Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 27 Entries. Friday, January 1 View Page Last year was my first attempt at growing AG's with little success in a 8'x20' patch. Learned alot though. Started a new patch for this year that is 24' x 66'. This picture was taken on 10/3/09 after removing some lawn and tilling the area. Got the soil tested and per the report added lime and organic matter. Covered the emtire patch with 2-3" of shredded maple leaves from our yard. This then sat uncovered over the winter. Saturday, February 20 View Page Added 2 yards of composted horse manure to patch on top of the shredded leaves. Sunday, February 21 View Page Tilled the patch today. Saturday, April 3 View Page Installed T-Tape watering system in patch. Saturday, April 17 View Page I'm going to plant five plants in this patch, and probably cull to three. Installed soil warming cables at the five planting locations Sunday, April 18 View Page Installed the framing for the hoop houses over each planting site. Thursday, April 22 View Page These are the seeds I am going to start this weekend- 943 Dixon 2009 (1536.5 VanKooten x Self) 945 Kilburn 2009 (1364 Daletas 2008 x 1507 Jutras 2008) 830.5 Roof 2009 (1385 Jutras x Self) 1109.5 Taylor 2009 (1462 Holland x 1262 Holland) 1024 Biss 2007 (1093.5 Hunt 2006 x 1502 Wallace 2006) Sunday, April 25 View Page Soaked seeds overnight in moist paper towels. Planted them in peat posts this morning. Saturday, May 22 View Page Weeded all of the cloches today. This is the 943 Dixon at 28 days since germination. Saturday, May 22 View Page This is the 830.5 Roof at day 28. Saturday, May 22 View Page This is the 1109.5 Taylor at day 28. Saturday, May 22 View Page This is the 1024 Biss at day 28. Saturday, May 22 View Page This is the 908 Roof at day 21. It is a week behind the others.This is a replacement for the 945 Kilburn that failed to germinate. Monday, June 21 View Page Removed the ends and raised the sides of all the cloches. Temps are supposed to finally be warmer. Installed 2 foot high chicken wire fence around perimeter of patch to keep dogs/critters out. Friday, June 25 View Page Now that warmer weather is finally here I removed the cloches from all five plants and manually tilled round each plant. Friday, June 25 View Page Overall patch view after removing cloches. Friday, June 25 View Page 830.5 Roof '09 at day 62 Friday, June 25 View Page 908 Roof '09 at day 55. This one was started a week after the others. Friday, June 25 View Page 943 Dixon'09 at day 62. Biggest plant in the patch up to today. Friday, June 25 View Page 1024 Biss '07 at day 62. A close second in size to the 943. Friday, June 25 View Page 1109.5 Taylor '09 at day 62. Wednesday, June 30 View Page First male of the season opened this morning on the 1024 Biss Thursday, July 8 View Page Pollinated my first pumpkin this morning. The first female ready was a 5 lober on the 1024 Biss at about 9 feet. Pollenated with the 1109.5 Taylor. Friday, July 9 View Page View of the patch yesterday. The plants have really started to wake up now that summer has arrived here. Monday, July 12 View Page Picture of the weird male flowers on the 1109.5 Taylor (1462 Holland x 1262 Holland). Monday, July 12 View Page Inside of the weird male flowers. Saturday, July 17 View Page First female on my 943 Dixon at 6 DAP. Is it goiing to be a squash? All of the females on this plant are dark green.