Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 94 Entries. Tuesday, January 6 View Page Sunset and Moon rise in the mountains (kind of over the patch- makes it pumpkin related, hopefully :)). Best Wishes to everyone in the New Year. Tuesday, January 6 View Page Moon ise over the patch at sunset... Ok this one shows the patch in the picture. The patch is snow covered in front of the fence on the left side of the picture. Monday, May 17 View Page 963 Stucker (801.5 Stelts x 935 Lloyd) Well I guess it is time put up some pictures. I started this seed April 23rd and it was transplanted into the patch May 4th. Monday, May 17 View Page 735 Pukos (846 Calai x self) Started April 23rd, transplanted May 4th. Monday, May 17 View Page 782.5 Stucker (940 Mombert x 801.5 Stelts) Started 23 April, Transplant 4 May. Monday, May 17 View Page 04 Secret Plant (XXXX x XXXX) My 4th and final plant for this season. Started around 7 May, Transplanted 17 May. Monday, May 17 View Page I took this picture while transplanting my Secret Plant to show how vigorous the roots are on these plants. The 1st true leaf is small yet the roots are all around the edges and bottom of the contained soil. It was in a 5 quart ice cream bucket before being transplanted. Tuesday, June 1 View Page 782.5 Stucker It has gone flat vine on me. Tuesday, June 1 View Page 735 Pukos The main vine is growing directly away in this picture. Tuesday, June 1 View Page 963 Stucker My biggest plant so far. Tuesday, June 1 View Page my secret plant. The first true leaf, on the left, was stunted and the 4th leaf was broken off and removed. The plant is still doing OK. It was started later than the other plants. Saturday, June 5 View Page 782.5 Stucker plant. Recovering double vine? I hope so. I split the tip last week... the two halfs grew with a split for the next two nodes... then each closed up again. Now both look fine... BUT only time will tell as I found out last year they can go flat again. Monday, July 12 View Page Well I'm finally in the pollenating scene in my diary. This is my 782.5 Stucker that I self pollenated on Sunday. Monday, July 12 View Page This female will be ready to pollinate tomorrow. It is on my secret plant. Going on vacation for two weeks sure can put a wrench in works on what gets pollenated. Sunday, August 1 View Page it's been a while since I've posted. Last time I tried it didn't so let give it a try again. Secret plant fruit. Pollinated 13 July. Circ. 61.5 OTT 142 estimated weight 68 lbs. Sunday, August 1 View Page 782.5 Stucker pollentated 2 July Circ. 90 OTT 210.5 estimated weight 200 lbs. Sunday, August 1 View Page 963 Stucker Pollenated 2 July Circ. 95 OTT 226 estimated weight 244 lbs. Sunday, August 1 View Page 735 Pukos pollenated 30 June (thanks Brent !) circ. 106 OTT 247.5 estimated weight 315 lbs Hopefully a new state record. (knocking on wood & keeping my fingers crossed !) Monday, August 2 View Page What do you do with a Cull ? Take it to the local County Fair. I took this 963 Stucker cull, (95 lbs) to the Utah Co Fair. last weekend. Won a "Best of Show" ribbon and won $25. The fruit was sound when I took it in. By today when I picked it up it had gone soft on the bottome. Sunday, August 15 View Page 782.5 Stucker Nice orange color. Day 44 Circ., 121 f-b., 76 s-s. 79.5 OTT 276.5 Estimated Weight 438 Sunday, August 15 View Page 963 Stucker Day 44 Circ. 126 f-b. 82.5 s-s. 87.5 OTT 296 Estimated Weight 534 Averaging just under 20lbs./day for the last 10 days. Sunday, August 15 View Page Secret plant fruit Coming on strong! Day 33 Circ. 119 f-b. 72.5 s-s. 69.5 OTT 261.5 Estimated Weight 370 lbs. Just over 25 lbs/day over the last 5 days. 30 day all fruit in the patch comparision Pumpkin lbs. Secret Plant 292 735 Pukos 264.5 963 Stucker 244 782.5 Stucker 199 Sunday, August 15 View Page 735 Pukos Tall fruit- largest in the patch Day 46 Circ. 137 f-b. 81.5 s-s. 91 OTT 309.5 Estimated weight 609 lbs. Also averaging just under 20lbs./day for the last 10 days. Sunday, August 29 View Page 782.5 Stucker (x open), Day 58, OTT 301, estimated weight 561 lb., look at that color ! Sunday, August 29 View Page Secret seed fruit - as seen from above- Day 47, OTT 310.5, estimated weight 615 lb., developed a stem split this week. Sunday, August 29 View Page 963 Stucker (x 845 Bobier), Day 58, OTT 326, estimated weight 710 lb., This pumpkin has a realy deep wide rib right down the middle on the top, that makes it had to measure front to back. If it keeps up it's decent growth, this fruit should break the Utah state record of 777.5 lbs. (xx-keeping my fingers crossed) Sunday, August 29 View Page 735 Pukos (x self), Day 60, OTT: 337.5, estimated weight 788 lb., As she sits, a new Utah state record. I hope it makes it till 2 Oct. This fruit is driving me crazy. Last week during a 3 day period it gained 13 lbs. total. Then the next two days it gained 32 lbs ! I can't figure it out. Each time I measure it I re-do it like 3-4 times. But as long as it keeps growing and doesn't split I'll be very very happy ! note: All 4 of my fruit this year have past my personal best of 520 lbs. Which goes to show that 1) I'm having a good year and 2) my PB wasn't that good ! lol ! Friday, September 17 View Page 782.5 Stucker (x Open), Day 77, OTT: 322.75, Estimated Weight: 689 lbs Friday, September 17 View Page Secret Seed Pumpkin- (x 963 Stucker) OK I'll tell, it is a 900 Sandvik which is a 845 Bobier x 935 Lloyd, Day 66, OTT: 337 Estimated Weight: 784 lbs. Friday, September 17 View Page 963 Stucker (x 845 Bobier), Day 77, OTT: 346, Estimated Weight: 848 lbs. Friday, September 17 View Page 735 Pukos (x self), Day 79, OTT: 354.25, Estimated Weight: 909 lbs. Tuesday, September 21 View Page Yup... it's that time of year again. First snow in the mountains and 1st light frost at the house. The neighbor was scraping his windows of his car this morning when I left for work. I covered the plants so they should be OK. I'm afraid I'm not going to get much more growth out of my pumpkins this season. Wednesday, September 29 View Page 4 in a Row all ready for bed. Wednesday, September 29 View Page The patch and some nice fall colors on the mountain to the east. The patch is looking tired. Lots of dead and dying leafs. Thursday, September 30 View Page A picture of my new custom made 7x7ft lifting tarp. In case you are wondering, Yes- I'm standing on a chair. Wednesday, October 6 View Page 4 in a Row, near to far, 782.5 Stucker, 735 Pukos, 963 Stucker and 900 Sandvik. Friday, October 8 View Page One day till the weigh-off. 782.5 Stucker Pumpkin (x Open), Circ. 146.25, s-s. 93.5, f-b. 86.5, OTT. 326.25, Estimated Weight 712 lbs. Friday, October 8 View Page 735 Pukos fruit (x Self), Circ. 163, s-s. 102.25, f-b. 89, OTT. 354.25, Estimated Weight 909 lbs. Friday, October 8 View Page 963 Stucker fruit, Circ. 154, s-s. 102.5, f-b. 92, OTT. 348.5, Estimated weight 866 lbs. Friday, October 8 View Page 900 Sandvik fruit (x 963 Stucker), Circ. 161.25, s-s. 89.25, f-b. 91.75, OTT. 342.5, Estimated weight 821 lbs. Friday, October 8 View Page A panoramic shot of the whole patch. left to right, 782.5 Stucker (x Open), 735 Pukos (x Self), 963 Stucker (x 845 Bobier), and 900 Sandvik (x 963 Stucker). Saturday, October 9 View Page Weigh Off Day !!!! The lifting gang moving the 963 Stucker fruit to the trailer. Saturday, October 9 View Page The 735 Pukos fruit being lowered onto a pallet in the trailer. Saturday, October 9 View Page Me with the 782.5 Stucker fruit in the other trailer. Saturday, October 9 View Page The pumpkin line at J&L garden center waiting to be weighed. Mine are the closest four. 963 Stucker pumpkin (closest), 735 Pukos pumpkin, 782.5 Stucker pumpkin (bright orange), and then the 900 Sandvik pumpkin. A few others showed up after I took this picture. Saturday, October 9 View Page The 782.5 Stucker pumpkins hits the scales. Saturday, October 9 View Page And the weight is 671 lbs., 41 lbs or 5.8% light. Hey they can't ALL be heavy. It was the best looking pumpkin at the weigh off. It will be going to my son's school for display through Halloween. Saturday, October 9 View Page Next up was the 900 Sandvik Pumpkin. The weight is 835 lbs., a New Utah State Record! Me and my better half pose for pictures. Saturday, October 9 View Page The 963 Stucker pumpkin approaches the scales. Saturday, October 9 View Page And the weight is 906 lbs !!! The new Utah state record. It is 40 lbs or 4.6% heavy. The whole family poses for pictures. Saturday, October 9 View Page Anticipation builds as the 735 Pukos fruit is picked up by the fork lift ... Saturday, October 9 View Page ... and is pushed on to the scales. Saturday, October 9 View Page The 735 Pukos pumpkin comes in a little light at 891 lbs., 18 lbs. or 1.98% light. Saturday, October 9 View Page The two biggest pumpkins the 891 Tanner and 906 Tanner are put on a trailer for show. Saturday, October 9 View Page The local media crowds in an interview. I made all the local TV news shows. Each did a brief segment. Saturday, October 9 View Page My son and I clowning around on the pumpkins. I stepped up to give a little pumpkin sermon. Repent and grow bigger pumpkins or storms and plagues will follow... as the weather turned Ominous. lol ! Saturday, October 9 View Page The official results- as written down by my daughter. I'm glad I brought my pencil and notebook. :) Saturday, October 9 View Page stem split on the 835 Tanner 04 after a someone had broken the stem off. Saturday, October 9 View Page The 891 Tanner in front of the 906 Tanner. Saturday, October 9 View Page 891 Tanner over hanging it's pallet. Saturday, October 9 View Page 906 Tanner 2004 (963 Stucker x 845 Bobier) Thursday, October 14 View Page Woo Hooo ! a new state record. Saturday, October 16 View Page Two on the Trailer. nearly 1800 lbs worth of pumpkin. 906 Tanner 04 on the left- 891 Tanner 04 one the right. So do you ever drive around town with no particular place to go just to watch peoples reaction? :) Thursday, October 28 View Page Here it sits 50 ft up. Thursday, October 28 View Page Just starting its way down. Thursday, October 28 View Page Just above the ground Thursday, October 28 View Page Impact ! Thursday, October 28 View Page Impact 2. Thursday, October 28 View Page Impact picture 3. Thursday, October 28 View Page Impact picture 4. Thursday, October 28 View Page Impact picture 5. Thursday, October 28 View Page Last picture. I took out all of the seeds and added around 20 gallons of water. It was supposed to fall on the car ... but missed. LOL! As is was rocked off the pallet it slid more then they thought it was going to. But I think it made a better splat on the pavement than it would have hitting the car. Just one answer to "what do you do with them?" Sunday, October 31 View Page Carving the 835. Sunday, October 31 View Page 835 seed collecting. Sunday, October 31 View Page 835 all lit up for Halloween. Wednesday, November 3 View Page 891 Cut open for seed removal. Wednesday, November 3 View Page 891 Blossom end cut open. Wednesday, November 3 View Page Internal cracks in the 891 Pumpkin. Wednesday, November 3 View Page 906 Cut open for seed removal. Wednesday, November 3 View Page A deep crack on the inside of the 906. Wednesday, November 3 View Page Yikes ! On the very top of the pumpkin was a rib valley. A crack ran all the way along the rib. Not much meat there. Wednesday, November 3 View Page Crack on the 906. At the thinnest spot there was only 1/4 to 1/3 inch of meat left ! Wednesday, November 3 View Page 906 Blossom end. Wednesday, November 3 View Page 906 with a 4-5 inch deep crack. Wednesday, November 3 View Page Seeds from this years pumpkins. Saturday, November 20 View Page I collected leaves from my neighbors, they were happy to have me take them. I'm not sure how much I got, around 60-80 bags worth, I'd guess. Now they are all in the patch. :) Saturday, November 20 View Page Just as I was starting to take the leaves back into the patch, my manure supplier called me and asked if I wanted a load. I had called him two weeks ago and asked for some. So when it rains it pours all the leaves and 18 yards of horse manure too! Thursday, November 25 View Page Happy Thanksgiving! This morning I finished hauling all the manure to the patch. Yikes how many wheel barrow trips did it take to do all that? How ever many it was, it will be worth it come spring time ! Sunday, November 28 View Page The final demise of my 671 lb-er. It sat on display in my son elementary school from the 11th to the 26th. Today it was dropped from 50 ft as part of a local radio station promotion for a concert. Here it sit 50 ft up. Sunday, November 28 View Page The final demise of my 671 lb-er. It sat on display in my son elementary school from the 11th to the 26th. Today it was dropped from 50 ft as part of a local radio station promotion for a concert. Here it sits 50 ft up. Monday, December 13 View Page Warm weather for the last week. All the snow has melted and I found the time to spread out the manure evenly on the patch. and ... The sun sets over the patch in 2004. Thursday, December 30 View Page A picture from the local paper that was scanned in and sent to me. Hey I made the paper and I didn't commit a crime ! Friday, December 31 View Page A story from the local paper. Friday, December 31 View Page One last picture for the 2004 from the local paper. Hey I'll do almost anything the photographers asks me to. :) Happy New Year !