Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 14 Entries. Sunday, April 13 View Page Welcome to my 2008 diary. I like this pic because it reminds me that after working hard in the patch, there is always beer. I drank one down after unloading 4 pickup loads of cow manuer to the patch Saturday. Will be getting some horse manuer this week once it dries up a bit. I have a new addition to the patch that needs some attention. Then it's Alfalfa, kelpmeal, grubex, a little lime, epsom salts and some Agway organic fertilizer. Start the seeds this week and still need to fix up one hoop house and build another. Monday, April 21 View Page Today I started my seeds. A little late this year but spring sprung all at once with the good weather. Soaked them in Humate overnight and placed them in pots with a sprinkle of Micorrazi in each hole. Placed lights and a thermometer on each plant. This works well for me as it worked the past two years. Monday, May 5 View Page Plants went in today. I cut up my hoop house into two pieces. Now I have two that are far enough away. Soil test is back. pH=6.4 OM=13.8%, (all in PPM) P=205, K=264, Ca=3423, Mg=242, CAC 28.0 meq/100g %Base Saturation K=3.5, Mg=10.1, Ca=86.6, Micros Boron=0.9, Mangenese=3.8, Zinc=5.6, Copper=0.2, Iron-2.2, Sulphur= 110 Thursday, June 19 View Page Still going strong. Had a bout with some rabbits but wax pepper spray, plastic Owl and Poodle have been doing a good job keeping them at bay. Mid June and still in it. Should be polenating by end of June, 1st week in July. Friday, June 20 View Page I was worried about getting the main to 10 feet. I looked at it today and I am only 1-2 feet away. Wow. Thursday, July 3 View Page Polinated the Pukos this morning. Used the 1300 Wallace. Wallace took so far polenated from the Pukos. All is well so far. Beginning to grow back from the critter feasts. I now have 177 cal pellets and a new band for my slingshot. Monday, July 7 View Page Still going strong. Plants are healthy and the Wallace is about basketball size. Time for fabric and sand. Germinated Pukos this weekend. Have some other females coming up I will germinate for insurance. Made it to July. Monday, July 7 View Page One more setback. Mandy, my bunny chaser poodle, dislocated her kneecap and needs surgery. Scheduled for Tuesday. She still scans the perimeter on three legs for me. Hard to keep her still. Sunday, July 20 View Page This is a pic of the 1300 Wallace at about 23 days. It was 88" at the time. Monday, July 21 View Page 1300 Wallace at 88" day 25. Pukos is behind a bit due to having to grow out secondary. It is about 40". Thursday, July 24 View Page 1300 Wallace is now 98" today growing at about 25-35# a day. Tuesday, July 29 View Page I feel sick. After a ton of rain and bad weather, it was sunny for two days. This is what I have to show for it. Tuesday, July 29 View Page Closeup. This is the 1300 Wallace. It was growing very well up to now. Slowed during bad weather and I guess started growing again this afternoon. Thursday, July 31 View Page As of today, the longitudinal split has not increased, but growth has slowed. Captan patch seems to be holding. Fruit is still sturdy. This is fine with me at least for the next couple of days but I hope it picks up. It is hovering at 104" circ. I will start feeding again today with some fish and seaweed. Supposed to get rain tonight. I pruned off all the dead and questionable vines and leaves.