Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 208 Entries. Friday, March 1 View Page Flat Norm pauses for a picture with the Team-Pumpkin Banner and some friends in Vegas. Friday, March 1 View Page Everybody wants to be seen with Flat Norm and he his a good sport about it. Friday, March 1 View Page Flat Norm finds a pole with his favorite color. It was nice of Vegas to paint this pole especially for his arrival. Friday, March 1 View Page Flat Norm couldn�t resist trying his hand at the one armed bandit. Friday, March 1 View Page Flat Norm finds a friend from home while cruising Vegas. Friday, March 1 View Page Even Flat Norm needs a rest in these plush accommodations. Thursday, March 7 View Page Having been to Vegas Flat Norm couldn�t wait to get his Passport so he could go to Niagara Canada. Thursday, March 7 View Page Flat Norm strikes a stunning image on his passport in his best overalls. Thursday, March 7 View Page Look at that signature. Did you know Flat Norm was a doctor and a world traveler. Thursday, March 7 View Page Seems Flat Norm has lots of space for more Visa stamps and future travels. Friday, March 8 View Page It was a long ride starting with a snow storm and we were all ready to eat by the time we got there. Friday, March 8 View Page �Oh Norm ! Thanks for the tip�. It seems Flat Norm is one lucky devil. Friday, March 8 View Page Flat Norm has a fan club where ever he goes. Saturday, March 9 View Page The Team-Pumpkin gang poses for a group shot with Flat Norm. Saturday, March 9 View Page Flat Norm is so helpful he can�t resist pulling a shift at the front desk in spite of the stamp on his passport forbidding work. Saturday, March 9 View Page As if the front desk wasn�t enough he finds time to help the food service staff. Saturday, March 9 View Page Flat Norm gets the feel of the trophies because he knows one day it will be his turn for the coveted Flat Trophy. Saturday, March 9 View Page Everyone had questions for Flat Norm so he takes an unscheduled turn at the podium for a short and flat presentation. Saturday, March 9 View Page Jim and Flat Norm finally get to catch a bite. How does he stay so thin everyone wanted to know. Saturday, March 9 View Page Now that he has cleaned his plate Flat Norm finds time to visit and make new friends. Saturday, March 9 View Page Flat Norm tries to stand in front of Kelsey so someone will mistake him for a world record grower. Saturday, March 9 View Page Holly and Dan try to convince Flat Norm to visit them on the VT tour this summer. Saturday, March 9 View Page Pat gives the thumbs up as he tries to get the secrets to Flat Norm's success. Saturday, March 9 View Page Flat Norm and Dave find the perfect place to stop for a picture of 2 champions. Saturday, March 9 View Page Joe and Bryan think they can talk the ears off of Flat Norm but he is a good listener. Saturday, March 9 View Page Flat Norm and Maryanne have been friends for a long time so they have a lot to catch up on. Saturday, March 9 View Page Bill and Joe introduce Flat Norm to new friends. Saturday, March 9 View Page It seems everyone , Steve, Joe, Gene, Ron and Eddy from Rhode Island want to get in the picture with Flat Norm. Saturday, March 9 View Page Cecil finally gets a chance to talk to Flat Norm. (He is such a social butterfly moving from one table to another) Saturday, March 9 View Page Phil tries to sneak up and steal Flat Norm away from the ladies. Saturday, March 9 View Page Being flat has special advantages. Saturday, March 9 View Page Makes it easy to find just the right place for a nap. Saturday, March 9 View Page Refreshed from his nap Flat Norm sits in on the Q & A with Ken to field a few questions. Saturday, March 9 View Page ....Its every flat man's dream. Sunday, March 10 View Page Just when we thought we knew it all about Flat Norm we find him tickling the ivories. Sunday, March 10 View Page Team-Pumpkin and Flat Norm gather for a last photo in Niagara. Flat Norm made so many new friends he can't wait to return next year. Sunday, March 10 View Page Flat Norm enjoys a peaceful ride home where he hopes the snow from the storm has melted by the time he gets there. Thursday, March 14 View Page Flat Norm scores big at the Pi(e) day celebration. Even after all these pies he remains as flat as ever. How does he do that? Thursday, March 21 View Page Flat Norm tries his hand at some fancy single photon laser confocal thingy to see if he can find the secret to the perfect flat pumpkin. Friday, March 29 View Page Paul-150. For me to grow in the 150 sq ft fun-a-grow I needed to find a new place to locate my 150 sq ft patch. So I consulted my mentor. We looked uphill, downhill and in the woods. Friday, March 29 View Page Paul-150, Flat Norm and I searched high and low and finally selected this rocky, barren,uneven area to grow a huge orange pumpkin. Monday, April 1 View Page It seems everyone in Ohio wants to be seen as Flat Norm. Monday, April 1 View Page Flat Norm tries a new look with a little extra facial hair this time. Monday, April 1 View Page Flat Norm is not one to be left out when there are donuts to be eaten and coffee to wash them down. Monday, April 1 View Page Everyone loves Flat Norm so he is a natural when it comes to selling fertilizer. Monday, April 1 View Page We don't understand what he is selling here but it is definitely a new look for Flat Norm. Monday, April 1 View Page Wherever he is, Flat Norm likes to lend a hand so here he directs parking traffic. Monday, April 1 View Page While you can't really see it in this picture, Flat Norm just had to try his hand at the big toys. In this case a trackhoe. A new hoe experience for Flat Norm. Monday, April 1 View Page After playing with the hoe he had to jump right in and get his hands dirty. Monday, April 8 View Page Here Flat Norm gives up his traditional dress blues to try his hand a selling a few tractors. Thursday, April 11 View Page Flat Norm loves his new sweatshirt Monday, April 15 View Page 14 April 2013 and Flat Norm is so excited to be able to attend his first Team-Pumpkin Certified Weigh off. Monday, April 15 View Page Matt lays out the extraction plan��. Monday, April 15 View Page But Wait !! What is this? Surely this isn�t the snowball we have all been waiting for? Monday, April 15 View Page An imposter is discovered among the leaves. How did that happen? Monday, April 15 View Page Flat Norm supervises 5 men as they extract Snowball from her resting place and wrestle her onto a cart for the trip to the scale. Monday, April 15 View Page The horror of it all ! Everyone looking at her bottom including Flat Norm. She will never be the same. Monday, April 15 View Page How many Norms does it take to weigh a pumpkin? Monday, April 15 View Page Flat Norm wants to see what it feels like to be a winner. Monday, April 15 View Page Now what is Matt holding? Monday, April 15 View Page Well of course, it�s the coveted one of a kind �Flat Ribbon� ! Friday, April 19 View Page It seems Flat Norm has become a world traveler. This time we find him in Finland ! https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-A1OKG_nwylTU0ycm82bGx6YlE/edit?usp=drive_web Sunday, April 28 View Page Bart-150, An �Early� photo of my 150 patch layout. The orange outline shows the maximum possible extent of my patch which encompasses 149 sq. ft. but it�s unlikely I will be able to occupy it all and still get to everything. The 5 foot square in the foreground is the base of my �hoop� house with the soil heating cable ready to connect. Sunday, April 28 View Page Bart-150, another �Early� view from the opposite direction with Flat Norm standing guard. Can you really grow a pumpkin in a space this small? Does Flat Norm think there is a plant inside there? Sunday, April 28 View Page Flat Norm had a great day at the beach, he went to Nantasket Beach today, is was a good day for him the seas were flat...... Wednesday, May 1 View Page You never know when this guy, Flat Norm will be watching Thursday, May 2 View Page Flat Norm got wood. Sunday, May 5 View Page Bry-150, Flat Norm ok�s the length of 21 feet Sunday, May 5 View Page Bry-150, Flat Norm ok�s the width of 7 feet. Sunday, May 5 View Page Bry-150, Yup that�s an official 150 contest Entry, I approve! Sunday, May 5 View Page Look Twins! Sunday, May 5 View Page It�s steep enuff to make me jealous Sunday, May 5 View Page J&K-150, flat Norm was bit skeptical of patch design but approves it. Sunday, May 5 View Page J&K-150, Flat Norm says plant is a little floppy and scrawny looking. Wednesday, May 8 View Page J�rg-150, 8 May. This is my 150 sqft patch, it consists of a rectangle 2.5 m x 5.5 m (= 13.75 m2 = 148 sqft), and the stump of the plant is slightly outside this rectangle, just to allow for another foot of main vine length and making use of the remaining 2 sqft. This rectangular patch looks pretty NORM-alized, but one can imagine that it cannot accommodate a regular flat X-mas tree. Wednesday, May 8 View Page J�rg-150, 8 May: Here we go, that is how I would want the plant to grow, something like 4 ft of main vine straight into the patch and then curving the main vine 90 degrees. After another 7 or 8 ft there must be a female for the keeper on the main vine to find a place within the rectangular patch. If it does not happen this way, I will have to go with a pollination on a secondary vine. Flat Norm is still standing in the corner of the patch, because it is a warm and sunny day today. No need to look for an umbrella yet. Wednesday, May 8 View Page J�rg-150, 8 May: Anyway, in case of some unexpected drops of rain the leaves of this plant (1655 Ford/Givens) should serve as a fine umbrella. In a couple of days our flat friend can jump between lots of umbrellas, because this 1655 is planted back-to-back with a 1381 Delaney (which will be grown on a significantly larger patch). Time will tell if the back-to-back planting brings about any benefits for the 1655 in this unequal couple�can the 1655 take advantage of the freedom of its roots, or will the larger 1381 plant claim all the water and minerals for the growth of its own berry? Sunday, May 12 View Page Paul-150, my designated 150 patch--Lets see how big and orange it will produce. Friday, May 17 View Page Like his 3-D counterpart, Flat Norm can't resist a good pile of compost while looking for orange seeds. Flat Norm found some very nice looking 723 Kaczenski seedlings but couldn't find any that would grow the perfect flat orange pumpkin. Tuesday, May 21 View Page Norm-150, the spot is 10 x 15.. goes from center of coldframe to 3 pvc pipes in ground and is flat norm approved. Monday, May 27 View Page Susan-150, Here is my patch finally! Size 18x8 = 144 sq ft. Close enough! Monday, May 27 View Page Susan-150, Another view Tuesday, May 28 View Page J�rg-150. Tried to measure my 150 square feet patch as exactly as possible. Friday, May 31 View Page Benny-150, Rainfall stopped briefly before another 2 inch �shower�. Long enough for me to give Flat Norm a tour of my 150 square foot patch which measures 2.44 meters wide and 5.70 meters long. Flat Norm was quick with the conversion of 13.908 square meters to 149.7 square feet and his approval of the patch. Ooooch is that small ! Friday, May 31 View Page Benny-150, Flat-Norm agreed that the no-tilling of the green manure ( Chenopodium album, Solanum nigrum, Portulaca oleracea ) could be helpful in preserving soil structure, as well as not transplanting yet. He suggested covering the planting area with some plastic to keep additional rain away, I have to plant on Sunday ! Friday, May 31 View Page Bart-150, Its time for me to show the 'post hoop house photo'. Now that the plant is out the real fun begins. Starting early may not have been the best idea but I have to deal with the plant sooner or later. Now that the plant is running the patch really shows just how small it is. Monday, June 3 View Page Lloyd 150 patch 827Gouin. Got to have two Flat Norms keep eye on me ! Tuesday, June 4 View Page Bring it on Wild Man.. Monday, June 10 View Page Almost finished at the Kaczenski patch. Flat Norm inspects the detail work as he waits for the crew to install the last section of silt fence. At the end he gives a flat thumbs up to a job well done and looks forward to a nap on the ride home. Tuesday, June 11 View Page Paul 150, Plant is growing well. Three strong leaves , no side vines yet. Still have 148 sq feet to fill. Tuesday, June 11 View Page Flat Norm at his best. Catching a nap on the couch while he waits for the rain to stop. Saturday, June 15 View Page PG 150 I went to check the 150 patch and found Flat Norm and Flat Fergie hoeing around......... Monday, June 17 View Page Marley, just wanted to let you know my daughter Samantha invited flat norm to her 17th birthday party, he had a great time. he blew out the candle and caught fire! Monday, June 17 View Page Susan 150, Flat Norm stopped by this morning to visit. He says my poor little pumpkin plant needs a nice drink of go-go juice. I'll get right on it! Tuesday, June 18 View Page Bart 150, Looks like somebody got into the Go Go juice and both of them had a little to much Saturday, June 22 View Page Benny-150, Flatnorm, I think it was not really smart to choose the plant with the biggest leaves for this small plot. Half width of the patch is already green ! Saturday, June 22 View Page Benny-150, And olso one third of patch length is occupied. Should I stop the go-go -juice? Flatnorm ? Flatnorm, where are you ? Saturday, June 22 View Page Benny-150, Do you really think these are sweeter than pumpkin growing ? Sunday, June 23 View Page John-150, John's 993 Vincent McGill and is a little over 6 feet long as of 6/23. Sunday, June 23 View Page John-150, FlatNorm checks John's measurements for the patch. Sunday, June 23 View Page John-150, Dimensions may change depending on pollination but here is the lay out as of now. Monday, June 24 View Page J�rg-150: After two weeks of awfully cold weather and clouds and permanent rain (last weeks of May) and a little flood across the patch (June 2/3) the high ground water level made most of the AG plants almost die. It�s like a miracle, this 1655 Ford plant did survive this torture and is the strongest plant in the patch now, and after some weeks of better weather it is back to a Norm-al mode of growth (its main vine currently doing 5 inch a day, secondaries starting to grow). FlatNorm had to do a little inspection at the site which used to be the main vine tip as the cold weather period began. Monday, June 24 View Page J�rg-150: Oh well, this used to be such a nice shady place (see my entry from May 8th), but now FlatNorm needs to pay attention to find the right umbrella for sunny and rainy days...this one here isn�t good at all. Monday, June 24 View Page J�rg-150: FlatNorm was surprised that a little AG plant needs so many weeks to fill 150 sqft (this plant is nearly 3 months old now...seed was started on March 28th!!!). Anyway, within the next 20 days there might be something for a pollination and at least 2.5 months left for pumpkin growth. Tuesday, June 25 View Page J�rg-150: FlatNorm wants to help, but he hasn�t grown a fruit with viable seeds yet! This plant is one of the lucky ones which did survive the floods of the past weeks (which happened at various places throughout Germany), but there are others (not only plants) who happened to experience much greater flood damage. To those of you who would like to help, let me draw your attention to Janni (GPW) and his recent message board entry. If you would like to support his fundraiser auction (i.e., to support those who lost much more than just some pumpkin roots in the recent floods), you are welcome to donate the one or the other seed. For further details, please see Jannis message board entry. Thanks alot. http://www.bigpumpkins.com/msgboard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=479106 Wednesday, June 26 View Page Norm-150, FlatNorm stops in for an equipment check. Wednesday, June 26 View Page Gary-150, FlatNorm checks the width. Wednesday, June 26 View Page Gary-150, FlatNorm confirms the length. Wednesday, June 26 View Page PG 150, So-- Any day you can spy on the spies is way more fun then the spies spying on you. Wednesday, June 26 View Page Those who try to spy on spies only think there are spying. FlatNorm didn't miss much. Wednesday, June 26 View Page Gary-150, As Gary marks out his patch for FlatNorm his fan club cheers him on. Go Gary. Thursday, June 27 View Page Norm-150,About 1/4 full.. Monday, July 1 View Page Al-150, Al shows his patch (11 x 13 = 143sq ft) and 150 plant but FlatNorm thinks he sees a pumpkin in there. Could Al be in the lead already? Sunday, July 7 View Page Bart-150, On the advice of a competitor, I removed the last 10 feet of the main on my 150 plant. FlatNorm doesn�t think that was a wise idea�didn�t you see the female at the end that was going to open tomorrow he says. Maybe it�s the heat getting to me. Monday, July 8 View Page Bart-150, this was a 'safty' set but after the main cutting it is now the keeper. Flat Norm likes it and thats what counts. Monday, July 8 View Page Everywhere he goes ...its the same. Who will be next? Tuesday, July 9 View Page Benny - 150, The "Tiger" tries to escape into the MMD ( Mycorrhiza-Multplier-Djungle ) on all four sides of his cage. Still trying to get a fruit set to tame ( subdue ?) his power. Tuesday, July 9 View Page The spy tours have been in full swing for some time already and this year Flat Norm has joined us. Tuesday, July 9 View Page Flat Norm shows he is still a traffic stopper even on a spy tour. Tuesday, July 9 View Page Flat Norm finds a new toy to help him make the world flat. Tuesday, July 9 View Page Flat Norm doesn't need an app ...slow start my A*# he says at this patch Tuesday, July 9 View Page He says this doesn't look like a cull under there Tuesday, July 9 View Page What ! that doesn't look like a pumpkin...how could that be ? Tuesday, July 9 View Page At another patch Flat Norm gets a lesson on how to setup a pumpkin to finish the season without stress ! Tuesday, July 9 View Page Flat Norm likes the looks of this pumpkin but still worries about the guy with the knife. Tuesday, July 9 View Page Now you know the secret to Flat Norm's success...shhh don't tell. Tuesday, July 9 View Page One look at this hill and Flat Norm remembers why he likes the flat world. Wednesday, July 10 View Page 25 June, As the spy tour season gets underway, spys can be hiding anywhere even in the woods Wednesday, July 10 View Page 25 June, sometimes double trouble comes walking up the drive Wednesday, July 10 View Page 25 June, (patch 1) Flat Norm inspects a fine looking plant. Wednesday, July 10 View Page 25 June, (patch 1) there were no flat cold drinks Wednesday, July 10 View Page 25 June, (patch 2) somebody has made big improvements in their patch this year. Wednesday, July 10 View Page 25 June, (patch 2) Are you sure you want him guarding the hen house? Wednesday, July 10 View Page 25 June, (patch 2) Nice looking plant but what is that seed? Wednesday, July 10 View Page 25 June, (patch 2) next plant, penmanship needs improvement Wednesday, July 10 View Page 25 June, (patch 2) plant three, can't read any of them. Even Flat Norm wasn't allowed to take photos of the last plant, highly classified information. Wednesday, July 10 View Page 25 June, (patch 3) CLOSE YOUR EYES! This entire patch was so highly secretive we weren't allowed to take pictures. Wednesday, July 10 View Page 25 June, (patch 3) I hope you still have your eyes closed so you don't see this typical plant here. (yes the date is correct) Wednesday, July 10 View Page 25 June, (patch 4) Nice looking plants at this patch but again hidden from view with all these screens. Sunday, July 14 View Page Benny-150, A small one, even for my low standards, 30�+ Celsius predicted, but the only remaining chance for a pollination on the main. Fingers crossed ! Tuesday, July 16 View Page Bart-150, day 25 and still searching for a tertiary to use to fill the remaining patch space after removing the main. At least its growing. Saturday, July 20 View Page Looky here what Flat Norm stumbled across on his morning hike. Saturday, July 20 View Page Looks like Flat Norm found a new motto! Sunday, July 21 View Page Al-150, FlatNorm thinks this one has a shape that will be hard to beat. Sunday, July 21 View Page Benny-150 : Flat-Norm agrees that the pollination on the main looks good so far. So, say bye bye to your sidevines-sister , Tiger! Flat-Norm convinced me to get rid of a lot of tertiaries , perhaps I should send them to Bart to fill his patch ? Monday, July 22 View Page Flat Norm says its so sad to lose a player's plant already. Tuesday, July 23 View Page Susan-150. Day 11 on my 150 plant and the cc is 33". No name picked out yet for this pumpkin. Open pollinated. Tuesday, July 23 View Page Susan 150- Forgot to attach the pic ;) (FlatNorn thinks somebody must have been distracted trying to decide on a name) Wednesday, July 24 View Page J�rg-150: This morning FlatNorm was both very busy and very very jealous. Look at this little pumpkin and the awesome long stem...hm. So far everything looks great, a beautiful five-lobes flower in a marvelous position (close to a corner of my 150 sq ft patch), and upon terminating the main vine here the last secondary can now continue as a new main vine along one side of the 150 sq ft patch, no need to create any such thing as a sharp S-curve. The cross? 1655 Ford x 1140 Finders (3 males). Wednesday, July 24 View Page Mike-150, FlatNorm noticed Mike was quiet but look at this fine pumpkin in his 150 patch. Wednesday, July 24 View Page Bry-150, FlatNorm sends his condolences to Bryan-150. We will miss him in the run to the finish now that his plant is done. Wednesday, July 24 View Page Joe & K-150, about 10 days old. Friday, July 26 View Page FlatNorm is climbing to new heights Friday, July 26 View Page FlatNorm has a new playmate. Friday, July 26 View Page John-150, John made his final attempt at pollination today. FlatNorm hopes it takes and awaits good news to come. The weather has not been kind to John this year. Friday, July 26 View Page Bart-150, (John's-150 entry above should have been dated 24 July). My 150 pumpkin is day 35 today and growing. The best news for me is I finally found a couple tertiaries to fill the rest of the patch if they continue to grow. Friday, July 26 View Page Benny-150, FlatNorm has a note from Benny saying his pollination is growing and at day 12 its 69 cm. ", much smaller than Sues, Kaaarinaas and surely much much much smaller than sandbagging - Barts. but the finish counts !" He has his fingers crossed for Jorg, John and all other participants ! Saturday, July 27 View Page Gary-150, all main sets aborted , have a couple sidevine sets now, if they dont take its game over, gonna really have work cut out to keep vines and pumpkin in area if poll does take, but have had fun either way. Saturday, July 27 View Page Lloyd 150,,,, I had to pull to the plant three days ago ! 150 growers keep going ! Grow a giant one or a pretty one ! Good luck ! Saturday, July 27 View Page Bart-150, FlatNorm approves of the tertiary I found on the left side of the pumpkin. It should fill all the remaining space soon. Saturday, July 27 View Page Bart-150, two more in training on the right side just in case I need them. Sunday, July 28 View Page Norm-150, The agony of defeat... Sunday, July 28 View Page PG-150 : The pumpkin closets to Flat Norm and Flat Fergie is 9 Days old and is pollinated with my 992. Hopefully this will be a really orange pumpkin. The pumpkin closest in the picture is 8 days and is an open pollination and on a secondary. If all goes well I will terminate the pumpkin on the secondary. The camera angle makes the closets one look bigger--they are actually the same size. Sunday, July 28 View Page Sam-150,I am sorry to inform you that I'm out of the 150 contest. My plan to start a bit later got washed away with the heavy rains we have had the last 2-3 months with june and july being record rainfall for us. Please keep me in mind for next year. Best of luck to everyone. Sam Saturday, August 3 View Page J�rg-150: Today FlatNorm was very excited and happy with the 10 DAP measurement of the 1655 Ford x 1140 Finders (CC 23.4''). FlatNorm thinks this plant is so powerful, it needs to grow a second pumpkin (1655 Ford x 1770 Lieber, pollination on July 27). Thursday, August 8 View Page Benny-150, Flatnorm helps measuring the pumpkin on 941* Sherwood. 161 OTT on day 25. But why is the blossom end not growing ? Flatnorm thinks the pumpkin is scared of the red-white ribbon : Do not cross the border ! Thursday, August 8 View Page Benny-150, Flatnorm says I have chosen the wrong plant for the contest: 220.3 DeBacco looks much nicer ! Sunday, August 11 View Page Mike-150, FlatNorm was dwarfed by Mikes pumpkin. Rumor is it may be headed to a scale soon. Tuesday, August 13 View Page J�rg-150: FlatNorm is more than happy with the 20 DAP measurement. Well, the second fruit on that plant had aborted, but FlatNorm is optimistic, trying to see the good things only (a big pumpkin by end of September). Saturday, August 17 View Page Bart-150, The plant is finally terminated at the end of the full patch. Couldn't get back far enough to include the stump because of the (neighbors)fence behind me but you can see the vines at the other end. Keeping the silt fence up all season has turned out to be a good plan for plant control. Sunday, August 18 View Page J�rg-150: FlatNorm isn�t happy today (25 DAP) because he discovered a BES. Oh sh.....split! (108 lbs went to the compost pile, it�s so sad!) The good news: FlatNorm found another female which was open TODAY. Now he is keeping all fingers crossed that this pollination will take and grow a new 150sqft pumpkin for FlatNorms weigh-off. Monday, August 19 View Page PG-150, Day 30 and all is well....... Wednesday, August 21 View Page Gary-150, It wasn't easy but Gary is in the race and it looks like it will be orange ! Friday, August 23 View Page Mike -150, Going to the Champlain Valley Fair at 199ott... Wednesday, August 28 View Page Mike-150, Its official ! Wednesday, August 28 View Page Al 150, looks like somebody is ready to go somewhere. Wednesday, August 28 View Page Al 150, nice looking pumpkin weighs in at 431 pounds and 267 OTT. Friday, August 30 View Page Bart 150, took my entry to the Woodstock Fair weigh off. Catch me if you can, lol Sunday, September 1 View Page Gary 150, looks like Gary is coming on strong with great color. Monday, September 2 View Page Paul 150, 30 Aug, day 41 and all is well.... Monday, September 2 View Page PG 150-- Flat Norm, Super Hero and protector from all patch evils.... Saturday, September 7 View Page Joe 150, flat norm is a little astonished, can something this color really be from a Menting seed? Sunday, September 8 View Page Gary 150, pumpkin is 201 OTT today, lol and color is darkening nicely, not expecting more growth but still 3 weeks till wo in Elkin. Sunday, September 8 View Page PG-150: Day 60 and all is well... Saturday, September 14 View Page Benny-150 : Flatnorm doesnt believe the supporting construction will last long enough . Thats true, but but less important, as the fruit would disqualify itself if it touches down over the borderline. Sunday, September 15 View Page J�rg-150: FlatNorm was so keen on growing a berry on 150 sqft, he would have gone through hell (or maybe through the snowy and icy X-mas time) to ass-kick this little 1655 Ford x 1730 Werner cross to the best of its potential, but, well, the berry was ass-kicking FlatNorm...it simply aborted. Now, and for the next two weeks or so, there will be a commemorative spot of ...hm...150 sqft in this patch, which can make us remember the good (hell, which ones???) and bad times (right!!!) of the 2013 pumpkin season. Let�s say a little prayer (without becoming blasphemic): May the spirit (and force and power and explosiveness...what else!!!) of this blossom end breaking creature (a beast of, I can tell) continue to live (and grow and grow and rise above itself and seek for global dominance) in a well-behaved symbiosys (I prefer to call it "a hell of a cross"!!!) with a good friend (hm, well, patch-mate) we are oh so aware of (1140 Finders) in good times (the next seasons, hopefully!) and in bad times (the times when it isn�t me who�s growing a new record off this cross). For leftovers of the soul of this little fighter check out the "Pumpking" diary and see if there will be an announcement on the availability of seeds with the 1655 Ford as a pollinator. Sunday, September 15 View Page PG-150 150 is uncovered and catching the September sun. Wednesday, September 18 View Page Benny 150, Flatnorm now has an important role as protector of the pumpkin skin ! Monday, September 30 View Page Joe/Kaarina 150, Spent the morning hanging out with flat norm, he says sure is orange but the question is how big is it really? I guess well find out in 19 days. Monday, September 30 View Page Randy-150, While Randy may have been distracted with the new house this year don't count him out ! Monday, September 30 View Page Randy-150, some players didn't manage to get a pumpkin in their 150 patch but Randy has done them one better...why stop at 1...there is nothing in the rules that says you can't set 2. Go Randy Tuesday, October 1 View Page Bart-150, even off the vine and hiding in Gene's garage this pumpkin continues to impress. Note to Gene..don't let it out in the sun , someone will get hurt Tuesday, October 1 View Page In spite of that there are still some scary pumpkin to be seen in the contest.. Tuesday, October 1 View Page PG 150 Flat Norm making sure I am still inside the lines . Tuesday, October 1 View Page Gary-150, 194 Lovitt. FlatNorm thinks it is a very fine pumpkin from only 150 square foot patch and just look at the color ! Tuesday, October 1 View Page FlatNorm doesn't fool around when its time to pollinate so its time to bring in the heavy hitters to get the job done. Friday, October 4 View Page Benny-150, FlatNorm controlled the tightness of the straps and said this specimen fits much better in a small FIAT than into a Dodge RAM Friday, October 4 View Page Benny-150, 3 young men had to really put their backs into it to move Benny's prize. Friday, October 4 View Page Benny-150, After weighing on a scale with shall we say 'less than current certification' it is on display at the Pumpkin and Cider Fest for all to admire. Friday, October 4 View Page Benny-150, 4 days later it returned home to be weighed again on a currently certified scale. 202.0 Kg or 445.3 pounds. Saturday, October 19 View Page PG-150: Well my 150 sq ft entry came in at 370. I have to say, I had a blast with Flatnorm this year. Sunday, October 27 View Page We have seen FlatNorm in many places but what is he up to here? Sunday, October 27 View Page Oh No ! Wait FlatNorm. Where is your parachute ? This could be a fatal mistake for our favorite flat person. Wednesday, November 6 View Page Just when we thought we had seen the last of our flat friend ...look who showed up at Machu Picchu, Peru Thursday, November 7 View Page Joe/Kaarina-150, Oct 16 and Flatnorm watches as the lift is made ready Thursday, November 7 View Page Joe/Kaarina-150, 16 Oct. a quick ride out of the patch. Thursday, November 7 View Page Joe/Kaarina-150, 19 Oct. weighoff is a fine place to be for the 610 Menting 2013. Thursday, November 7 View Page Joe/Kaarina-150,25 Oct. Home and on display is a fine way to finish the season for the 610 Menting 2013.