Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 97 Entries. Monday, March 18 View Page 291 kent seedling transplanted Monday, March 25 View Page Young 291 kent around a week after sprouting Saturday, April 6 View Page Young 291 kent plant Friday, April 12 View Page My plot Saturday, April 13 View Page 291 kent hopefully getting ready to vine out Saturday, April 13 View Page I started this plant in mid january and it didnt start to vine out until two months later because the weather was too cool. I have another one in the ground that sprouted only three weeks ago and its already starting to vine out. Crazy how the weather can have such a big effect on the plant. Even though this plant is old and I must be insane trying to grow it in such a tiny space but I'll give it a chance ahaha Saturday, April 13 View Page This is your worst enemy. This weed grass, or whatever its called, is extremely tough. Its roots are like tree roots. I am not even kidding. At first I couldn't afford a tiller so I worked for hours with a shovel everyday after school uprooting it, chopping it, turning it, and removing all the pieces of it as I could. This was what my lawn was made of. No dirt, just this. I would break up the large pieces of soil which were clumped together by so many roots into the smallest pieces I could. I would then remove all the extra roots or break them into tiny pieces so they could decompose. This was hell. I literally conditioned the soil in my plot with my bare hands and a shovel. Finally after having 60% of the plot done, I couldn't go on I was too tired. I convinced my dad to rent a tiller and we tilled the rest of it up. To be honest I don't know if any gardner has gone to the extent that I did, but I know we all work very hard. Just make sure if you have a problem like this you get a tiller right away and dont hurt yourself lol. I still need to buy one, but I'm glad I got my main plot done for this year. Saturday, April 13 View Page 291 kent such a beautiful plant! Sunday, April 21 View Page This isn't going to get very big, not only is it just a big max and not an atlantic giant, but im growing it basically into the street lol going to pollinate it tomorrow morning assuming it blooms tomorrow Tuesday, April 23 View Page I don't know if its just me that thinks this but it seems like I haven't had a lot of growth recently. Theres many leaves coming up but I don't see any vines yet. Mark C. tells me too much water is the problem I think so too so I'm gonna skip watering for a few days there'll still be plenty of moisture in the soil, the plant just needs more oxygen for the roots Sunday, April 28 View Page Plant from a 186 lb big max pumpkin Monday, April 29 View Page and the next day Tuesday, April 30 View Page What the heck? I just sprouted a 233.5 bright and a 291 kent to replant and now I'm considering waiting until this heat passes. We never have it this hot in may. normally the hottest is 80. its normally cloudy and gloomy this is going to be intense. Tuesday, April 30 View Page This squash which I don't even know the name of, is doing well. They look like ufo's. Tuesday, April 30 View Page 233.5 bright. Hardening it outside. Tuesday, April 30 View Page and today :). Wow for a big max this thing is growing fast. Its in a spot that doesn't get much light. Such a nice shape its like a ball lol Saturday, May 4 View Page watching it grow before our very eyes Saturday, May 4 View Page 228 grafted clementz. Its my first time ever grafting and its the only plant I grafted so if it survived it would actually be a miracle. I grafted it over a few hours ago and it hasn't wilted yet, but ill see if it made it after a week. Transplanted the 233.5 bright and 291 kent today. Wednesday, May 8 View Page I look at it so much I don't even notice how much its growing until I look at the pictures the day before Wednesday, May 8 View Page here's another view of today's growth using a basketball as a comparison Saturday, May 11 View Page I found a huge bird nest! Just kidding I got some pine straw from the gardeners who made a pile of pine straw and grass clippings from mowing the lawn. That neighbor has a few pine trees over there lawn so when I saw it I asked the gardener if I could have it he helped me get it in the car so I could bring it back I gave him $5 I had to give him something for helping me and letting me have it. I separated the pine straw for the melons and I'll let the grass clippings sit in a compost pile I plan to make for the future Sunday, May 12 View Page Today it was 95 degrees tomorrow its supposed to be 98 and monday 99. Normally in may here its cloudy and cool. This is crazy. I'm very greatful for the warm night temps. I really hope my melon plants make it. Those are what I've put the most work into. After these big max's I need to start growing atlantic giants for sure. I've got space issues living in suburbs of LA though lol Tuesday, May 14 View Page Its 81 degrees right now at 11:56 p.m. It was 103 degrees today and 102 degrees yesterday. These night temps are warmer than our average even for august. Average low in august is 62 but last night and tonight its been and gonna be around 71 which is so warm for may oh boy. Glad that theres no June gloom like there normally is here. It doesn't even get consistently into the 80's and 90's until mid july here normally. Tuesday, May 14 View Page Its doubled in size in the past 3 days. The growth sped up after it got some potassium. @19 days I believe. Thursday, May 16 View Page 4 days ago it was the same size as the basketball Thursday, May 16 View Page 291 kent Thursday, May 16 View Page 233.5 bright Tuesday, May 21 View Page 59 pounds estimated from circumference Wednesday, May 22 View Page Gained 7 lbs. today according to chart Sunday, May 26 View Page Its been a warmer than average spring, but I want to keep it up. I need warm night temperatures for the melons. Its been in the 50's the past few nights so its great to see this Monday, May 27 View Page This is a patty pan squash plant. Its root system is insanely vigorous and to me it seems like a power house of a plant. The fruit don't look like much, but I believe if grafted to a watermelon plant, would do an incredible job. I want to graft it and try it but im not sure if I have the room for it. If anyone is still planting their melons and would like to try with one of their plants let me know I'll send plenty of seeds. I'm curious to see the outcome. Monday, May 27 View Page Here are the actual patty pan squashes. I could be wrong about how well it's plant would do having a watermelon plant grafted to it, but who knows. Monday, May 27 View Page I am very happy to see the 291 kent begin to spread its vines Monday, May 27 View Page The 233.5 bright is starting to vine out too. I will have to cull to one plant because both plants are spaced only 5 feet apart and theres about 300 square feet. I can't believe this because I didn't notice this until just now after taking the picture, but if you look very very very closely on the left leaf there is a tiny tiny tiny green grass hopper. I don't like to see it on the plants though. Friday, May 31 View Page I went with the 233.5 bright. Both plants were doing great though. Sunday, June 2 View Page Bought lady bugs to eat the bad bugs Sunday, June 2 View Page I picked the pumpkin. It was 73.6 lbs. but its a big max, plus it was grown in only 80 sq ft Thursday, June 6 View Page Its been around 5 weeks since germination. And shes been in the ground for 4 in a half weeks. Whatever happens, I'm very glad I've made it to this stage. Friday, June 7 View Page I don't know if this is necessary lol Thursday, June 13 View Page Black Diamond watermelon growing at school. I've been out of school for a week and as much as I hate school, I had to go back and check on it Saturday, June 22 View Page I'm not sure if the plant is quite big enough to support the melon but hell, I'll just go for it. There are a few splits on a few vines hopefully I don't have any disease issues to deal with but oh well I'll do the best I can. Saturday, June 22 View Page Here's the melon. It wasn't there when I left but when I came back there she is. Saturday, June 22 View Page I'm really afraid of this though. It looks kind of like what Todd had to deal with last year with the brownish gew. Whatever I'm just gonna do my best. That's all I can do. Sunday, June 23 View Page Black Diamond watermelon at school when I got back from Pennsylvania Tuesday, June 25 View Page Three nights later and much bigger! Tuesday, June 25 View Page Heres a top view of everything Monday, July 1 View Page The 233.5 melon last night. 13 days old. I got my wisdom teeth out today though (July 2nd). My face isn't swollen really but will probably swell up tomorrow. I need my melon to swell up tomorrow though. That's the only thing I want swellin up Thursday, July 4 View Page Happy 4th of July. I'm trying to figure out why the melon is behind but I think its because I need more water. I'll just take the risk of watering more because I think the melon wants it. I'm just afraid of overwatering and causing a cracked rind. I added some organic lime as well along with just a little bit of dr. earth to replenish the regular fertilizer a little bit. Sunday, July 28 View Page Melon is only 35 pounds its my first year but I'm pretty dissapointed I'm going to have to graft next year to overcome diseases on the plant. Still the largest melon I've ever seen in person though lol. I'm working on compost right now I need to have way better soil structure for next year. Sunday, July 28 View Page Something went seriously wrong I did everything right. My soil seems to be fine for pumpkins but not for watermelons I'm not sure if it was disease, or if there was major competition between the melon roots and the tree roots that try to come back into the plot. I'll be ready for next year though, at least when it comes to pumpkins. Wednesday, July 31 View Page I'm going to do something crazy. I'm going to start my last 291 kent seed right now. Once my current melon plant is done growing in a couple to a few weeks I'm going to put the 291 kent in the ground and let it grow a small melon and I'll save the seeds from it I'll have it selfed. I have until november 1st basically Friday, August 2 View Page disease disease. I will graft all watermelon plants next year. Its 41 lbs not getting over 2 lbs a day. I worked so hard but it didn't pay off this year. Hopefully it does next year. I will be ready. Friday, August 2 View Page oh I am going to graft like crazy next year. The cats may have crapped in the soil and that may have been what caused the disease. but that was a couple months before the plants were put in. I feel a dearth. I need more from this season. I'll probably end up doing some serious vegetables this winter and growing some little pumpkins and melons indoors hydroponically Sunday, August 4 View Page exposed melon Monday, August 5 View Page Went bucket after bucket getting a pile of horse manure. Its actually horse manure mixed with wood shavings. Mostly woodshavings. Monday, August 5 View Page I know its not a good idea to have that compost pile right next to the plant but since its not doing much and the melon is like 5 weeks old who cares! Monday, August 5 View Page the leaves become different here. I'm guessing its the lack of humidty. Monday, August 5 View Page this is a pumpkin the nursery up the street is growing Wednesday, August 7 View Page I picked it Wednesday, August 7 View Page Those stupid tree roots sure enjoyed the mycorrhizae Wednesday, August 7 View Page I'm going to put thick sheets of plywood here all around the plot so the roots don't grow back in. It will cost a little money but I don't give up. If anyone has advice or thinks this will not work please let me know thankyou Sunday, August 11 View Page The season is not over yet for me!! I'm gonna experiment with a store bought dill's atlantic giant and also a giant tomato from the supermarket. I'm gonna test my recent soil admendments not the nutrient levels but the structure amendments. After digging along the side of the plot to get rid of the tree roots and block them out I shoveled all the sand down there and put it on the surface. I'm gonna try to replace those trenches with the silt and mud because I know that wasn't good for the melon plant. More sand and more compost now. I know my pumpkin plant will probably die around 3 months in around november 15th but at least I will have a preview of what I need to do to the soil for next year in addition to the changes I have already made. Saturday, August 17 View Page this was actually really sad Saturday, August 17 View Page I'm gonna miss Andrew :( ^ Saturday, August 17 View Page good times. Brandon with Andrew. Saturday, August 17 View Page Racoons on my roof Saturday, August 17 View Page Scary stare from the racoons Monday, August 19 View Page I don't know if I'm the first person to try this. A watermelon can't be grafted to a pumpkin. But it can be grafted to a squash. And a squash can be grafted to a pumpkin. haha behold the root system of dill's atlantic giant for your watermelons! This is kind of a dumb idea because I've never successfully grafted a watermelon to a squash alone, but then again I never really tried. I share this with you so that all you grafting masters can try it and let me know if it works. A double graft. Monday, August 19 View Page I only tried it on two. I need more stuff to try grafting like clips, clothes pins whatever you call them. Saturday, August 31 View Page The seasons not over yet. However I can't get my hopes up because I think the horse manure may not have been as aged as I thought. The two first leaves on the pumpkin are turning brown and dying. The rest of the plant is fine. If we don't get the first frost until December 15th I could get something out of this. Saturday, August 31 View Page WOAH yesterday our high was 103, but our LOW WAS 81! thats so warm for here its not even funny. Normally we should have it in the low 60's even this time of year Thursday, September 12 View Page wayyyyy to young to be thinking about kids Friday, September 13 View Page Darn it I planted it the wrong way Sunday, September 15 View Page The highs are in the high 90's and lows in the low 70's and high 60's. Later next week the highs will be in the low 80's and lows will be in the low 60's and upper 50's. It will be interesting to see if I can actually get a pumpkin from this plant. It went into the ground sometime around August 15, or that may have been the day it sprouted, I don't remember completely I think thats when I put it in the ground. If we can get a warmer than average fall and at least warmer than average winter for the first half of winter I may be able to pull it off. Hopefully the first frost doesn't come until december 15th. Thats wishful thinking though lol Sunday, September 15 View Page If anyone has some magic cover crop recommendations let me know I need to start building my soil for next year. Little space available but I'm taking out a watermelon plot for next year soon, when I can rent a tiller. Sunday, September 15 View Page I hope Chris Kent gets the World Record for watermelon this year. I'm so excited and pumped to see his results. Sunday, September 15 View Page My melon lust still hasn't been satisfied. I'm going to need to prepare well for next year. Thursday, September 19 View Page Whats funny is I'm trying to grow a pumpkin Benjamin Button Style. Instead of starting it early in the spring with cool temperatures slowly warming up as the season goes on and the plant grows, I started it late with the temperatures hot, and they're slowly cooling down as the pumpkin grows. Tuesday, October 15 View Page Late Season Pumpkin Thursday, October 17 View Page Pumpkin Today Thursday, October 17 View Page This melon graft has the best chance of survival of all my previous grafts so far. Its grafted to a luffa gourd which can be used as a natural sponge. I've never seen one in person it seems weird. Anyway just have to be patient as it heals I'm working on more in the process. Thursday, October 17 View Page Late season tomato Tuesday, October 29 View Page Me with Chris Dunn's 1063 Tuesday, November 5 View Page I took out all the cover crop which were peas, oats, and buckwheat, and also took out the late season pumpkin plant and the late season tomato plant and tilled everything in. I was finding dead grubs stuck to the bottom of the piece of plywood I would stand on near the pumpkin. I turned the soil to kill em and I planted more buckwheat from the seeds collected from the previous buckwheat along with new seeds which were snow peas and mustard. I will add grubex before planting in late winter. Monday, November 11 View Page I worked so hard this weekend. I rented a tiller then fought the roots at the edge of the plot facing the two main trees so that the roots deeper underneath the soil would no longer be feeding the tree, and so that they can rot and break up easily when I shovel the soil next time or before I plant. This is for the new melon plot. Even though I have a major set back it doesn't stop me from growing. I hope it pays off next season. Monday, November 11 View Page World's largest Blackberry....just kidding its a bunch of blueberries stuck together. Monday, November 11 View Page Speak of the Devil Monday, November 11 View Page This was me a day or two before Halloween trying to be like the other carvers carving my friend's face into a field pumpkin we bought at the store. Monday, November 11 View Page whoops forgot the picture Monday, November 11 View Page I won't sleep too easy tonight or any night until I get a higher gate up for the new plot. The cats can get into it. I just put up a short temporary fence made up of the old fencing left over which I cut in half because I didn't have enough to surround the whole thing. I'm worried about the cats jumping the short fence and crapping in the soil. On the bright side, once I put a fence to keep them out, they do a great thing. There are no mice around here anymore. They keep the rodents down which eat your fruit directly. I won't be the one getting disqualified next year...haha I hope. Tuesday, December 17 View Page This graft didn't really go as planned but its working the best out of all of my attempts so far so I will probably try it again in the future. What the?? lol look at the bottom as well. Is the Voodoo juice is working too well? Tuesday, December 17 View Page This is the same one. The day after I grafted it which was a few days ago, it began to wilt because I didn't cover it with anything and the air around it was very dry. I sprayed the inside of a cup and placed it over the graft and now its so hard and healthy its like a stick lol. I read bat cave's advice about grafting on the discussion board and I'm trying it out. This is the easiest way to graft for me and I basically just made a slot for the melon seedling to fit into. I don't have grafting clips so it makes it easier. Its a melon seedling grafted to a winter squash seedling. I don't even know how compatible they are but with the previous ones I tried after a few days and they were still alive, where as with the birdhouse gourd grafts, the melon seedlings would wilt within hours. I still haven't had a surviving graft yet but I am trying. Tuesday, December 17 View Page I dug about 4 or 5 feet under the side of my melon plot again, this time not to kill the tree roots and get sand, but just to get sand. It took some work but when I hit the right spot I hit the jackpot. Pure nice sand just like you find at the beach. My place must have been covered by the ocean thousands or millions of years ago. I only got a bucket and a half of it, but I think it may make all the difference since the topsoil in my new melon plot is full of clay and silt and has poor drainage. I added some sand before, while I was digging deep along the side of the plot killing the tree roots, but I need a lot more. I have winter rye coming up right now and hopefully when I till that in a couple of months it will add some straw and help with the drainage as well. I'm going to use the one bucket full which is probably over 100 lbs and just lay it over everything. Then I will save the half bucket full for when I plant the melon seedlings so that the stump of the plant will stay dry and the soil around and underneath the main roots will drain well. Thursday, December 19 View Page This was when it "snowed" at my house in North Hollywood, Ca. February 26th 2011. It was actually a wintery mix of graupel, snow, ice, sleet and rain I think. It was 37 degrees and an unusually cold cloud came over us and it was an basically an isolated snow shower. The sun was shining through as it came down. They were little pellets of snow but when you squeezed them they fell apart and were still soft and had a similar consistency of snow. The wintry mix accumulated on what is now my patch. I took out that poor little tree that I planted when I was 10. I moved it to the side of the yard but never put it back in the ground and it dried up. Thursday, December 19 View Page In Game Programming class, I made a Pumpkin game on Gamemaker 8.1 lol you have to kill the mites and aphids for points and in order to move onto the next level you have to get each nutrient. I'm sure this would keep you guys busy while waiting for next season hahaha but it actually only takes 5 minutes to beat it. Tuesday, December 24 View Page Its still alive!!!! Tuesday, December 24 View Page Merry Christmas! Something tells me this is a hot seed. lol