Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 229 Entries. Tuesday, January 1 View Page Jan 1st my patch is asleep and with record snow for the month of Dec I dont think I will be tilling any time soon. Friday, February 29 View Page Here is a drawing my daughter Kendra did at Topsfield Fair this year for her art class.She wants to go to art school this pumpkin is Robert Demers 1081 out of the 810 Kuhn. Tuesday, March 11 View Page Back from Niagara I had so much fun I never took my camera out of the room I was so busy. The best part of the whole trip for me was meeting face to face the new growers that I talk to all the time in the chat rooms. Also seeing others that I have not seen in a few years. We had a 9 hour drive home but it was worth the trip. I still have over 15 inches of snow but keeping my fingers crossed that I will put those lucky 4 seedlings into the patch by early May. See ya in a few weeks it is time to start many of the little tasks leading up to transplant day. Thursday, March 20 View Page Here is a look at my 2007-08 Junior Varsity Basketball team. We went 12-8 this year. Thursday, March 20 View Page My daughter Kendra # 14 played for the Varsity team. They made the playoffs with a 7-11 record and lost to Conant by 11 points. Conant went on to win the State Championship for our class size. Saturday, March 22 View Page Today I finally went out to my patch to take a look at things. I still have about 8 to 10 inches of snow on it. It is real hard icy stuff that I think will take a while to melt. I think an early May transplant date is going to be real tough unless it warms up fast. I must decide as well when to start my seedlings based on the patch conditions. Here are some photos I took this morning Saturday, March 22 View Page Our big 18 pound cat Emeral is bored with this weather as weel. Being an idoor cat this time of year offers less wildlife to watch outside than usual. Saturday, March 22 View Page The snow in the patch is still around 10 inches deep next to my hoophouse frame Saturday, March 22 View Page Full patch veiw from back of patch Saturday, March 22 View Page Snow line starting to melt each day. But still not fast enough for me Saturday, March 22 View Page Greenhouse temp was 68. I could be working in here now if I wanted. Saturday, March 22 View Page Some cleaning is in order for sure. Not today though I am just getting over a case of Pnumonia. Probably spelled it wrong but oh well. Monday, March 31 View Page I sent out my soil test on Friday and am waiting for the results. I also got some nice looking seeds from Brett Hester and now my tough seed selection process became much more difficult. Man his 1100 looks so good. Tuesday, April 1 View Page I can see dirt in my patch the snow is finally melting today we hit 58 at my house and melted at least 6 more inches. My patch should be clear by next week. I am sure it will be very wet but that is progress in the right direction. Thursday, April 3 View Page My patch is almost snow free but we could get some snow tonight if the temp is low enough. My patch is actually quite dry all things considered. Here are a few pictures I took today. Thursday, April 3 View Page last of the snow I hope Thursday, April 3 View Page Only a little snow left in the patch Thursday, April 3 View Page Soil texture looks nice all my fall work I hope pays off as lots of organic matter was added last fall. Thursday, April 3 View Page As you can see my patch is dry enough for me to stand in it today. Years ago befor my drainage system I would have sank up to my ankles in muck. I plan to put 2 more drain pipes in this year as well. Saturday, April 5 View Page Today was the first real big work day as I cleaned the greenhouse. Fixed my pump and got my sprayers all ready cleaned up my pots for transplants. And just a lot of cleaning and prep work. Tomorrow I plan on finishing the greenhouse and taping and cutting my breakaway pots. Sunday, April 6 View Page Today I finished cleaning the green house and hooked up my pump. The patch is still a bit to wet to work in but it is better than last week. Here is a look at the nice clean greenhouse. Monday, April 7 View Page Today I selected 20 seeds and will need to choose 4 of them for the patch. I dont want to start all 20 because if I dont use some I will have wasted a potentially good seed and most of the seeds I have picked I only have 1 of. I do know that the 1502 Wallace and 1343.2 Krug are the only 2 that I am 100% sure of being planted if they germinate. That leaves 18 seeds to pick 2 out of. That should be easy LOL. Here is a look at my 20 choices Tuesday, April 8 View Page After 48 hours of test germination on some older seeds of my own under very poor conditions I only got 7 out of 20 to pop I did 4 seeds each of my 468 from 2001 and 455 1999 574 from 2000 and 539 from 1999 and 604 Houghton from 1996 and all I got was all 4 468s 2 574s and 1 539. I am dissapointed that I got no 455s I really want to grow one in the genetics patch but will have to do better in a few weeks. Thursday, April 10 View Page I was going to try to set up 2 hoophouses for 4 plants instead of one.But my patch is just not big enough to do that and end up with all 4 plants getting the best growing space. So I will do all 4 out of one central hoophouse. I will spread them apart a little more to give the roots more room to themselves. I have no other real good options at this time. I am working on making my patch a little bigger for next year. Sunday, April 13 View Page This weekend was a busy one Sat was a bad day all around our big cat shown earlier in my diary had to be put down due to a blood clot and heart problems very bad day no patch work was done this day. Sunday was a bit better I got most of my soil amendments in and tilled under. My soil test came back and it is much better than I expected I also started about 20 genetics patch seeds on the grow mat and hope to get a few of them to sprout in a few days. Here is a look at my soil test for those who are interested Tuesday, April 15 View Page Today I put up my hoophouse frame. And tomorrow I will finish off the hoops to support the poly. I plan on covering it on Thursday and if all goes well my warming chamber will be in by Sat and I can start to warm my soil. I have checked my first batch of seeds on the grow mat I must say I am not having any luck with my older seeds but it still has only been 48 hours. I do have a couple of Eddy,s seeds that have popped as well as 2 877.5 Werners and an 822 Hester that I picked up from a friend is starting to root all the others still are not showing any signs of life I plan on a new batch of seeds come this weekend. And my real good seeds look like they will go on the mat between April 23rd and May 1st depending on the weather outlook. Wednesday, April 16 View Page Tonight I finished my hoophouse frame and hope to cover it tomorrow. I now have the following plants in the greenhouse waiting for a home. 1 511 Zaychowsky 2 522 Zaychowsky,s 2 877.5 Werner 2 468 Mongeon 1 822 Hester a 539 Mongeon and a 574 Mongeon. I see most of them going into my genetics patch I will have a new batch to start this week including a couple 469 Hesters and 508 Neuville,s Thursday, April 17 View Page Tonight I put together my warming chamber and took a few photos of where things are at this time here is a look at my frames before covering Thursday, April 17 View Page Here is a look at my oldest plants they are about 2 weeks old here is a look at them. They are just test plants that will end up in my genetics patch. Thursday, April 17 View Page Here are my younger plants approx 5 days old and will find a spot in my genetics patch or as a backup for my main patch or for another grower in need. I like the looks of the 877.5 Werner I think it could be a real sleeper 898 Knauss X 953 Werner. Saturday, April 19 View Page I am going to go for it. Tonight I will start a batch of seeds that will contain some of my best choices for 2008. Here are the 4 seeds I think I will go with. Of course last minute changes do occure quite often but I feel good about these 4 at the time Sunday, April 20 View Page Today I put my greenhouse warming box together. With the price of heating oil I cant afford to run the furnace for only pumpkin plants so this setup should do the job very nicely My top seeds have been on the grow mat for about 10 hours now I will take a look at them tomorrow night. I must prepare more pots for them today. I also mixed up a batch of potting mix for the plants that hopefully will be sprouting in the next couple days. I am waiting for some GA3 I purchased a few days ago and will use it to try and sprout some of the old seeds I aquired for my genetics patch. Here is a look at my warming box Sunday, April 20 View Page Inside warming box I will test it tonight Thursday, April 24 View Page I am kicking myself in the butt I germinated around 15 seeds about 4 days ago using the paper plate paper towel method. I had everything set right and still had crappy results and a bunch of poor looking seedlings including my 1502 Wallace and 1343 Krug. I started another batch using my regular 4 inch pot method and I have 6 nice looking seedlings with a nice root showing. If the crappy ones recover I will have possibly wasted a good seed but I still want to have a nice 1502 and 1343 in my patch for 2008. If I end up with 2 of each I think I can find a good home for seedlings that good. I give the crappy looking ones about a 50/50 chance. My best one and first out of the pot with the biggest first root I have ever saw is the 1003 Marsh this has really got my attention quick. I also have a very aggressive 1100 Hester and the best looking one out of the crappy batch is the 1012 Hester and it looks real good even with all the problems that batch had. My 1101 Carter and 1334 Daletas look the worst they seem to have a bad spot on the cots that looks like rot. I did treat all of them with captan before they went in the towel for germination. I also have a very nice looking 1248 Ford and 1194 Christen that came up in the new batch. I lost both of those in the first batch. I am going to have some tough choices I wish the 1334 and 1343 looked better but time will tell. Sunday, April 27 View Page I have had a busy weekend lots of transplanting seedlings into bigger pots preparing more potting mix washing more pots and containers. I also prepared my GA3 and treated well over 40 seeds hopefully I can get a few to pop I am so happy to be getting rain tomorrow. I know this sounds crazy after my flood problems the last 2 years but I need to get my soil amendments to start to work. I have not covered my cold frame yet but will by weeks end and get those ground heat cables going to warm my soil. I hope to be in the ground between May 5th and 10th. Earlier would have been nice but the soil just was not as ready as I would have liked so waiting was the better choice. Here are a few photos of my efforts and our new cats we adopted. Sunday, April 27 View Page Our 2 new cats we adopted after our other cat passed away a few weeks ago. We had to adopt both of them as they were always together in ther other home you cant tell LOL. They are both 6 years old Sunday, April 27 View Page Now for pumpkin stuff My 1334 Daletas backup seed finally popped and looks good so far. It has none of the rot spots that were on the first one. This seedling has a real good chance of making it into my patch if it continues to grow good. Sunday, April 27 View Page My 1100 Hester seedling starting to look good as well. This was a very aggressive seed and came up in just 2 days. I really like this one as well and am leaning towards this one to make it in as well over the 1012 Hester that is also starting to look ok from that first batch of bad starts from the paper plate group. Sunday, April 27 View Page I have had real bad luck with my 1343 Krug seeds both were started and I just cant get them to grow. I dont know why they have the same soil and same conditions as all the other ones that are doing well at this time. I still have not given up on them but time will tell. Here is a look at what I have at this time Sunday, April 27 View Page I have 2 1502 Wallace seedlings going my first one was out of the paper plate group and is looking better. The new one was done in a regular pot and looks real good. What do I do with 2 ? I may plant them both and sib them or I may give one to Robert Demers and let him put a whooping on me like he usually does. I will make sure it sees good soil in a proven patch with a proven grower. Here is a look at my new seedling just starting to open on the grow mat. Sunday, April 27 View Page Here are some much older seedlings I started for early plants in my genetics patch. They look real tempting but will not go into my main patch unless disaster strikes and I lose all my other plants. Here is a look at the 468 Mongeon and the 877.5 Werner and the 469 Hester. Sunday, April 27 View Page 468 Mongeon 705 Stelts X 574 Mongeon Sunday, April 27 View Page 877.5 Werner 898 Knauss X 953 Werner should go way over the charts I cant wait to see what this seed produces. I have a couple more and would not be surprised if it does well for me this year in my genetics patch to see it in my main patch in the future. Sunday, April 27 View Page 469 Hester 697 Ciliberto X 845 Bobier I picked this one for my genetics patch because I dont think this cross has ever been made except in this seed and it has 2 of the most famous seeds of all time as parents I want to cross this one with the 877.5 Werner. That should be a real neat cross. Sunday, April 27 View Page Various plants for my genetics patch. I started a couple weeks ago include my 300 and 574 also a spare 468. Eddy Zs 511 and 522 as well as my 917 and 854 Sunday, April 27 View Page A look at my old seeds with the GA3 treatment on the grow mat hoping to sprout a few. Monday, April 28 View Page I checked my old seed experiment out today and must say am very dissapointed very few have germinated and I am sure they will not at this point. The insides of most of them appear to have dried up so bad that there is no solid meat left inside. I have got a few of my older ones to sprout like I got 1 300 and 3 442s to sprout I also got a 2nd 469 Hester to go. I still have about a dozen left that have an outside chance. All the 508 Neuvilles are not going to go or any of my 455s and I tried 15 of them. Oh well I will keep you posted. Thursday, May 1 View Page Today I finally got the last of my soil amendments in 4 more pounds of dried blood and 15 pounds of humic acid then tilled them in. I will attempt to cover the frames tomorrow and install heat cables and heat lamps to start the soil warming process. I am later than I wanted at this time as far as my frames go but I felt that the soil had to be right before I covered it. My many plants are coming along nice now even the crappy paper plate group looks much better the tough choice day will be here soon and this is the hardest year I have ever had as far as choosing which 4 to plant I have at least 15 that I really like. It looks like the 1502 Wallace 1100 Hester and 1334 Daletas are the front runners I may just have my daughter pick the 4th one for me that makes it easy. I will have pictures soon. Friday, May 2 View Page Here are a look at some of my best looking plants in the greenhouse. Friday, May 2 View Page 1100 Hester Friday, May 2 View Page 1502 Wallace #1 best looking one by far Friday, May 2 View Page 1334 Daletas nice looking seedling slow to start but looks real good now Friday, May 2 View Page 1194 Christen also nice looking Friday, May 2 View Page 1003 Marsh Friday, May 2 View Page This nice looking seedling is a leftover from Jim Kuhns seedlings and it sure is nice looking I wonder what it is I may have to give it a shot. Just think how much entertainment I could get if I beat him with one of his leftover plants LOL Friday, May 2 View Page This 469 Hester was a slow starter but it looks so good now. If I had room for more than 4 plants it would get a shot in my main patch. I just have had a feeling about this seed for a long time and am kicking myself for not trying it in 2005. It still has a real outside chance to get in. You never know but most likely will make it into the best spot in my genetics patch. Friday, May 2 View Page I spotted a large wood chuck near my patch this morning and he came back this evening. This proved to be a fatal mistake as he will not be around anymore now LOL. Saturday, May 3 View Page Busy day today I had to work in wet crappy conditions but did cover my hoop house with my daughters help I still have to wait until better weather on Monday to install my ground heat and cover my warming chamber. It was just to wet today. I must say my soil looks better than it ever has.I hope my fall efforts will pay off time will tell. Sunday, May 4 View Page It is pouring out and I cant do a whole lot of the things I need to do. The plants are a little bit taller than I like but not really that bad. If all goes well I will be planted by weeks end tomorrow thru wed are going to be nice and after one day of drying out I can get my heat cables in and plants going. Looking back at my other years I am still ahead of schedule. Here is a look at my plants in the greenhouse. Monday, May 5 View Page Tonight I spent about 4 hours in the patch I got my frame all finished and my ground heat cable installed and planting spot is now ready for plants. If all goes well by end of the week I will have 4 plants in. I think it looks like this 1502 Wallace 1100 Hester 1334 Daletas and Kuhns leftover K-11. Photos to come later in the week. Tuesday, May 6 View Page Busy day today I am ready to go and tomorrow may be planting day. I am not 100 percent sure on all 4 but 3 I am sure of. That 4th plant is always a tough call. Here is a look at my planting holes and my covered frame with warming frame inside. Tuesday, May 6 View Page Plants are coming along good this is my 1100 Hester. Going in for sure. Tuesday, May 6 View Page 1334 Daletas looking good and most likely going in as well Tuesday, May 6 View Page 1502 Wallace also going in for sure Tuesday, May 6 View Page The secret plant known as Kuhns K-11 I may give it a shot. Just the fun of planting one of Kuhns leftovers is worth the entertainment if I can beat him with it. Wednesday, May 7 View Page Today I put my 4 plants in 1502 Wallace got the best spot and then the 1100 Hester and the 1334 Daletas and the K-11. Here is a look at them Wednesday, May 7 View Page 1502 Wallace in front and 1100 Hester in rear. Wednesday, May 7 View Page K-11 in front and 1334 in rear Wednesday, May 7 View Page This has been hanging around my patch over the last couple weeks. I wonder if they are good eating? Thursday, May 8 View Page I already have seen big growth in just 24 hours in the patch my ground heat is around 65 to 70 and I have never seen such a jump in just one day. Now we have crappy weather coming in for about 5 days and they will sit there and I will be complaning about slow growth lol. Sunday, May 11 View Page Plants seem to be coming along ok at this time I am a bit concerned about a few miss shaped leaves the 1502 Wallace is the worst with this but I have seen this in the past and it always was ok. Here is a look at what I have so far. Sunday, May 11 View Page 1502 Wallace Sunday, May 11 View Page 1334 Daletas Sunday, May 11 View Page 1100 Hester Sunday, May 11 View Page K-11 Tuesday, May 13 View Page Plants look better today than yesterday. I have some strange shapes to some of my first and 2nd leaves. They seem to have some wrinkle to them on the outside edge. I have had this sort of thing in the past and it was never a problem this year is a little worse. The 3rd leaf is now showing and it looks ok at this time. Tuesday, May 13 View Page Here are the plants as of today. This is the 1100 Hester Tuesday, May 13 View Page 1502 Wallace funny leaves look a little better today Tuesday, May 13 View Page 1334 Daletas Tuesday, May 13 View Page And the K-11 plant I have never had cots as big as these before they are baseball size. Tuesday, May 13 View Page A look at the rest of my backup plants and genetics patch plants. Saturday, May 17 View Page Plants are better looking each day the wrinkle leaf problem is going away on the 3rd and 4th leaves so I am pleased by that. The 1334 Daletas is the only one without this on its first 2 leaves. Here is a look at the 4 plants as of this afternoon. Saturday, May 17 View Page 1334 Daletas ground veiw Saturday, May 17 View Page 1334 Daletas top veiw Saturday, May 17 View Page 1100 Hester ground veiw Saturday, May 17 View Page 1100 Hester top veiw Saturday, May 17 View Page 1502 Wallace ground veiw Saturday, May 17 View Page 1502 Wallace top veiw Saturday, May 17 View Page K-11 ground shot this is my biggest plant with a 3 inch runner just starting Saturday, May 17 View Page K-11 top veiw Friday, May 23 View Page Plants are coming along nice I have a 1 foot vine now on K-11 and the others are coming along good as well. I plan on putting in my genetics plants over in Lee on Sun or Mon. I will have photos later Saturday, May 24 View Page My plants are starting to get into growth mode. I have a runner on K-11 now close to 1 foot and the leaves are 12 to 14 inches across now. Here is a look. Saturday, May 24 View Page Here is K-11 Saturday, May 24 View Page Here is the 1502 Wallace Saturday, May 24 View Page The 1334 Daletas Saturday, May 24 View Page The 1100 Hester this is my biggest plant now with leaves around 14 inches across Saturday, May 24 View Page Here is a look at my parents flocks in the field above the patch this is the same photo shown earlier with the snow line in April Sunday, May 25 View Page Plants look great this morning I see a huge difference in every 24 hour period. I have never seen this much in my plants before over 24 hours. Sunday, May 25 View Page The 1100 Hester has grown so much in just 24 Hours the big leaf is now 18" across and the runner put on at least 5" or more. My genetics patch plants will go in tomorrow. Here is alook at both the 1100 and my genetics plants. Sunday, May 25 View Page 1100 Hester Sunday, May 25 View Page Genetics plants are getting way to huge for the pots. Tomorrow the hit the ground Sunday, May 25 View Page Took a visit to Jim Kuhns today after my daughters AAU basketball game. His 998 looks great here is a look but dont tell him LOL Monday, May 26 View Page We got some info on the early wrinkle leaf problems a local expert from our cooperative extension says it is a magnesium deficiency in our potting soil starter mix so a little adjustment next year should eliminate this minor glitch. Tuesday, May 27 View Page Plants are looking good I am almost out of room in my warming chamber tomorrow I must find a solution to this problem tomorrow. Here is a look. Tuesday, May 27 View Page 1100 Hester looks good with a real solid looking main vine so far. Here is a look Tuesday, May 27 View Page K11 has a long vine acout 3 feet now but seems to be a little smaller than I like but hopefully it will get bigger. Tuesday, May 27 View Page 1502 Wallace coming along nice. I am concerned because it is very sensitive to heat I got some leaf burn this weekend and we were in the low 80s only but time will tell. Tuesday, May 27 View Page 1334 Daletas is the smallest but looking very nice Sunday, June 1 View Page Busy morning in the patch I had to remove my warming chamber plants just to big now. I wish I could cover them at night but they are to big. I did lots of weeding and some prunning. I had to remove a huge leaf on the 1334 as it was going to be a problem in training down my main vine the way I need to but it has lots of other leaves that can pick up the slack. My leaves are not as dark green as I like but we have had a few days with lots of clouds so I will wait and see before I do anything yet. Here is a few photos I took this morning. Sunday, June 1 View Page Many of my leaves are over 2 feet now here is the one I had to remove on the 1334 Sunday, June 1 View Page 1502 Wallace plant Sunday, June 1 View Page 1100 Hester note the device I use to let the main vine down slowly so it dont snap in the wind or under its own weight. Sunday, June 1 View Page K-11 full plant. This plant has the longest main vine at approx 5 feet. The vine is a little on the small size I hope it beefs up some time will tell. Sunday, June 1 View Page 1334 Daletas main vine moving over. Tuesday, June 3 View Page I spent 3 hours tonight working in the patch I had to move out the ends of my hoop house to make room for the main vines. I am about 10 days ahead of any of my past years. I will have pictures in a few days Sunday, June 8 View Page HOT is what we have now I spent 3 hours in the patch yesterday and it was miserable. I did get the plants where they need to be and put up my wind fence. The temp now in the patch is 85 degrees and it is only 9am. We have 2 or 3 more days of this I am watering every 45 mins to keep the plants cool. Thee plants are really moving now my secondarys are almost 3 feet long at the trunk. I did lose a nice big secondary by being careless as I dropped my knife and sliced it off. I was pretty mad over that but it could have been the main vine I guess so I can live with that. The 1100 Hester hates this real hot heat now more than the 1502 Wallace now. Here is a few pictures I took Sunday, June 8 View Page All 4 plants starting to spread out Sunday, June 8 View Page K-11 with 1 less secondary vine. Sunday, June 8 View Page 1502 Wallace starting to push out now. Monday, June 9 View Page Cuke beetles have arrived today and with this heat I must be careful spraying. Saturday, June 14 View Page Plants are into full gear now my first 2 male flowers opened up this morning on the 1100 Hester I have females showing on all 4 plants. Tomorrow my electric fence goes up along with my number 2 windbreak fence. I also have alot of weeding to do. I must stay on top of this as I have made the choice to keep all side vines. I was told the more roots in front of the pumpkin the better. I also did a huge application of fish and water soluable mycorrhizae. I saw my first squash vine borer moth about a week ago so I figure I will hit the plants hard with spray about Tuesday. I want to set fruit out alot farther than in the past I am hoping for 15 feet out at least. I will have photos tomorrow. Sunday, June 15 View Page Here is a look at my 1502 Wallace. My leaves I hope will green up a bit this week after yesterdays fertilizer treatment. Sunday, June 15 View Page 1100 Hester this is my best looking plant at this time Sunday, June 15 View Page K-11 is looking ok I just dont think it will be a real aggressive plant. Sunday, June 15 View Page 1334 Daletas coming along nice now. Monday, June 16 View Page First setback today the 1100 Hester had a main vine split or blowout tomorrow I will cut ff and train a side to take over this really stinks but I have to deal with it. Sunday, June 22 View Page Busy weekend spent 10 hours in the patch weeding and prunning is done. I have only 1 female on the 1334 showing I hope it takes I will try to pollinate my 1st one tomorrow on the 1502 Wallace. I had some visitors today as I was working so I guess I had to put the electric fence up. Wednesday, June 25 View Page Busy night in the patch I spent 4 hours in it tonight. This is the first night in over a week it has not rained hard out. I got all my side vines buried and prunned off lots of teritiary vines as well. I saw two big woodchucks at the end of the field I shot at one but missed. I will set a trap very soon. Here is a look at some photos I took. Wednesday, June 25 View Page Whole patch shot. Wednesday, June 25 View Page 1505 Wallace female pollinated on Mon I think have to check my book. Wednesday, June 25 View Page 1502 Wallace Plant Wednesday, June 25 View Page 1334 Daletas female to open tomorrow I will pollinate it with the 1502 Wallace. Wednesday, June 25 View Page 1334 Daletas Plant Wednesday, June 25 View Page 1100 Hester plant with secondary taking over for the blown out main. I have not given up on this plant and will get a pumpkin on it! Wednesday, June 25 View Page Correction 1502 Wallace Friday, June 27 View Page Pollinated my 2nd female on the 1502 this morning with the 1334 Daletas a perfect looking 5 lober no defects at all. I hope to keep this one. I am leaving the patch in the hands of my parents for 2 days as my daughter is playing in her last AAU basketball tourney ever up in Burlington VT. I need them to pollinate a very important female on K-11 opening tomorrow. I also need them to keep an eye on my vine supports. Keeping my fingers crossed all goes well. I will see you Monday. Friday, July 4 View Page RAIN RAIN RAIN ! This stinks my patch has been clobbered with hot hot days that are burning the crap out of my 1100 Hester and wet wet cold nights the worst possible things you can get I have fruit set on the 1502 and the 1334 as well as the K-11 plant 3 on the 1502 and 2 each on the others. Very slow fruit and vine growth over the last few days. I am not sure of the effectiveness of my spraying program because of the downpours we have had over the last 2 weeks. I have lots of pumpkin roots showing at the ground surface because of the wet soil and weeds are staring to grow good as well. We have had heavy rain each day for 2 weeks straight. I hope things change soon or my chance at 1000 pounds will wash out with the rain. Friday, July 4 View Page Here is a look at my early sets what to keep now is the question. Friday, July 4 View Page 1502 Wallace first set on 6-23-08 at 27.5 inches circ. Friday, July 4 View Page 1502 Wallace 2nd set on 6-27-08 18 inch circ Friday, July 4 View Page K-11 first set on 6-24-08 24 inch circ. I am concerned about this blossem end as it has some discoloration on it after the fruit with all the wet weather we are having this may be a cause for me to choose the number 2 fruit. Friday, July 4 View Page K-11 2nd set 6-28-08 17 inch circ. This one or the one with the discoloration will be the one as 2 others on the main after them had complete seed blowouts on the blossom ends. Friday, July 4 View Page 1334 Daletas first set 6-26-08 22 inch circ. Sunday, July 6 View Page Yesterday was a busy day 5 hours of work prunning all 4 plants terminating a few sides that are real long and fixing my wind fence and keeping the grass down near my electric fence. The pumpkins are srill only gaining 3 inches a night I am not real happy with this but the ground is still a bit cold with nights in the low 60s. My first 1502 Wallace fruit is at 33 inches at 13 days and my 1334 Daletas is at 28 inches at 10 days. The 1334 is a keeper due to the fact that I only got 3 females on the whole vine and number 3 this morning was a mess not even worth pollinating. I also pollinated the first 2 fruit on the 1100 Hester the one on the new main is a bit twisted but I may have to keep it.I also did a backup on a very long side vine just in case so I at least have a pumpkin on this huge plant. Here is a look at the 1502 and 1334 fruit. Sunday, July 6 View Page 1505 fruit well over basketball size. Sunday, July 6 View Page 1334 fruit note the sticks around it this is to keep the crows from landing near it. As when the can see it they try to peck it. Monday, July 7 View Page Pumpkins are picking up speed a little. My 1502 #1 is at 36 inches circ at 14 Days and my 1334 is at 32.5 circ at 11 days this is my fastest grower I also have a 35 circ on the K-11 plant. Today is a day off for me from the patch. I set up my woodchuck trap as I saw the big rodent out in the field again I did shoot at him but missed. I like the trap better I dont miss them then lol. It is like fish in a barrell. Monday, July 7 View Page The woodchuck that I set the trap for this morning that I missed with the gun was nice enough to come back today and give me a second chance. This time I was a much better shot as he wont be coming back any time soon LOL. Tuesday, July 8 View Page After a full morning in the patch it had a nice ending as woodchuck #2 came by for a visit. I didnt need a second chance with him. 2 vermin down in 2 days not bad. Tuesday, July 8 View Page I have decided to keep the early sets as the 1502 has a good shape. The K-11 plant is most likely going to throw a tall wheel shaped fruit but the number 2 pumpkin is slow and ugly so I have started the notching off process on it. I will have photos later in the week. Wednesday, July 9 View Page Pumpkins have kicked into gear. They have made gains of close to 6 inches each of the last 2 nights. My 1502 Wallace is at 49.5 circ at 16 days. The K-11 is at 47 circ at 15 days and the 1334 Daletas is at 43.5 circ at 13 days I have never had one this big at less than 14 days. Here is a look at them next to a 2.5 Gallon watering can for scale. Wednesday, July 9 View Page 1502 Wallace 49.5 circ 16 days old Wednesday, July 9 View Page K-11 fruit at 47 inch circ at 15 days old. This fruit is going to be tipped to grow as a bird bath shape. I can tell already the blossom is sinking in. I have a nice female on this plant going to open tomorrow I will pollinate it but it will be close to 30 feet out. Wednesday, July 9 View Page 1334 Daletas fruit at 43.5 circ 13 days old. Wednesday, July 9 View Page 1100 Hester pollination a couple days ago note the defective blossom end. I am having a tough go at it with this plant but I will keep trying. I think this blossom will spell doom for it down the road. I have one pollination on a big side vine and will try to pollinate another on the side tomorrow. Wednesday, July 9 View Page Here is a look at how I am shading my pumpkins at this time Thursday, July 10 View Page Good weater has finally arrived a cold front went through. And today will be in the low 80s. This means less stress on the plants and a lot less leaf burn. Pumpkins all put on 5.5 to 6 inches in circ last night. I also sprayed for insects last night which was way over due. I have seen more squash bugs this year than ever before. Tomorrow is sand day as I have decieded on 3 pumpkins to keep and I must get sand under them soon. Thursday, July 10 View Page Today was sand day I spent about 2 hours prunning and putting sand under my 3 pumpkins today here is a look. Thursday, July 10 View Page 1502 Wallace pumpkin at 54.5 inches circ Thursday, July 10 View Page K-11 Fruit 53 inch circ note the sand . I am tipping it to grow it as a bird bath as I can tell the blossom is going to sink in. Thursday, July 10 View Page 1334 Daletas 48.5 circ with sand as well Friday, July 11 View Page Very busy day in my patch. I put in 5 hours of work burying vines and moving my wind fence back. I also terminated 6 or 7 sides that have hit the edge of the patch. The pumpkins are still putting on just over 5 inches a night circ. As a bonus I also blasted woodchuck number 3 for the week. The K -11 Pumpkin has caught up to the 1502 Wallace as both were just under 60 inches this morning. Saturday, July 12 View Page Pumpkins are still gaining 5 inches a night circ. 1502 is at 65 K-11 is also at 65 and the 1334 is at 60 inches circ. I did about 2 hours of weeding and that is the worst job by far in the patch as far as I am concerned. Here is a look at the pumpkins at this time. Saturday, July 12 View Page 1502 Wallace this pumpkin started out as a long football shaped fruit now it is getting more wide. Saturday, July 12 View Page K-11 fruit I am not sure what to expect from this pumpkin it looks as if it is going to really be a hard pumpkin to keep in one piece all summer long. Saturday, July 12 View Page 1334 Daletas at 60 inch circ. This pumpkin is starting to rise up on the top a little bit this concerns me a little bit but it is the only one on this plant so keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best. Wednesday, July 16 View Page Pumpkins are still going good but I am concerned about a line or seam on my 1502 Wallace pumpkin. I am afraid it will split on this seam it looks like a small verticle line and it has tiny horizontal cracks running off the seam. All I can do is wait it out and see what happens. It is at 82.5 circ as of this morning. Here is a look at it. Wednesday, July 16 View Page 1502 Wallace at 82.5 circ. Wednesday, July 16 View Page K-11 at 81.5 Circ. Wednesday, July 16 View Page 1334 Daletas pumpkin at 77.5 Circ Friday, July 18 View Page I hate to say it but I am just about to throw in the towel on my 1100 Hester. I just cant get one to grow the get to about melon size and slow down to a crawl and get all wrinkled on the stem end here is a look at what is happening. I had 5 pumpkins like this. And I removed all of them tonight I will attempt one more pollination in a couple days about 30 feet out and if this is the same as the rest I am going to call it quits on this plant. Sunday, July 20 View Page Final female opened on the 1100 Hester this morning and it was a screwed up flower again this is it I am afraid to say for this plant. Pumpkins are still doing ok we have got about 3 inches of rain over the last 2 days I think I have had enough now thanks. Here is what they measure in circ 1502 = 96 inches K-11 = 95 inches and 1334 = 93 inches. Man the 1334 is going to be an ugly one. Tuesday, July 22 View Page RAIN and more RAIN we have had about 4 inches over the last 4 days and more is in the forcast for the next 2 days. I have a very wet patch with roots coming to the surface of the ground. I have pumped my drainage hole quite a few times this week. The pumpkins had a good night and grew 3.5 inches in circ all are close to or over 100 in circ. Tomorrow I will be doing my first official measurement on the 1502 Wallace as it will be 30 days old. I will have photos tonight. Tuesday, July 22 View Page 1502 Wallace 102 inches circ Tuesday, July 22 View Page K-11 101.5 circ this is my first birdbath fruit. I am not real optimistic it is going to be a super pumpkin but we still have 2 months to see. Tuesday, July 22 View Page 1334 Daletas starting to take on a peanut shape to it. 4 plants a peanut a birdbath and one normal pumpkin. Wish I had at least 2 normal shaped pumpkins to work with but that is how it goes sometimes. Wednesday, July 23 View Page Today I took 30 day measurements on the 1502 and the K-11 pumpkin. And the K-11 is at 257 total inches for an est of 357 lbs and the 1502 is at 244 total inches for an est of 304 lbs. I will wait a few days and check them again. Friday, July 25 View Page Finally a nice day patch is drying out. Rain like I have never seen before fell yesterday. I have a 5 gallon bucket in the patch and it had 11 inches of water in it. A tornado hit Barnstead and Deerfield and destroyed homes and one woman was killed only 20 miles away from me. My pumpkins are still growing 21 pounds a day even in this muddy patch. The K-11 hit the 400 pound mark today. Saturday, July 26 View Page I am crossing my fingers now with all the rain and now the warm weather the pumpkins are on an out of control growth spurt and this is when you lose them. Last night the 1502 put on 29 lbs and that is not real bad but the K-11 put on 38 pounds and the Daletas put on 55 pounds I had to measure it 3 times because I could not believe it. Hope they stay together but to many more nights like this will be the end for them. Sunday, July 27 View Page Here is a look at my 3 pumpkins. Sunday, July 27 View Page 1502 Wallace at 396 lbs Sunday, July 27 View Page OOPS wrong photo Sunday, July 27 View Page This is better Sunday, July 27 View Page K-11 at 465 Lbs Sunday, July 27 View Page 1334 Daletas at 320 lbs Monday, July 28 View Page I only checked one pumpkin today and it was the 1502 it put on 25 pounds over the last 20 hours. Tuesday, July 29 View Page Pumpkins are doing good 1502 Wallace is at 448 pounds est and the K-11 is at 507 pounds est. The 1334 has slowed down to 20 pounnds last night and is at 369 pounds est. I am very concerned about this one as the night of the big growth spurt put lots of cracks in it and they have been oozing and the pumpkin has a good size dill ring forming. Time will tell if this one is going to go anywhere. Thursday, July 31 View Page Bad Day in the patch the biggest one on K-11 split and is done. I am down to 2 pumpkins now. A very dissapointing day but that is how it goes sometimes. Saturday, August 2 View Page Here is a look at the big one that went down on Thursday it is well over 600 pounds today. What a shame I am over it now and its time to concentrate on the 2 pumpkins I have left. Saturday, August 2 View Page This pumpkin looks happy with a nice smile but I was not on Thursday afternoon. Saturday, August 2 View Page Just got back from the patch had to cut up and remove the split pumpkin on the K-11 plant. It was measuring out at 620 this morning. I can tell it was way over the charts. Take a look at these photos I took and see how thick this pumpkin really was. Saturday, August 2 View Page Pumpkin cut in half Saturday, August 2 View Page Pumpkin cut in quarters Saturday, August 2 View Page Pumpkin loaded in truck heading for the brush pile look at how thick these chunks are. Thursday, August 7 View Page RAIN and MORE RAIN. Powdery mildew is coming on and every time I spray it gets washed off. I am having stump problems on the Wallace but think it is under control. The patch is so wet I cant do a thing in it. The pumpkins I have left are still gaining good despite the poor cold wet conditions. The 1502 is at 635 pounds and the 1334 is at 482 pounds. The 1100 Hesters fruit have all aborted. I will update in a week Saturday, August 9 View Page I sprayed daconil today this is the 4th time I have sprayed in the last 2 weeks to fight the powdery mildew that is trying to take over my mudhole oh I am sorry pumpkin patch is what I meant to say LOL. It is official we now have the wettest summer I have ever had growing giant pumpkins as far as total rainfall goes and we are still in early August. The pumpkins have slowed to about 14 pounds a night on the 1502 and 11 on the 1334. I am surprised they are growing at all and downpours are in the forcsast for Tuesday. Here is a look at what I have left. Saturday, August 9 View Page 1502 Wallace at 678 pounds Saturday, August 9 View Page 1334 Daletas at 497 pounds Tuesday, August 12 View Page Todays update patch still wet it poured out all morning. 1502 Wallace at 736 pound and the 1334 Daletas is at 533 pounds Saturday, August 16 View Page Pumpkins are still growing and with the better weather I have gone from 9 lbs a day back up to 14 pounds a day I dont know how long it will last but it is a good thing. My 1502 Wallace is really turning into an ugly bugger. It has dill rings sags sunk in blossom end and a small stem split. I look at it every day wondering when it is going to let go lol. I think it could go heavy if it lasts. I remember Ron Wallace last year had one the same color and texture out of his 1502 and it went way over the charts. My pumpkin is going to need to be real thick if it is going to last for another 6 weeks. The 1334 is still growing as well just slow and steady the peanut shape has kind of gone away and it is getting longer and wider. Try not to look at the weeds they are real bad but I have not been able to get into my patch in 3 weeks due to heavy downpours and if I start pulling the large weeds I think I will do more damage to the pumpkin roots than if I just leave them alone it has been one of those years and for me to still have 2 pumpkins going I feel very lucky. Here is a look at both pumpkins. Saturday, August 16 View Page 1502 Wallace at just under 800 pounds Saturday, August 16 View Page 1502 Wallace front veiw notice the dill rings forming Saturday, August 16 View Page 1502 Wallace stem end I wish it had bigger shoulders but I am happy it is still growing and in one piece knock on wood lol. Saturday, August 16 View Page 1334 Daletas front end at approx 550 pounds Saturday, August 16 View Page 1334 Daletas Saturday, August 16 View Page 1334 side veiw Saturday, August 16 View Page The dill rings in the middle of the 1334 came on right after that big growth night it had. I wonder if that could be the underlying cause of it ? Saturday, August 23 View Page My 1502 Wallace has some vine rot I have treated it and stopped it for now. The pumpkin has slowed to less than 5 pounds a day I think this wet awful season for me is coming to a close. The 1334 is still growing but at 650 pounds it has little chance of making it to 1000. I have never been so discouraged working as hard as I have and mother nature just dosnt give you a break. I guess that is how it goes. Wait until next year I guess but I have been saying that for 10 years now LOL. 1502 is at 850 pounds and I dont think it will make 900. Monday, September 1 View Page Not much to report 1502 Wallace has stopped due to vine rot pumpkin appears to still be sound. 1334 Daletas is still doing 4 or 5 pounds a day and is around 660 pounds. I am already thinking of next year. I hate it when this time of year comes around and you know you have no chance to reach your goals. I guess that is how it goes. Monday, September 1 View Page I am now down to one pumpkin the 1502 Wallace has split on the bottom. When you get a fruit that stops growing real fast and the side to side measurement gets smaller it is time to worry I have had this a few times in the past and they are always split on the botton. I got no seeds as it was to late and they were all mush. Here is a look at the split that did her in. Monday, September 1 View Page 4 inch crack in bottom of my 1502 Wallace Monday, September 1 View Page Top view of 1502 Wallace it had nice thick walls. Monday, September 1 View Page This is all I have left in my patch the 1334 Daletas and it is still growing as of today. Saturday, September 6 View Page Today I removed the badly rotting 1502 pumpkin. Man did it smell bad. I also pulled the plant and the 1071 Houghton plant as well after the storm passes I will pull the 1100 plant and start to prepare the soil for next year. The 1334 Daletas pumpkin is all I have left and I may take it to Rochester Fair in a few weeks so I can get my patch finished up early. Saturday, September 13 View Page Pumpkin is still growing slow but anything is ok at this point. It tapes out at 690 pounds Saturday, September 13 View Page Today I went to the Rochester Fair for the First time in about 9 years. I had no pumpkin to bring but still got to see some growers I have not seen all summer. Jim Kuhn won with a 1020 off the 998 Pukos and Geoff Peirce AKA Boss Hog took 2nd with a 1003 off the 1092 Martin Bruce Hooker was 3rd with a 939 and Hiram Watson was 4th with an 879 5th went to Angela Squires with a new personal best of 739 off the 1566 Rodonis. 1st place in the Junior Div went to Ben Coffman with a 445 off the 917 Mongeon. Nice Job to all. Here is a look at the photos I took today Saturday, September 13 View Page Jim and Boss Hog winners at Rochester Fair Jim on the left Saturday, September 13 View Page Bruce Hookers pumpkin I think it was off the 1566 Rodonis as well but not sure. 939 lbs Saturday, September 13 View Page Bruce Hookers pumpkin Saturday, September 13 View Page Hiram Watson at 879 lbs Saturday, September 13 View Page Angela Squires pumpkin at 739 lbs Saturday, September 13 View Page Ben Coffmans pumpkin at 445 pounds Tuesday, September 16 View Page Seam on blossom end that I do not like. Saturday, September 20 View Page Today was another day that just proves how bad a year it has been for me. My vine is showing signs of a problem as it looks to be starting to have vine rot I must keep an eye on it and make sure it dont travel up into the pumpkin and rot the pumpkin out. I may have to harvest it early and Topsfield is still 2 weeks away. So I started to clean out the patch and uncovered a ground hornets nest and they really started to swarm me I was lucky enough not to get stung at all but just more fun to deal with as this most dissapointing season draws closer to an end. I will try to get a photo of the last pumpkin I have left taping out at 697 pounds. Sunday, September 21 View Page Here is a few picyures of the 1334 pumpkin. It is starting to really show its age real rough texture to it. I hope it goes heavy but with my luck this season it most likely wont lol. Sunday, September 21 View Page 1334 front veiw at 697 pounds by the tape Sunday, September 21 View Page OOPS that was a side veiw here is the front Monday, October 6 View Page I took my 1334 Daletas pumpkin to Topsfield on Sat and got a real nice surprise as it taped out at 690 pounds and went 20 percent over and came in at 832. Finally something good came out of a real crappy year for me. I have never had one go that heavy before. Sunday, November 9 View Page Today I started to get my seeds ready to send out. I only had one pumpkin my 832 Mongeon 08. Friut went 20 percent heavy and it was off the 1334 Daletas X 1502 Wallace I think this seed has real potential. I have 283 seeds out of it as my seed count was a bit down this year. They are a nice medium size white seed just like the 1334 Daletas seed itself. I am not going to plant it this year but maybe it will get a shot in 2010.