Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 16 Entries. Sunday, May 30 View Page Here's the patch, roughly 1500 sf. Two plants went into the hoops on April 29th, a 1191 Barker and 1303 Popp. Sunday, May 30 View Page The 1191 Barker is doing quite well. The main is out nearly 7 feet. Tomorrow will be hoop house expansion day as the limits of the hoop house will be reached by Tuesday. Sunny weather is forecasted tomorrow but by Monday the Pacific NW will be back to rain. Early last week I finally placed a heat lamp on the 1303 Popp. The encouragement is working and new growth has been seen but it has a long ways to go to catchy up with the 1191. Sunday, May 30 View Page I was warned this afternoon that Ron Barker was snooping around the south end of Olympia and Littlerock. Sure enough, I caught him in the hoop house with scissors in hand doing a little pruning. Thanks Ron, this new hobby has been like adding a fifth daughter to my family. Saturday, June 5 View Page The hoop house expansion project phase II was completed on Monday. The 1191 has already extended over two feet into the addition. A couple laterals have been trained 90 degress and are heading out the rear of the enclosure. Other laterals will be crammed out the sides soon. Saturday, June 5 View Page Provided a foliar application of fish to the 1191 Barker today and buried more main and laterals. The vine is out just over 10 feet. A pumpkin is growing 9 feet out, if a male is present I'll pollinate but more likely will wait for more distance out. Saturday, June 5 View Page It seems way too early but the first male (first one to form at the stump)will likely bloom tomorrow. What a difference a little prep work makes, last year my plants were not blooming until July. Off to a good start but there is still lots of drama to unfold . . . Wednesday, June 30 View Page The 1191 Barker is growing well but the female pollinated on the 17th has not taken. A second female was pollinated on the 26th at 17 feet out, hopefully this one will be a go. All pollinations so far have been self. A third attempt is about 5 days out. Wednesday, June 30 View Page The 1303 Popp produced a female bloom this morning and was quickly pollinated with the 1191 Barker at about 12 feet out. Time will tell . . . another female is about 5 days out. Monday, July 12 View Page The patch is filling in nicely. Two more pumpkins were pollinated today, the 1191 Barker and 1303 Popp. The 24 day circumference on the 1191 is at 52 inches. The 15 day pumpkin on the 1191 has a circumference of 24 inches. I failed to get the 10 day benchmark but did get the 21 day circumference which was 41 inches, so the 21 day growth will be the benchmark to decide which one to keep. The 15 day circumference on the Popp is 15 inches. Monday, July 12 View Page Here's the 1191 Barker at 24 days - 52 inch circumference. Thursday, August 19 View Page The 1191 Barker is growing adding about 18 pounds a day. The 1303 Popp is a different story as a stem split has occurred at the stem and extends into the pumpkin. I suspect the expansion of the pumpkin (which is a wheel) was too great for the short stem. The pumpkin is still growing slowly but I expect it to shut down soon. It's not a total loss, the 850 sf of plant offers great weed control. Thursday, August 19 View Page Here's a shot of the split which occurs on both sides. This photo was taken several days ago and the split has quadrupled in size. Tuesday, September 7 View Page Here' a shot of the patch with the 1191 Barker in the foreground and the 1303 Popp behind - and of course friends Dan and Carol. The 1303 is now toast due to a stem split. The final OTT was 285 inches for 487 pounds. Tuesday, September 7 View Page The frogs and the bees. Tuesday, September 7 View Page My daughters and I busted open the 1303 Popp today to collect seeds and dispose of the ruins. The final estimated weight was 487 pounds. We found a little suprise inside . . . Tuesday, September 7 View Page Tucked inside and snuggled deep with the cavity of the 1303 Popp was this little tree frog.