Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 70 Entries. Wednesday, May 6 View Page Finally starting to warm up hear in Honesdale Pa. so time to think about pumpkins. I for the first time in years had a soil test done and a thank you to Paul and Karl for helping to read these things for me. Overall my patches were not to bad but lacking in Nitrogen for the most part. Hopefully some additives will boost my plants a little more this year. My pal Dyberry patch certainly raised the bar in our area.. Here is his personal best from last season... A 1503 Beauty off of the 1317 Clementz. Wednesday, May 6 View Page The 1503 had great shape and color to. It took a neighbors big tractor and help to get it loaded up. Wednesday, May 6 View Page Andy had 3 monsters last year and shed a tear when we discovered a soft spot on his 1634 Werner... it to was bright orange. Here our Dyberry Patch leader, George helps position the fruit for its final destination. The one that got away.. Andy was dreaming of that brown varsity lettermans jacket for hitting 4000 pounds... whew I am glad I dont have to see him marching around in front of me all year with that thing on! Wednesday, May 6 View Page The 1503 ended up in a great resting place.. on display at the "Umami" restaurant in Croton... maybe some of you saw it. Wednesday, May 6 View Page I didn't have a great year pumpkin wise but grew some nice mid range beuties that I was happy to sell. That eased the pain. I did grow some nice squash and with the genetic crosses I made plan to give them full attention. My * 471 from last year now has the *1177 Haist, * 895 Hester and * 996 Haist in it.. I plan to grow it. Wednesday, May 6 View Page My * 530 squash which came in 2nd at Connecticut also has some great genetics both old school and new school. Grown on an older seed the *824 Brunst 05 I crossed it with the * 996 Haist.. I am growing this one as well. The shape was flawless... long and slender with not a blemish in sight... a beauty. The squash wasnt bad either. Wednesday, May 6 View Page After the growing season, during my family's annual vacation to LongBoat Key, I met up with good friend and Florida grower Tim Caniff to catch up on some pumpkin talk and a seed exchange, Tim was nice enough to invite me out on the gulf for a little Grouper action. Thanks Tim !! Here he is holding one that didn't get away. Wednesday, May 6 View Page We had a good day.. looking forward to it next year.. nothing like fresh grouper on the grill. Here were my catch. Wednesday, May 6 View Page There is no sense in posting pics of my small plants but things are under way in Northeastern PA. My first set of plants were a lot of my own seeds so we will see which ones survive. I usually seem to lose a few along the way for some reason. It looks like the warm weather is going to be with us so hopefully they take off and I can think of an earlier pollination this year. Wednesday, May 6 View Page The year ended in a sad note for my family so the upcoming pumpkin season will be a welcomed change after the solemn winter season. A tragic Christmas night accident took my beautiful niece Vanessa from us all. She was a beautiful girl who left us way to soon. Heaven gained an angel ! It puts a lot of lifes other challenges into perspective when things like this happen. We all miss her ! Wednesday, May 6 View Page Heaven gained and Angel ! Wednesday, May 27 View Page We have had pretty good weather here in our Northeast Part of Pennsylvania and for me anyway off to a above normal start I would say. A long overdue soil test along with some amendments added hopefully will pay off. My plants look pretty good. We have survived the cold snaps so lets hope mother nature keeps the heat turned on. I see a lot of fancy hoop houses on the BP board.. I am more from the red neck what I have available school of thinking. Some are good and some are bad and ugly but they all seem to served the purpose. Here are one of the better ones. Wednesday, May 27 View Page Not bad.. Wednesday, May 27 View Page anything available class.. Wednesday, May 27 View Page simple Wednesday, May 27 View Page My plants are all looking healthy and the best are in the "thinking about laying down stage". 2 of my best are my own squash... here is the *471 Wednesday, May 27 View Page and my *530 Squash Wednesday, May 27 View Page I had to purchase a new rototiller which was needed. A little exercise is ok to and much needed I am afraid.. The patch with amendments and a fresh tilling is ready to go. Wednesday, May 27 View Page I see lots of pics on this sight of cars, and deer, fish and other non pumpkin related stuff.. I guess thats ok if it gives a little insight into the growers personalities. Its all good. Here is my entry.. a great father/son bonding day on the first day of the PA turkey season. A pair of nice longbeards while we were sitting together on the opening morning. Wednesday, May 27 View Page Time to sit back and let the pumpkins do their thing... I think every state has a "Wayne County" and Pennsylvania is no different. A newly painted sign on a wall in downtown Honesdale has jumped on the pumpkin band wagon.. Good luck growers... lets hope for a great season. Wednesday, June 17 View Page The warm nights and thunderstorms have lots of things growing in the Honesdale area... pumpkins, weeds and more weeds. There isn't much time to rest these days and hard to keep on top of things. My plants are as good as they ever have been this time of year I would say. Lets hope the good fortune may continue. My best plants or two of my own squash entries. Here is the *471. Wednesday, June 17 View Page The * 530 even has a little greenie coming out to visit. It is always comforting to see green to know that you didn't mess up the pollination. It looks like it will be a squash to me It is only around the 8 foot mark so I think I will let the sink get a little bigger and try for the next one down the line.. Wednesday, June 17 View Page The season is not without of few plant issues. I have a flat vine going on the 1870 Lieber... I couldn't take it any longer and twisted off the main bud to allow the next secondary. No knife here.. it was like a mash unit.. just grabbed and twisted. Hope she straightens out. Wednesday, June 17 View Page A trip to the Dyberry patch showed Andy's plants right where they should be.. cover crop coming in just fine and plants are filling out. Wednesday, June 17 View Page That Dyberry patch is a special place with lots of fun activities. Its campaign season and was my headquarters for this years election. Andy has been a good supporter. Wednesday, June 17 View Page Andy has his soils jacked to the max again this year.. Another blue mushroom has emerged.. resting next to a big Fulk mater and an elf taking a break. Wednesday, June 17 View Page Andy and our senior leader, George have been working hard with the mowing chores at the patch. Wednesday, June 17 View Page What to you do with some extra not pumpkin patch space.. why potatoes of course. Any fall patch guests are sure to get a taste of some of our fresh produce.. they are looking good this year! Wednesday, June 17 View Page Add some blueberries and a horse shoe pit and you have made good use of the extra space. Wednesday, June 17 View Page Its that time of year when you have to keep reminding yourself that the hard work will pay off.. there is nothing to exciting yet going on but soon the fruit will be swelling and we will be seeing all of the work paying off. I have to thank Paul Fulk for his words of wisdom while chatting at the Big Show. I have been trying to pay more attention to detail this year and doing the little things that I may have been slacking the last few seasons. If things haven't been working great the past few seasons you almost have to "start over" and see if you can get things back on track. Thanks Paul. I think things are headed in a good direction this year. The patch is looking good. I am betting something big from it this year. Tuesday, June 30 View Page It is hard to complain about to much rain when you know what California is going through. I had just tilled my patch and things were looking great when the skies decided to open up with strong winds and a day long downpour. Trenches formed, wind fence knocked down and a couple of main vines twisted. I am determined... for some reason this year, to put some more time in and do a few things differently. The wind a rain took a toll but overall the patch is ahead of other years for the end of June. Tuesday, June 30 View Page I seem to be gravitating to my squash plants. Not that I am not working as hard on the pumpkins but they seem to be responding and are my two best in the patch. I have some young pollination on my *530 and my *471 should be arriving any day now. Here is another green on the *530 at the right distance out and sitting on a curve. Tuesday, June 30 View Page I have got to remember to keep up with the little things. I didn't remove the leaf on this pollination and hadn't really paid attention that it was growing under the vine. The stress caused a small crack on the beginning of the stem and the vine. It since has been removed and dusted with sulphur. We shall see how it heals. It is 10 feet out and I was treating it as a keeper but pollinated another today a little farther down the vine so I may have a good option. I need to come up with a steady feeding program this year and stick to it for a change. I haven't done that for years and I am hoping it makes a "BIG" difference. Tuesday, June 30 View Page When people ask about the secret for growing giant pumpkins the answer is easy... hard work. It takes a lot of time and patience for sure. I give out a lot of seeds to eager growers who want to give it a try and most think that you can just stick one in your garden and you will grow a monster. I have a new tool to help my go over the top this year. When my daughter asked what I wanted for fathers day well I said I needed a new HOE. What else would a single dad say. Lauren said, " I bet you do dad.." Its nice to have your kids all grown up :) Well to my suprise my beautiful daughter suprised me with a HOE for dads special day.. love that girl! How thoughtful. Wednesday, July 8 View Page Its go time in the pumpkin world. I have some early sets for a change and some I am still waiting to pollinate. My *471 is a beast but I may have over done it with Nitrogen as its slow to throw females. The overall plant is in great shape and I am giving it lots of room. Wednesday, July 8 View Page I have one in a perfect spot on the main that I pollinated 3 days ago. Fingers crossed that it has taken. Dyberry patch gave me some magic spray to try on it so now I am a bit concerned. It was Amaryllis, Amaretto, Amnesia, Armadillo, Anthrax.. Armageddan.. or something like that. It looks like it isn't growing much so I dont know what was in that bottle. Wednesday, July 8 View Page The Dyberry Patch guy has things looking great and in the same stages as I am... big things to come for sure. Wednesday, July 8 View Page My old growing pal Rocky from Sayre stopped by. He didn't want to come in the patch for some reason. I think he may be growing again this year. Go gettem Rocky! Wednesday, July 8 View Page My old growing pal Rocky from Sayre came down to visit us. He was a bit shy and didn't want to come into the patch but it was good to see him. I think he may be growing this year again !! Good Luck Rocky. Wednesday, July 8 View Page My best plant so far with the earliest pollinations has been my *530. I think she is going to throw long well shaped squash like its momma. Here is patch dog Geordie inspecting an early cull. Wednesday, July 8 View Page I know Karl likes the hat thing so here we go.. this is my best.. a mean nice shaped green with a bad assed hunting club hat on. Go Green Go ! Thursday, July 16 View Page The Good! My *530 is one of my earlier pollinations in recent years and I am happy with the shape, color and growth rate at this point in the game. Thursday, July 16 View Page The Bad! Some of the earliest stem splits have developed. With a cool night at 50 degrees the split has increased. There is one on the top and one on the bottom. A sulphur application and a fan will try to keep it at a standstill but it is touching the meat already and has me feeling optimistic at best! A frustrating hobby. No other confirmed pollinations on one of my biggest plants, so my fingers are crossed. Friday, August 7 View Page Some good things going on and some bad things going on here in Honesdale. Plenty of cool nights and no rain have the pumpkins in low gear. My *530 squash which developed stem splits... went to the cavity and is now a mush pile. This BES was not good either. Friday, August 7 View Page UHHHHH that one looked pretty good.. this was the bad one. I hope. Friday, August 7 View Page I have a 1870 Lieber that I can't keep anything on it. I was going to let a few "cash Cows" grow for sale and they all turn to mush on me :( Friday, August 7 View Page On the brighter side I have a few good things growing at my home patch. A 440 Sandercock that is unusually pale for the seed but has a nice shape. "Anthesis" applied to this one. Friday, August 7 View Page Another 440 with the more traditional shape and color. Maybe a HD out there somewhere? Friday, August 7 View Page I'm definately going Green in the patch this year. MY Anthesis applied *471 was slow to grow but putting on weight now. It was a July 5th pollination I believe. I like the color! Friday, August 7 View Page My * 530 which I have named "Elsie" or LC or Last Chance is a watermelon shape that could be a real dark horse. At only 22 days old it has some impressive numbers. It has the whole plant behind it as the main was terminated after this one. It was the last chance for a squash after the early pollination developed the stem splits and rotted. Fingers crossed... this one could be interesting if we get some nice weather to push it along. It also has a nice Green shade to her. Friday, August 7 View Page Andy has had some issues at the dyberry patch as well.. it is a lonely hobby sometimes. Here is a good one on my 996.. Pumpkin dog Gretta likes it too. Friday, August 7 View Page He has some big boys hiding under those sheets !! Friday, August 7 View Page OK>>> we do have a couple of good ones going and maybe just a showdown for a HD to boot... Andy loves that 1317 Clementz... its being good to him again!! Friday, August 7 View Page My best is at my moms patch... another orange one on my 942 Sandercock. I named the mother Sophia "Vegara" a few years ago and this little girl looks exactly like her momma ! The shape of a runway model. Thin shoulders, slim mid section and what a blossom end. I am gonna name her Sophia as well. Lets hope it keeps on. Its all or nothing for this one. The other plant was pulled, the other pumpkin was cut off... so if I ever was gonna get a new PB and a 4 digit pumpkin.. this may be my best shot. She is a beauty. Wednesday, September 23 View Page I have been slacking on my entries so I better catch up before I take some weigh off shots. Its that time of year where good things can happen and some bad things usually do. I lost a nice HD contender and a saleable one for sure.. Wednesday, September 23 View Page My Dyberry Patch friend also has lost a beauty! A big 1623 Wallace... uggggghhh Wednesday, September 23 View Page This monster was never intended to be the keeper.. but when the main vine fruit aborted there was no going back. It was about 3 feet out on the main, third secondary and over about 4 feet.. you can grow a big pumpkin close to the stump for sure. It was a beast.. Wednesday, September 23 View Page RIP 1623... Wednesday, September 23 View Page Dyberry Andy has always dreamed of one of those fancy brown Varsity style jacket that you see those pumpkin growers wearing... the 1623 has put a damper on the plans but there still may be hope. The surprise of the patch has been a never grown seed.. and one of mine. The 996 Sandercock; it apparantley has huge potential.. little did we know. Its a monster! Wednesday, September 23 View Page Its been another good summer at the Dyberry patch. Our leader "George" has a new ride to get around the patch.. TC is sooooo jealous. Wednesday, September 23 View Page My mom and George have come to the traditional Wednesday nite dinners at the patch.. and have been busy discussing us.. It is great to have them enjoy our hobby! Wednesday, September 23 View Page I have a weed problem... well you know what I mean. With nothing exceptional at my home patch it has been easy to let the weeds take over and well, give up on the work end of it. I do have some green to take somewhere.. (Note.. these are older pictures). I love the shape and color of both squash off of my seeds. Here is the *530 Wednesday, September 23 View Page My * 471 thumps like a rock and ..... anthesis applied.. wow.. Wednesday, September 23 View Page I also have a long gourd this year and grew some nice "Maters" thanks to Paul and Cheryl for the seeds. No world records but good sized and tasty! Wednesday, September 23 View Page Well the hopes of a new PB and 4 digits lies in my shapely "Sophia".. she has the nicest lady bumps that you can imagine.. Wednesday, September 23 View Page A nice stem too ! Wednesday, September 23 View Page The scales will have to tell... sometimes these pretty girls don't like to weigh heavy but just a little bit would be nice! Wednesday, September 23 View Page Dont tell TC or Andy... I found the secret! Sophia loves a sunset cocktail of this stuff.. Wednesday, September 23 View Page Well its time to think about harvesting a weigh offs. I sold a few to Roba's Family Farm for their display. I miss that spot for a weigh off!!! Finding a weigh off close by is as hard as growing these things. Wednesday, September 23 View Page TC even has a 500 lb plus this year. He has been asking a lot of questions and been pushing Andy's buttons a little too much. I guess we will take him to a weigh off site.. if he is good! Good luck all... hope to see you at a weigh off somewhere.