Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 15 Entries. Tuesday, January 26 View Page Very excited to post a diary this year. I have been trying to grow giant pumpkins for 8 years but have never achieved any success. I have learned slowly over the years and really did my homework this offseason. I think I am prepared like never before. I have only gotten to about 100lbs. or so but this year I am hoping for 500lbs. I know that's a big jump but my efforts and research have gotten serious. Growing a giant pumpkin is a great hobby of mine.... it has also turned into a passion. I hope to be "hittin' heavy" soon! Tuesday, January 26 View Page One thing I've never done is get ahold of good seeds. I always thought the Atlantic seeds you get at the store would produce the big ones. Obviously we all know that's not true. I have managed to get ahold of a few seeds this offseason. (1) 996# [1,092 Martin x 1,255 VanKooten] (1) 1,131# [1,014 Holland x 998 Pukos] (1) 1,505# [1,385 Jutras x 1,142 VanKooten] Great seeds but there's only 3 total. I am planning on 2 plants this year. Usually I over-crowd my gardens but this year it's 1 plant per garden. I also have some seeds that I got ahold of but all they say is that they are from 800lb.-ers (from P&P Seed Co.) Needless to say I only have a few seeds......but......atleast this year I am using the RIGHT seeds! Nothing quite like knowing that I've doomed myself right from the very start all those years! Thursday, January 28 View Page Added layer of cow manure compost and spread over winter rye - tilled. Thursday, January 28 View Page Garden #1 tilled. Thursday, January 28 View Page Mmmmm. Thursday, January 28 View Page Garden #2 - Cow manure compost spread over winter rye. Thursday, January 28 View Page Garden #2 - Tilled. Saturday, January 30 View Page Added more manure today. Also added nutrients. Tilled. Saturday, January 30 View Page About 30-45 days out. Will start seeds Mar. 1-14ish. Monday, February 1 View Page Soil tests today: Garden #1 - Ph 6.5 N adequate P deficient K surplus Garden #2 - Ph 7.0 N depleted P deficient K surplus Thursday, February 4 View Page Sprout test Friday, February 5 View Page Sprout test - planted test seeds in 4in. peat pots Friday, February 5 View Page Temperature stable at 84.3degrees Thursday, February 11 View Page Success! Monday, March 1 View Page Started soaking seeds for early season.