Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 117 Entries. Wednesday, April 28 View Page April 28th and time to get serious about my quest to finally hit the 1000 pound mark and soundly defeat Rocky, my Sayre counterpart. Has anyone seen him????? Below is the last photo I have of him while healing from his bout with the Swine Flu. I have tried contacting him but I hear nothing. I hope you are up to it Lyle. If anyone has heard from Rock please send me an email. May the challenge begin........... Thursday, April 29 View Page I am glad to see that Rocky is alive and well and fully healed from his bout with the Swine Flu. I wish you the best Rock, well at least second best! I started my seeds on the traditional April 19th. I had a better germination rate than most years but unfortunately did lose some world class seeds in particular the 1231 Pukos didn't make it, sorry Joe. A 1557 Hilstosky developed a club root and also wont make the big dance. Rock's crying must have been too much for Matt Teeter to take and he did tell him that I have a nice 1302 Teeter showing early promise. Wouldn't that be something if my first 1000 pound pumpkin came from the Sayre area !!! I have started lots of seeds with still more in their germination sanctuary. I have some seeds from the Dyberry Patch guy to go in as well as a few for friends and backups to save. My basement wall has been turned into the birthing room. I have repotted once and it won't be long before these guys need to hit the dirt. Maybe this weekend as the temperatures look good in northeastern Pa. Monday, May 10 View Page Patch disaster. The winds in Northeast Pa were extreme over the weekend and I unfortunately lost my 1302 Teeter which was my best looking plant. I know Rocky was upset that I dared to plant the Teeter since Matt is a good friend of his. His nasty emails made me think he takes this a little to seriously. The weather man was calling for 50 mile an hour winds so I thought the 5 gallon bucket and 10 pound piece of slate I put on top would be enough but I was wrong. All of Rocky's huffing and puffing from Sayre sent the bucket over and cut the young plant in two. Another set back on my quest for the 1000 pound pumpkin. Tuesday, May 25 View Page The weather seems to be warming up here in the Honesdale area. The plants are looking better and better each day but are still smaller than they could be. At my main site both plants had issues. My 1302 Teeter had its head cut off by some 50 mile an hour winds and my other plant the 964 Wolf was showing some wilting signs. I immediatley and possibly prematurely panicked thinking the Sayre corn maggots were back and gave it a heavy dose of Diazinon. That stuff is wicked and I think I burnt it and set it back. Finally there is some new growth sprouting. I have placed backup plants in just in case but I am far behind my Sayre challenger and far behind the local Dyberry Patch guy. My home patch is looking good but the plants too are on the small side. Maybe mother nature will whip them into shape. I tilled today to show the weeds who the boss is. Tuesday, May 25 View Page This is my best looking plant at the home site. I will call it the Rockwell Gutbuster because once ole Rocky hears what seed it is from he is going to cramp up like its nobody's business. Lttle sleep will come his way from that moment forward. All in good time Rock.... all in good time. Friday, June 4 View Page I am glad that Rocky finally took time out from his other hobby of chasing underage children around the track this time of year, to post something on his diary. It looks like Rocky is running quickly out of the gates again up there in Sayre and will have another head start on me. The warm weather has my plants looking good but are only now starting to vine out nothing like the 6 foot monsters that Rock is advertising. Both of my plants at my main site had setbacks so I expected them to be behind. I had put one of my 730's there as a backup and it was the best looking plant I had. In a decision that I hope does not haunt me I pulled it, as our local retirement village wanted a plant for their garden and I transplanted it for them. I am now committed to growing out the 964 Wolf which I wanted to do for the past couple of years. I burned it with Diazinon but it is looking good now. That plant has produced 2 fruit which I have seen for the Dyberry Patch guy which had the thickest walls I have ever seen. I will spot Rock a couple of weeks growth but hopefully I will give him a run and toss the monkey his way. It looks like I am the tortoise again and Lyle is playing the rabbit role. Friday, June 11 View Page I will post some photos of the plants at my home patch site, not for Rocky's enjoyment but for personal comparison purposes of past and future pumpkins that I have grown... So don't look Rocky. I know they are behind the Rockwell and other heavy hitters out there but for me they are doing pretty well. It seems I never get off to a fast start. I will reveal my lineup for the Sayre mailman. Here is the 1689 Jutras, with the plan being to cross it with the "very aggresive" 1725 Harp that the Dyberry patch guy has growing. Friday, June 11 View Page Next up is a plant that I have wanted to grow out for past few years. It was difficult to germinate, started out slow, but now is taking off... Watch out mailman.. I think you have seen one or two of its offspring. Here is the small but mighty... 1272.5 Hilstosky. Thanks for the seeds John and Nicole, I hope I can do it justice. Friday, June 11 View Page The best looking plant at my home patch is still the .... ..... or more commonly known as the "Rockwell Gutbuster", the one that will bring Rock to his knees. So far so good. Friday, June 11 View Page For the first time the plants at my home site are looking better than the ones at my main patch at my moms house. Both of those had issues and are behind but with warm weather in the forecast they should respond and catch up fast. As Rocky always said, as the girls in the glee club snickered at him... its not the size of the vine but the magic in it. These Atlantic Giants are amazing. Hopefully Pennsylvania offers some better pumpkin growing weather this year and I can make a run at a 1000 pound pumpkin. Good luck everyone.. even you Rock. Tuesday, June 15 View Page With rain in the forecast tomorrow I took the Dyberry Patch guy up on his invitation to check out his patch and have a cold brew. The monkey has been very good as of late so I knew he would like the change of scenary and get some fresh air. Andy's plants are looking good and right were they should be or maybe ahead of schedule from past years. Tuesday, June 15 View Page Someone has a good looking 1725 going strong. Tuesday, June 15 View Page Its amazing to see the tap roots pushing out on these plants. It is a sure sign that they are healthy and something right is going on with the soil. Tuesday, June 15 View Page The monkey loved some "down" time and playing amongst the huge leaves and vines. He said it reminded him of some stories his grandfather used to tell him about jungle life. Tuesday, June 15 View Page I have been bonding with this monkey for the past several years but I am really ready for him to get off of my back. Sometimes I think he is starting to like it in Honesdale. All I need is that 1000 pound pumpkin to send him packing. Andy's plants are looking good and ahead of me so it looks like I am lagging behind him and that Sayre mailman. Tuesday, June 15 View Page With the patch tour ending, Andy and I compared notes and planned a strategy to defeat Rocky..... once again. As Andy strategically turned and pointed to Sayre he blew Rocky his traditional ceremonial kiss to kick off the season. Good luck Rocky! Tuesday, June 29 View Page The weather in this part of PA. has been about pumpkin perfect. My plants at my new site are looking good. I am pleased that so far the deer have left my plants alone. They are still not the size of the Rockwells and other heavy hitters out there but for the end of June I am happy. The 964 Wolf and the 1272.5 Hilstosky at my moms house are a bit behind but should catch up fast. I will spot Lyle the early lead once again this year. ( Your 1557 x 1302 sounds like a nice cross Rock). Here is a photo of my patch at the new house. The 1689 Jutras is in front with RGB (Rockwell gut buster) in the background. Hopefully I will have something to pollinate within the next 2 weeks. Thursday, July 8 View Page Hey Happy Birthday Rocky. That was a nice picture of the small mouth next to the large mouth. Looks like you are way ahead of me again!!! Yet, you are showing several rookie mistakes that I hope don't come back to haunt you... Termination of all vines this early in the game can only mean crinkly old dried up plants come September and come on... 2 Coronas in the patch for 4 hours of work.. Jeesh, you have it backwards at best.. Its at LEAST 4 Coronas per every 2 hours in the patch... If you ever come this way for our patch tour the Dyberry patch guy and I will show you how its done. Rocky, Rocky, Rocky. Thursday, July 8 View Page The current heat wave has the plant growth exploding. The warm nights is just the ticket for these PA AG's. It seems I have an interested 14 year old who wants to lend a hand this year. After witnessing Sam Rockwell weigh in a big one at Elmira last year my son Alex had been mentioning that maybe he wanted to give it a go this year. With lots of baseball in the spring he was slow to get out of the gates but lately has taken a renewed interest. It seems he likes the RGB plant. If he wants to help with this one he certainly be co/owner. Thursday, July 8 View Page I think he has this weeding down. He also put a pinch of Mychro in as well as a dash of secret sauce. The rows on the RGB plant are looking good. Thursday, July 8 View Page Out there on the main is a nice 6 lober on the RGB. This could be the one. Thursday, July 8 View Page Time will tell... it looks like the season has begun. Monday, July 12 View Page Summer is hear and in high gear as well. The plants love it. The new patch continues to dominate the old patch. The 1272.5 Hilstosky is a beast. It is compact and has the thickest secondary vines I have ever seen. Here is more than 10 side vines off to the races fueling the young pollinations. Monday, July 12 View Page The 1272.5 has one set around the 11 foot mark. I had one further but it had a pretty good crack forming on the stem so I am opting for this one. Its the 1272.5 x the 1725. Monday, July 12 View Page I will post this small fruit to give Rock a chuckle. Its only a baby but its parents are the biggest ones ever known to mankind. I am hoping it makes it as it will be a good cross to give a try. This one is out about 14 feet with plenty of secondaries filling in and lots of room to roam. The genetics don't get any bigger than this cross. The 1689 Jutras x the 1725 Harp. Monday, July 12 View Page For color I squeezed in one of my 218 seeds. The 689.5 Sandercock x the 670 Daigle is a bright orange producer. The Dyberry patch guy walked away with a Howard Dill award at Elmira last year. Not sure which one of these I will keep by maybe I will keep them all. These are the 218 x 1689. Monday, July 12 View Page It appears Lyle is ahead of me again.... but maybe not the lead that I spotted him other years. My main patch is still behind the new patch but it looks like I may be in the game. The monkey should be getting a bit nervous. My son Alex is enjoying helping this year more than any other. He has taken a fancy to the RGB plant. If he wants to help me challenge those Rockwells so be it. Two Sandercocks are better than one.. The Hatfields and McCoys had nothing over this family feud. So Rocky/Sam best beware... we are coming after you. Here is Alex posing next to the pollination on RGB. The Rockwell Gut Buster. It looks like the pollination was a success. See you two at the weigh off. Monday, July 19 View Page The pumpkins continue to move into the right direction with the Perfect Pumpkin Weather here in northeast PA. I was away at a Conference for the past week and its amazing to see the growth when you are not staring at them constantly. Here is my daughter Lauren next to what may be the one to challenge Rocky's "Monkey Shredder". The 1272.5 Hilstosky is looking good. Lauren has been a pumpkin model since she was 5. Its fun to look back in the old diaries to see that the kids grow almost as fast as the pumpkins. Monday, July 19 View Page Alex definately has gravitated to the RGB plant so if he continues the hard work he officially will be the co/owner. If he wants to take on the young Rockwell he can while I chase his old man around at the weighoff. Watch out Sam.. don't look in your rear view mirror. Monday, July 19 View Page At my original patch at my mom's house in Bethany things are still on the slow side even though the plants are looking good. I am about out of space with the 964 Wolf and my fingers are crossed that the last pollination has taken. The 1272.5 Hilstosky there is young but has an odd shape so I am hoping that another last week pollination will take. Here is the tri fecta for color off of my 218's at home. Not sure which one or ones will be kept. Good luck at camp Rock... hopefully those "smores" won't get you again this year. They can be a nightmare. I know that one you sat on last year had you bunched up for weeks. Tuesday, July 20 View Page The weather is maintaining its record pace here in Northeastern PA and the pumpkins are starting to take shape. The bad news at my main patch is I had two pumpkins abort one on the 964 Wolf and one on the 1272.5 Hilstosky. I am down to the final pollinations which were done on July 12th. They are looking like they are swelling but my fingers are crossed. Both plants are very healthy looking but I am already out of room for the 964. If it takes it is in great shape otherwise I am going to have to go with one of the freeloading open pollinated rogue pumpkins that are sitting amongst the secondaries. The main vine has been terminated. Rocky has a huge lead on me at that patch for sure. I shouldn't be so hard on ole Rock as he is kicking my butt once again with his massive Hilstosky fruit. I should not snicker that he is putting on his knee highs once again and off to Scout Camp. I could not resist clicking on the camps web cam though to check in on Rocky and just see what this camping is all about. Ahhhh, America we are safe. Here is a photo I spied of Rocky leading our young troops into combat. Keep up the good work Rocky.. Friday, July 23 View Page Severe Storm Warnings were out for Honesdale tonight. Calling for 70 mile an hour winds, heavy rains and potential for golf ball sized hail. Yikes. Pumpkin patch nightmare. The wind and rains came in a hurry and there was damage done to the patch. So much for the perfect pumpkin weather. Taking the biggest hit of twisted and uprooted vines was the RGB plant which Alex wants to challenge young Sam Rockwell with. Friday, July 23 View Page The 1689 Jutras was the second hardest hit. It was to muddy to do anything tonight. I am going to have to put Alex to work tomorrow. We will need to try and get these vines straightened and reburied somehow without breaking them. I am afraid a lot of the huge tap root system was torn away with the top soil removed too. Here is the 1689 Jutras. Friday, July 23 View Page The pumpkin on the 1689 is growing fast and putting on some quick pounds with an even blocky shape to it. Its looking good. Today is day 18 for that one so I will need to wait a couple of days to see how she measures up at the 20 day mark. I am looking for a big number. Sunday, July 25 View Page The pumpkin vines are still listed in the "intensive care" category after the whipping the weekend storm gave them. The trifecta pumpkins for color on my 218 plant are down to two on the end of the main vine. They are losing their acorn look and are filling out nicely. Sunday, July 25 View Page I can't compete with those 500 pound numbers that the boy scout in Sayre is throwing at me. He is serious this year. The fast charging 1689 Jutras is putting up big early numbers and way past the 1200 pound benchmarks for the 20 day mark. Lets hope it continues. I like the blocky shape on this one. Sunday, July 25 View Page The best I can do at the home patch is on the 1272.5 Hilstosky. Its looking good. Its younger than Rockys monster and quite a few pounds lighter but its a marathon and not a sprint. It had a nice gain for the week. Monday, August 2 View Page The Pumpkin Perfect weather pattern continues in Northeastern PA. There are going to be some huge ones coming out of the Keystone State. If I don't get this monkey off my back this year and get that four digit pumpkin I think he will be a permanent appendage. I gave the little banana eater a tour to see how the home patch was looking. First up was our pumpkins on the 218 plant that I am growing for color. He liked these two but was not very impressed with their size... no chance for 4 digits here but a potential Howard Dill award somewhere. Monday, August 2 View Page Next in line was the young but steady growing 1689 Jutras. The monkey chuckled in thinking that this guy needs to grow another 900 pounds to send him packing... We shall see. Monday, August 2 View Page Then it happened... the hairy beast peaked in at the 1272.5 Hilstosky... all of a sudden he had a different look on his face... Monday, August 2 View Page Monkey man is starting to appear a little bit on the nervous side! It has been putting on steady gains with no real drastic spikes. Slow and steady may get me there, time will tell. Monday, August 2 View Page We Sandercocks saw the post with Sam Rockwell calling Alex out... Ok Rockwells you are on. Here is Alex's RGB plant that we will face off with Sambo. May the fattest fruit win. No not Rocky....... its a pumpkin weigh off. Sunday, August 8 View Page I took a ride this morning to help the Dyberry patch guy adjust his gourd trellis and check out the operation that he performed on what may have been this years, "beast from the east". Rocky was soooooooooooo getting mashed with the numbers on this one. Unfortunately the 1725 developed some vine rot and could not be stopped. Andy's best efforts were not able to control the spreading up the main vine. Andy decided that a huge pumpkin with some healthy vines and fuel behind it is better than nothing at all. We shall see if his experiment works. This thing just needs to coast to hit 4 digits, but it will always be the one that "what may have been". If this thing continued on its normal course who knows how big it may have gotten. Sunday, August 8 View Page Here is Andy applying a little Captan dust to a blemish. The 1725 is huge and the skin seems very soft with lots of room to expand. Sunday, August 8 View Page She does have a funny butt. Good luck Drew... heres hoping we can pull into a weighoff somewhere with the old girl in one piece. Sunday, August 8 View Page With the perfect pumpkin weather continuing checking our Honesdale pumpkins feels like it should be the first week in September, not August. There is a long way to go for sure. It seems that a couple of fruit are standing out as the chosen ones. I am not sure why but it always happens that way. My pumpkins at my main patch are still on the dissapointing side with no huge numbers. If it was not for my new patch it would be a very discouraging year for my as it has been a great run of summer weather. My 1272.5 Hilstosky continues to put on good numbers and has a perfect shape with no sag lines. The numbers are not up to Rocky's yet but I gotta say Rock you better not slow down for too long. This fruit has been a steady grower and 25 lbs a day has been the norm. Here is Alex stuffed in the shelter with the leader of our patch. Sunday, August 8 View Page The 1272.5 is one nice shaped girl. Sunday, August 8 View Page I had made a mistake in a earlier post stating that the 1272.5 was crossed with the 1725 Harp. Actually a review of my records revealed the 1272.5 is crossed with the 1689 Jutras. I like the sounds of that cross too. Here is the young and fast growing 1689.5 Jutras. It is around the 400 pound mark and moving fast. It looks like it is going to be a wide body. Friday, August 20 View Page My good friend Dyberry patch Drew was away and asked me to take a peak at his patch.... there was some good news and some bad news... I will only talk about the good news. His experiment on the 1725 Harp seems to be working. The remaining vine appears healthy and although all of the fuel in front of it has been terminated it is looking healthy and continuing to put on some pounds. It is a lumpy lady, but ya gotta love those humps.. those lovely lady bumps... Friday, August 20 View Page She has got a butt that only Rocky could love! Talk about Junk in da Trunk... sorry Christy no disrespect intended. Friday, August 20 View Page With my battery dying I will have to wait until tomorrow to post my own patch up date... Still no good news at my main patch... with some news going on at my house patch. Its still a long and winding road until the home stretch. I am gonna play that tortaise roll one more time. That Rock is one quick shooter. He is always out to an early lead. As for Sammmmmy..... I may be calling Children and Youth Services about your dads photography skills. I will have to have Alex get a measurement on RGB. Saturday, August 21 View Page I have been letting the monkey sleep in the garage which I found out was a biggggggg mistake. I can't believe he would do this.. or maybe it was all of the negative vibes that Rocky has been sending my way... or maybe the 1272.5 was just getting a little too close to the 1000 pound mark.. but he did it. He found my knife... how low can one go. The 1272.5 is toast. I need armed guards around here. Saturday, August 21 View Page He seems to enjoy the fact that my best chance in years to hit 4 digits... has come and gone. Why would he do this to me. Saturday, August 21 View Page Now I have to come up with a plan B... wish I had a plan B. Here is the monkey checking the size of the 1689 Jutras.. far behind what it may need to get me there.. and far behind the Sayre mail man. Saturday, August 21 View Page Maybe the RGB plant will help the Sandercocks prevail over those Rockwells... I don't know.. at this point it does not look as big as Sam Rockwells but I will have to get a measurement.. hey Alex.. where is the tape. Saturday, August 21 View Page We do have something that may make a certain someone "Orange with Envy". A Howard Dill contender.. possibly. That 218 throws nice orange ones. Saturday, August 21 View Page Not one contender but two. Letting 2 go on the end makes for a nice conversation piece anyway. Saturday, August 21 View Page I have a nice balance garden this year... all but one big pumpkin, well I had one until Rocky sent his evil spirits my way.. wishing for ground hogs, splits and last but not least flying monkeys to take me down. The long gourds are looking good but monkey man has found his way to them as well... it shouldn't be long until he does them harm. Saturday, August 21 View Page The 1272.5 had even 7 inch walls. To bad of the tragedy. I managed to salvage some seed. She was crossed with the 1689 Jutras. They may be worth a try next year. Saturday, August 21 View Page With nobody around to blow a good luck kiss to Rock and Sam, I made him do it. Monday, August 23 View Page Another one falls victim to "Monk the Ripper". He hates big pumpkins and he hates orange pumpkins. He is stopping at nothing. At this rate I don't know if we will have anything left to weigh. Thursday, August 26 View Page All of this wet weather has my plants looking diseased and loaded with weeds. What a fun hobby. My tissue tests on my 1272.5 revealed my worst nightmare. The black material which formed on the pumpkin is indeed "monkey hair". It comes from having a monkey on your back for all of these years. The lab said it will most likely spread to my other pumpkins as well. Thursday, August 26 View Page Since I am not the only grower who has been carting a monkey around on his back for years I called up Rocky to see if he had ever heard of the phenomenon... His family confirmed that Rocky too fell victim to it to this year as the vacation photo to Ocean City held the proof. Thursday, August 26 View Page With the weather changing back to warmer temperatures maybe things will dry out hear. At this point big growth rates have slowed down and the lets just hang on mode is kicking in. There is plenty of oozing vines and stems around here. Keep em growing out there, its a long way to go. Thursday, September 2 View Page My plants are looking pretty old and crispy so I am not expecting much more growth this year. What a strange season. I guess I did not keep up on my spraying and I know I let the weeds get ahead of me. I went to visit the Dyberry patch guy as Andy gave a tour to our local Master Gardeners group to show them some giant pumpkins. Andy has some nice looking pumpkins going. Here is a multi colored nice shaped pumpkin off of the Sandercock 730 from last year. Thursday, September 2 View Page Another one from my 218 seed.... it would make anyone Envy over the Orange. Thursday, September 2 View Page The 1067 Box has huge potential to throw big heavy pumpkins. Thursday, September 2 View Page If they had a biggest stump category... the 1067 would be a contender. Thursday, September 2 View Page Andy certainly has had good luck with the 964 Wolf.. Thursday, September 2 View Page My season may be coming to a close with nothing really left to challenge that Monkey Shredder that Rocky is boasting about.. my numbers so far are just not there. Any chance for Honesdale to defeat Sayre will be up to Andy again. Mailman v Mailman. The 1725 has come to the end of the road as the vine rot has gotten the best of her but she is a beast and will be in a climate controlled growth enhancing bio chamber for the next few weeks to pack on some last minute poundage only to come rolling out at a date to be named later, to take dead aim at those Rockwells. My only shot at an upset may be with that RGB as to date I have no idea what the measurements are.. Come on Alex.. get off the golf course and lets put a tape on that thing. Its not looking as big as Sams but ya never know.. Here is the 1725 in all of her glory. Sunday, September 12 View Page Sorry to say my plants are shot but the weeds are looking good. If there is any future growth it will come from the roots as the leaves are fried. Here is whats left of the leaves on the RGB plant after PM has been feasting on them for the past month. Sunday, September 12 View Page Sorry Rock... wrong post... and I had a picture of RGB in it this time. Monday, September 13 View Page I am still having trouble with my camera and submitting the right pictures. I think I have it now.. here ya go Rocky. Here is the picture of RGB. The one that you and Sam have been waiting for. Its not bad but not sure if Alex has enough to defeat Sam or not.. it may be close. We are hoping that she weighs heavy. Monday, September 13 View Page Ok Ok.. I think I have corrected my posting problems... if anyone really cares or reads these things out there anyway. Anyhow the plants are through and look like crap and we are just hanging on by a thread in hopes of getting something to a weigh off before it splits. I had put in some extra plants this year and let them basically free range with not a lot of attention to see what they would produce. I have several in the 500 pound range that are nice pumpkins. Here is one on my 730 from last year that has the tie dyed look to it. I think Bethel has a garden show in the fall so maybe this one will go to Woodstock. Monday, September 13 View Page Even though he has sided with my arch enemy Rocky I did plant a late one from Matt Teeters 1302. This plant has 3 on it that all have a nice long and high shape. I crossed it with the 1272.5 Hilstosky so the genetics should be promissing. Monday, September 13 View Page Here is the big butterball on the 1689 Jutras. The plant took the brunt of the powdery mildew so it has not had the opportunity to continue in its early growth but I like the shape of this one. It was grown to cross it with the 1725 Harp so the genetic experiment was a success.. hopefully she is loaded with seeds. The offspring should be big creamy colored monsters. It won't be in the top 15 but I think Altoona may be the resting place for this one. Monday, September 13 View Page I had promised Rock a current picture of the hidden to date RGB pumpkin so here it is. I am embarrased at the condition of the plant. I just did not keep up with a spraying program and it cost me. Monday, September 13 View Page We have had a new addition to the Sandercock household. My son Alex was bound and determined to continue our farming heritage so we are now the proud owners of nine nitrogen producing, egg laying hens. If they are going to lay eggs they best be "heavy hitters" so I think they should be named appropriately. Lets see there is Christy, Geneva, Deb, Lisa, Okie, Rocky to name a few. Monday, September 13 View Page This one is a "barred Rock" so we all know who she is named after. She is all set to start producing and wants to be a heavy hitter but all the research I have done says the Rocks lay "light eggs" they just never go heavy. She is so sad to hear the news. Monday, September 13 View Page And if that Orange with Envy guy wants to really move to Honesdale we have some inexpensive housing for rent. Come on up the pumpkin growing climate is fine. Monday, September 13 View Page If that doesn't hook em I did find another one hiding in the bushes on my 218. Its a beauty. Well best get going and feed the chickens... you getting ready for Cooperstown Rocky.. come on out you can do it. I will bring you a bag of fresh nitrogen. Thursday, September 23 View Page I found a very soft stump and mushy main vine on the 1689 Jutras that I am planning to take to Altoona. It was right next to the pumpkin. Its amazing what you can find amongst the weeds. I opted to cut the pumpkin from the vine and let it sit until we can load it. Its only in the 600 pound plus range but I am growing it for the seeds as it is crossed with the 1725 Harp. If I see any signs of rot the knife is going to her. Thursday, September 23 View Page On the positive side we are planning on picking a "regatta pumpkin" tonight. Its a nice long and low 500 pounder grown on the 1272.5 Hilstosky at my moms house. From my home site my son Alex is bound and determined to take RGB to Cooperstown. According to the last numbers that Rocky posted on Sam's squash it looks like RGB is measuring just about the same as Sams. Come on Rocky..... suck it up.. you can get off work... call in sick and tell them that your Roids are acting up again. Lets have a showdown in the Doubleday parking lot ! Tuesday, September 28 View Page RGB revealed. The 1177 Haist x self. Tuesday, September 28 View Page Growing up... 7/18 Tuesday, September 28 View Page Getting bigger. Alex and RGB at 8/8 Tuesday, September 28 View Page The squash leaned forward and grew on its shoulders which was a great way for it to grow. There was absolutely no stem strss as the base was resting on the ground. It had a huge stem to feed the beast. Tuesday, September 28 View Page Front view.. Tuesday, September 28 View Page The plant did get a huge dose of powdery mildew and the leaves were shot for the last month of the season but with all of the roots down there and some rainy weather nothing could keep it from packing on some end of the season pounds. She was wide and high and had it all going on. Tuesday, September 28 View Page Here is Lauren with the now 1082.9 (or 1083..not sure how that works) Sandercock 2010. We finally broke the 4 digit barrier after 10 years of growing. Thanks to a great seed from Karl Haist and some luck along the way. The squash went 18 percent heavy!!! We had a hard time lifting it the night before Cooperstown so when we needed to adjust it to reload the trailer we left it on the blossom side. I wish we had taken the time to flip it back over but it was getting dark. It would have looked much better in Cooperstown on display. It is a beautiful squash. Tuesday, September 28 View Page It took 10 friends and family to try and lift it the old fashion way with a tarp and we still could not get her high enough. Thank goodness for a neighbor and a tractor to complete the job. We finished loading the old girl in the dark.. Tuesday, September 28 View Page I know I kept the RGB hidden all season long.. and I know Rocky understands...all in fun. Thanks Rocky for the fruit basket and champagne to celebrate the 1082.9. You really didn't have to do it but the family appreciated it. Now its your turn. Shred that monkey to bits. We are rooting for you. Thursday, September 30 View Page Raining hard here today. Good thing we loaded the trailer last night. It would have been impossible to get in the patch today. We are planning on heading out to Altoona tomorrow afternoon. Good luck everyone. There should be some monsters out there but they won't be from me. I am just planning on getting a weight on these 2 squash. Thursday, September 30 View Page The monsoon rains continue here in pre-Altoona time. Andy is pulling his 1725 out of the cold storage tomorrow and we are planning to be on the road sometime in the late afternoon. Its been a tradition to make it a long weekend and the kids enjoy the indoor pool as much (maybe more) as the weigh off. I found another picture that I did not post of the squash growing up. Here she is at 7/25 Thursday, September 30 View Page We did have a heck of a time lifting the beast. We thought 10 was enough but not quite enough to get it high enough on the trailer. Thanks to neighbor Paul Dennis and his old Ford to help finish the job. I know G is not convinced from the photos that this is a squash.. but I guess if I won a pumpkin contest there would be someone saying "hey that is not a pumpkin" oh well. I grow for the fun of it so I won't let it bother me. We grew the 1177 Haist Squash as a squash and Andy Wolf, Bill Bobier and the staff at the Cooperstown weighoff had no doubts as it was never considered a question so I will go with that.Was it solid dark green like Karl Haists beautiful 915.. no, was the majority of it Green with some grey/green striping... yes. I think its equally unfair to try and judge from your home computer. I don't think anyone has to worry about handing out a green jacket.. last I knew there were plenty of weighoffs ahead and I know with the talented growers out there my squash will be down the list when the dust settles. Anyhow.. Good luck everyone.. have a safe and enjoyable weighoff. Its time to relax and reflect on all of the hard work that goes into growing these giants. Everyone deserves an award if you get one from germination to the scales. Tuesday, October 5 View Page The Honesdale Gang made it 10 years in a row making it the PGPGA weigh off in Altoona. Where does the time go?? Honesdale's biggest pumpkin supporter Andy's dad and my second Dad came to send us off and check on our entries. Here George poses with our pumpkins. The orange one off of my 218 and Andy's 1725 Harp. The Harp is now the Box 928. Not bad for being in cold storage for a month. She lost just about 1 pound per day. Maybe I need to go in cold storage. My orange 218 weighed an even 400.5 and I was sad to see her be sold at the slave auction. Well not to sad. It paid for the hotel room for the weekend. Tuesday, October 5 View Page There were lots of entries and pumpkins in every shape and color. Pretty impressive. Tuesday, October 5 View Page Here is my now 679 Sandercock 10; I grew this one for the cross as at the time its the 2 biggest pumpkins ever grown. Its the 1689 Jutras x 1725 Harp. It weighed right where it should have and had a nice round shape. The offspring should be creamy monsters and worth a grow. Tuesday, October 5 View Page Its still all about the kids... they had a good time. Here is Lauren and Noah enjoying a little melon. Tuesday, October 5 View Page Alex and Lauren even helped out at the weigh station by putting the weights on the board for the photographs. Tuesday, October 5 View Page The 400.5 Sandercock. Tuesday, October 5 View Page I often thought that it could happen and it did at the PGPGA. A pumpkin slid through the harness on the way to the scales and with a loud thud the pumpkin split wide open. Everyone was quiet and unsure what was going to happen next as the grower, the legendary Lew Joe Yohe made is way.. cane in one hand to inspect the damage. It wasn't good. If anyone knows Joe he is one of these guys who seems a bit rough and tough on the outside but once you start talking with him he is soft on the inside. He was a true credit to the hobby and handled it like a gentleman. He acknowledged the hard work that the lifting staff was doing and complimented them. Way to go Joe. After the pumpkin was weighed he invited anyone who wanted a seed to come on up and get some. The fruit had very thick walls. Tuesday, October 5 View Page He can also grow huge fruit. He has some quirky formulas and talks about his jumping hooch houses.. its mind boggling but who can argue his results. Here was Joes other pumpkin.. a beauty that went heavy and put him in the top 5 for the second year in a row. He is doing something right. Tuesday, October 5 View Page I introduced Joe to Alex and Noah. They listened carefully as Joe told him some of his secret mathematical formulas and theories. Tuesday, October 5 View Page The boys seemed star gazed and are ready to accept the challenge of being future heavy hitters. They seemed to mature right before my eyes. Tuesday, October 5 View Page Here are the champs... Larry and Gerry Checkon. They know how to grow em' big. Congratulations. Tuesday, October 5 View Page We had a good weekend. Its a long drive for us but 10 years in a row we have made it. We chatted with some old friends and made some new ones. Its always good to see Rocky.. oh wait no Rocky was not there. Here Andy sits and thinks about the season and what is left. That 928 Box makes a nice spot to sit and think. The season is winding down.. but there are still a couple of pumpkins to be weighed. Thursday, October 14 View Page The pumpkin season is winding down. Alex and I took a ride to Elmira to meet up with some of the NY growers again and to see if Rocky could shred the monkey this season. It was a nice day with some respectable pumpkins there. Rocky was all nerved up as the shredder made its way to the scale. Thursday, October 14 View Page Unfortunatly for Rock the monkey stuck in his pocket tells the story. The Shredder went a tad light but was still a great pumpkin weighing it at 970. We ALL were rooting for the Rock to go 4 digits. Thursday, October 14 View Page Matt Teeter didn't even grow this year and found this 957 pound pumpkin in his back yard. Thursday, October 14 View Page The weigh off is small and layed back but there were some celebs in the crowd. Jack Nicholson not only likes following the Lakers he likes big pumpkins to. Good to see ya Jack. Thursday, October 14 View Page Gary and Kathy Adams finished 1 and 2 with a 1178 and a 1012. Thursday, October 14 View Page Our 218 won another Howard Dill award and was 14 percent heavy and my pumpkin went 4 percent heavy at 570 something so it was a good day. Back at home the 1083 Squash has been on tour and spent the weekend in Honesdale at the fall harvest festival. Its back at home now resting peacefully. Thursday, October 14 View Page It won't be long before I harvest the seeds. I will get it on the ground for some final photos before that happens. Thursday, October 14 View Page The other side... Monday, November 1 View Page With the season about done we couldn't take it any longer and had to cut up the big squash to check the wall thickness and see how many seeds we could harvest. With the girl going 18 percent heavy we knew she would be thick and she didn't dissapoint. The slice to the side showed just how thick she was with the shoulders on the stem end being about twice as thick. There was very little seed cavity. The seed count was only so so with a lot of seeds being immature and a lot of empty ones but there are still quite a few good ones available. I will be growing one even if they may produce something with a grey stripe or two. Monday, November 1 View Page Thick and meaty.