Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 33 Entries. Monday, April 19 View Page Heres the patch, hopefully in a couple of weeks I will have the start of a great year Sunday, May 2 View Page Well the 1556.5 Werner is in, 861 Fredricks a couple of days away and the season is in full swing Sunday, May 23 View Page woke up this morning to a funny sound outside,it started to hail so I ran outside and covered up the pumpkins,this is really not a normal thing to have happening at this time of year Sunday, May 23 View Page This is the first pic of the 861 Fredricks, the first seed had it's problems so a little setback Sunday, May 23 View Page Here's the 1556.5 Werner starting to take off,the hail this morning didn't hurt a thing Sunday, May 23 View Page Back in the corner I stuck a tomato plant in, I think it really loves this soil. Monday, June 7 View Page shade cloth is up just in time for 95 degree heat last few days, the opening to the right is west so I think I might add another six feet in width to the shade cloth when it really gets hot. Monday, June 7 View Page 1556.5 Werner is really begining to take off,last week it started to flat vine but thanks too this site and everyone that contributes I found the answer,more water, it is doing the trick nicely Monday, June 7 View Page The 861 Fredricks didn't get started for a couple weeks after the Werner so before I cull one we will wait a couple more weeks to give it a fighting chance, the patch is only 15x35, I tried to grow two last year but they were competing for space by the end of June. Monday, June 7 View Page Looks like I need to get some more lessons from my daughter so that I get those pics the correct size. Weather is 95 degrees today, looks like we are cooling a bit the rest of the week,that will be good for the vines Saturday, June 26 View Page Finally, sometimes it takes me awhile to get things done,looks like the 1556 Werner is doing pretty good, unfortunately I had to pull the Fredricks it wasn't growing well. Saturday, June 26 View Page Finally, sometimes it takes me awhile to get things done,looks like the 1556 Werner is doing pretty good, unfortunately I had to pull the Fredricks it wasn't growing well. Saturday, June 26 View Page The first female out about 9 feet, I will pollinate her and see what happens down the vine, having a pretty mild June, mid to high eighties. Monday, June 28 View Page Multiple flowers, I have this in three places,is this normal Friday, July 9 View Page Pollinated a side vine pumpkin two days ago but am still waiting a couple more days to pollinate one on the main vine out at 17 feet the first pollination at 9 feet aborted and this is the first female out on the main since, as late as it is in the month is making me a little nervous but, this is what I am dealt with. the plant covers about 375 square feet now and will quickly fill in the remaining area. Monday, July 12 View Page Finally pollinated Monday, July 12 View Page Not to bad coming off the vine, this one is on the main at about 17 feet,the last one was at 9 feet and aborted, so this is the "ONE" hopefully Monday, July 12 View Page Leaves are filling in nicely,Pap was right about leaf size, as I thin some out and terminate vines they seem to be getting larger,I measured one at 30 inches WOW Wednesday, July 14 View Page Added shade cloth further today to keep the sun from scorching the leaves any further,103 today and climbing another 5 degrees tomorrow Wednesday, July 14 View Page Some of the leaves on this thing are HUGE Friday, July 16 View Page WOW it got hot, last three days over 100, today 108, similar to the last two, just happened when I am pollinating the "ONE", as long as I have little luck on my side things will be perfect. Friday, July 16 View Page WOW it got hot, last three days over 100, today 108, similar to the last two, just happened when I am pollinating the "ONE", as long as I have little luck on my side things will be perfect. Thursday, July 22 View Page I think that I am about all growed out,suppose that we could flow out on the grass but that wouldn't go over well Thursday, July 22 View Page Many aborts, looks like I might have a couple more chances, just holding my breath Thursday, July 22 View Page This is the latest one at 22 feet out, the misters stayed on for about 27 hours before I found the whole patch in a swamp so there is a small split in the skin by the blossom, just hoping that it not over this one, my next chance is in a couple of days but now I am at the end of the patch and have the vine turned in a 180 heading back the other way. Wednesday, July 28 View Page Culled sidevine pumpkin today on the scale 51 pounds Wednesday, July 28 View Page 10 day measurement 23 inches circumference,it's go time Tuesday, August 10 View Page Day 22 184" ott yesterday was 170" ott starting to make some serious gains,I wasn't home for a twenty day measurement but it looks like it was about 68" circ. weather is finally starting to get warmer, this week will be in the low 90s and this weekend around 100, as you can see fighting a bit of PM as it has been very humid around here and I was caught off gaurd a bit, nothing that a good fight can't control though. This is my best start so far, ' Wednesday, August 18 View Page 30 day measurements, 101cc,67ee,66ss for a total of 234" and an estimated 279 pounds for the 1556.5 Werner,already past my my best and the plant is looking good, it's been about 105 for the past 3 days but is expected to cool back to mid nineties for the next week, sounds like a good combo to put on some more weight Wednesday, August 25 View Page Day 36 271"OTT daytime temps the last few days have been around 115,a couple more days of this and and we are expected to drop back into the nineties,misters are working overtime,shadecloth is doing a good jod too. Thursday, August 26 View Page The heatwave continues until Saturday, 110 has been the norm but a couple of days ago we hit 116, I am amazed at the 1556.5 Werner, even though it has been completely covered with shade cloth the temps have been hot enough to fry an egg and the leaves have not been showing any signs of stress, the pumpkin has slowed in growth, today it is at 266" ott at day 38 so not breaking any records but even the heat hasn't stopped it from chugging away,it is supposed to get back into the low nineties so we will see if it picks back up Sunday, September 19 View Page It's been a few weeks since I posted,work has been crazy,it still continues to be fairly warm, most days are close to a hundred and the plant has paid the price, even though the shade cloth is still in place the heat itself and the pm fight have really taken a toll on the leaves,note to self, next year stay on top of the pm management even earlier,I am still getting growth even though it is minimal, today we are at 297" ott a little over 550# and my biggest ever,a good season and very educational thanks to everyone here for that,hoping to keep it growing for a few more weeks and then keep it for halloween, my kids are excited to show it off as well as myself. I see that it is starting to turn color on the bottom mostly and it is probably because the sun gets to it there more than any other part, I will start uncovering during the day to see if that changes. Saturday, October 30 View Page End of the season and this one is estimated at 606 pounds,my best so far, we will be in the thick of things next year along with everyone else, so Happy Halloween to all and I will be talking to you soon