Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 128 Entries. Sunday, February 10 View Page I think I got my 3 carvings and mojo tokens of good will ready for 2013. lol. the aquaman body and captain America head combo is a new addition. game on georgie. Sunday, February 17 View Page 2013 intended lineup up is set depending on seed germination and health of those that do successfully sprout. the 1495 in number one honey hole with a 1404 backup next to it to compete for the spot. the 1381 in my number 2 spot with a 1421.5 backup to compete against it. and the 3rd and final spot will grow an 1135 sliwka. I am starting 6 and will pick best 4. the best of those 2 will go side by side with the next 2 best outside of those to compete also. the healthiest most vigorous of them once laid down will gets its chance. there is a final chapter to the 1135 story that needs to be written ... I will do my damndest to make it happen in a BIG way!!! Tuesday, March 19 View Page the shazzydome has been laid to rest. it losts its structural integrity and was too risky to use in storms and in the later removal process. it was fun while lasted and the 3 season I used it I grew 1493, 1354, 1209, 1156 and 1097. I say I got my moneys worth in memories alone. before I went to the bar sunday for st. paddy's I set up my old 8 year greenhouses that are 6 x 10 feet. I took advantage of the 2 inches of frost to set them up with out compacting wet soil covered in rye. then added another layer of visqueen. these old greenhouses have some tears and holes and entrance zippers broke but can be wired closed easily. therefore this second layer will help prevent frost from chasing deep with low of 14 last night and going to 10 degrees tonight. soil cables will be used and only planting area under greenhouses will be ammended early when installing cables 3 weeks. long term temps show winter is here still until april. Saturday, March 30 View Page one soil cable in and greenhouse put back in place. I weed whacked the cover crop and broadforked the soil 3 times over the past 2 days of good weather drying out the ground to make it easier to shovel. today dug down 10" a little smaller than the size of the greenhouse and through all the dirt on plywood surrounding removed soil. then broadforked the subsoil nice loosening and fracturing any hardpan. in went the coil and dirt and tons of worms. all clumps of rye removed in process. I will add ammendments carefully to upper 6 inches only and incorporate with hoe to avoid hitting cables. the other section is ready and will be done tomorrow. you can see I protected loose drier soil with visquuen to prevent tonights rain from soaking it. the other greenhouse put off to the side will go back in place when completed. used waterproof patching pieces to fix all small holes or tears in greenhouses and washed them down nice today too to get full advantage of the sun. warmer temps on horizon...but long range forecasts show it cold again mid to late april. the cables and removing cover crop in planting holes should take care of corn seed maggots which are tougher to deal with in cold springs. the rest of patch will be tilled and ammended when dry enough to work. Tuesday, April 2 View Page soil cables in both greenhouses complete. soil temp this morning at 6" deep without spaceheater running yet was 60 degrees and the rest of patch was frozen with temps last night of 22. long term forecasts in later april are predicted to be colder than normal. for this reason I will weed whack cover crop 7' around greenhouses and remove with rake and toss to the sides. then broadfork a few times this week flipping and drying. then till and ammend this 7' wide area before next weeks rainy pattern. this will ensure that the cover crop within at least 10' from planting spots will be completely broken down. I do not want corn seed maggots in the soil close to greenhouses migrating to the nice warm loose soil in the greenhouses. the rest of patch will leave the cover crop to suppress weeds and then till and ammend when plants start running. Thursday, April 11 View Page glad I got the cover crop removed and areas around greenhouses tilled before this weeks rains. inside the greengouses the soil cables are helping to keep soil warm this cold week without any sun. leaves are just opening on bushy plants. weird spring to say the least. ammendments will go down in greengouses and hoed in shallow and added only in tilled areas when soil dries. the rest of cover crop will be innoculated with some left over mykos by broadforking some holes and sprinkling it in the root zone and till it an ammend probably the third week of may to june window dictated by the weather. also glad my ammendments weren't added early and lost in this weeks rains. gonna be an interesting season. 9 days til I start my seeds. Thursday, April 11 View Page here is a picture from april 1st when I started the giant tomatoes. 3.23 and 2.94 shenohas, 2.39 Ryan my buddy Ray grew last year. also for George J. I started a 4.32 Hunt, a couple 3.49 Timm and some 3.2 Demars. Thursday, April 11 View Page and here are the sprouts as of yesterday. I raised the light for the picture and then put it back down to one inch above sprouts to avoid legginess. also have a fsn behind me in the pic gently strengthening them up. the mylar drapped over the light and down the sides of plants helps maximize the light from this simple flourescent set up. also have the heat mat under set at 74 cuz cool in basement still. normally they would be going into my solarium about now but way to cold and crappy for that for a while. Friday, April 19 View Page 6" of rain in one day and major flooding yesterday night and snow flakes this morning. go figure. but planting spots are dry and 2 spacers are running in each greenhouse besides the soil cables also. which mean 4 extension cords running out my window from different outlets to avoid tripping circuits. one cord with a splitter works the soil cable and one 1500 watt heater. the other cord just gets one 1500 watt heater. I can hold night time temps over 55 if near freezing outside. to do this I needed to clamp visqueen to the fronts to seal tighter due to busted zippers on old green house doors. 40 mph cold gusts and cloudt and 80 degrees in there in day. gonna leave buttoned tight with heaters on high for next 8 days. tomorrow is go time on seed starting. 2013....what will she bring? Saturday, April 20 View Page pumpkin seeds are soaking and pre heated 5" pots full of seed starter mix are waiting in the humidity domes with themostat sensor placed at seed level set for 87. 3 more hours for total of 5 hours soak time and the seeds will get a light dusting of captan and planted in pots. temps will be monitored all weekend with a calibrated glass thermometer I use for work. I will tweak set up to add more heat or less as the next 2 critical of mother hen work is in order. since it is too chilly in solarium for tomatoes now that pumpkins are top priority in grow room downstairs, and I also do not want to keep opening and closing greenhouses with heaters running...I decided to hang an extra high pressure sodium grow light from the kitchen ceiling fan with a side fan blowing on them. let the madness begin!!!! Tuesday, April 23 View Page success. 1495 stelts, 1381 checkon, 1421.5 stelts, 3-1092 naylor 2011, and 8-1135 sliwka 2010 are all up and seed coats helped off today. the 1495 had the cots stuck together and one of the cot edges was slightly overlapping the top of the other. it took a little persuasion with my fingernail to get them separated and the top quarter of one the cots cracked off in the process of getting them seperated. this same cot looks like it will be ugly and has a thin spot in center that may form a hole in it as it grows. most likely why the quarter tip cracked off while seperating them. seen it becore and this shouldnt be a problem as the 991 urena that grew my 1493 had a thin spot on one cot that formed a hole and I have seen this many times before. I am just glad to get it up and into the light to let it prove itself against the 1421.5 stelts going next to it. the best 1092 naylor will go up against the 1381 for honey hole number 2. 1092 is a 20% heavy 991 x my 1725 harp that produced 1097. it grew gene mcmullens 1451 last year in toughest year ever so proud to let it compete for a chance. and the 1135s were the first up and best 4 will compete for spot number 3. 1135 is 985 werner x 1119 mcmullen. It has the power and hoping for BiG things from it and which ever plants win the other 2 spots. game on. Thursday, April 25 View Page with the wettest april in history of chicago and close to record coldest, the cover crop has still grown nicely and will get chopped to 2 inches high this weekend. its well over a foot tall in warmest spots along fence line and close to 12" on this south end. its shortest closer to house where shaded from morning sun. it has prevented erosion and will be left in for weed suppession until plants start dictating when to stop mowing it and eventually till under and ammend these perimeter areas. it is 40 degrees with cold wind this morning and green house air temp at 6 am was 68 degrees and soil temp 74 with cables doing there thing. spring will finally be here this weekend and misting heads will go above transplants to be used if needed. small pieces of shade cloth will be used in greenhouses to acclimate when 75 degree temps next week means it will be at least 90 in greenhouses. silly spring. silly hobby. silly shaz. lol. Saturday, April 27 View Page I have decided to wait until tuesday evening to transplant sprouts into greenhouses. 2 days will not hurt and I will be much safer with temps on tuesday forecasted for 80. this way I will not risk toasting them in hot greenhouses while working. I will acclimate them in shade during work hours monday and tuesday while at work and give them doses of full sun after 4 pm today and tomorrow a.m. and p.m. doses of full sun and in shade in middle of day. today inside the greenhouses I used my stirrup hoe and rake and carefully incorporated in the top 6 inches without hitting soil cables some gypsum, azomite, and dr. earth organic 7 all purpose 4-4-4 organic fertilizer containing fish bone meal, cottonseed meal, alfalfa meal, feather meal, mined potassium sulfate, kelp meal, and seaweed extract along with pro-biotic endo and ecto myc. at transplant I will incorporate into the base and spoils of planting holes diatamaceous earth, granular systemic merit and bonide insecticide granular called "eight". there are a few corn seed maggot flies hatched and flying in greenhouses but not enough to know the first round isn't done hatching. 3 hot sunny days in greenhouses before tuesday transplant should help them hatch and the the insecticides above and plant collers made of cut off tops of 12" pots will hopefully do the trick. Saturday, April 27 View Page forgot to mention I liked seeing my friends the worms and centipedes enjoying the warmed soil inside greenhouses while doing my work. the soil food web is getting into the swing of things.....nice! Wednesday, May 8 View Page the four 1135 Sliwka plants...only the best wins the spot and I turn the greenhouse long wise. no wind and high uv dry east wind meant the greenhouses where elevated on 3" brucks and two fans pulling outside air tilted up and pointed opposite to circulate and spin hot air up and out. I also used mini shade cloth today over the plants and watered thoroughly last night knowing today would be hot. only 79 but real feel 89 and high uv. this pic was at 4 pm after work and after pulling back shade cloth. I pull the 4 bricks, drop them down and unplug fans and plug in pelonis heaters. Monday, May 13 View Page 1135 sliwka plants battling for the plot. peace be with you Greg..lol. Monday, May 13 View Page the runt 1495 closest to me starting to kick in gear....from 1st gear to second with the 1421.5 competing against it for plot to the left. then the 1381 checkon beauty is third followed by 1092 naylor beauty battling for plot to the right. Monday, May 13 View Page giant tomatos in solarium. I keep the best 6. the rest I give away to friends to try to beat. none of them have yet.. lol. one year I won with 2.94 over my buddy Tommy the Bartender's 2.93....they are catching on and its fun.....shits n giggles and bragging rights fun... and 5 dollars a person in the contest winner takes all. nice! Wednesday, May 29 View Page 1381 coming at us....1421.5 going opposite Wednesday, May 29 View Page 1135 slwika keeper. the fourth true leaf snuck under main to wrong side and got whacked. this causes main to want to rock and roll in wind and if buried to stabilize that stalk remains hidden in soil and has rotted un-noticed on me before and onto the main. no biggie as the others grow larger and fill gap. very strong plant and harder to keep main down. Wednesday, May 29 View Page 3 of my 2.94 shenoha plants and 3 of my 3.23 shenoha plants which were grown off the 2.94. Wednesday, May 29 View Page tornado sirens were blaring last night in Joliet and small pea size hail but plants look great this morning in this set up with tall silt fences and a shade cloth canopy high enough for me to work around plants but low enough with edges tied down low to help buffer winds. 2" of pounding rains in an hour and half last night and luckily no larger hail and winds only up to 45 mph. Friday, June 14 View Page 1135 Sliwka with female at 12' opening in about 6 days. thick vine....big leaves....shorter gaps between leaf junctions. strong plant fo sho. Friday, June 14 View Page yesterdays pic of long and lean 1421.5 coming at us with 1381 checkon adjacent going away from us. pollinated a nice 5 lober at 10.5' on 1421.5 with the 1381 this morning. got a female at 15' hoping to be the one and then hook my main vine to curve away from female as run out of room at 20' and run main parallel to last row of secondaries. got a female on 1381 at 10' as insurance set opening in about 3 days and hopefully keeper female will be the one gonna sit about 14' and make that turn of main way from that female as I only have 20' total that way too. Monday, June 17 View Page looking out window yesterday at 1421.5 foreground with 1381 going other way. mini shade cloth and fans on the 6-14 pollination at 10.5' on 1421.5 you can see if zoomed in and a fan and mini shade cloth over 10' female on 1381 selfed yesterday morning. hopefully they both take for insurance sets. later this week the 15.5' female on 1421.5 and 14' female on 1381 will be pollinated as the mains with those females are safely down to the ground where females are located. got first pollination at 12' on 1135 tomorrow or next day and another female that will sit about 15.5'to pollinate next week. finger crossing time of year as hope those prime females set. Wednesday, June 19 View Page pollinated the 12' female yesterday with 1381. nice 4 lober. the 5 day old female on the 1421.5 is still shiney and grew more in stem length and was on the ground yesterday so looks to have hopefully set. 3 day old female at 10' on 1381 is growing and still shiney so fingers crossed there with at least one pollinated on each plant. no big s curves for these earlier insurance sets. last year's 1354 at 11.5' was insurance pumpkin with little curve and short stem so that has been dealt with before. now all three prime pollinations will be in high heat 90 plus temps. ice bottles and fans ready. 3 svbs in traps so iwill spray tonight with backpack pump sprayer on last cool night for a while. more misting heads will be added to fill out patch to help cool soil from reflective heat. stihl fogger will come out next week after heat breaks with fungicide mix as hot and humid equals disease. Wednesday, June 19 View Page 1135 at 12' was pollinated yesterday that should have read Thursday, June 20 View Page 1421.5 at prime 15.5' on a nice curve pollinated this morning with 1381. a 5 lober....not pretty...overlapping twisted lobes....but so far never had problems with pumpkins set with scrambled ugly segments once and if they set. fan blowing over ice bottle on female under a white table. hopefully she takes as only high 80s today. silt fences down and misting over whole patch set up last night will help keep plants and soil and air cooler around recent sets and future sets. Saturday, June 22 View Page pollinated the prime 1381 at about 14' on a nice curve this morning with the 1421.5 before the rains are coming again. heavy soaker yesterday but no wind or hail. hoping the cloud cover keeps temps down today and she sets. 1135 in prime 15' spot should open tomorrow. all other sets still shiney and growing. going to go get more fans today so the insurance earlier sets and prime location sets will have fan on them 24-7 for this weeks heat spell. 3 extension cords with a splitter for each equals 6 fans in the patch. silly hobby. Monday, June 24 View Page things were going too good and I have been getting too lucky dodging bullets from wicked storms in the area recently that I knew eventually a monkey wrench to show. this pic from inside house is of the 1421.5 coming at me and 1381 going opposite way. seems the energy of the plants combined with all the nitrogen filled rain lightening storms have turned my secondaries into sky reachers on the 1381 and 1135. the 1421.5 has been the easiest trainable carefree plant since the get go. the 1135 with thick curvey vines has been tough to try and keep down and the 1381 has been medium manageable. mains and secondaries on those 2 have needed continual adjustmentsts with bamboo every morning and evening to prevent upward curling reaching vines. yesterday I snapped a secondary on the 1135 training it down. this morning after heavy rains and wind I found 2 older strong thick secondarie cracked on their own on the 1381 growing straight up over night. in the process of trying to ease 2 other secondaries younger and about 7 and 8 feet long side be side on the same side of plant. in picture they are heading towards fence to the right. Doh! 66 degree and barely any pressure and snap. so next one I was more careful...but not same kit glove treatment mains get...snap...I yelled at the sky, "are you kidding me?" so I now have to get creative to use tertiaries and angled back secondaries for more leaves after having 4 total secondaries on the same side of the plant. also the female at 15' on 1135 didn't open as expected yesterday and today its luster is gone and petals never opened so it aborted. better news is the 12' 1135 is laid down and still shiney on day 6. next try will be at 20' next week if I can keep main under control. insurance set on 1421.5 grew 4" circ from day 9 to day 10 and is only 20.5" but should be on way if its needed. 1421.5 at 15.5' 4 days old laid down this morning. 1381 sets still shiney too. Wednesday, June 26 View Page this pic was taken after propping up all rolled vines and getting all the ruffled feathers back in place after 60 mph dercho bow echo hit 2 nights ago. I find it easier to lift and support each leaf by over or underlapping adjoining leaves of unrolled vines. then keep working line by line until all up and adding soil to support and cover taps that uprooted when rolled. I add 8' stakes along sides of 3 or 4 leaf stalks on an accute angle into the ground on both sides of severe rolled vines. and use a long 10' pole to flap back folded over leaf tops and basically reach in and gently nudge leaves with pole to under or overlap. mother hen putting feathers in order. today you wouldn't know a storm hit. I got 20 or so leaves total for all 3 plants that bent at base and split. they were left in place and will get pruned before powdery mildew gets the eventually or rot sets into split stalks. patch needs to dry out first. weeds need addressing after rains stop also. with all the rain I believe plants having harder time taking up p and k as the small pumpkins are off to very slow start and prime female at 15.5' didn't have enough juices and stopped growing after day 4 with 10.5 footer taking all of the juices in plant.so foliar 3-18-18 was foliar fed last night and every night until things dry up. self pollinated another on 1421.5 at 21' this morning. Wednesday, June 26 View Page plants really responded nice to 3-18-18 and advanced nutrient humic product called "ancient earth". thanks joe....it will be added to all future insecticide/fungicide combo sprays. another 1.25 inches of rain this morning prior to pic. note to self....don't delay on foliar feeding during long term heavy rain events. all the research I found today on line explains how hard it is for saturated soil to uptake P and K. mineralization shut down. foliar will put 95% of all absorbed nutrients in the entire plant to the farthest root tip in 60 minutes. I love that stat from the dept. of agriculture. Friday, June 28 View Page pollinated the 1381 with the 1421.5 yesterday at 19' out. the 15 foot female on 1381 is 6 days old still shiney and grew another inch over night and the insurance set at 10' was culled this morning. got to get juices going to the desired one. thought about it in the shower before work after early morning patch work and said what the hell...now or never and with it only being 23.5" on day 12 it made the decision easier. if the 6 day old aborts for some reason and the 19' didn't take in 90 degree heat yesterday then I will have a 23' female opening in up coming cooler temps. made a home with mill fabric for 1135 at 12' that was 22.5" day 10 this a.m. due to 15' female aborting this 12' keeper has to be treated as the one. another try at 20' will open in cooler upcoming temps. 1421.5 keeper at 10.5' is only 36" circ. on day 14 a.m. but averaged 4.33" circ the past 3 days from day 11 to 14. yesterday was first day of sun in 4 days and no heavy rains yesterday along with violent wind recovery so slower early growth is understandable. also first 3 days after pollination had night temps in upper 40s/lower 50s and 70 for highs. since the 15.5' aborted I had to treat the 10.5' like the keeper and has mill fabric down. if 21 footer that's 2 days old takes and grows at a much faster rate early then it may win the spot. that goes for the 1135 at 20' also. tough hobby...tough decisions. Sunday, June 30 View Page my dad is a retired golf club designer who worked for Wilson and now designs in retirement for Tour Edge. Bo Jackson was over twice this week as my Dad re-shafted and re-gripped his clubs for a Fourth of July tournament they are playing together in. too funny. Bo is so down to earth that they hang out after golfing on a regular basis. after mom's triple bi-pass and his mother, my grandma, passing away a couple months ago, I think he deserves it. Sunday, June 30 View Page this is the 1135 keeper at 12' on day 12. doing 4" circ per day the past 2. self pollinated a beautiful 5 lober at 20' this morning in cool temps as insurance. this one should be on its way but ya never know with human error or animals. I won't let the 20 footer grow too large before culling it if the 12 footer shows itself to be the one over the next 5 days or so. delicate balancing act of sink/source relationships. tables have been replaced with white t shirts during the cool spell over next 4 days. they will get warmer this way...retain some heat...and then get blanketed at night as temps will be mid 50s or lower the next 4 nights. the cooler temps should slow growth a bit and it will be interesting if a slower start will lead to a longer peak growth or just smaller pumpkins. so often is the case in our high heat my half life growth total weight is day 37 estimate or below. it would nice to keep the larger pound peak growth longer for a change. time will tell. dark green thick main and white color should equal heavy. Sunday, June 30 View Page this is the 8 day old set at 15' on the 1381 at 18" circ. the 10 footer I culled was 19" on day 10 so the decision seems so far to be the correct one. I gave it a home with mill fabric and a white t shirt and have at least one set per plant now that will most likely be the "ones". Sunday, June 30 View Page and here is the 1421.5 pumpkin at 10.5' on day 16. just about grew 5" circ since yesterday on a cool cloudy rainy day so it should start ramping up. sitting at a good 90 to the main and long stem should help later on cuz a good curve wasn't put in on this early set that was insurance set. I was hoping for 13-16 feet out but it doesn't always go as planned in this hobby...to say the least...lol. but it is a pretty one so far. the dark morning sky makes the color in pic seems more yellow in pic than naked eye. got some scratches from me accidently rubbing edges of mill fabric for character. never had a scar free pumpkin. Wednesday, July 3 View Page the patch is set. 1421.5 x 1381 at 10.5'. gonna be a tall orange wheel I believe. 20.5" on day 10 and averaging 4.4 circ since this morning on day 19 with a jump to 5.5" circ since yesterday a.m. very pretty so far so it is now known as "sunshine". the 1135 x 1381 at 12' was 22.5" circ on day 10 and averaged 4.4" circ since now on day 15. and the 1381 x 1421.5 at 15' was 24" circ on day 10. since it has been cloudy and cool and choices finalized...I pruned all remaining male flowers that were in development stage. more energy directed to the primary sink...seemed like good timing without overloading energy. Friday, July 5 View Page once in a while a leaf at the end of a terminated secondary will just amaze you....1421.5 leaf Friday, July 5 View Page after some contimplation.....more like crossed eyed beer induced vision the 1135 pumpkin will be known as "Moby". Saturday, July 6 View Page 1381 x 1421.5 at 15' at 14 days old today....nothing crazy in size but ramping up a bit since warm sunny days returned yesterday...it will now be known as " Checky" or "Checkaroo" or the "The Checkster"..... Saturday, July 6 View Page "Moby" on the 1135 x 1381 at 12' at 18 days. she is growing nicely despite last week was the coolest in that late june/early july time frame in over 80 years. White as can be.....nice!!! Saturday, July 6 View Page and here is "Sunshine" on the 1421.5 x 1381 at 10.5' at 22 days. no record breaker here but she sho' is purdy so far. Saturday, July 13 View Page looking out my window tonight. in the foreground is "sunshine" on the 1421.5 x the 1381 on day 29 evening. this is the slowest grower of the patch. nice stretch of weather with lots of sun on the way. this is why we do it to ourselves. doubled up shade cloth will be covered with silver reflective top/bottom color white tarps if and when temps go over 88 along with up ward tilted 12" vornado fans under canopy to help expel hot air under tarp and helps keep tarp and pumpkin cooler too. lots of watering equals me staying on my toes for powdery mildew prevention. Sunday, July 14 View Page Here is "Checky" today on 1381 x 1421.5 on day 22. 24" circ. on day 10 to 85" on day 22 means it should see 4 digits if all goes well. Sunday, July 14 View Page "Moby" on the 1135 x 1381 on day 26 today at 103.5" circ. after being only 22.5" on day 20. very nice grower so far and tracking close to 1200 pound chart at this time. hoping it keeps up the nice pace and its white color and heavy genetics gives it some good poundage on the scale if all goes well. Sunday, July 14 View Page and here is "sunshine" on the 1421.5 x 1381 on day 30 today at 114" circ. it was only 20.5" on day 10 and only 65" on day 20 which means it averaged 4.9 inches per day from day 20 to day 30. nice!. Sunday, July 14 View Page correction: the 1135 was 22.5" on day 10...not day 20...lol Sunday, July 21 View Page can you say "suck"? wow did this infestation show its ugly head hard today. stylet oil tonight in the 3 hot zones I found. amazingly fast producing critters....all I can do is try to subdue them. contain. eradication once cololnized is very tough. I will allow more pop up secondaries as they prefer older leaves and I have early sets and will need as many leaves as possible cuz 68 days until weigh off. Wednesday, July 24 View Page here is a self portrait pic I came across again this morning. yes I have too much time on my hands....lol. Saturday, July 27 View Page "sunshine" day 43 today Saturday, July 27 View Page sweet smooth shiney bootie...lol...baby got back! Saturday, July 27 View Page "Moby" today on day 39. Saturday, July 27 View Page "Moby" today on day 39 from it's tail end....argh does she look like she is gonna be a heavy beast. Saturday, July 27 View Page and wtf? who has been sitting on my boy "Checky"? Checky just got a new nickname "Squat" This is "Squat" on day 35. it has a vine split running with vine almost like growth split from the stem to 4" towards stump. no stress, just a growth thing that weeps s bit then heals. weirdo. Saturday, July 27 View Page side view of "Squat" on day 35. both "Squat" on 1381 and "Sunshine" on 1421 are crossed into each other. might make some freaky shaped pumpkins of a variety of colors...lol Thursday, August 1 View Page nice tomato huh?....but........ Thursday, August 1 View Page .. it was plural....tomatoes....one stem in forked at the end with 2 side by side megablooms.....doh!!!! if they ain't all connected then tomato is tomatoes. I got a couple other nice ones going but about a week ago I realized there was some play when adjusting and realized they were not all connected...didn't have the heart to put it on the scale to see what could have been. Saturday, August 3 View Page day 50 for "sunshine" on the 1421.5 is 161-102-99= 362" ott. and estimated at 1041 lbs on the 2013 chart or 994 lbs by the 2005 chart. averaged 27 pounds per day this past cool mostly cloudy week. thumps like a balloon but still a pretty pumpkin so far. Saturday, August 3 View Page "squat" day 42 is 302" ott or 618 lbs estimate and averaged 18 lbs per day this past week. Saturday, August 3 View Page moby on day 46 is 150-90ss-93sb =333" ott or estimated at 823 pounds and averaged 20 lbs per day the past week. Saturday, August 3 View Page the white whale is getting creme colored and trying to grow a God Damn tail....lol....or a nose...thumps like a rock already. Saturday, August 3 View Page sunshine tonight with late day sun on day 50 Saturday, August 3 View Page stem side view of sunshine day 50 Saturday, August 3 View Page sunshine rear angle side bootie shot day 50 Saturday, August 3 View Page full ass shot of sunshine day 50. blankets and tarps are now on all 3 at 7 pm as it going down to 54 tonight. Saturday, August 3 View Page this is one giant bushel gourd plant that I hope to get multiple round ones hanging of a varity of sizes for my artist friends to make things out of them. cool when they bloom at night. Saturday, August 3 View Page baby bushel gourds just starting to take....got a later start on gourds this year with cold spring. Saturday, August 3 View Page long neck swan gourds now running on top of solarium and on ivy Saturday, August 3 View Page baby swans also just starting to take Saturday, August 3 View Page tallest sunflower on edge of good pumpkin patch and tomato soil over 10' tall and just starting to head. these seeds came from my biggest last year. Monday, August 12 View Page sunshine day 59 tonight Monday, August 12 View Page ass end of sunshine at 59 days old tonight... 382" ott means it has cracked the 1200 mark and estimated at 1203 lbs on the 2013 chart. 17 a day the past 9.5 days. Saturday, August 17 View Page "Moby" the white whale off the 1135 Sliwka must be eating salmon...cuz she has gone pinkish salmon color as she ages. today at day 60 she just cracked the 4 digit mark. Saturday, August 17 View Page She is gnarley lumpy bulging beast..."Moby" day 60 Saturday, August 17 View Page tallest sunflower in bloom at over 12' tall...that's a 6 foot fence for size reference. over beer bottle thick stalk half way up the plant. I will save the seeds from this head for next year. Saturday, August 17 View Page giant bushel gourds hanging off fence for birdhouses that my buddy "biker mike" makes. this plant is very healthy and vines being trained around back of garage to grow in lilies and weeds besides the hangers on fence. Saturday, August 17 View Page trying to keep these hanging bushel gourds as symetrical as possible for the birdhouses. also this one had too much weight pulling down on the seconday vine it is on that went the fence before taking and was starting to kink so I slung it in extra shade cloth tied off to the fence with galvanized tie wire. will do the same for the other hangers when the approach volleball size like this one. thanks for the seeds Georgie!!! Saturday, August 17 View Page beautiful giant bushel gourd plant from my alley view looking down my fence line and neighbors fence. flowers that opened last night were still open for this early chilly 52 degree morning. blankets and tarps over the pumpkins at night and removed each morning has been a regular routine all week. Saturday, August 17 View Page here is my tomato I will call "boner"....lol....in honor if its weirdo protrusion that has been there since the get go and getting larger...lol. this tomato is off my 2.94 shenoha 2011 which came off the 4.04 j/b. it pulled the plant down low enough for me to support her with a stack of styrofome squares about 2 weeks ago. it grew 1" circ. the past 8.5 days and no blushing yet. Saturday, August 17 View Page another view of this fatty Monday, August 19 View Page so i am wslking by one of my 2.94 Shenoha 2011 plants I gave up on a while ago and let explode with uncontrolled growth and I only watered regularly due to not setting a megabloom at under 5'...and down deep in the weeds and jungle I found this cluster...this best re-inactment of original cluster Monday, August 19 View Page and out of that cluster came this 2.92 megabloom....this lack of knowledge-christmas-like unknown tomato made me h as ppy as hell. but pissed I didn't give this girl the entire cluster energy...you can't see it all. but I should know better. Monday, August 19 View Page oh so close!!!! maybe 4 lbs next year...new pb is cool though!!!! 3.95 Shenoha 2013 off my 2.94 shenoha 2011 off 4.04 j/b. my 2.94 has now produced 2.92, 3.23 last year, and this 3.95 Monday, August 19 View Page my 1421.5 stelts pumpkin was 2" smaller circ at day 10...lol...good mater Friday, August 23 View Page one my oldest...truest...steadiest of friends hanging out with one of my new friends.... .... a 155.5 lb nuienwehoff bushel gourd progeny that slung as it is will be a beauty..which is my goal...asthetically shaped giants for my friend to make birdhouses out of.. and the shade cloth slings are working very nice on the 2 setss...one bigger than this. no tap roots...just main stump in the raised bed off back of deck. got 18 long neck speckled swan gourds hanging off fence with a variety of shapes and sizes....the hanging makes for better aesthetics for the birdhouses Friday, August 30 View Page question.....how big is a bushel? I think this youngin double slung to a chain link anchored fence will make a nice bongo to my brother George J. Props to George for many dedicated years for Illinois giant pumpkin growing. He has been the proverbial backbone of Illinois giants. Himself and family has graciously hosted every meeting. They as a unit run the weigh off. and have produced one of the funniest video giant pumpkin clips I still laugh at again and again. it's been a blast Georgie...so proud to call you and your family my good friends....cheers Sunday, September 1 View Page good morning "sunshine". day 79 for the 1421.5 stelts pumpkin. Sunday, September 1 View Page sunshine's wide hips and ass keep pushing out and back towards blossom end. Sunday, September 1 View Page side view of sunshine day 79. plant still healthy and still throwing terts with more new leaves being added daily. grass weeds don't mean much to me and help buffer old leaves from wind damage and suck up excess rain. we had 55 mph winds 2 days ago and heavy rain which the deep rooting grass weeds should help buffer an over load to my old plants. big 1" hail yesterday tracking directly at Joliet blew apart right before it hot here. small hail close by but none here. lucky. I had pumpkins covered in thick comforters and tarps. 88 degrees today and finally the heat ends tonight with more storms expected. sunshine was 398 ott last week or 1338 lbs on day 72 and averaged 11 per day day 60 to day 72. Sunday, September 1 View Page This was a ....well well well pumpkin on pop up tert on 1135... plant still very healthy.. .little muddy underneath when I shouldered it and walked back out on boards...after I set it aside I thought it looked kinda like "wilson" from that dumb ass castaway....lol....hope the 4 digit one is heavy like this little one....this is the white whale shape of the 20 percent heavy producing 1135 slwika...big nose.. Sunday, September 8 View Page moby on the 1135 sliwka is estimated at 1057 lbs on day 82 and done growing in estimate areas...still slowly bulging in blossom nose and upper corner shoulders. I think based on its genetics, its look, and past progeny it will go over 1200 lbs. sunshine on the 1421.5 has added a pleasantly surprising 103 lbs over the past 2 weeks and sitting 190-112-108 or 410" ott and estimated at 1441 lbs this morning day 86. 3 weeks from today and don't expect much more...hoping for a few more inches ott by then. right now its the second largest size wise pumpkin I have ever grown. I will not be suprised if she goe way light based on color and thump but still hoping it goes over 1500. that will hopefully be determined in 3 weeks from today if she makes it to scale. what ever she weighs, she has brought me many smiles these past 86 days....to me....that it what its all about. just enjoying the process...an being amazed again and again. Saturday, September 14 View Page where is the other half? "squat" at 83 days old on the 1381 checkon is sitting at 159-102-90(lol) weirdo low wider wheel. Saturday, September 14 View Page here's winking at you kid. hoping for heavy and maybe get all 3 plants produce 4 digits.. that would be a first to get 4 digits out of 3 of 3 plants in a 2200 sq ft backyard. stems healthy on all 3 with lots of tert growth let to go wild. 2 weeks from today they get loaded and delivered to bengtsons so I can help all early comers on sunday morning get unloaded and feel welcomed...and then put them to work.....lol. just kidding there but everyone lends a hand and most growers are amped up and busy work with casual set up calms the jitters. we appreciate all the help. you who read this know who you are. gonna be fun. Saturday, September 14 View Page big stem on squatty squat squat...estimated at 951 lbs. Saturday, September 14 View Page georgie's giant bushel to gourd to make a big ass tom-tom drum. 66.5" circ. probably around 75 pounds I would guess testing the hammock. there is one about 50" circ on it that had early vine bending on fence with early weight. if grown on fence they need early hammock support so vines and stem stay in tact with increasing weight. Tuesday, September 17 View Page 155.5 Niewenhoff Giant Bushel gourd plant is a beast. This plant has a stump roots only. grown on a 6 foot concrete anchored chain link fence. got this one still growing supported so no stress ever on stem or vines since very early set. got one 55" circ and done maxed out and will mature on vine until first freeze. same as this big girl pictured and 2 more soccer ball sized one in hammocks very curious the weight ..but i know with my other gourds for crafting do best when drying on vine as long as possible before deep hard freeze. Tuesday, September 17 View Page forgot to say look close at that last pic of the 70.5" circ. hanging bushel gourd...this Bud's for Me!!!! as always an excuse for a reference point for picture scale...lol. upper left side. Saturday, September 28 View Page sunshine is ready to move today....nice! Saturday, September 28 View Page sweet! Saturday, September 28 View Page time for the glory ride Sunday, September 29 View Page lol Sunday, September 29 View Page good pic....great day George....thanks bro. Tuesday, October 1 View Page welcome to Chicagoland...lol...it sure the hell ain't Disneyland!!!! Wednesday, October 2 View Page a different view on scale of Sunshine...silly fun day Thursday, October 3 View Page here is a nice pic of Sunshine at Bengtson's Farm on display. looking forward to Joe Adkins aka PUMPKINHOUSE on bp.com to carving here later this month. http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtube_gdata&v=5ZwoSjHMT-A&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D5ZwoSjHMT-A%26feature%3Dyoutube_gdata This is a video on tube that my buddy pat mccarthy took....its cool Thursday, October 3 View Page 75" circ. giant bushel gourd off 155. I got another about 60" and 2 newer sets going towards the 50s soon. awesome plant with a crazy thick vine for small raised bed its in. Thursday, October 3 View Page 155 bushel gourd vine. no tap roots. entire plant grown in 3' x 10' x 12" raised bed next to chain link fence. most fun plant I have ever grown. it actually makes me laugh out loud. Sunday, October 20 View Page gourd picking time Sunday, October 20 View Page these are six nice ones for crafting....big bases and different shaped necks and heads for my buddy Biker Mike to make birdhouses and bird feeders. nice symmetry. good crop this year and even the gourds were bigger and heavier this cooler summer. I got about 25 total out of a 10' x 3' x one foot deep raised bed off patio deck edge. about 8 separate plants competing for prime fence coverage and up the ivy on house. Tuesday, October 22 View Page picked the second biggest bushel gourd off the 155 niewenhoff plant by myself. once I cut the hammock I realized these things weigh more than pumpkins of the same size and struggled a bit to shoulder her and walk 200 feet to my solarium to protect from cracking with the 22 degree temps last night. my guess is about 75 lbs. its a green shiney rock. lol. also picked the remaining 15 speckled swan gourds last evening before the freeze. blanketed the 75" circ. bushel gourd that me and Georgie J. will pick tb is weekend. picking up the 1185 pumpkin from Bengtsons today or tomorrow to deliver to Bobbys Tap...my home away from home. and the 1546 shenoha 2013 new state record pumpkin will be carved this weekend at Bengtsons by Joe Adkins also known here as PUMPKINHOUSE. Seed harvesting Nov 1st will bring the season to a close. glad the cover crop rooted nicely already before the freeze. Friday, October 25 View Page Joe Adkins, also known here on bp.com as PUMPKINHOUSE, grew and carved this 827 pounder off my 1354 from last year. I am looking forward to seeing what the 1546 carving he will do tomorrow looks like at Bengtsons Farms. Go Joe Go!!!!! Saturday, October 26 View Page pumpkinhouse joe doing his magic. the halfway point carving my 1546. go joe go!!!!! Saturday, October 26 View Page nice job Joe!!!!!!!! Sunday, October 27 View Page Georgie Boy Janowiak gave me some magical 155 Niewenhoff Giant Bushel Gourd seeds. coolest looking weird big brown seeds that looked similar to a dart flight flattened out. I don't think either of us expected this. lol. the 130 Shenoha-Janowiak 2013 Thursday, October 31 View Page just under 400 nice seeds from the 1546 Shenoha 2013 (1421.5 Stelts x 1381 Checkon). and about another 50 to the left in the picture have some tips without the tan outer shell but feel solid. those are the last reserves. about 150 half developed flimsy seeds or obvious hollow empties tossed. very happy with this count and will give it a go in 2014. the pumpkin kept growing all the way past 100 days. the 1381 pollinator grew my 10% heavy 1085 this year and also grew all the way until picked. nice cross on paper...its going in the 2 hole next to 1092 Naylor in #1 honey hole and hope to cross them as the 1092 produces heavy big pumpkins that also keep packing the pounds long term. Saturday, November 2 View Page a shout out to the 1135 Sliwka 2010 seed that grew my 1185 Shenoha 2013 in the foreground of this pic. that is the 1085 Shenoha 2013 off the 1381 checkon behind it. the 1381 was pollinator for the 1185. they were both 10 percent heavy. extremely good seed count on the 1185 with plump tan seeds. only about 150 solid seeds from the 1085 (1381 x 1421.5 that grew the 1546. they lack the outer tan shell and are white and brownish. over 400 or so under developed flimsy seeds from the 1085. all 3 of my pumpkins had a few sprouters inside the pumpkins so viability for those that pass the drop test should be good. Saturday, November 2 View Page a shout out to the 1135 Sliwka 2010 seed that grew my 1185 Shenoha 2013 in the foreground of this pic. that is the 1085 Shenoha 2013 off the 1381 checkon behind it. the 1381 was pollinator for the 1185. they were both 10 percent heavy. extremely good seed count on the 1185 with plump tan seeds. only about 150 solid seeds from the 1085 (1381 x 1421.5 that grew the 1546. they lack the outer tan shell and are white and brownish. over 400 or so under developed flimsy seeds from the 1085. all 3 of my pumpkins had a few sprouters inside the pumpkins so viability for those that pass the drop test should be good. Saturday, November 2 View Page another view of the 1185 shenoha 2013 off the 1135 slwika 2010 this morning at Bengtsons. I never got the 1185 to Bobbys but it was on display at Bengtsons with the 1546 and 1085 for a quarter million people total that visited the farm this year. Saturday, November 2 View Page opposite side of 1185. I like the grafiti carved in...its all good. Saturday, November 2 View Page opposite side of 1185. I like the grafiti carved in...its all good. Saturday, November 2 View Page not much cavity in the 1185. we bring the pumpkins to the edge of cornfield for my seed removal. all 3 pumpkins were sound and solid till the end. Saturday, November 2 View Page the 1135 sliwka produces these crazy thick blossum noses.. just about 1 foot thick on upper nose. Saturday, November 2 View Page I cut down to actual bossum nub to show 7" thick at blossom itself. thickest I have ever seen at actual point of blossom. anyone in the south...meaning Interstate 80 and south looking to reach 4 digits should consider growing the 1135 slwika 2010. in a hellish season in Iowa it produced 4 digits for Nick Carlson producing the 13% heavy 1058 Carlson 2013 and the fourth heaviest in illinois this year with my 1185. its a very aggressive plant with the 985 werner x 1119 mcmullen genetics that grows 10 to 20 percent heavy consistantly. Saturday, November 2 View Page and the 1085 Shenoha 2013 (1381 Checkon x 1421.5 stelts that grew the 1546). this wide shouldered shape could cross nicely with the 1135 and the 1421.5. Friday, November 8 View Page don't we all wish to see a seed count like this when we open them up? after drying and drop testing my limited 1085s, that original wishful thinking was reduced to 68 full seeds with 20 promised out and another 48 now reserved for clubs or committed growers. this pile on the other hand made me smile. these are the 1135 sliwka x 1381 checkon seeds pictured which is (985 werner x 1119 mcmullen) x (1288 wallace x 1161 rodonis). I haven't totalled the seed count but wish they all were like these out of my 1185 shenoha 2013. Friday, November 15 View Page this is the only time the beast is let into the patch area. cover crop is doing well. tonight is a nice rare november 50 degree night in Chicagoland with some last hanger-on-bugs by my garage flood light.good night to enjoy a cold one or 12. who's countin'. lol. stuffed pizza being delivered within the hour. lovin' the off-season. Tuesday, December 3 View Page looking through some weigh off pictures and noticed a weight on the scale I am hoping to achieve next year. lol. good side view of 1546 Shenoha 2013 with my friends Annie and J-Dog and their family.