Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 113 Entries. Wednesday, April 25 View Page Time to start the 2012 Diary I guess. With the summer temperatures teasing us in March in Northeastern Pa it was easy to get excited about this years prospects of growing something big this year. I had done my traditional compost bartering for a big pumpkin with one of our neighboring farmers and had it delivered last fall to the patch. Good Friend Dr. Tim Barber Jellyfinger brought over his Kubota to help spread the stuff, subsoil it to help with the drainage and a final till to mix it all in. My hopes are the patch drains better this year.. my plants get more than 2 vines per plant and I can compete with that Dyberry patch guy and the Envious Orange guy since my nemesis Rocky seems to be "hooked on fishing" again. Here is the good Dr. spreading the stuff at my home patch. Wednesday, April 25 View Page The Dr. mixing it in...... Wednesday, April 25 View Page Job completed.. the patch never looked so good. Wednesday, April 25 View Page Without a doubt the easiest part of this pumpkin growing hobby, which has changed over the years is to obtain quality seeds to try. I had my mind made up last year as to what I was planting and had stayed away from the seed auctions but some of those deals on the final auctions I could not pass up and caved in. The Dyberry patch guy was bragging about all of his purchases and PGPGA James was collecting a huge arsenal along the way. He was bidding like a madman. I couldn't resist and picked up a few well proven seeds. Now I am confused and certainly can't plant them all, some of mine included. I need to resist squeezing in to many plants and let the chosen ones have more space this year. I had a good germination rate with the first batch and they are resting comfortably under their tanning lights. Now we need mother nature to start to cooperate. Good luck all! Friday, April 27 View Page Alex and Noah are getting harder to entertain at these weighoffs but a good time was had by all. Cooperstown is s great site as they are baseball fans as well. Wednesday, July 11 View Page Wayyyyy behind on any diary entries so I best post something so I can compare as a future reference. Its that not real exciting time of year just hoping the pollinations are taking and trying to keep the plants growing to put some fuel behind the pumpkins. The weather although warm here in Northeastern PA is pumpkin friendly. Its been dry but at least we can water to correct. Much better than the cool monsoons we had last year. As always I managed to kill with kindness some of the early seed choices that I intended to grow. Sorry Larry.. your seed didn't make it :( maybe next year. As usual some of my backups are getting their chance. I also had several plants get twisted again with the wind in their early stages and split the main vines.. not good. It sets them back quite a bit. This is the 1662 Stelts at my moms house with the split near the stump. These plants are amazing and it has healed itself but set it back a couple of weeks. Wednesday, July 11 View Page The 1662 has healed and I have trained the first secondary vines to grow behind the plant to let it take as much room in the garden as it can. It looks like an arrow now. Wednesday, July 11 View Page I intended to grow with * 800 Neilly squash and let it take half of the patch at my moms but some early stem damage almost put it out completely. I put one of my 218's next to it in case it didn't make it. The 218 developed its own split vine so I kept them both. Now they both have healed and are wayyyyy behind so not having the heart to pull either I am growing them both out in a small flag pattern to see what I can get.. maybe a saleable 218 and a possible genetic cross with the *800. I would like to cross with the Dyberry Patch guys *895 Hester that he has this year. It will be a late pollination attempt so time will tell. Here are the 2 plants side by side. Wednesday, July 11 View Page Back at the home ranch the plants are looking good. After last years futile attempt I am happy to say that things are looking better. I have secondary vines this year.. I don't know what happened last year but none of them grew out. I stuck one of my own from last year in the corner spot and it is turning into a beast. I call it the 440 Sandercock. Its the 1634 Werner crossed with my 218. The plan was to keep the shape of the 1634 and toss in some of the flame orange color of the 218. It is also a flag pattern with the secondary's being some of the thickest and most aggressive that I have ever seen. Wednesday, July 11 View Page An early cull on the 440. I like the shape of this one... it may be a sign of good things to come. Wednesday, July 11 View Page I have been putting in more patch time this year with lots of vegetables around the patch.. I have some Concord grapes which are finally producing after 3 years. They are on my fence surrounding the patch... now I have to figure out what to do with them as they ripen. I guess I will be doing battle with the birds. Wednesday, July 11 View Page I do have some power house genetics in the patch mixed with some newcomers. Most of my pollinations were the first week in July so not much is worth looking at right now. Its been hot during the day so its a struggle to shade the flowers in hopes they don't abort. I use chairs or any cheap shade structures to hopefully cool them down a little. Here are 2 that I hope will be a keeper on the 1674 Marsh. The plant is healthy and these are far enough out on the main. Wednesday, July 11 View Page With the Dyberry Patch guy being busy with jr.s baseball at the moment, Rocky still trying to join the Bassmasters tournament, Orange with Envy... taking the year off or going for the Sandbagger award..it has been quiet in the garden. There is no one to compete against. Those other Pa growers are to nice.. Scottie and Upper Pine Runner are doing there own thing.. I guess thats why my patch is looking better as I have put more time into growing. Hopefully this is the year I can pull some monster out of the patch.. even the wife said if I didn't start spending more time with her she was going.... as the country song goes.... I'm gonna miss her. Hoping 2012 is a good year. My one companion who never lets me down is the patch dog Geordie. Here he is guarding a couple of Giant Maters that I put in the center of patch. The seeds were from Larry Checkons 4.35 pounder. I don't know if it has a name or not, I better check with Mud. The Checkonater?? Wednesday, July 11 View Page I also have a healthy 1495 Stelts going with no worthy photos and Dyberry Patch's 1067 which I think is going to surprise me. Its nice to grow our own seeds to see what develops. Of course I had to have a squash at the home site and in the same place I grew the * 1082 is another of Karl's *1177. I just love the shade of Green that they throw and once again the squash is one of the healthiest in the patch. It was my only June pollination. I kept it covered with a box to shade it. Pollination date was June 26 and crossed with a single flower from the *895 Hester. Wednesday, July 11 View Page Heres the best I have so far.. I had other sets on the *1777 but the heat got to them.. This looks like the sole survivor just hanging out under the chair at the moment. The warm weather is supposed to continue so lets hope the PA growers have a banner year. Its about time I got a 1000 pound plus pumpkin. Friday, July 20 View Page I spent a some time at the Dyberry patch guys place to give him a hand putting some sand and fabric under his chosen fruit.. what fun it is to have a brew and talk pumpkins. For the first time in maybe ever Andy and I have the some of the same plants growing. We each have a * 1177 Haist; a 1662 Stelts and a 1674 MARSH. We have offered a personal challenge.. add the total weights of our 3 best fruit and see who wins... Loser has to buy the winner a beer. What a ride it will be. It looks like Drew has a good one going on his 1674. Its not as big as some of the other PA growers pics by the looks of things.. but its a marathon and not a sprint. Friday, July 20 View Page As in years gone by and in keeping with tradition.. Andy checked the windage.. aimed for Sayre and blew a kiss to our friends in the northern tier. We miss their cyber challenge but hope that at least they are peaking at the diaries and will catch this one... Friday, July 20 View Page Andy has a world class pumpkin place there in Dyberry... it has been the place where many of the worlds problems have been solved.. here is the newly formed Dyberry Giant Pumpkin Growers Club brainstorming at one of our weekly meetings.. we have to do all we can to keep up with the big pumpkins out there this year. Friday, July 20 View Page The leader of our club.. and what has made this place possible.... my second father.. the senior Dyberry Patch guy, George. Thank you!! Friday, July 20 View Page Every patch needs a dog.. and Gretta is the mouse, mole, vole and ground hog eliminator.. and one of the best I have seen. Friday, July 20 View Page Back at the home patch.. it was time to get the *1177 out from under the chair and construct a shade structure. Friday, July 20 View Page It may be the last time for the squash to see some sun until.. well who knows, Robas, Cooperstown.. Altoona.. Doylestown??? I guess it depends on how much weight it puts on and when it slows to a crawl. Friday, July 20 View Page Gotta love the big stems and the lime green shade on the *1177. This is the first one that I have jacked the stem up in the traditional manner.. I sort of like the weights when I allowed it to stay low and believe it created its bird bath shape.. this will be new for me. Friday, July 20 View Page I have one of my 218 Sandercocks growing on a small plant to add some orange to the patch. The young pollination is huge on this one.. may be a sign of good things to come. Friday, July 20 View Page I have lost lots of backup fruit to aborts due to the high heat. We finally are getting some much needed rain here in Northeast PA.. lets hope they kick the fruit into high gear.. It has been a lot of hard work and maybe now it will start to slow down with time to kick back and watch these pumpkins grow.. We have a new grower here in NE PA that Andy and I have taken under our wing. He seems to be a slow learner so it may take several meetings at Dyberry for some of it to sink in. Andy did til his garden (his front yard) when he was out of town.. and we put some of our backup plants in there...(when he wasn't looking).. OH well.. he may appear to be dazed.. but he says he is excited at the new hobby thrown on him... good luck CK. Lets get one to a weigh off. Thursday, July 26 View Page First 30 day measurement on any of my fruit. The *1177 beautiful light lime green squash comes in under any of the benchmarks. Squash can't read anyway.. as I know they are a different animal. Slow and steady wins the race. The plants look great and the secondaries are filling in any empty spots and should be done by the target date of August 1st. Next to be measured at the 30 day mark will be my 1674 Marsh and the surprise of the patch my 440 Sandercock. I am happy with the looks of that one. My 218 x 1634 Werner is looking like I hoped it would. Nice shape and looking like its going to be a nice orange one... maybe a Howard Dill award like its momma if all continues on course. Monday, July 30 View Page Pumpkins are chugging along and approaching the 30 day mark so time to see what they are made of. As I was thinking about doing some measuring it made me think of the old days and how I always used the kids to pose next to the pumpkins for comparison. Our first serious efforts were grown in 2001 and we were lucky enough to have Don Langevin use one of my photos in his How to Grow World Class Giant Pumpkins 3 Book. It was a thrill to have it included and a keep sake for me. Here is the picture that was used of Alex in 2001. It was next to our eventual 797 pound pumpkin that came in 5th place in Altoona at our very first weigh off... we (I) was hooked. Monday, July 30 View Page 11 years later for old time sake, I talked Alex into posing next to our *1177 squash this year... my they grow up fast. Monday, July 30 View Page Since there are twins I better include one of his sister Lauren.. this was 10 years ago next to our eventual 803 Sandercock; grown on the legendary 805 Pukos. Monday, July 30 View Page They are great kids but boys,girls, cars, golf.. have a way of not wanting to hang with dad in the patch so much anymore.. has caused other objects to be used to measure the pumpkins. Lauren was more than willing to take a picture to help dad out. Here is one that I am real happy with. Our 440 Sandercock is looking like it will have great shape and color. Its still not time for the 30 day measurement but I believe it will be benchmark proud. Wednesday, August 1 View Page It is time to check some 30 day measurements. My 1674 Marsh was first up with yesterday being the date. It is a bit on the narrow side but looks like it will be a high pumpkin. The caved in blossom always scares me but it is what it is. The plant is good sized and healthy. The numbers arent great but the circ. came in at 99 inches. Its a completely different shape than the Dyberry Patch guys 1674 and a whole lot smaller :) Wednesday, August 1 View Page The new kid on the block is the 440 Sandercock. I like the look. The plant was pruned in the flag pattern. With the 1067 Box going down next to it I pulled that plant. I now wish I had given this one more room to grow as it is a good looking pumpkin. The 30 day numbers are 110-69-73. Wednesday, August 1 View Page Last but not least is the youngest in the patch the 1495 Stelts. I really like the shape. This gal is young as it was pollinated on July 8th. The cross with the 1674 Marsh should be a good one. It looks like it is going to be an orange one... what did our President put on his 1495 last year to make it so green... I wonder???? Saturday, August 11 View Page Some 40 day anniversary marks in my patch. The 1674 Marsh is first. It has a narrow, wheel like shape but will be a high boy. Saturday, August 11 View Page Its not just pumpkins as I have always had a phobia about anything with a concaved sucked in blossom end... it started for me when I hit my teens I guess. Every time I see a butt like the 1674's it makes me nervous. Saturday, August 11 View Page The star of my patch continues to be a newcomer. Lordy, Lordy the 440 turns 40. The nice shape and color continues with consistent daily gains. I never get those huge daily numbers that I have been hearing reported nor are my numbers anywhere near some of those 8, 9 and 1000 pound pumpkins I hear circulating out there already. I guess I am still old school with a slow and steady pace closer to the 20-25 pound a day range. I have to hope the warm weather continues into the fall if I want to finally hit that 1000 pound mark with a PUMPKIN. The 440 is a beauty and I have big bag full of seeds left. Fingers crossed that mother nature cooperates and I can keep the small plant healthy and the pumpkin stress free. Thursday, August 23 View Page Took a ride to Andy's Dyberry patch to catch up and eye up the growth. Things are looking good an mother nature has been cooperating. Drew has a good one going on his 1674 Marsh. Thursday, August 23 View Page I sported my "Green Jacket" to check out the squash candidates... thumbs up on this one. Not sure who left it on my door in Niagara way back in 2010 but thanks guys. Thursday, August 23 View Page One year we were short pallet when it came time to load the pumpkins... Andy has taken it to new extremes.. he is a sick man and can't pass one up. Thursday, August 23 View Page We had a good meeting at the Dyberry Patch.. our newbie CK was there to soak up any information he could. Andy and I told him that if he really wanted to be a good pumpkin grower that an old Indian tradition was to pull a yellow jacket nest down and smash them in your bare hand and sprinkle the dust over the pumpkin plant...I couldn't believe it.. you can tell these new growers anything and they will believe you. People will try anything to grow a big one. Thursday, August 23 View Page A good time was had by all but make no mistake we are serious this year.. There are some big pumpkins being posted on this site this year and we are a little behind most of them... But.. don't slow down.. WE are WATCHING and waiting. Thursday, August 23 View Page Back at my home patch things are still doing ok. I have been keeping the PM at a standstill, the plants are healthy and growth has been slow and steady. My 1674 has a different shape than Andy's. Much because of the fruit position at the young stage I imagine. Its high and filling out... Thursday, August 23 View Page Have some ghost peppers stretching out as well... Can't wait to bite into them. Thursday, August 23 View Page The biggest pumpkin on the smallest plant.. is still my 440. Its a wide body now with perfect shoulders and starting to get some ribbing. I think it looks like some of the other nice pumpkins I see growing on the 1634 Werner that was the 440's Momma. I hope it maintains its slow and steady pace for the next 2 weeks at least. Saturday, August 25 View Page I had to fix up the shade tarp on the 1674 Marsh so it was a good time to take some photos without all her clothes on. As with a lot of species she didn't look as good as I thought she would when she was unveiled. Here she is.. with her top off. Saturday, August 25 View Page Marsha from the side.. Saturday, August 25 View Page "Marsha" from the back.. The good news is she is the fastest grower in the patch at the moment. With the top off I enlisted my son Alex to help out with some accurate measurements. I was pleasantly surprised to get some bigger circ. numbers with the two of us measuring. It is measuring the exact same as my 440 and with the genetics and past history of this seed I wouldn't be surprised if it weighs heavy. Maybe I will finally get a 1000 pound "pumpkin" after all if the moons line up and the growth continues. Saturday, August 25 View Page I planted several of Larry Checkons 4.43 (2010) tomatoes. These things like to throw megablooms and I have spotted this one hanging out. I really haven't cared to much for the girls but have pruned down and babying this girl. Its a whopper by my standards and watching closely for any color change before she gets to a scale. Saturday, August 25 View Page My Concord Grape project has also been a success with the color turning to a nice purple and fattening up.. Now what do I do with them?? I suppose I can ferment a few and if one of my 2 best pumpkins don't hit 4 digits I can have a glass of something to ease the pain. Saturday, August 25 View Page Forgot the grape picture... Good luck all..grow em big. The final stretch is upon us. Thursday, August 30 View Page Some cooler nights but warm days here in Northeastern PA. Its been dry so its back to watering in the final stretch run here. The forecast looks like the nice weather to continue. Its a nervous time just hoping that they hold together. I was checking out our big tomato on the 4.35 Checkon seed that Larry had sent me in 2010. We had a beauty going. It was hanging very low and touching the ground. I discovered a rock underneath it and when I decided to jack it up to add some additional stake support the stem cracked a bit and there was a spot underneath where it had banged on the rock. I decided it was time to get a weight and cut it off. It seemed huge to me. I have new respect for all of those 5 + pound maters. I was sure by the look and feel that it was in the 5 pound range. I was mildly dissapointed to see it was only 3.08. Still a big tomato by my standards. Thursday, August 30 View Page Alex with our 3.08. A new PB in that category for us. Saturday, September 1 View Page Beautiful sunny day and warm temps here to start off September. Took the tops off for some weekend measurements and a photo shoot. The 1674 Marsh in the front and the 440 in the back are neck and neck with the biggest September 1 numbers I have ever had. Saturday, September 1 View Page The *1777 squash is looking squashier as it matures. It just hasnt had the growth that I expected. The plant is big and healthy... minus the weeds that I have given up on.. it has been to slow and steady for my liking but I am sure it will go heavy as most 1177's do. It has a great shape as well and the cross with the *895 Hester to add some more green is one that I will want to plant. Saturday, September 1 View Page The 440 Sandercock is one that I will be planting again. Both of them have great color and shape. This is the second one that I grew and on a VERY small plant. It will be one for sale down the road. Saturday, September 1 View Page The other dissapointment for me so far is my 1495 Stelts. I don't know why it doesn't take off. I keep expecting some big weekly gains but it doesn't happen. It is still a respectable pumpkin and I will have to hold for a later weigh off. Saturday, September 1 View Page Picture of the 2 440's. Saturday, September 1 View Page The 440 is still king. With both the 1674 and this 440 over 900 pounds now.. they both should have a legitimate chance to finally get me in the 1000 pound club.. fingers, toes, hair... no not hair.. crossed that the growth continues and no splits please. The next tough decision will be where to take them and how long to let them roll. The Roba weigh off is in 2 weeks!!! What to do. This 440 is a beauty and may have a shot at a HD somewhere. The Doylestown gang offers a nice prize for their Orange Champion...will it be ready for 4 digits in 2 weeks... Cooperstown may be a good spot to show off the orange beast.... what to do???? Monday, September 3 View Page I took a tour with the Dyberry patch guy to check out his best pumpkins.. and yes he is still getting some good growth. The squash is putting on pounds.. and looks much greener minus the sun in this picture. Monday, September 3 View Page We both have some big numbers going for this time of the season. In the old days we only went to Altoona the first weekend every October. I traditionally would get up to 300 pounds in the month of September. With these earlier weigh offs at Robas and Cooperstown its a different game for us. Its a gamble as to which weigh off to attend and which pumpkin to pick. We don't weigh them ahead of time so its always a surprise for us when they hit the scale. This 1303 Sweet that Andy has going is giving the old boy sweet dreams. Its a beast..and by the feel and thump it sounds like a rock. Should he pick it in 2 weeks or let it ride until Altoona or Doylestown in October??? Friday, September 14 View Page It is a great time of year here in Northeastern PA. My first harvest of Concord Grapes was a success. Lauren and I picked quite a few of them. Friday, September 14 View Page Some other bounty from the outside of the pumpkin patch.. not bad. Friday, September 14 View Page Got a text from Dyberry patch guy declaring today "moving day". It is always a nervous moment on the final morning to peak under the sheets.. all good here. I cleaned some vines out and was able to get a different photo of the 440 from the front. Will it hit 4 digits... Its gonna be close. I hope she isn't to shy to go heavy.. she may need it. Its right at 1000 and a good shape she has. Friday, September 14 View Page My sister surprised me with a nice gift. Its the best magnetic car thing I have seen. May be to nice to take a chance on losing it in the elements. Good luck at the weighoffs. I will see the gang at Robas tomorrow. Saturday, September 15 View Page Moving day was a success. Dyberry guy had the back tire lift in the air a few times on the borrowed Ford tractor but all worked out in the end. Here George is directing traffic. Andy is already for the "squash down" at Robas... I think its a contender. Orangeneck has been pumping up his entry but I wouldnt count out this 1177. We like that Haist seed in these parts.. its a beauty. Saturday, September 15 View Page The 440 made it to my trailer. It was nice to have both of our parents supporting our efforts. Here is me and my mom with our pretty 440. Saturday, September 15 View Page Andy's 1674 Marsh is a rock... watch out Robas' here we come. Its gonna be a heavy one. Wednesday, September 19 View Page Well Robas weigh off has come and gone with a bag full of mixed emotions for the growers. What a hobby it is that we subject ourselves to. I am looking for a personal best pumpkin and to get to the 4 digit mark. My 440 was a beauty but I had a feeling it may go light. Not THAT light. 14 percent light !!!! It was a beautiful marshmellow I guess.. But when the dust settled and time to sit back and reflect it was still a beautiful pumpkin and to grow a fruit 845 pounds is still something to be proud of. It was a great day chatting pumpkins with some old and new friends. There was a lineup of some heavy hitters and it was great to talk with them. Here is a photo of my now 845 with my great nephew Greg.. maybe we should all be like a 3 year old. He thought the pumpkin was just perfect. Sunshine, big pumpkins and a carmel apple is about as good as it gets. He could care less what she weighed. In the back is Quinns winner the 1245.5. Wednesday, September 19 View Page There is lots to do at Robas.. If you never fired a pumpkin cannon you have to give it a try. Our newbie grower TC came along and let a few fly at some grazing Holsteins. What fun. Wednesday, September 19 View Page There were some good looking pumpkins and my 845 was one of them. The hands down winner of the Howard Dill award should have went to Curt Myers for his 964 pound beauty. The MC judge didn't see it that way. Curt was gracious but I think the growers would have selected a different winner. Maybe some criteria should be in place to select all of the Howard Dill winners. Growers voting seems like it would work. Here is the 964. Wednesday, September 19 View Page Dyberry Patch Andy had a good day and represented Honesdale well. His 1177 Haist won the squash award at 910.5. It was solid. He then followed up with a 4th place finish and a new personal best with a 1179. That 1674 Marsh went 9 percent heavy to the new chart to. If my math is correct those 2 fruit combined is a 2084.5 lb. effort. I say that because we have our own challenge brewing as we planted 3 of the same plants this year and the combined fruit weight winner owes the other a "BEER". This is a war. In addition to the * 1177 Haist, 1674 Marsh our third entry will be the 1662 Stelts. Andy has set the bar high with his first two entries. Hmmm I may weigh my 1674 this weekend in Cooperstown. I know its a lot uglier than my 440 was so I am hoping for some of those heavy genes to put up a big number for me. Will I finally hit 4 digits with it..... Maybe??? Wednesday, September 19 View Page She has a wide backside !! Wednesday, September 19 View Page I'm not sure if I am taking my * 1177 to Coop. I may let it hang on the vine for a little more to add a few more pounds if I want to catch Andy. I think I do have him with the 1662 Stelts. Andy's is in a secondary patch that he hasn't done much with.... My chance to pounce.. good friend. Here is his 1662. I am thinking a local dentist should have it as decoration.. it looks like a friggin Tooth. Wednesday, September 19 View Page Much to my surprise my 1662 has taken off. Its at my moms house and I let her take care of most of the watering duties. It started out ugly with a funny shape.. but when I took of the top the other day for some photos... I discovered the ugly duckling has turned into a swan. She is beautiful with more curves than a runway model.. I like her... a lot. Wednesday, September 19 View Page I think she may put me over the top against Dyberry... its gonna be close... Love her backside to. Thursday, September 20 View Page Things are heating up as the weigh offs are here!! The pumpkins are about done, time for the tailgates to drop.. and the ghost peppers are getting their flame on. Thursday, September 27 View Page We had a good road trip to Cooperstown with a Toyota full of fruit. In the bed was my 440 and on the trailer my 1495 Stelts and in the rear Andy's 1179 pound monster who went along for the ride... to be sold on the chopping block. Thursday, September 27 View Page There was a nice line up at Coop with some huge monsters getting weighed in. The 2nd pumpkin from the bottom in photo is my 440 which weighed in at 1 percent heavy at 640 pounds. My 1495 Stelts was a rock at 17 percent heavy coming in at 794 pounds. Go figure... I have weighed 3 pumpkins so far and they have gone from 14 percent light to, 1 and 17 percent heavy.. Guess its not the soil. I wish my marshmellow at Robas went to chart like the 440 at Coop. It gives me renewed confidence to plant that seed again though as both had great color and shape. Thursday, September 27 View Page Congrats to Peter Sweet for his winning 1509.5 monster ! Thursday, September 27 View Page We brought our newbie trainee TC along for his second weigh off. He is hooked.. big time. Here he entertained the crowd with his excitement. He couldn't help but revert back to his thumb sucking days.... the crowd loved it. Thursday, September 27 View Page It looks like we will be on the road to Doylestown this weekend as the pumpkin tour continues.. I need to track down Dyberry patch guy to see what our plan is and what is going to go on the trailer and what is staying in the patch for the final weigh off to follow... hoping to hit Altoona again this year. I have my 1662 Stelts left as well as my 1674 Marsh.. which I think will be my best bet to hit 1000 pounds. Its gonna be a nail biter. The squash may still be adding some pounds as well.. we shall see. Friday, September 28 View Page Had to load a pumpkin the old fashioned way for our trip to Doylsestown. With rain in the forecast a Thursday night pumpkin pick was thrown together. Phone calls to friends and family and a trip to the beer store for some pumpkin ale was required. My 1662 Stelts is going for a ride. She has more curves that Sophia Vegara so thats what we will call her. Here the crew sizes her up. Friday, September 28 View Page Its been a while since we loaded one this way.. its good for the cameraderie for sure. Lets go Sophia. Friday, September 28 View Page Lets see if we can do this... Friday, September 28 View Page Walking the plank on the final stretch is the tough part.. luckily we didn't lose anybody. Friday, September 28 View Page Mission accomplished. The trailer is loaded. A squash, Andy's BIG Sweet and the 1662 Stelts. Another big load for the Toyota. Friday, September 28 View Page The Sweet and Stelts look big in our world... To think that the two of them combined is measuring somewhere close to where Ron and Paps.. Freak 2 is estimating is mind boggling.. I guess we will stay in the Junior division for a bit longer. Thursday, October 4 View Page Getting ready for our 4th and final weigh off but falling behind on diary entries from last weeks Monster Madness weigh off at Doylestown. It is always good to catch up with the growers from that club at a nice layed back weigh off. The Honesdale gang did pretty good with Dyberry patch Andy coming in 2nd with his 1191 pound monster on his 1303 Sweet and me taking 4th with the shapliest pumpkin on the planet, "Sophia" at 942.5 pounds. Andy also stole the show and chased away the squash competition with his 595.winner. The highlight of our trip was TC our newbie in training grower hitting his first weigh off with his own entry. What a thrill for teachers and pupils... he was like a kid in a candy store and quite proud of his 229.5 chewed on "pretty girl" as he named her. It was a fun time for all .. Here is TC posing next to his bride. Thursday, October 4 View Page TC was so protective of his pretty girl that he wouldn't let that big machine put its forks into her... she had to be carried to the scale. Thursday, October 4 View Page Time had come... whats she gonna be.. Thursday, October 4 View Page Hell only something like 1800 pounds behind that new world record... who cares. TC took it all in!!! The crowd loved it... he has a new fan club now.. pretty girls were approaching him just to get advice! Thursday, October 4 View Page Dyberry Patch was amazed at the accomplishment! Thursday, October 4 View Page Even the Vendors went crazy... Bath mat guy was ecstatic.. what a ride TC.. what a ride. Thursday, October 4 View Page Not to be out done... it was Dyberry Patch's turn to test the scales... The squash chased away the competition as Drew sealed the deal on his second Site award this season in the Green category. A 595.5 beauty. Thursday, October 4 View Page This thing was welllll endowed with the longest stem I have seen... I think I will post a note to see if there is a longer stem out there anywhere... East, West, North or South... 15 inches on this monster. Not sure if there is a record.. but this has to be close. Thursday, October 4 View Page It was now Sophia's turn to strut her stuff... what shape. Firm shoulders.. thin waste and what a backside. The crowd was in awe as she was on display. Thursday, October 4 View Page She is a bit self concious about her weight.. but came in right where she measured.. as all good girls do. We were happy with her 942.5 effort and 4th place overall. Thursday, October 4 View Page Andy had to remind us that it was his day with the big fruit.. as his 1303 Sweet put up a new personal best for him.. Congrats Drew. The Box 1191 !! Thursday, October 4 View Page The winner of the Monster Madness was Paul and Cheryl Faulk with a 1524 pound mountain.... Nice Pumpkin.. save me a seed guys.. I like that cross. Congratulations. Thursday, October 4 View Page We cleaned up the cooler.. loaded the pumpkins on the trailer and time to head North.. well TC was a bit sentimental about his day and insisted that "pretty girl" ride in the car with us... ok.. newbie. In the back they went like a couple of high school sweethearts. They had quite a ride home. A good time was had by all.. Friday, October 5 View Page Time to load up for the final weigh off and a trip back to where it all started for me and Andy. Altoona here we come. It was time to get my 1674 Marsh out of the patch.. she will be my best chance to finally hit 1000 with a pumpkin. Its measuring right there.. so lets hope the 1674's history of going heavy prevails. We enlisted a friend and neighbor Craig with his farms tractor this year to help with the loading. THANK YOU. He was a life saver. Here he and son Ethan bring my best to the trailer. Friday, October 5 View Page I think they enjoyed the challenge. Friday, October 5 View Page My brother Scott was on hand to help Drew direct the big girl down. Always a nervous time with the pumpkin swinging back and forth. Friday, October 5 View Page We have squash to.. and the truck is loaded. Andy and I have figured out how to save money on fancy trailers and bigger trucks to haul these monsters... You chum up to friends and see if you can borrow theirs.. It has worked this year. Friday, October 5 View Page Its gonna be a dog fight. Andy's 1596 Werner and my 1674 Marsh are looking an awful lot a like... lets hope they both go over 1000 for us.. Dyberry Patch has had a good year with 2 pumpkins already over the 1100 pound mark... I only want one. See you in Altoona. Saturday, December 15 View Page December 15th and time to wrap up this diary thing for this year.. After another up and down and ending down 2012 season its time to reflect and plan for 2013. My dreams of a 1000 pound pumpkin came to a screeching hault in Altoona as the beast settled in 4 pounds shy. It was hard to take. It measured over 1k and the 1674 Marsh genetics surely should have gotten me there. It was cut 2 days early, left in the sun,, with no water on the stem for our 4 hour trip to Altoona. Now I wish we had parked it in the car wash the night before and did an all night soaking. I really thought it was not going to be close. There was a nice lineup at Altoona. Saturday, December 15 View Page The time had come to see if it was going to hit 4 digits.. Saturday, December 15 View Page Scale said 1020... then 1014 as they removed the harness... 1007 as it bounced and then it settled...... 996 !!!!!! I started to cry. Saturday, December 15 View Page PGPGA's best... Larry Checkon tried to console me. Saturday, December 15 View Page Crap! Next up was Dyberry Patch.. Andy.. Already sporting 2 1100 pound plus pumpkins under his belt for the season.. he to felt bad for me. WTF another 1000 pound plus pumpkin for Drew. Congratulations on a great year! He even tried to make me feel better by telling the judges to stop the scale at 996 so we would tie.. what a good friend. Saturday, December 15 View Page On a positive note my * 1177 Haist squash went 15 % heavy and slid in at 834.5 lbs. It had a perfect shape and I really think the cross with the * 895 Hester will be a good one. Here is a pic of the 834.5 in front with a 500 pound plus one that Andy grew off of the *895 to the right. Saturday, December 15 View Page The good news is the 834.5 had a big seed count so there will be plenty to go around if anyone wants to try green next year.. just let me know. My address is 664 Grove Street; Honesdale, PA 18431. We all know the * 1177 Haist grows.. heavy squash.. and the cross with the * 895 Hester should add some deep green to it. I know I will be planting one. Saturday, December 15 View Page As always it was good to see some old friends and make some new ones in Altoona. Congrats to Mike with his first 1000 pound monster.. conrats to Andy for kicking my butt again.. Congrats to Larry for another 1st and for my buddy Karl.. for his monster that came so close.. and we all got to see a new WR long gourd from Tom.. it was a good day. Our stay was cut short this year as Andy and I learned while we were there that his dad.. my second dad.. the senior Dyberry patch had a setback in the hospital while recovering from surgery.. Suddenly reality had set in.. it really didn't matter if my pumpkin was 4 pounds short of a 1000 pounds.. it didn't matter at all.. we packed our bags and headed for home. I am glad to report that George has bounced back and feeling himself again..We will be putting him to work at the Dyberry patch again next year. Pumpkin growing is just that.. pumpkin growing. Its easy to get wrapped up in it.. but there is a lot more in the real world these days to be concerned about and sometimes it takes a dose of reality to help you to remember that. Best wishes to everyone for a merry xmas and happy new year. I am sure the Honesdale gang will be growing again in 2013.. I will be chasing those 4 digits again.