watch out you vermin. Wednesday, March 20 View Page All ready to start one for an early September weigh-off. You can see the mycorrhizae laced bell bean cover crop coming up. Hope to have a plant in the ground by next week. Sunday, March 24 View Page Hoop house frames are up in my main patch and mycorrhizae laced cover crop planted. Shooting for an April 15th start date. With the size of my hoop houses I should be able to keep my cover crop going till late May. Sunday, March 24 View Page For Chris Dunn, two 1548 Hawkley plants that will be ready to go this week. Thanks for the seeds John. Thursday, March 28 View Page Two 1548 Hawkley plants in the ground planted about 3' apart. That gives me plenty of time to see witch one to keep. Saturday, April 6 View Page I'm ready for plastic on the hoop houses. I forked and tilled in some humic acid and kelp meal. Laid the main line tubing for sprinklers and misters. Cover crop is up and doing well. All systems are go!!! Saturday, April 6 View Page 1548 Hawkley plants both look good and at this point I could keep either one. Saturday, April 6 View Page Cricket keeps the weeping willow nicely trimmed. Sunday, April 7 View Page I added more zones to the main patch. After last years patch expansion I didn't have the water pressure needed for six plants. Now I can mist and water 3 plants at a time. Saturday, April 13 View Page I put the plastic on and the mole is dead. I'm ready and will start on the 15th. Saturday, April 20 View Page 1548 Hawkley getting ready to run. I have not picked my keeper yet but will have to soon. Saturday, April 20 View Page Looking in at the 1548. I have a good feeling about this one. Saturday, April 20 View Page This is where I'll be growing the 1789 Wallace so I'm calling it my "Freak House". Saturday, April 20 View Page I'm gonna say it......... Shangra - la!! Sunday, May 12 View Page I cut down and tilled in the cover crop around the 1548 Hawkley plant on Thursday. It can no longer be contained. Sunday, May 12 View Page 9 foot salad bar. Sunday, May 12 View Page Cover crop is out of control. Sunday, May 12 View Page This is the size of my October plants. 1596 Werner looking good!! Sunday, May 12 View Page Freak house being over-run by cover crop. Sunday, May 19 View Page Due to future time constraints I cut down and tilled in my cover crop. I would have liked to keep it longer but it's all good. Sunday, May 19 View Page 1409 Miller plants about to hit the ground and run. Wednesday, June 5 View Page Pollinated a perfect 5 lobe female on the 1548 Hawkley plant at 13 feet. This is the 1756 Lancaster at 9'. Sunday, June 9 View Page The 1789 Wallace (the Freak) at 12'. Should have a female open around 15' in about ten days. Second pollination on the 1548 Hawkley plant at 15' on June 7th will most likely be my keeper. Nice 5 lobe female with 10 sets of secondary's behind it. Wednesday, June 12 View Page One of my own. 1284 Pingrey (1495 Stelts X 1409 Miller). It's always fun to grow your own cross and this one looks good!!! Thursday, June 20 View Page "It's Miller Time", 1409 pollinated this AM at 12'. Should have 2 more ready to go before the end of the month. I love a plant that gives you options!!! Sunday, July 21 View Page Just about finished growing plants and its time to focus on growing pumpkins. 1548 Hawkley is around 550lbs and doing well. Sunday, July 21 View Page 1789 Wallace at day 30 today. I scared it with a knife when I was cutting a side vine. Tuesday, July 23 View Page It may have been scared but what I meant to say is that I scarred it!! Wednesday, July 24 View Page 1756 Lancaster day 30. The Great White Hope. Thursday, July 25 View Page Day 30 for the 1596 Werner. I think this one will go heavy. Wednesday, September 4 View Page Day 89 for the 1548 Hawkley pumpkin. Both the plant and fruit look like they could grow another 20 days, but they won't get the chance. Taking it to the National Heirloom Exposition next week. Let the fun begin. Wednesday, September 11 View Page 1323 Pingrey grown off the 1548 Hawkley and crossed with my 1284 Pingrey. Went 4% heavy and came in second at the Heirloom weigh-off. Congrats to Gary Miller and his first place 1392lb pumpkin grown off his own 1409 Miller. It was good to see all my pumpkin growing friends and to meet Aaron Dew (Captain Cold Weather)who helped with the weigh-off. Sunday, September 29 View Page 1356 Pingrey (1756 Lancaster X 1596 Werner)13% over chart. First place at Constantly Growing Pumpkin Festival. This is a new weigh-off at a great venue the Placerville Fairgrounds.I was told it will be a GPC weigh-off next year with bigger and deeper payouts. I look forward to going back next year. Friday, October 11 View Page 1596 Werner is loaded and ready for Uesugi Farms. It's going to be hard to finish in the top ten but I think I'll make it with this pumpkin. Should be a record breaking day for some.