Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 84 Entries. Wednesday, March 12 View Page Had a great time at the falls. Most organized and informative then the other two times going up. Nice to meet growers and put a face with the name. Also, I will soon be back for my 1,500lb club GPC jacket-NICE Wednesday, March 12 View Page Finally can start to see the patch and my compost pile. Both are frozen solid. Worst winter here for at least 10 years Wednesday, March 12 View Page Was out bumming today and came across some cedar fencing that was on the side of the road for garbage pick-up. They are cut to a perfect width and length for the patch Wednesday, March 12 View Page I also scored a couple of nice stumps. I picked up one yesterday, around a 200lber and split it. I came back for these two that were stuck frozen in the ground. My favorite tool this time of year a sledge ax will make short work of them. Wednesday, March 12 View Page 3 full wheel barrels full of wood. Not a bad work out. They should burn nicely come fall Wednesday, May 7 View Page Planted all three tents. 100% germination. In my patch I am going with my 988, 998 Pukos, 1041 Mckie. My neighbor Jim's will see 1248 one cot Ford, 1119 McMullen and my 1066. Pics later Sunday, May 25 View Page Finally some warm weather. Should be around 80 today. The plants are at least a week behind last year. Some look good, bad, and ugly Sunday, May 25 View Page The good. three of my 988 Janowiak's from last year. All robust and healthy. Will be down to one in this tent soon Sunday, May 25 View Page This is the bad and ugly. My 998 Pukos is starting to produce curled new growth. I think it is showing symptoms of a virus that haunts my patch. I have it double planted with a 1066 Janowiak that show no sign of this. Sunday, May 25 View Page My 1066 planted in the same tent Sunday, May 25 View Page The 1041 Mckie. planted solo. Sunday, May 25 View Page 1119 Mcmullen. Planted at my neighbors Sunday, May 25 View Page 1248 one cot. Ford doing fine Sunday, June 1 View Page Big battle here between my 988's.One has to go. My best looking plants... Sunday, June 1 View Page 1041 Mckie Sunday, June 1 View Page The 998 Pukos and my 1066. I cut off all the curled leaves on the 998. I think it was aphids that did the damage. I hate F****** Aphids! The new growth looks good. It will be a tough decision here too. My 1066 is looking good Sunday, June 1 View Page 1119 McMullen Sunday, June 1 View Page 1248 Ford Wednesday, June 11 View Page My 988 busting out of the tent, Female at 10' This is the 1st time I am giving my own seed a try. So far this plant looks promising Wednesday, June 11 View Page Stump side 988. Cross is 670 x 1450. It is showing a a lot of traits as the 1450 seed I planted in this spot last year Wednesday, June 11 View Page 1041 headig for the exit Wednesday, June 11 View Page My 1066 on the left. 998 on the right. My 1066 is a week younger. How can you pull a 998? Tuesday, June 17 View Page My 988.. Out of the tent. I new when the tent came down something bad would happen. On father's day I awoke to 60 MPH winds and some broken tree branches. The 988 lost two big leaves in the process. Not too bad considering how soft these plants are when they first come out of the green house Tuesday, June 17 View Page I snuck in a 5 foot addition in front of the 988 tonight. Female @ 13'. the 1st one quickly aborted. This plant is growing 6-8" a day Tuesday, June 17 View Page My 1041 looking pretty good Tuesday, June 17 View Page The winner is my 1066. The 998 crumpled up in the back. It was a tough cut to make. I am now 100% vested in my own seed stock this year. The 1066 is 1225 x 670. If anything, it should be a looker Tuesday, June 17 View Page 1119 Mcmullen by Jim's house. This plant rolled twice today The rain is one thing, but the wind has just been relentless this year. Sunny 75 today and gusty winds Tuesday, June 17 View Page 1248 Ford. I like this plant. I hope to grow a big one for my neighbor Jim and make Jim Ford proud Sunday, July 6 View Page 1st 10 day on my 988 is 25". I have 3 more females on the main to watch. I cut off all the females on the secondaries. I have a 8 day and two other pollination's on the 1041 Mckie. I hope to pollinate my 1st female on my 1066 Janowiak in a couple of days Sunday, July 6 View Page My 988 Janowiak. Main is dead headed and several secondaries. Beast of a plant. Loaded with females Sunday, July 6 View Page 1041 Mckie. Not overly impressed with the plant. Most females 4 segment, scrambled and a few seeds. Three are pollinated Sunday, July 6 View Page 1066 Janowiak. Was a back-up plant. Shot a female in a couple of days. Hopefully it will take. Running out of time and room Friday, July 18 View Page Things change fast this time of year. My best plant became my worst over night... My 988 put on 6" the previous night, is now down to just 2" in the last 24 hrs. I found the stump foaming.. My 1041 which was my worst is now the best. It put on 7" in circumference the last 24hrs. My little 1066 plant that set a beautiful 6 segment flower is 20" at day six. Will post some pics later Friday, July 18 View Page My 988 which has slowed for some friggin reason. Next to a delicious glass of cold draft beer 22 0Z. mug. Will post keg shots later in the season. I seen that before and I loved the comparison! Friday, July 18 View Page My stump that is weeping / foaming. Still rock solid. I think this plant got too much water - My fault. Fan/ bleach / Quadris = lets hope Friday, July 18 View Page New stud of the patch 1041 @ day 16. 6+" in Circ. last couple of days Friday, July 18 View Page My 1066 from last year at day 6 is over 20". 6 segment flower and a nice long stem to work with Friday, July 18 View Page 1119 Mcmullen.. I have a new interest in Jim's patch. 6+ inches daily the last couple of days... @ day 14 Nice bowling ball shape. Friday, July 18 View Page 1248 Ford day 15.. 6" daily also, oblong fruit on a runty plant- but who cares Friday, July 18 View Page neighbors patch over view Friday, July 18 View Page Back side of my patch.. 988 is a huge. Caution tape up for pond tour last week and Garden tour this week. It's amazing how people will walk past my $50,000 water feature and right to the patch. Got to stop'um they will march right in Friday, July 18 View Page My friends that help with fertilizing. Hungry.. This variety of koi can eat a fat man down to the bone, if they fall in Sunday, July 27 View Page My 988 aborted everything. Foaming stump, and huge leafs leaves me nothing but hope for a couple of carvers on this plant. 1041 and my 1066 are growing good. 90"+ on the 1041 at day 25 and a whooping 58" on my 1066 day 15. Jim's 1119 and 1248 are posting decent numbers as well. Pics tomorrow Monday, July 28 View Page A sign posted on the barn that a neighbor I did not know I had, failed to read, before stopping by last night to tell me turn down the music... Believe me it was not pretty Monday, July 28 View Page My 1066 in stealth mode day 16. Biggest numbers I ever had at this point Monday, July 28 View Page The 1041 Monday, July 28 View Page My once promising 988.. is now a run away freight train or train wreck. The stalks are 48" tall with 28-30" leafs. All fruit aborted after around 3" of rain last week. A nitro rush and a foaming stump equaled the fruit stopped growing. I got the stump to stop foaming by tips posted by Larry Checkon- Thanks, but all I can hope for is some carvers on tertiaries Friday, August 1 View Page My 1066 at day 20 is 84"circumference. My biggest ever for day 20 measurement also put on 25lbs last 24hs. Cross is 1225 x 670. Hoping for Big and Beautiful Friday, August 1 View Page Nice stem position. All juices dead end into pumpkin Friday, August 1 View Page The 1041 at day 30. 108 x 68 x 73 = 249ott. Not too bad was hoping for more. It is doing around 30lbs a day Tuesday, August 12 View Page I ripped out my 988 and tilled the area it occupied. All small pumpkins left on the plant showed signs of blossom end rot. Since 1979, It has been one of the wettest and coolest summers on record. Only two days above 90 degrees Tuesday, August 12 View Page My pumpkin on the 1041 is doing OK. Posting worst day 30 and day 40 numbers the my 1066 last year.. My 1066 plant has post better day 30 numbers then my PB. At this point I can only hope to beat Shazzy by one pound at the scale and put his silly little sitcom on the shelf. My keg will be out soon and I hope to post some worthy comparisons. Cheers to all Friday, August 15 View Page Not sure if they are worthy of a keg shot, But it is empty..The 1041 Mckie Still gaining, and a nice warm front on the way Friday, August 15 View Page Blossom end. Kinda funky Friday, August 15 View Page My 1066. Young and wide. The vine split at the stem.. it has slowed down some, but he numbers are still good Friday, August 15 View Page The 1119 Mcmullen. White and ugly. Looks like it will be heavy. It is grown on a small plant that is weed infested. I can see this seed really growing BIG under the right conditions- and it has Tuesday, September 2 View Page The 1041 on day 62. Still some room to grow Tuesday, September 2 View Page My 1066 starting to fill in and get some snout. looking a lot like her daddy, my 988 from last year. Day 53 Sunday, September 21 View Page Some final shots from the patch. My tall corn, falling down from all the rain. Some 14'+. I plan on cutting them down tonight for my halloween display I set up in front of the house. 15"+ of rain this month... everything is dead or dying Sunday, September 21 View Page My 1066 ... I plugged the blossom end a couple of weeks ago. I pushed a blade of grass through to the cavity. She still is some how growing. I would like to get it weighed at this point. Sunday, September 21 View Page The 1041.... Would like to think 1000+ But she is going to have to weigh more then a tad heavy Sunday, September 21 View Page Some closing shots from Jim's patch. The 1119 is getting uglier by the day. Some sun burn on top. Thumps hard, I think it will go heavy Sunday, September 21 View Page My 1066... An ugly step sister at Jims. This plan was just planted in the ground early May with no protection. If it makes it could be around 700lbs Monday, October 6 View Page Patch is tilled,amended and cover crop seeded. I will stock pile some compost for next year tents. Great time at the weigh-off. Ran smooth. Thanks to all that helped out. Monday, October 6 View Page A few surprises too I might add.. Shazzy setting the stage for a 1200lb+ show down next year. Nice job on the 1149. Calling any grower out who wants to put down a crisp c-note on who make the next 1200lb+ grower at Didiers next year. Winner takes all.... Monday, October 6 View Page Gene Mcmullens 1163. 1st place off his 1124 Monday, October 6 View Page Gene's pumpkin on the scale Monday, October 6 View Page Here's Shazzy's 1147. I think I gave him 2 extra pounds earlier. Really a priceless picture. I might frame it for motivation Monday, October 6 View Page My daughters on each end, My niece, and a good friend. Here to cheer me on Monday, October 6 View Page A portion of the pumpkins at Didier. 23 in total were weighed. And a big ass watermelon too... 150 lbs Gene Mcmullen Monday, October 6 View Page I nice bonus. My 757lber Off the 1066 Janowiak won the Howard Dill award and $100 Monday, October 6 View Page The 909 Janowiak off the 1041 Mckie Monday, October 6 View Page Me and my supportive wife Margaret. She likes holding on to my big stem Monday, October 6 View Page Me and shazzy. He is the bloated looking guy with the glasses. He is a little puffed up right now Monday, October 6 View Page One last shot. Gene with the traveling belt and Greg Sliwka MC extraordinaire Monday, October 13 View Page Sun rise on lake Kegonsa prior to the Stoughton weigh-off Monday, October 13 View Page the world record pickle that was weighed that day 385lbs Monday, October 13 View Page Casey and his 1136lbs 3rd place entry off the 1119 Mcmullen Monday, October 13 View Page Glen Martins pumpkin 2nd place 1180... He also had a 1200+ exhibition that was used as a pumpkin drop pumpkin. 1st year grower. I'm sure you will be seeing bigger pumpkins out of Glen and his wife Margaret Monday, October 13 View Page Dan and his winning 1250.. Great job Dan! Monday, October 13 View Page Not a bad few hours of fishing after the weigh-off... A huge bluegill and some sheep head to keep it interesting Tuesday, October 14 View Page The hoarding of materials has begun. Stock piling some of Ted's special compost blend. Cover crop is up over 3" Tuesday, October 14 View Page Giving Jim's patch a good dose too.. About 8 yards down here another 6 coming tomorrow. Between the two patches, I will have around 20 down or piled for next year. I'm sure Shazzy's patch is still weed infested and diseased riddled. Living high on the hog on his winnings. Thank god he didn't get the belt Sunday, October 19 View Page Help me