Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 93 Entries. Saturday, January 10 View Page My 1st post for 2009. My line-up looks like 1385 Jutras, 985 Werner, and I am going to try my 988 again. It was my best looking plant last year until it aborted everything. It threw some flame red pumpkins for some growers and I know it has the power of the 1450 behind it... I have another 1385,1566,1689 and a lot more fire power if needed.It should be plenty to whip Shazzy and make him look foolish in the pig pen at Didier's Friday, March 27 View Page Initial till on the winter rye. I let one plant site grow for at least another week in hopes to grow out some of the nitrogen on that portion of the patch. Double dug two other hills after tilling Friday, March 27 View Page My 988 seed turned into a charger with 425 horses... From the floor of the auto show to my driveway, I had to have this pumpkin orange machine. It is awsome! #103 of 425 made in Hemi orange Tuesday, April 21 View Page Wanted to let shazzy know my 1385 germinated about 6hrs ago... Tuesday, April 21 View Page My new favorite shirt. I picked it up in Iowa city a few weeks ago. The boy's in Iowa know BIG. I whore it for two days straight when I put the tents up last weekend Tuesday, April 21 View Page My three amended tents complete with misting systems. Tuesday, April 21 View Page a couple quick tents slapped together at Jim's. Three 1/2" PVC pipes criss crossed covered in 6 mil. Easy and effective. Rained for three straight days afterword. Timing is everything. Tuesday, April 28 View Page Planted my 1385 yesterday and my 988 today in the greenhouses. The 985 will go in in the next day or to. 100% germination on all starers and back ups Saturday, May 23 View Page My two runt 985 Werner plants and my 909 Janowiak. One 985 was attacked by root maggots that came in with the potting soil... I used 3 different mixes and the 985 had two fat maggots in the peat pot and basically no roots when I planted it. The other 985 is two weeks behind. I stared it after I found the maggots. It appears to be a mutant. Its going to be hard to pull my 909 Saturday, May 23 View Page My 988's = 670x1450. I had to give my 988 another chance this year Saturday, May 23 View Page 1385 Down and running Wednesday, May 27 View Page I pulled my 909 in favor of the 985 that was attacked by maggots.The plant looks great and it appears to be a fighter. Pulled the mutant 985 too. Down to one 988, 985, and the 1385 in my patch. I have a 909,988 and Jim's 720 in his patch. Thursday, June 4 View Page I decided to put up a circus tent up over the patch. I am going to get a dunk tank and invite shazzy over. Throw a few fast balls... Actually it is for my daughters 8th grade graduation party this weekend. About 100 people are showing up. Hoping for NO rain. One of the wettest springs here in the last 1000 years Thursday, June 4 View Page My maggot infested 985. Starting to run . It was started at the same time as the 1385 Thursday, June 4 View Page My 988. Slow on secondaries Thursday, June 4 View Page 1385 about 8', leaving the tent any minute Thursday, June 4 View Page My 909 at Jim's. Beefy plant, cross is 1041.5 x my 988 Wednesday, June 10 View Page Plants got their first taste of Warrior-T tonight. Mild dose with some garlic barrier and some 9-18-9 mixed in. No bugs in sight yet. 1385 is out of the tent at around 10' 988 at around 8', and the 985 at 5' ft. One of the coldest & cloudiest Junes on record. I'm ready for some heat! Wednesday, June 17 View Page The 1385. Female at 9' and another at 13'. 1st Secondaries are at 9'. I will terminate at 12'. I have at least 5' behind the plant to set up a pitch fork design for more horse power Wednesday, June 17 View Page My 988. Bigger taller leafs, starting to fill in Wednesday, June 17 View Page The 985. Still the runt. It is planted in the richest part of the patch. Should catch up. Slated for Stoughton. It would be nice to take some money away from Dan. Wednesday, June 24 View Page Really hot today 97* I had two prime pollinations this morning. One on the 1385 and my 988. Fans,ice,shade cloth and mist all put to the task. I have done every thing I can Saturday, June 27 View Page looks like we might have a keeper on the 1385@ 14'. It withstood the 97 degree pollination date sandwiched with two other 90 degree + days. The 988 aborted . Another shot tomorrow on both plants. Looks like the ice and fans paid off. Cooler weather next week will help Sunday, June 28 View Page Sprayed Quadris, Vigor-cal-Phos, and liquid Humic acid on the patch. Pollinated two nice females also today. One five seg. on my 988 and another 5 seg. on the 1385. The 985 is still a work in progress.. Beautiful day today and the plants look great Thursday, July 2 View Page Keeper right now on the 1385@day 8. I have one other 4' down that also looks like it took Thursday, July 2 View Page 4 day old on my 988. Pollinated another today. All flowers are perfect 5 lobe Thursday, July 2 View Page Overall patch. Just about filled in. I brought in 4 more yards of Ted's golden compost to spread in-between the side vines. It will keep the weeds down and give the pumpkins a boost as they ramp up. Watered in some water soluble Mycor from Joel today also Wednesday, July 8 View Page Finally pollinated a nice 5 lobe flower on the 985. I hit her hard with six males off the 1385. The plant looks pretty runty still. I hope this means its saving all of its energy for the fruit. After pollinating,the rain came. A balmy 63*... This weather is a bad joke Thursday, July 9 View Page Pollinated yesterday on the 985 x 1385 Thursday, July 9 View Page 988 pumpkin day 11 Thursday, July 9 View Page 1385 day 15.. One day behind Shazzy's 1385. This is the pumpkin that I plan to complete against "it". This is the Perfect storm. Same seed, One day born apart, Same weigh-off 10-3. This is my best going against his.. I will name it TAZ. This plant is big, wild, crazy and it will smash the sh** out of "it" Wednesday, July 22 View Page Pumpkin on the 985 day 14. Numbers are ok based on the last week of weather. She will be named Rocky. A under dog now, may come up big Wednesday, July 22 View Page Definitely a beauty queen in the making. Farrah should be a Howard Dill Award contender at any weigh-off. Big and round at day 24 Wednesday, July 22 View Page Taz at day 28. Has averaged over 30lbs a day for the last seven days. The 1385 sure keeps putting up numbers in less then perfect weather. She wanted to mention to her pig sister "it". Hogs get fat, pigs get slaughtered Wednesday, July 22 View Page Stump on the 1385. I think size does matter Friday, July 24 View Page A great way to start the day today. Taz recorded a 40lb gain on day 30. Her long squaty shape makes me question it, but I will record it anyway. My 1st time as a grower to write a 40lb gain in the book Thursday, July 30 View Page Rocky day 22 over 100 lbs Thursday, July 30 View Page Farrah day 32 over 300lbs Thursday, July 30 View Page Taz day 36 over 500lbs Tuesday, August 4 View Page Taz is close to 160" in circumference.. Low riding momma.. She could go over 200"circ. before it is all over. Plant looks decent. Some holes from birds.. No disease yet... Thursday, August 6 View Page Jay Cutler at the Bears training camp. Looks sharp so far Thursday, August 6 View Page The offensive line taking the field... Some big boys Thursday, August 6 View Page Adrian Peterson went the extra mile for the fans signing autographs.. One of just a few that stopped. Disappointed in the big name guys. #54 snuck out the back and did not even come out with the rest of the guys. Thursday, August 6 View Page Back in the patch . Rocky takes a double blow to the stem. Splits top and bottom. They don't go though to the cavity yet... I cut a couple of transverse slits to ease the progression. This has helped in the past. I also cut the plant past the pumpkin. She was just ramping up at day 29 Thursday, August 6 View Page A distant shot of Farrah turning a nice shade of Hemi-Orange. No yellow flecks. Pure orange... Thursday, August 6 View Page Taz getting wider.. No issues yet. Temps climbing into the mid 90's this weekend. Throw in a camping trip this weekend, could spell disaster. Neighbor Jim is on water duty and guard Monday, August 17 View Page Nice rain over the last couple of days. We actually needed it. The pumpkin are plugging along with decent gains. Taz is over 5'long and getting longer.... Farrah has gotten some ribs & snout. Rocky is living up to his name. Getting uglier by the minute. Keg shots should be worthy. I hope to kill it tonight watching the Cubs Thursday, August 20 View Page The keg shots are in. Rocky around 600lbs. Still a shot a 1000lbs with this one. 985 Werner x 1385 Jutras looks like it should go heavy. Stem splits are nasty but under control Thursday, August 20 View Page Farrah closing in on 1000lbs. Ribs and snout since last pic. cross is 988 Janowiak x 1385 Jutras. My 988 is 670 Daigle x 1450 Wallace. I hope the 1450 brought some + heavy to the cross... Thursday, August 20 View Page Distant shot Thursday, August 20 View Page Ladder shot of Taz estimated at over 1000. 1385 Jutras x 988 Janowiak Thursday, August 20 View Page Distant shot of Taz. You might be a red neck if you compare the size of the pumpkin you are growing to a empty keg of beer... Time to get a fresh keg Sunday, August 23 View Page Taz day 60. I need to talk to Don about making some bigger tape measures :) Sunday, August 30 View Page After a year Hiatus,I brought back Ab, the patch protector... He is next to Rocky as she closes in on 800lbs.The stem got a good scrubbing. After the 3" of rain here she is a bit moist. Sunday, August 30 View Page Farrah is estimated over 1000lbs. Dill rings and the blossom end worries me.. She is off my own seed stock too..Which makes it extra special Sunday, August 30 View Page Ab next to Taz. Still can't get him to pull weeds. He says he rather lay in them, waiting to pounce. I can't argue with that logic... She has gained over 80lbs the last week. Sunday, August 30 View Page This pumpkin is in neighbor Jim's patch. It's off my 909 from last year. The cross was 1041 x my 988. Tapes around 600lbs. All pumpkins on this plant have tall shoulders. He insisted on keeping a couple carvers too. both around 200lbs... He loves giving pumpkins away and making people happy Sunday, August 30 View Page A basket of tomatoes slated for sauce and salsa. Yum Wednesday, September 9 View Page Some closing pics from the patch... Rocky going for a possible tri-fecta. 3 pumpkins over 1000lbs. Around 900lbs right now.... Sapping what looks like maple syrup. A good sign for heavy...I hope Wednesday, September 9 View Page Farrah showing her snout. Fastest grower the last week. Trying to close-in on Taz.She is now bigger then her momma... My 988. I hope those 1450 genes make her 10% heavy vs 10% light. She sits around 1200 Wednesday, September 9 View Page Taz.. Imagine how big she be with some Biochar in the dirt.lol Wednesday, September 9 View Page Ab is pretty jacked up and so am I Wednesday, September 9 View Page Tall corn around 14' I should have a hell of a front yard display this year. Monday, September 14 View Page A old friend stopped by to help with patch protection. He's no sandbagger,... It's Smash'in Jack. He is on patrol for anybody from the Joliet or Wisconsin area. Monday, September 14 View Page Two heads are better then one... He got a couple boozing it up before they entered the patch. Monday, September 14 View Page The dog may be spared or recruited Monday, September 14 View Page another victim ... A red head. Nice! Sunday, September 27 View Page cutting the cord on taz Sunday, September 27 View Page I needed a longer rope to choke her in this year... The one the rig came with was too short Sunday, September 27 View Page loaded..Had fun driving back and forth. A lot of thumbs up and pictures were taken. Sunday, September 27 View Page The competition at The 1st ever weigh-off at the Wisconsin State Fair. Nice place to have a weigh-off. Should be a good one for years to come. Sunday, September 27 View Page Genes 1544 . DQ hole in the Blossom.. Off the 1119 McMullen x 1427 Kopp. Gene took it well... Unbelievable fruit and accomplishment! Sunday, September 27 View Page The 1169 Janowiak a pb, but I am a bit disappointed. weighed a 148lbs light... off the 1385 x 988 Janowiak Good enough for third place. Tuesday, October 6 View Page The line up at Didiers Tuesday, October 6 View Page Me and Farrah prior to the weigh-in Tuesday, October 6 View Page She hit the scale a little light...1133lbs. 4th place.My second biggest and voted the Howard Dill award. Tuesday, October 6 View Page The top three in front of Gene's 1227. Tuesday, October 6 View Page One more weigh-off this weekend . Going back to see Danny in Wisconsin. Hopefully take a little more money out of his pocket...Bring some boys from Illinois up too Tuesday, October 6 View Page Patch is cleared and ready for compost and cover crop.. 8 yards of pumpkin vines and weeds are off to the dump. 2010 is officially underway. Sunday, October 11 View Page Loaded for Stoughton. Sunday, October 11 View Page Unloading from Stoughton... I got my a** kicked up there. LOL..Rocky weighed light at 865lbs. Had a great time with some great growers. Sunday, October 11 View Page I can't complain too much. I had a great season. Over 3000lbs of pumpkin await a good hacking. Monday, October 26 View Page The patch is put to rest with eight yards of compost, gypsum and a winter rye cover crop. Now kicking around seed selection for next year... 1385, 904 Stelts and? Monday, October 26 View Page The first kids arrive for the annual field trip to see the pumpkins,ponds and pumpkin patch. A lot of questions on pumpkins, composting and my fish in the ponds.When the kids are asking, I never get tired of answering the same old questions. Monday, October 26 View Page We been doing this for 5 years. This is the 1st time the original kindergarten class returned as fourth graders... They team up fourth graders with a Kindergarten buddy. The original fourth graders are now freshmen in highschool...My daughters class. Over the years, hundreds of kids have stopped by. Wednesday, October 28 View Page By popular demand.. Here are a few pics with or without flash Wednesday, October 28 View Page with out Wednesday, October 28 View Page This is rocky with - out flash.. She was really thin near the blossom. A stitch I cut in turned into a fang over night. Wednesday, October 28 View Page Farrah and Taz.. "with-out flash" lol Saturday, November 14 View Page Shazzy here is my cover crop of winter rye. It is growing quickly in the 8 yards of Ted's golden compost that was spread across the patch. You are way behind... I think you planted quack grass Saturday, December 5 View Page Working on an under the canopy watering system for next year. Looks like chicken scratch now, but it will be one more thing to help bring Shazzy down . He can put up all the domes he wants.. but it is all going to come crashing down on him in 2010..(worst then his last hang over at Bobby's) Not only is he going to get his ass kicked at the scale, I will become the new and improved poster boy for Biochar.... Tuesday, December 15 View Page working on a couple of articles for the next newsletter Tuesday, December 15 View Page second page of the latest addition