Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 105 Entries. Sunday, April 4 View Page Well here we go....the 2010 season is about to get under way!! After much research, planning and preparation, I am ready to get going and try to set a new PB...which I am hopeful will be over 1000 lbs!! Sunday, April 4 View Page I expanded the patch last year to give 3 plants the room they deserve!! Sunday, April 4 View Page I have modified last years hoop house design...it was too tall as I found it hard to keep warm at night. This year I have lowered the height, made the door smaller and will use the auto vent openers from Lee Valley on my windows again. I have two more to build and then put the plastic on all of them. Sunday, April 4 View Page I am going to be planting 3 proven seeds this year, and have not yet decided on cross's yet. My three choices for this years patch are.... 1370 Rose 901 Hunt 1385 Jutras Cheers.... Sunday, April 4 View Page Another great sign of spring and the new growing season is the garlic starting to grow after a long winter!! Sunday, April 4 View Page This year I will again attack the bulb and stem nematode problem I have with the same product I used last year and a new one I found this winter!! Sunday, April 4 View Page Got the front flower beds cleaned up, it sure is refreshing to see all the flowers and plants coming to life!! Cheers.... Thursday, April 15 View Page Managed to get the other 2 hoop houses built this week, all three now ready for plastic and vent openers...... Thursday, April 15 View Page Sprayed my garlic this past week with new nematode fighting product, looking good so far.......all plants came up this year.....432 in total...only time will tell... Cheers... Sunday, May 2 View Page Been a busy week, working and getting the patch ready for planting this weekend...but all got done....nice rain yesterday brings out the best in the dirt... Sunday, May 2 View Page Made a batch of our Ukranian Kolbasa this weekend... Sunday, May 2 View Page Ready.... Sunday, May 2 View Page Older Brother Robert here to make Kolbasa with.... Sunday, May 2 View Page Garlic starting to show signs of nematode damage...brought out the high test hot mustard product I used yesterday... Asparagus ready for first harvest....harvested first batch yesterday and today for 1st dinner tonight... Sunday, May 2 View Page Going on the grill tonight....BooYah!!! Sunday, May 2 View Page 1385 Planted out today.... Sunday, May 2 View Page 1370 Rose as well... Sunday, May 2 View Page 2nd 901 Hunt is up and looking good after 1st one did not make it....should be ready to plant on Wednesday.. Gardens are looking good....gotta love spring...!! Sunday, May 2 View Page Good Growing to everyone this year... Cheers... Monday, May 17 View Page Well it's been 2 weeks since planting out the 1370 Rose (foreground) and the 1385 Jutras (right).....and all is going according to plan so far. The 901 Hunt was planted out May 5th and is a bit slower, but very healthy and growing well!! I have removed blue insulation from 1370 and 1385 as roots had reached the edge and started growing down. Worked very well, kept soil temp warmer than last year without. Stellar weather here in Ontario yesterday and forecast for this week, so opening the hoops has been the order of the day. Clips on conduit are working great...thanks Chris!! Monday, May 17 View Page 901 Hunt... Monday, May 17 View Page 1385 Jutras... Monday, May 17 View Page 1370 Rose.... Monday, May 17 View Page Good Growing to you All.... Cheers.... Saturday, May 22 View Page Well hard to believe a month of the season is now gone.....but it is....and I'm happy to report all is growing well here....a few minor human errors...but that's growing and learning... This is the star of my patch....it has been a pleasure to watch this plant grow...now laying down and starting to run, sitting out just over 2 feet, with secondaries starting to push out..... Cheers... Sunday, May 30 View Page For the end of May...things are going very well here in Ontario... Hot and dry weather has brought on the need of shade netting very quickly....very High UV has scorched some leaves....note to self....shade netting early in the game on extremely important!! 1370 Rose is sitting out 7 ft now with first secondaries at 3 ft... 1385 Jutras a little behind but doing good... 901 Hunt received the worst of the sun damage today.....but it is doing well none the less.... Worked on my new irrigation for my patch this weekend and it is working amazing!!! .....plant 1 of 3 done... Team Lunatic is picking up speed and growing in numbers....welcome aboard all new and crazy growers....Makka Pakka mascots should be arriving in Lunatic central shortly and will be forwarded as time permits ..... Cheers... Sunday, May 30 View Page Trying Long Gourd this year for the first time.......managed to get the trellis up this weekend as well.... Cheers... Friday, June 4 View Page All hoop houses off and two of my three plants have new irrigation up and running, one more to go. 1370 on the right is still leading the pack, 901 on the left was started a week behind and is looking good. 1385 had a setback on Sunday when I woke to a foot of the main lying on the ground, looked like a raccoon had been digging for something and broke it right off....aarrrrgghhhh!!! Friday, June 4 View Page 2nd year of losing a main on one of my plants...#%&*!! Friday, June 4 View Page Waiting for secondary to take over on 1385....team mascot has landed.....Makka Pakka!! Friday, June 4 View Page 901 Hunt.... Friday, June 4 View Page Trying new giant veg this year...cabbage... Friday, June 4 View Page and Long Gourd..... Good Growing to All... Cheers... Friday, June 4 View Page Last but not least.....the 1370 Rose.... Cheers.. Monday, June 14 View Page Well there's the Roof shot, the Stump shot, the Top of the Hill shot.....and now.....the Top of the Tree Fort shot.... Things have slowed down a little here in Udora...treated plants twice with Serenade to control that white tip fungus I had last year...which slowed the growth..as well as cool wet weather lately... All in all I'm still in good shape....ahead of last year... and will likely have first pollination on the 1370 in about a week.....(on the right) 901 in about 10 days...(on the left) and the 1385 I will give at least an extra week to try and get the new main out a bit further... Cheers.... Tuesday, June 22 View Page 1370 Rose Plant.......June 21st........ Tuesday, June 22 View Page BooYah!!! Thanks to Phil and Jane Hunt for growing the Wallace seed.... Tuesday, June 22 View Page Patch overview..... 901 update...on the left....broke the main this week...Doh!! Pollination on secondary as new main in about 2 weeks... 1385 update...top....should be ready for first pollination on newly trained main in about 10 days... Tuesday, June 22 View Page Long Gourd starting to climb...secondaries coming along nice...... Tuesday, June 22 View Page Giant Cabbage doing okay as well.... Cheers... Wednesday, June 30 View Page After losing the main on the 1385 to a pair of coons....which no longer reside in my area.... I finally got a pollination....and in June to boot....barely!! Wednesday, June 30 View Page 9 days on the first 1370 pollination....looks like it's still growing...touch wood!! 2nd pollination on June 27th......1370 Rose x 898 Knauss!! Thanks to Phil and Jane again..... for the growing the 898 cutting.... Going to be a tough culling decision 2 Great cross's.... Wednesday, June 30 View Page Weed control now lifted on most of patch...did the job again....plants now filling in nicely... Wednesday, June 30 View Page Long gourd at top of trellis.... Wednesday, June 30 View Page Giant cabbage still looking good.... Giant tomatoes going in ground shortly....... Cheers... Sunday, July 11 View Page Patch update..... Plants have almost filled their growing space....it's been a challenge that's for sure.... Sunday, July 11 View Page In more ways than one......#4!! Sunday, July 11 View Page Day 20 for the 1370 fruit.......no great numbers...but still growing... 53"cc Sunday, July 11 View Page Day 10 on the 1385 fruit yesterday... 24" cc Sunday, July 11 View Page Just waiting for the girls to be ready on the LG... Sunday, July 11 View Page Cabbage still doing their thing.... Sunday, July 11 View Page Started to harvest my garlic.....this has not been a banner year that's for sure....... Sunday, July 11 View Page But will have enough for the year.....which is why I plant a big crop....to account for loss.... Cheers... Tuesday, July 20 View Page Welcome................Luna!! Latest pet to the family.....she is mostly black Bouvier like Jewel......but has some gray brown to her...... A real calm sweetheart...... 8 weeks here..... Tuesday, July 20 View Page So July 20 is day 20 for the 1385 x 901 fruit..... Tuesday, July 20 View Page My friend Peter is growing 2 of my backups.... the 1330 Johnston Butler ... and ... the 931 Mailey..... Tuesday, July 20 View Page With some guidance ....... we have .......... Tuesday, July 20 View Page So...on day 14.....we got a STAR going...... Tuesday, July 20 View Page So......on the eve of my first 30 day pumpkin in the middle of July .... ish....... Tuesday, July 20 View Page Luna says.........Grow Em BIG....... Or Else...... I'll be out to get ya..... Cheers.... Tuesday, July 20 View Page GRRRRRRrrrrrrr..... Wednesday, July 21 View Page Day 30 for the 1370 x 1068...... Sunday, July 25 View Page Long Gourd has filled in nice....1 plant sure provides a lot of growth.... Sunday, July 25 View Page This is the best of the three gourds I managed to get pollinated this week.... Sunday, July 25 View Page 1st megabloom on 5.32 Timm... Sunday, July 25 View Page 1st megabloom on 5.58 Timm.... Sunday, July 25 View Page pic would be good... Sunday, July 25 View Page Cabbage 1 Sunday, July 25 View Page Cabbage 2 Sunday, July 25 View Page 901 Hunt x 985 Werner..... day 11 .... 26"cc Sunday, July 25 View Page 1385 Jutras x 901 Hunt .... day 25 .... 97"cc Sunday, July 25 View Page 1370 Fruit suffered a stem split on both sides ..... like the 1678 did last year....still growing over past 2 nights since it occurred.... Sunday, July 25 View Page 1370 Rose x 1068 Wallace .... day 34 .... 115"cc Sunday, July 25 View Page Good growing to all.... Cheers.... Saturday, July 31 View Page Yesterday was Day 30 for 1385 x 901.....good growth lately... Saturday, July 31 View Page Today is Day 40 for 1370 x 1068....steady grower.... Saturday, July 31 View Page Stem split on this one is holding on....touch wood... Saturday, July 31 View Page Day 17 on my 901 x 985......picking up some speed now... Cheers.... Tuesday, August 10 View Page Yesterday was D40 for 1385 x 901 ..... still holding on!! Has now passed older 1370 fruit... Tuesday, August 10 View Page D50 for 1370 x 1068......stem split holding on...steady grower!! Tuesday, August 10 View Page Day 20 on LG #1...74" Tuesday, August 10 View Page D20 on LG #2.....77" Cheers.... Saturday, September 4 View Page Udora patch update..... Nothing earth shattering here, but happy to say all three kins still growing.... 901 Hunt x 985 Werner Sitting currently at 322" ott for an est of 703 lbs.... Saturday, September 4 View Page Long gourds reached 105" and 97" ....not bad for a rookie year... Still 3 going in there...but not expecting them to do beat the first 2.... Saturday, September 4 View Page 1370 Rose x 1068 Wallace Currently sitting at 332" ott for an est of 770 lbs..... which is okay for the shaded area it grew in and the nasty stem split......I sure am hoping for viable seeds on this one!!! I will be taking this pumpkin to our local fair this upcoming weekend, where I will be speaking on Sat and Sun on "The Basics of Growing AG's" and "Growing and Braiding your own Garlic" Saturday, September 4 View Page Nasty stem split!! Saturday, September 4 View Page Working on my new garlic patch for the 2011 season....after the worst season ever for me on my own property, due to bulb and stem nematode. My neighbors have kindly allowed me to grow on their properties, in exchange for some fresh garlic next season, a good trade off. I will putting 5 raised beds 3' x 24' in this space. Saturday, September 4 View Page Got the reemay fabric up on the 1385 plant which has my largest pumpkin.....which will probably be the only one I do, but have not ruled out covering the 901 yet. Saturday, September 4 View Page 1385 Jutras x 901 Hunt Currently sitting at 363" ott for an est of 1002 lbs!! A first for me in my patch!! Saturday, September 4 View Page Reemay fabric up and ready to push to the end over the next 4 weeks before the weigh off...still growing slowly, so all I can hope for is a bit of a buffer to reach my season goal of my first 1000 lb pumpkin!! Cheers Monday, October 11 View Page Been quite some time since I updated my diary....so here we go.. The 1370 Rose x 1068 Wallace pumpkin just before weighing and loading for the local fall fair.... Monday, October 11 View Page Now known as the.....744 Mailey 2010 Good cross.....same as the 904 Stelts and the 1207 Young.... so seeds should grow some big orange ones... Monday, October 11 View Page Good enough for first place at he fair.....we did have a better showing this year ...so hopefully this trend continues...great for the kids... That is my best long gourd in the background...brought it for show.... 104.25 inches. Good enough for 4th place at Port Elgin ths year. Monday, October 11 View Page Loading up the 1385 Jutras x 901 Hunt pumpkin for Port Elgin... Monday, October 11 View Page Out to the front....Luna watching intently..... Monday, October 11 View Page Up to the scale.... Monday, October 11 View Page I proudly achieved my goal of joining the 1000 lb club.... My new personal best....the 1119.8 Mailey 2010 Monday, October 11 View Page My mentor was first on hand to congratulate me.... Thanks for everything Phil....all your guidance has been very much appreciated.... ( ps...Phil and Jane weighed in at 1119.0...a bitter sweet moment) Monday, October 11 View Page It was a great day.....I am looking forward to seeing what this seed will do in my patch next year...... Monday, October 11 View Page One more left to weigh next weekend in Wellington.... Monday, October 11 View Page 901 Hunt x 985 Werner pumpkin..... Monday, October 11 View Page doh....and her is the pic... Monday, November 1 View Page Last of my 3 kins weighed at Wellington GPC event....Great Weigh off!! This is the pumpkin off my 901 this year...2.5% heavy 846 Mailey 2010 901 Hunt x 985 Werner Monday, November 1 View Page All in all....a great year for me.... From left to right.... 846 Mailey 2.5% Heavy 901 Hunt x 985 Werner 1120 Mailey (new PB) 2% Heavy 1385 Jutras x 901 Hunt 744 Mailey 3.5% Light 1370 Rose x 1068 Wallace Cheers... Friday, December 31 View Page It was a very successful 2010 for AG's....with a new PB set!! The Lunatic movement has made great strides in it's first year of inception. My first year growing LG's was amazing, cabbages were okay, tomatoes not good at all and garlic....well... worst year ever, but 2011 holds much promise. Looking forward to the new year with Giant Cabbage starting in a week or so...then the deciding what to plant..... Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year...all the best to you in your patch in 2011... And a special shout out to all my Lunatic teammates.....we gonna kick some serious butt next year!!!! Cheers......