Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 29 Entries. Tuesday, May 21 View Page Seeds were started on April 23rd, transplanted May 3rd. Plants are just about to vine. Monday, May 27 View Page Tried twice to get a 1424 Vanhoutte going, each time I had problems with the plant. 1579 Revier is the largest plant, with the 1168 Young close behind. An abundance of nitrogen is keeping the plants from laying down. Still expierencing issues with Mn deficiency, high Ph is likely contributing to the issue. Slight yellowing of the leaves, nothing major as of now. Doing bi-weekly drenches of neptunes fish and seaweed with soluble humic acid. Also, bi-weekly applications of compost tea using castings, alpaca beans, humic and molasses. Next week I will start weekly applications of Nutri-aid 20-20-20. Tuesday, June 11 View Page Visited the local greenhouse supply store today and couldn't justify the price for Subdue Maxx. Waited until I got home and ordered Ridomil Gold. I guess I can only grab my knees instead of my ankles for the beloved pumpkin plants. Large storms expected tomorrow, hopefully, there will still be a season come Thursday. On a positive note the 1168 young is sitting around 8ft trailing the 1579 Revier that is a _ hair over 10. Been doing a pretty decent job keeping on schedule with ferts, insectice, tea etc.. Thursday, June 13 View Page Plants are alive! Woke around 12:30am to the tornado sirens blarring, 70mph winds and 3 1/2 inches of rain. Sure glad I spent the extra time double checking the wind protection yesterday. Never would have thought they were going to make it through. Friday, June 21 View Page I only spent an hour in the patch today instead of 4 or 5. The 1168 Young has been one of the most heat tolerant plants that I have ever grown, the 1579 Revier on the other hand, has been flagging with temps near 90. I'm trying to keep high standards on sanitary practices and organization this year. Last Sunday I finished set up on an irrigation system. Today, I set up a temporary shade structure. Still fighting a slightly mottled leaf color which I presume to be Mn deficient soil. Soil samples were sent out mid-week to Craig Lembke. Craig has been a great help over the years, although I haven't produced the results, he always gives me the advice needed to get them there. Parting thought: Keep on track, organization is key, identify issues and try to do my best to overcome them. Monday, July 1 View Page 19 total days of rain in June, five inches total for the last week. Expected 1-2+ inches tonight. Having trouble getting vines buried to say the least. Still can't tell if I have gotten fruits to set. Sunday, July 7 View Page Another 2" of rain yesterday, with no end in sight until Thursday. The area of dirt that I grow in is no longer a patch, it's a mud bog. I have tried pollinating since late June, but everything has aborted including the one I had high hopes for. The plants are reaching their max. Wednesday, July 10 View Page By some kind of divine intervention, the plants have survived and look well. I credit this to nothing that I had done to prepare the plants. The storm brought a possible tornado, golf ball sized hail, 90mph wind (lima.) A train was derailed a country over as well as a semi-trailer that was overturned on I-75. We recieved about 3" of rain, but tomorrow starts a dry spell. 1st fruit on the 1579 Revier was set on July 2nd, the 2nd set was on July 5th. The 1st fruit set on the 1168 Young was on July 5th. I havent been able to measure any of them, nor do I plan to until day 30. Monday, July 22 View Page So I jumped the gun a bit, I wanted to wait for day 30, but day 20 sounds good to me. Last chance for a pumpkin on the main of the 1168 Young aborted after early decent gains and heavy rain. I have a handful of hopefuls on the side vines. The plant is having issues that I can't figure out, I gave one of the hobby's best brains an e-mail and am hoping we can figure it out. Thanks a ton Matt. 1579 is beyond impressive, pretty cool shape also. This time of the year is always extremely stressful, I'm trying my best and with some help above, maybe I can finally get a good one to the weighoff. Tuesday, July 23 View Page Day 21 Tuesday, July 23 View Page "Wilbur" side view Tuesday, July 23 View Page Time will tell, a decrease in OTT today overall 8" growth. Praying this guy makes it to the end of the season. 21 DAP = something that starts with a 2, doesn't have a 0 and ends in a 9. Friday, July 26 View Page hold together...hold together...hold together.. Friday, July 26 View Page The leaves on this plant smell sweet today, scared shitless that the fruit is going down, still not sure what is going on, but spraying clearys regardless. Sunday, July 28 View Page We're having some very Fall like weather these last couple days. Wilbur did his largest gain on Friday night when the lows were around 65, today we taped around 4". High in the 60's and lows in the high 40's. I'm watching the rain come down now, sure hope it quits soon. Theres a whole lot of season left. Friday, August 2 View Page Day 30 Friday, August 2 View Page We're getting there. Friday, August 30 View Page Batteling it out with stem rot, 4 weeks to weigh-off. Getting a little article in the local paper within the next week or so. Sunday, November 3 View Page loaded up Sunday, November 3 View Page blossom view Sunday, November 3 View Page pondering on the next day..heavy or light? Estimated around 1020, I was hopeful, but the tailgate dropped. 11% light. Sunday, November 3 View Page On the scales at Harnica Farms, they mixed things up this year and man did it speed up the process. Great weigh-off to attend. Sunday, November 3 View Page It was celebration day, this was the poison of choice. Beat our personal best (certified weight) by about 600lbs. Sunday, November 3 View Page http://www.themirrornewspaper.com/?p=5241 The local newspaper came and did an article in late August, strange seeing your face on paper in most of the retailers around town. Sunday, November 3 View Page I was supposed to take next year off in order to help with my upcoming wedding. However, my fiance must really love me since she gave the go ahead, its full go in 2014. The patch was ammended heavily this fall with 40lbs gypsum, 100lbs alfalfa meal, 5 lbs oyster shell, 100lbs dried molasses, 3 yds shredded leaves, 10 yds of that fine black gold (compost) and a heavily broadcasted cover crop of winter rye. We should be set for next year dependent on my autumn soil test. Thanks go out to Matt Debacco and Craig Lembke, they may not know it, but these two helped me tremendously through out the season. Sunday, November 3 View Page Seeds are being packaged tonight after an 8 day curing proccess. Please email [email protected] I hate to be a copy cat, but I always vowed to do exactly what Scott Steil offered for 2014, my funds are limited and I didn't win much prize money, but I'd love to do the same competition with my seed. 100.00 will be awarded to the person that grows the largest pumpkin off my seed. Check will be mailed November 1st, 2014. All I ask is the fruit be weighed at a GPC weighoff. Good luck all! Monday, November 4 View Page *Mistake on the prize payout in the diary* Correct amount should be 120.00 rewarded to largest grown. Monday, November 4 View Page 125.00** Last correct, sorry all. Wednesday, December 25 View Page Merry Christmas to everyone! Its been an exciting off season so far. Santa gifted me with a new irrigation system. After much consideration and wavering between micro sprayers on 1/2 tubing or T-Tape with 8" emitter, the jolly old man decided t-tape was best. I was put into contact with a company that specializes in soil and plant nutrient management this Fall. I'm looking forward to the custom program they are looking to install for my 2014 season according to my latest soil results. My fiance and mother also suprised the family with custom hoodies and zipups with the Hertzfeld Giant name. The support and encouragment has been simply amazing, ready to give 2014 everything I have.