Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 162 Entries. Wednesday, March 28 View Page Hello to all. My first entry for 2007. I have not been very active lately as I have had a major back operation. My back had been sore since November and after 3 doctors several X Rays and 2 MRIs They found an intraspinal tumor compresssing my spinal cord. I had it removed on the 13th of March and it was non cancerous so I should be ok. I will be out of work 6 weeks. I can do no heavy lifting or hard labor. I will be able to go back to work around May 1st. I may try to grow 1 plant if all goes well. At this time I am still a long ways off. I will post an entry then and we shall see how it goes. I have no seeds for 2006 as I lost both fruit to deer. Good luck to all in 2007 lets go for 1600 lbs. Monday, April 16 View Page Town is flooded again 4 inches of water in basement here we go again! Monday, April 23 View Page Water level is down I worked for 2 hours on Sat 5 hours on Sun with the help of my daughter Kendra I was able to ready the patch for tilling. I will attempt to grow 2 plants. I will grow the 1231 Pukos and 1 other yet to be determined the 703 Berard 998 Pukos 455 Mongeon 1081 Larue and 1028 Sherwood are possibilities. I am real sore today so I took the day off from the patch I am still out of work until next week so I can work more in the patch but I dont want to over do it. Tomorrow I will try to assemble my warming chamber and get the hoops onto my cold frame. see ya soon. Tuesday, April 24 View Page My daughter and I put in a full day in the patch today I got my pump in and moved my frame to a new location and tilled the patch. Tomorrow I will assemble my warming chamber and finish the hoophouse frame. Friday, April 27 View Page Raining very hard right now. My plan is to have my plants in the ground next weekend at the earliest. I dont want them to be in the pots for more than a week. I will most likely start them on Sat or Sun. I have the 998 Pukos seed now as well. It looks like I may go with both Pukos seeds if they come up good. I hate to start good seeds as back ups but with only 2 plants going in the ground I need a couple of good plants to fall back on. If I dont need them I hope they can find a good home. I only plan to start around 6 seeds 4 provens and a couple of my own. Sunday, April 29 View Page I started my seeds today I have 8 seeds on the grow mat now. The 1231 and 998 Pukos 1081 Larue 1334 Daletas 932 Hebb 703 Berard 455 Mongeon and the 789 Fisher I hope to go with the 2 Pukos seeds if all goes well with the germination over the next few days. Here is a look at them before the hit the grow mat. Sunday, April 29 View Page Here is a look at them on the mat and a look at the temp of the soil. Sunday, April 29 View Page Soil temp thermometer Sunday, April 29 View Page Soil temp control Monday, April 30 View Page I checked today and after only 24 hours my 998 Pukos has a root popping out about 3/16 of an inch and it is a nice straight one. I am glad I waited for the end of the month to start germinating as my patch is very wet and it is pouring out at this time. Thursday, May 3 View Page My seeds have germinated the 998 and 1231 are the best looking and the 1334 looks good as well. The 703 does not seem to want to grow that good. The 1081 is real bad it barely has codeletons but I wont give up on it yet. The 789 looks ok. The 932 and 455 did not germinate. I started 3 more backups tonight an 810 Kuhn 1114 Sherwood and a 709 Macallum. I will have photos soon Monday, May 7 View Page My wife and I spent the weekend in Vermont with our daughter Kendra for her basketball tournament. We had lots of fun. we lost all 4 games but no big deal. Here is a couple photos of Quechee Gorge very nice. Monday, May 7 View Page Other side of Bridge Monday, May 7 View Page Today after work I put the plasic over my hoophouse frame. My plants are coming along. The 1081 Larue and 703 Berard both look a lot better as well. Here is a look at my frame today. I hope to have the plants in by middle of next week. Tuesday, May 8 View Page BAD DAY ! I lost my 1231 Pukos to a chipmunk squirrel or some other vermin. It was the only plant it ate I have never had this happen in my dads greenhouse and I have been using it for 9 years. I made some screen frames to keep them out now I dont know what to plant with the 998. I am leaning towards the 1334 Daletas. I need some time to cool off so I can make a rational choice. Man am I rippin mad! Friday, May 11 View Page I will try to get my plants in this weekend most likely Sunday if all goes well. My 2 plants will be the 998 Pukos and the 1081 Larue. Both plants produced monster fruit last year so why not give them a shot. Sunday, May 13 View Page Busy day today. I spread all my preplant fertilizer and worked it into the soil. I also finished my cold frame and prepared the transplant area. I buried my heat cable but I am concerned it is not working so I will wait for tomorrow to transplant my plants if it is working. Monday, May 14 View Page Today I got my 2 plants in the ground the heat cable is in and my night time heat lamp is also going. The plants are a bit more leggy than I like but it has been in the 80s for close to a week now and I just could not slow them down the way I wanted to I think we will be ok though. Here is a look at them. Monday, May 14 View Page 1081 Larue Monday, May 14 View Page 998.6 Pukos Monday, May 14 View Page Warming chamber ready for the evening. Friday, May 18 View Page Heavy rain for most of the weekend is expected. I really dont need this but that is the way it goes around here. I will have the plants in the warming chamber at 60 degrees most of this weekend. Saturday, May 19 View Page Plants under the warming chamber are at 60 degrees. They look ok all things considered. As it is wet and cold out. Here is a look at them Saturday, May 19 View Page 1081 Larue Saturday, May 19 View Page 998 Pukos Saturday, May 19 View Page A weird looking water bird showed up this morning at my patch. I wonder what it is? Tuesday, May 22 View Page It is amazing what a little sunshine can do for a plant. The last 2 days of nice weather have made my 2 plants look a lot better than they did over the weekend. Here is a look at them Tuesday, May 22 View Page 1081 Larue Tuesday, May 22 View Page 998.6 Pukos Sunday, May 27 View Page Plants are starting to come along nice over the last few days. Here is a look. Sunday, May 27 View Page 1081 Larue Sunday, May 27 View Page 998.6 Pukos Monday, May 28 View Page I spent Mon afternoon weeding and tilling the patch and weed wacking the borders. Today is a holiday day off my cat had the right idea of what to do. I guess dedication to the patch must come first. Sunday, June 3 View Page It has been a while since my last entry. Both plants are looking good at this time the 998 has a 15 inch runner and the 1081 is just starting to beef up and has a 6 inch runner starting. It looks like rain for the next 3 days so I will have photos mid week I hope. Saturday, June 16 View Page WOW I have been so busy. My son Kyle has now graduated and will be off to college in Sept. We had a few partys and things to do so I have not been able to keep up with this diary. Plants look good the 998 Pukos is a bit on the wild side and is not behaving as good as I would like but it will calm down soon I am sure. The 1081 Larue is coming along very nice both plants are well over 6 feet long I will work on them some tomorrow I did a little prunning this morning here is a look at them Saturday, June 16 View Page 998 Pukos Saturday, June 16 View Page 1081 Larue Sunday, June 17 View Page Spent about 2 hours this morning weeding and loosening up soil. Plants look real nice. Here is a look at them. Sunday, June 17 View Page OOPS wrong photo. This is more like it. Tuesday, June 19 View Page Plants have really gone into high gear lots of growth in just 2 days here is a look. Tuesday, June 19 View Page 998 Pukos rear veiw Tuesday, June 19 View Page 1081 Larue rear veiw Tuesday, June 19 View Page 998 front veiw Tuesday, June 19 View Page 1081 front veiw Friday, June 22 View Page Side vines are already to the sides of the hoophouse and males are opening my first female is on the 998 about 7 feet out I dont know if I will keep it or not. I like them at least 10 feet out but we will wait and see what comes of it. Thursday, June 28 View Page Tomorrow is pollination day 2 nice females will open in the morning and I have enough males to pollinate them with. This is the first time I ever remember not having to scramble for pollen. I pollinated an early female about 7 feet out on the 998 Pukos on the 24th but doubt I will keep it even though it looks to have took. Here is a look at the plants and females. I am worried I still dont have my electric fence up yet and it looks like that will happen on Saturday. Thursday, June 28 View Page 1081 Larue plant Thursday, June 28 View Page 1081 female Thursday, June 28 View Page 998 Pukos plant Thursday, June 28 View Page 998 female Thursday, June 28 View Page 998 fruit pollinated on the 24th Thursday, June 28 View Page I forgot to say the vine borers are out in force I saw 3 of them today. Time to step up the spray program. Sunday, July 1 View Page Today was my busiest day in the patch I was out there from 9 am til 5pm but both plants are weed free side vines have been prunned properly and tap roots are covered as well on all side vines. The plants are really taking off I moved my wind fence out 5 more feet on each side and hooked up my electric fence to keep those deer from eating my pumpkins this year. The 2 fruit I pollinated the other morning have increased in size but it is still to early to tell if the took. Here is a look at my plants and my deer fence. Sunday, July 1 View Page 1081 Larue I like this plant it is very easy to manage and fairly aggressive. Sunday, July 1 View Page 998 Pukos This plant has been a little bit of a challenge. The side vines have been putting out double leaves and tendrills every now and then and requires a lot of special prunning but it does look good and has not thrown any more flat side vines. Sunday, July 1 View Page My electric deer fence. Thank you Robert now I dont have to feed the deer. Tuesday, July 3 View Page Last night I gave the plants a large dose of fish agra. The patch smells like the beach at low tide I hope this stuff is good for them I have never used it in the past. The last 4 nights have been very cold for this time of year and the plants are a bit sluggish so I cant tell if my 2 pollinations took yet. Tomorrow I will attempt another on the 1081 and in 2 days it looks like I will get another shot at one on the 998. Thursday, July 5 View Page Plants got much needed rain last night and it was a nice steady soaking. My slow fruit have doubled in size just from the nice rain. I will attempt a 3rd pollination tomorrow morning on the 998 Pukos and then I have to figure out what one to keep out of the 3 If tomorrow is a success. I am hoping for a nice uniform female. Here is a look at where I stand at this time much needed weeding will be on tomorrows agenda as well. Thursday, July 5 View Page 1081 fruit at tennis ball size. Thursday, July 5 View Page 998 fruit at 7 feet out grapefruit size I like the shape but dont think it will be a keeper Thursday, July 5 View Page 2nd fruit on the 998 10 feet out had a twisted lobe but no seeds in blossem I may keep this if tomorrow has issues Thursday, July 5 View Page Tomorrows female on 998 Pukos Thursday, July 5 View Page Whole patch after a nice rain 1081 is in front of picture Friday, July 6 View Page Today I worked about 3 hours in the patch weeding and prunning the 1081 plant it is weed free and the first pollinated fruit is now baseball size and appears to be picking up growth. I also pollinated a nice female on the 998 about 15 feet out. Tomorrow morning I will weed and prune the 998. I plan to spray tomorrow evening and like to stay out of the patch as much as I can after a spray application. Saturday, July 7 View Page Today was an interesting day as I arrived at the patch at 7.30 am to weed and prune the 998 plant I saw a large wood chuck feeding in the clover next to my patch. I have been trying to shoot him for 2 weeks now. Yesterday I dialed in the scope on my dads 22. And this is the chance I have been waiting for the woodchuck was about 120 yards away but my test shots at that distance were very good 2 days ago. I got the gun and hid in the greenhouse using a bag of composted manure to rest the gun on I took aim and blasted him a perfect shot. So I left him in the middle of the garden and spent the next 3 hours weeding and prunning the 998. After I was done we went to a cookout at my friends house on Milton 3 ponds. We came home at 7pm and I stopped by the patch to spray and I saw 10 turkey vultures surrounding the dead vermin or should I say what was left of it. I ran home to get my camera by the time I got back there was only 2 left but I took some cool photos of them. Here is a look Saturday, July 7 View Page Turkey vultures from 2 hundred yard away man those are big birds Saturday, July 7 View Page I did get closer to them Saturday, July 7 View Page I then got real close and they did not care Saturday, July 7 View Page While these two ate 2 others watched from a tree Saturday, July 7 View Page This one circled overhead as well Saturday, July 7 View Page One more in the tree watching Saturday, July 7 View Page This last photo is a bit graphic but it is all that they left behind Sunday, July 8 View Page I thought today was a day off from the patch but I spent about 2 more hours out there today. The vines grew about 15 plus inches in just 15 hours so I had to move my wind fence out again and worked the soil out 3 more feet around both plants. My vulture friends were at the patch this morning sitting on my hoophouse main spar and crapping on my plants this did not make me very happy but the are gone now. I wish my pumpkins would grow a little more but it is still early. I am culling the close fruit on the 998 in favor of the 3rd one down I hope it is a good choice. Monday, July 9 View Page What happend to the 85 to 90 temps and sunshine for today. It has been cold in the mid 60s and rain thunder and lightning all day. What was a very dusty dry patch 3 days ago is now really wet. And the pumpkins are not growing a whole lot . Tuesday, July 10 View Page A cool wet patch means slow growth. My Larue fruit is only at 18 inchs circ at 11 days this stinks I have removed one fruit on the 998 that was to close and am removing the number 2 fruit on that plant as well with a bad blossom end the 3rd one is the keeper I hope it continues to grow. We need some warm days here soon. Saturday, July 14 View Page Finally my fruit are showing some signs of growth I did manage to get almost 5 inches out of them last night. And that is much better than the 2 inches I had been getting for most of the week. The Larue is at 31 circ and the Pukos is at 20 circ. I like them to be at 34 to 38 circ at the 14 day mark but with all the record cool temps we have had here on the seacoast I guess I cant expect to much. The Larue is 15 days old and the Pukos is 8 days old.The temps inland last week were in the mid 80s and just 60 miles east we went 4 days in a row in the low to mid 60s. Here is a look at my pumpkins today. Saturday, July 14 View Page 1081 Larue fruit at 15 days old has a 31 inch circ. Saturday, July 14 View Page 998 Pukos fruit 20 inch circ 8 days old Saturday, July 14 View Page Oops forgot photo Tuesday, July 17 View Page Pumpkins are doing ok the 1081 is at 44.5 circ and the 998 is at 28 circ after 11 days. Tuesday, July 17 View Page 1081 Larue at 44.5 circ Tuesday, July 17 View Page 998 Pukos at 28 inch circ Friday, July 20 View Page Pumpkins are growing good. Yesterday it was cool and it poured out so I did not get much growth last night but I was getting close to 5 inches a day circ. My 998 has a 40 inch circ at 14 days I dont ever remember having one at 40 or more in 14 days. The 1081 is a little slower but it has a 57 inch circ at 21 days. Here is a look at them Friday, July 20 View Page 1081 at 57 inch circ Friday, July 20 View Page 998 at 40 inch circ Saturday, July 21 View Page Things are strange in the patch the slower growing Larue pumpkin is taking off as it put on 5.5 inches last night. The 998 Pukos fruit put on 4 inches as well and it was cool last night as well. Tuesday, July 24 View Page Pumpkins are really growing good the Larue is at 75 circ and the Pukos is at 57 circ. I am afraid the Larue is going to split on me it has a couple spots that are oozing sap in the seams of the fruit and this has not been a good thing for me in the past. I guess time will tell. I just have to cross my fingers. Saturday, July 28 View Page Lost the 1081 pumpkin kast night it split on a rib near the stem. It was at 102 inches in circ. Sunday, July 29 View Page My 1081 Larue may not be dead yet. The split is 5 inches deep but after closer inspection the crack appears to be down into the stem and not through to the cavity yet. I still feel that this bad of a crack is only going to get worse but we will wait and see. The 998 fruit is at 86 inches circ this morning. Monday, July 30 View Page The 1081 still has hope the split got bigger today and appears to be traveling down the stem and not into the pumpkin anymore at this time. I will post some photos later. It is at 107 circ and the 998 is at 90 circ. Monday, July 30 View Page 1081 lower stem and fruit split Monday, July 30 View Page 1081 top split Monday, July 30 View Page front veiw of 1081 Monday, July 30 View Page Rear veiw of 1081 and yes I do need to weed ! Monday, July 30 View Page 998 Pukos fruit Tuesday, August 14 View Page It has been a while since my last entry. I was on vacation with my family at Cedar Point Amusement park and resort in Ohio for 4 days and we had a lot of fun. The roller coasters were unbelieveable. Here is a look at the beach on Lake Erie from our window. Tuesday, August 14 View Page As for pumpkins I still have 2 going but they both now have stem splits in them and I am doing my best to keep them going. Here is a look at them. Tuesday, August 14 View Page 998 Pukos at 623 lbs Tuesday, August 14 View Page 998 rear view Tuesday, August 14 View Page 998 stem split Tuesday, August 14 View Page 1081 fruit at 659 lbs Tuesday, August 14 View Page 1081 front view Tuesday, August 14 View Page 1081 stem split Saturday, August 18 View Page Pumpkins are still growing the 998 fruit has passed the 1081 in size both tape out at around 675 to 685 lbs. Tuesday, August 21 View Page The 998 is taping out at 743 lbs and the 1081 is at 697 lbs. Slow growth due to the nights in the 40s. Sunday, August 26 View Page I put up a shade structure today over my 998 pumpkin mostly for keeping the stem dry as it has 3 good size splits in it. The 1081 is taping out at 745 and slowing down. The 998 is still going pretty good at 812 this morning here is a look at them both. Sunday, August 26 View Page 1081 pumpkin at 745 by the tape. Sunday, August 26 View Page 1081 front veiw Sunday, August 26 View Page 998 pukos at 812 by the tape Sunday, August 26 View Page 998 front veiw Tuesday, September 4 View Page Fruit have really slowed up the 998 tapes 833 and the 1081 tapes 777. Friday, September 7 View Page Pumpkins are still inching along. By the 2005 charts the 998 Pukos is taping 877 and the 1081 Larue is at 811 I think the 2005 chart is a bit generous. My Guess is that they are more like 840 and 790 but we will wait and see. It hasnt rained here in over 3 weeks and my plants are really feeling it many dead leaves and parched dry soil. I have been watering every 2 days and it still dont work like a good soaking rain. Here is a look at the pumpkins. Friday, September 7 View Page 1081 side veiw Friday, September 7 View Page 1081 stem end Friday, September 7 View Page 1081 front veiw Friday, September 7 View Page 998 Pukos front veiw Friday, September 7 View Page 998 Pukos side veiw Monday, September 10 View Page The 1081 Larue is real slow taping out at 815 aqnd the 998 Pukos is still inching along now taping out at 888 I may be able to get 900 out of it but it will be close. Sunday, September 16 View Page Much to my surprise my 2 pumpkins are growing again after a week of doing little to nothing this rain and warm up we have going on has pushed them a little more. My 1081 is now at 833 by the tape and my 988 is at 915 by the tape. This is of course with the 2005 charts and I find them to be a bit on the generous side I think they are more like 800 and 850 so we will wait a few more weeks and find out. I will post a few photos later on Thursday, September 20 View Page Pumpkins are still growing though very slow but still growing. The 998 is taping out at 930 lbs according to the 2005 chart the 1081 is slowed to a halt taping out at approx 833lbs give or take. Saturday, September 22 View Page This warm weather is helping my pumpkins grow a little more each day I am concerned about a small surface crack on my 998 but it looks only superficial. I mean I would be dissapointed if I had nothing to worry about as the last week approaches LOL. Anyway my 998 is now taping 946 and the 1081 is at 862. Here is a look at them. Saturday, September 22 View Page 998 Pukos at 946 lbs by the 2005 charts Saturday, September 22 View Page 1081 Larue taping at 862lbs by the 2005 charts. Sunday, September 23 View Page I was trying to find a way to measure small late season growth. I rigged up an old dial indicator that I dont use anymore from my machinists tool box. And it works great. I can tell that my fruit is still expanding even in super tiny increments as it did grow last night. I am glad to see it still doing something only a week away from Topsfield and with my leaves in very tough shape at this time due to 2 nights of frost. Here is a look at this simple primative but effective device. Monday, September 24 View Page Pumpkin still gaining at 952 by the charts this evening. Thursday, September 27 View Page Today we loaded my biggest fruit for Topsfield. I will not get a personal best or my first 1000 pounder but I still have a pretty nice pumpkin considering that I did not put in half the effort I usually do. I really enjoyed this growing season it was much less stressfull than years past. I will put in the photos of the lifting tomorrow I am beat. Thursday, September 27 View Page After a nice cool shower I feel better so I will put in the new photos now. It is still in the mid 80s out here. Thursday, September 27 View Page We are preparing for the lift of the Pukos pumpkin. Kuhn thinks my belly is as big as my pumpkin. I think I need to go on a winter diet. Thursday, September 27 View Page Kunh is taking charge I dont know if this is a good thing LOL Thursday, September 27 View Page I am checking the bottom for mouse holes or splits or any other under fruit disaster. All is OK Thursday, September 27 View Page Kuhn is operating the scale in the last photo do I trust him LOL Thursday, September 27 View Page My cousin Bill Ernest is operating the back hoe and he did an outstanding job. Here is the pumpkin being lowered into the truck Thursday, September 27 View Page Pumpkin is finally secure in truck waiting for Sat Friday, September 28 View Page After reading my growers diary entrys from last night I forgot to mention Robert Demers who also was a huge help with his lifting ring and club scales we were able to move my pumpkin with little problem. Thanks Robert for the help. Saturday, September 29 View Page Today was a long but fun day at Topsfield. My official weight was 917 pounds. I saw a New World record set and it was really something special. I am going to sleep I am so beat only 4 hours of sleep last night. I cant believe this but my photo of my pumpkin at Topsfield did not come out. That is ok though compared to the big ones my pumpkin looked small LOL. Tuesday, October 2 View Page Only 10 days left before we move the Larue pumpkin for the NHGPGA weighoff in Goffstown I hope she stays together for me. Here is a look at it in a much cleaner weed free patch. Wednesday, October 3 View Page Time flys here is Kendra with her pumpkin back in 98 Wednesday, October 3 View Page Here is Kendra now with her little cousin with the 917 Friday, October 5 View Page The pumpkin on the 1081 Larue is still growing all that is left is the stump and 28 feet of main vine with the pumpkin attached to it no leaves left the entire patch is cleaned out. Today it tapes out at 892 pounds. We weighed it the other night when we picked the Pukos pumpkin and it weighed 845 I want to see how much it really gained. Saturday, October 6 View Page Here is a look at my 1081 Larue pumpkin still gaining with only a main and no sides or leaves. I cant believe this. Thursday, October 11 View Page It has been very wet and rainy here for the last few days. My patch is 100 percent cleaned out and I had 10 yards of aged cow manure brought in on Mon. I also am working on getting as many of the local maple leaves as I can. I figure about 2 weeks before they really start to fall. Saturday is the New Hampshire weighoff and I will bring my 1081 fruit to get a weight on it. I will have photos this weekend. Friday, October 12 View Page Tonight my cousin Bill Ernest my brother Mark and my Dad helped me lift the 1081 pumpkin from the patch with Bills backhoe and closed out a very good season for me 2 plants and 2 pumpkins I am pleased but hope for a 1000 or better next year. Here are a few photos I took of the last move from the patch for this year. Friday, October 12 View Page The pumpkin ready with the lifting ring in place Friday, October 12 View Page My brother with the 1081 Larue pumpkin in the driveway at my parents house after the lift. Friday, October 12 View Page I like this shot I took from the patch as the sky cleared just before the lift after 2 days of rain. Saturday, October 13 View Page Today my 1081 Larue pumpkin weighed in at 854 lbs so it did gain 9 lbs in 2 weeks with just the main vine attached to it. I am pleased with both fruit this year Saturday, October 13 View Page Here is a look at me and the 854 Mongeon at the Goffstown weighoff. Sunday, October 14 View Page Today is going to be a busy day I need to spread this 10 yards of this 1 to 2 year old cow manure and I am going to do it by hand with a shovel this should be fun. Sunday, October 14 View Page After 6.5 hours of spreading this very heavy and wet manure I deep tilled it in and am ready for the 6 yards of washed sand I am having deliverd on Friday the 19th Saturday, October 20 View Page Last night I spread and tilled in 6 yards of washed sand the soil looks real nice now. Today I will be putting in as many maple leaves as I can get. Friday, October 26 View Page Tonight my 854 will be on display at the Coppal House Farm Haunted Overload. I will have photos later it should be cool.It also looks like I got a fair amount of seeds from the 854 as well. I have them drying out now. Tuesday, October 30 View Page Today was the carving day for my 917. I am happy to say I got a ton of seeds out of this one. I am not sure how many but it is the most I have ever got out of one of my pumpkins. Here is a look at all the seeds Tuesday, October 30 View Page seeds from the 917 Tuesday, October 30 View Page Not as many seeds from the 854 and white ones Tuesday, October 30 View Page Here are some halloween photos I will share with everyone Tuesday, October 30 View Page Kendra working on a few smaller carvings. Tuesday, October 30 View Page 917 all carved and ready for the kids. Tuesday, October 30 View Page Kendra getting ready to pass out candy Tuesday, October 30 View Page This is what makes growing giant pumpkins really fun. Sunday, November 4 View Page Today I chopped up the 917 and am composting it right back into the pumpkin patch. I noticed in years past areas that small pumpkins went down and stayed in the patch the winter rye grew 2 times the size as else where so why not use the pumpkins as compost they were both healthy and diesese free fruit. After all what do ya have to lose LOL. Sunday, November 11 View Page I wanted to chop and till one more big pile of maple leaves into my patch but it is way to cold as of this morning low 20s I think winter is finnally here. My off season research tells me that the 1334 Daletas is a real good choice for 2008 I have found 6 pumpkins out of that seed and all were 17 percent or higher on the heavy side. Friday, November 23 View Page Thanksgiving has come and gone and I ate to much food again. My diet really took a hit this week. I did do a lot of pumpkin research. I cant get over the amount of super unproven seeds just out there for the chance to see dirt. I think I will go with 2 proven and 2 unproven and the choice has never been tougher. I have changed my mind about 20 times and will probably change it 100 more times before late April. I like the Kurkowski seeds from 07 as well as the Marsh seeds from 07. The 1017 and 1112 Larue look real solid as well. Well I guess I have a little time to decide.