Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 218 Entries. Friday, January 1 View Page The new year ushered in with an orange Stelts moon rising over the frosty Alaska wilderness this evening. Happy New Years to all, go BIG, ORANGE and HEAVY in 2010!!!!!!!! Sunday, February 7 View Page Who Dat dog! Saturday, March 20 View Page So what have been doing during the long dark days of winter? Making lifting rings what else! Four more this winter, straps to be sewn on shortly. One of the short versions I have made for the Alaska State Fair. Another one of the taller models is going to Dale Marshall in Anchorage, Alaska. One of the shorter versions I am adding to my collection of lifting rings, this one to be used with my tripod to give me extra distance for lifting. Saturday, March 20 View Page Close up of the Alaska State Fair lifting ring from my " GO HEAVY " line of lifting rings. This model is designed to be able to shorten the straps for smaller pumpkins and to give you more hoisting distance by running the strap under the interior strut and back over the top of the outer ring as many times as needed to shorten the straps to the desired length. Saturday, March 20 View Page Side view of the Alaska State Fair lifting ring. Seat belt webbing will be added to the outer and lower rings. E-bay is a great place to get seat belt webbing at a good price, another is strapworks.com. Saturday, March 20 View Page Another season begins in the 49th State. Saturday, March 20 View Page Removed snow in front of greenhouse the prior weekend in preparation for snow removal from the interior of greenhouse. Saturday, March 20 View Page Hard to believe by this picture that the new season starts on 10 days. The high for the day reached a scorching 42 degrees a veritable heat wave for this time of year. Saturday, March 20 View Page Lucy the llaso patrolling the South border of the garden. Saturday, March 20 View Page My interior hoop houses have to be dug out of the snow bank for installation inside the main green house. Saturday, March 20 View Page South view of the greenhouse. OK back, are you ready to dig this thing out? Saturday, March 20 View Page My 9 year old coffee plant spends the winters inside and goes in a greenhouse during the summer. I brought it back to Alaska from Kona, Hawaii 9 years ago. It would be 16ft tall by now if I hadn't pruned it numerous times. Saturday, March 20 View Page Some of my 7 gallon plastic pots filled with amended soil the previous fall are starting to appear from under the snow inside the greenhouse. They spent the winter in suspended animation, now its time for this amped up soil to work its magic. Some of the ash from the numerous volcanic eruptions of Redoubt last winter and spring is also included in the soil of the 7 gallon plastic pots, along with compost from my pile on the South side of the greenhouse. Saturday, March 20 View Page All this snow came from the interior of the greenhouse. Moved to this point with a snow sled and plenty of exercise. From here it will be pushed with my snow plow into the glacier that borders my driveway this time of year. Saturday, March 20 View Page Snow all gone. Saturday, March 20 View Page Top rolled up on greenhouse. Two 1500 watt heaters inside two interior hoop houses within the main greenhouse up an running this evening. Lets get ready to rumble! Wednesday, March 31 View Page Germination night and the start of the 2010 season. Sunday, April 18 View Page Eighteen days later the 848 Lilja. Sunday, April 18 View Page Goes with the above post. Sunday, April 18 View Page Secret weapon, day 6 from start of germination. Sunday, April 18 View Page Close up of secret weapon. Sunday, April 18 View Page Looking towards the SE at the pumpkin greenhouse. Sunday, April 18 View Page Sunny today with a steady 30 mph from the North. High 48 low 33. Sunday, April 18 View Page Interior hoop houses inside the main geenhouse structure. High inside the main greenhouse reached 92 degrees today despite the high wind conditions. Sunday, April 18 View Page Beat back the cold and get an early start to the season. Ground temperature already in access of 70 degrees, could put the plants in the ground anytime now. Sunday, April 18 View Page Looking towards the west at the pumpkin greenhouse. Snow can't leave quick enough for me. Sunday, April 18 View Page Breakup time in Alaska, it's a messy business. Lake ice is still around 30 inches with a heavy mantel of new snow, it will definitely be past May 10th before the ice goes out. Sunday, April 18 View Page Secret weapon back under the 1000 watt metal halide grow light for the evening and early morning hours. The plant will be back outside in the pumpkin greenhouse during the afternoon. Friday, April 23 View Page 848 Lilja ( 1019 Megchelsen X 998 Pukos ) day 23. Friday, April 23 View Page Set up designed to combat early cold conditions in Alaska and get plants off to a quick start. Friday, April 23 View Page Another look. During the day the interior hoophouse is uncovered and the cover goes back on around 8 to 9pm this time of year depending on weather conditions. Thermostat inside interior hoophouse set at 80 degrees for night time operation. Friday, April 23 View Page Secret weapon day 11. Most likely a pollinator plant and a possible backup at this stage. In the unlikely event something happens in the next 7 days to the 848 the secret weapon will take its place. Saturday, April 24 View Page Another look at the interior hoophouse structure. The frame is 6 inch wire mesh used primarily in cement slabs/foundations. Cut to any length for desired height and cover with visqueen, instant hoophouse. Saturday, April 24 View Page Here is how it works. With night time temps still falling into the upper teens and low twenties you need a small compact system to focus on a small area and work your way outward as the season progresses and warms up. A 1500 watt heater hooked up to a remote thermostat blows into ductwork which surrounds the plant and ends up blowing onto a 5 gallon bucket of water that remains almost hot. The 5 gallon bucket of hot water acts as a heat sink and provides some humidity to counter act the drying efffects of the 1500 watt heater. It also provides insurance in the event the heater system were to fail during the night. Once plant out grows the hoophouse entire structure is removed for the year. By then we are into the first week in May and temperatures are much warmer. Saturday, April 24 View Page Side view of pumpkin greenhouse looking east. Snow is melting, rather slowly though. Saturday, April 24 View Page Tomato greenhouse currently a repository for all the plants waiting for the season to warm up. The plants are sitting on top of a fish tote filled with soil. this is where the tomatos will be planted. this to is covered up at night to make an interior hoophouse structure as well to keep night time temps in the 70s. Saturday, April 24 View Page Lucy the Llaso enjoying some warm afternoon sun. High 51 low 22 degrees with a moderate North wind. Saturday, April 24 View Page In the pumpkin greenhouse temperatures reached the low 90s. Sunday, April 25 View Page Secret weapon day 13. As a plant, it is the one of the largest I have had at this stage of developement. The top of the 7 gallon container is 14 inches across and the cots reach almost to the sides. Sunday, April 25 View Page Group shot of the tomato greenhouse. Sunday, April 25 View Page 848 Lilja day 25. Main vine around 2ft in length. Growth last 24 hours about 6 inches. Sunday, April 25 View Page Pic goes with above post. Sunday, April 25 View Page Plants in tomato greenhouse cover up for the evening in their own interior hoophouse and 1500 watt heater. This enables the plants to have temps in the 70s at night instead of the upper 40s to low 50s they would have with out the cover. Sunday, April 25 View Page Pumpkin plants covered up for the evening in their own individual hoophouses with a 1500 watt heater and a 5 gallon bucket of warm water in each one. The 848 Lilja already in the ground on the right and the secret weapon still in the 7 gallon pot on the right. Plants were only uncovered for about 4 hours today due to the cold, cloudy, windy conditions. High 41 low 33. Wednesday, April 28 View Page Sunrise at 6am over Daniels Lake. Saturday, May 1 View Page Snow rapidly melting. High 50 low 25 with a brisk North wind. Sunday, May 2 View Page Both plants now in the ground, 848 Lilja on the right and secret weapon on the left. Not much of a weapon as the 848 is about 20 times larger. Sunday, May 2 View Page Side view of the 848 Lilja, very agressive plant so far. Reminds me alot of the Wallace 1068 plant in 2006, main is currently at 6 1/2 ft. Sunday, May 2 View Page Secret weapon at day 20. Stocky looking plant to be used as a pollinator only with a small genetics pumpkin on the side. Sunday, May 2 View Page Patch buddy Maggie soaking up some early morning sun. Sunday, May 2 View Page Decided to take a stroll down to the dock this morning for a look at the lake ice. Sunday, May 2 View Page Lake ice still holding firm. Beautiful sunny day comes with a price this time of year, cold nights. High 51 low 21 with a light North wind. As long as the night time lows reach the low 20s it is hard for the ice to make much headway during the day. The sun height during its zenith this time of year is 45 degrees above the horizon which comes about 2 O'clock in the afternoon. Sunday, May 2 View Page Maggie looking for any salmon remains the eagles may have missed. Careful, you might become a meal your self. Sunday, May 2 View Page Installed three sets of automatic gas charged cylinders/ window openers yesterday. Two in the pumpkin greenhouse and one in the tomato greenhouse. These operate without any power, as the temperature rises during the day the gas in the cylinders expands, increasing the pressure and pushing the cylinder rod outward. They can push out a window and frame with 15 lbs of pressure. Adjustment screw at the bottom of the cylinder allows you to open or close the device at a lower or higher starting temperature. As the sun goes down or it gets cloudy the pressure in the cylinder decreases retracting the rod, pulling the window closed. Takes the worry out of frying your plants. Sunday, May 2 View Page Tomatoes and cucumbers in the tomato greenhouse. Two cobras, one giant, and one sweet one hundred tomato plants. Two sweet success cucumbers in the 25 gallon black plastic barrel cut in half. Later the coffee plant will go in the far back corner. Gets kinda crowded late in the season. Sunday, May 9 View Page Tomato greenhouse open for some sunlight. Sunday, May 9 View Page One of my techniques for warming the ground. During the day when the sun is out I pull the straw aside and allow the suns rays to warm the ground. Then just before the temperature drops for the low light hours I rake the straw back over the ground and help hold in the heat I gained during the day. Sunday, May 9 View Page Pumpkin greenhouse soaking up the rays. Sunday, May 9 View Page First female at 12ft out on the 848 Lilja main. I like everything about the location on this one. Sunday, May 9 View Page View of the pumpkin greenhouse from the South right entrance. 848 Lilja at 12ft on the right and Secret Weapon at 4ft on the left. Sunday, May 9 View Page Secret Weapon day 27. Sunday, May 9 View Page Lake ice is very rotten with numerous leads running through this bay, very likely ice could break with the windy weather forecast for tomorrow. Sunday, May 9 View Page Say goodbye to old man winter. By this time next weekend this will all be open water. Sunday, May 9 View Page Finally for the first time this year I was able to roll down the top for some direct sunlight. Notice I am protecting the tip of the mains on both plants from direct sunlight. I have found it is easy to burn the tip of the main, especially when cool, dry conditions combine with brilliant sunshine, even at this high latitude. Sunday, May 9 View Page Looking down through the open roof. Sunday, May 9 View Page A look to the heavens. A brilliant, sunny, Alaskan day with a light to moderate SW wind. High 58 low 28. 848 Lilja on the left and Secret Weapon on the right. Monday, May 10 View Page Finally, ice out! It took a strong northeast wind to put an official end to winter. Sunday, May 16 View Page First female on the 848 Lilja main 12 to 13ft out, looks to be a day or two from blooming. Sunday, May 16 View Page Second female on the 848 main. Looks like it will be about 15 to 16 ft out when it blooms. Sunday, May 16 View Page Secret Weapons main crossing paths with a secondary vine on the 848. Yea, it's crowded and you have to be organized to grow a pollinator/genetics plant in this size of greenhouse with a full size plant. The 848 secondary will go under the Secret Weapons main and then exit the west side of the greenhouse. Sunday, May 16 View Page Second male bloom on the 848 main. I better take care of these blooms as I might have to use day old pollen which is still OK in a pinch. Sunday, May 16 View Page Tomato plants starting to ramp up the growth with the longer days. Sunday, May 16 View Page Sir Roger Forsters parkland apple tree. This tree has done exceptionally well the 2 years it has been in the ground. Could possibly bloom this year. Now if we can only keep the moose at bay this tree will be well on its way to becoming large enough to fend for itself. Sunday, May 16 View Page Anna Claire Forsters zestar apple tree. Smaller and more wispy than the parkland. It to could bloom as well this year. Sunday, May 16 View Page Anyone for a swim? Looks inviting, but believe me if you jump in you will be right back out if you don't have a heart attack first. Water temperature in the mid 30s. Sunday, May 16 View Page Lettuce row with 6 inch wire mesh hoophouse in place. Covered at night and visqueen is pulled back for some real sunlight when weather permits. The visqueen on the ground to the right is where the carrot seeds will be planted next week. Great way to heat the ground up and retain the heat you have gained during the day. The ground was still frozen in places at a depth of one foot yesterday. High today was 52 and a low of 38 with a brisk North wind. Sunday, May 16 View Page Turning the 848 main. Vine positioning is of the upmost inportance when growing in a greenhouse. Screw up early and it will cost you down the road. Turning or guiding the main normally gives me 4 to 5 good sets to choose from. I only turn/bend the main when temps have been above 80 or above for several hours prior to adjustments. Usually I don't adjust until afternoon hours at that. Nothing worse than a snapping sound coming from the main especially with only one plant. When I do adjust it is in 4 or 5 small 1/4 inch increments spread over a six hour span. Then again the next day if need be and the next until I'm where I want to be with the position. Slow and easy turning the main. Sunday, May 16 View Page 848 main starting to take a turn towards the East wall of the greenhouse. Should get a look at females # 2, 3, 4 & 5 before the exit out the East side. Main on the 848 will be about 26 to 27 ft upon exiting. Tuesday, May 18 View Page Self pollinated the first four lobe female on the 848 Lilja main at the 13 ft mark. It was a close call for male flowers though, only had one newly opened male flower that morning and also supplemented the pollination process with a two day old male flower. Nothing comes easy. Tuesday, May 18 View Page First female on the 848 Lilja main located in an ideal location on an outside bend. Friday, May 21 View Page Top open for five hours on Friday from 12:30pm till 5:30pm. Conditions were marginal at best but this late in the season I am willing to take the risk to harden the plant off. Started off nice at noon with 60 degree temps and calm winds but by 5:50pm the SW winds were back with a vengence blowing 20 to 25 mph off the Inlet and temperatures in the low 50s. Friday, May 21 View Page First pumpkin on the 848 main, day 3. Saturday, May 22 View Page Now this is my kind of sand trap. 848 pumpkin day four, about the size of a lemon. Saturday, May 22 View Page Placed 2ft styrofoam square under 848 pumpkin today with about 2 inches of sand underneath for a soft landing. Will add more pieces and more sand later as warranted. Pumpkin is currently receiving no heat other than a heating pad set on medium ( 85 degrees ) placed about 8 to 10 inches from the blossum end. Saturday, May 22 View Page Late evening sun filtering in through the side of the greenhouse. Day 52, 1/3 of the season is in the books. Sunday, May 23 View Page First female on the Secret Weapon plant at the 12 ft mark. Sunday, May 23 View Page Third female on the 848 Lilja main 18ft out. Sunday, May 23 View Page 848 pumpkin day 5, about the size of a small orange. Sunday, May 23 View Page Blossum end view. Monday, May 24 View Page Second female on the 848 main 16ft out, 4 lobe self pollinated. Monday, May 24 View Page First pumpkin on the 848 main, day 6, about the size of an orange. Monday, May 24 View Page Tomatos soaking up the late afternoon sun. Monday, May 24 View Page Digging into and screening compost from the pile. Tuesday, May 25 View Page After screening the compost. I pack this material around the main and mound it over all the secondary vines. Wednesday, May 26 View Page About three hours after sunrise the visqueen cover gets pulled back to allow the lettuce full sun. As soon as the temps begin to drop for the evening hours the visaqueen gets pulled back over to retain heat for the twilight hours. Once we get past the first week in June the whole structure will be removed for good. Wednesday, May 26 View Page Stellar weather has allowed me to roll down the top for the last couple of days. High today 68 low 35 with brilliant sunshine. Wednesday, May 26 View Page First pumpkin on the 848 main, day 8, size of a large grapefruit. Main is currently at 20ft. Thursday, May 27 View Page Rotating the 848 pumpkin 90 degrees to the main, day 9. Sunday, May 30 View Page Some of John Nels Anderson MD new gladiolus crosses he gave out to attendees of the Peninsula Gardeners presentation on gladiolus. See what I can do Doc. Sunday, May 30 View Page I like the long stem on the 848 pumpkin, now fully rotated. Sunday, May 30 View Page I like the long stem on the 848 pumpkin, now fully rotated. Sunday, May 30 View Page Third female on the 848 main 19ft out, up for pollination tomorrow. Great spot, but it faces an almost impossible task of dislodging the 12 day old set on the main. Number 2 pumpkin on the 848 main already got the axe. Sunday, May 30 View Page Nice looking stringer of tomatos on the sweet 100 plant. Sunday, May 30 View Page Some cobra tomatos enjoying some mid day sun. Sunday, May 30 View Page Looks like I'm all in on the first pumpkin on the 848 main. Day 12, the size of a basketball. I have a good feeling about this one. Temperatures all week have been sunny and warm with highs ranging from the low 70s to the mid 70s and warm nights as well. The plant has taken off like a rocket, main now past 25ft. Sunday, May 30 View Page Pic goes with above post. Sunday, May 30 View Page Earliest pumpkin I've ever gone with by 5 days, nicknamed Kilauea. Monday, May 31 View Page Memorial day bloom on the third female on the 848 Lilja 19ft out. Insurance set only. Five lobe self pollinated. Monday, May 31 View Page Pic goes with above post. Monday, May 31 View Page 848 Lilja plant running on all cylinders. Top later rolled back for 5 hours of direct sunlight. High 70 low 40, light North wind. Monday, May 31 View Page Day 13, Kiluaea basketball size. You know you've made it as a pumpkin when you get your own heated quarters. Sorry no TV. Sunday, June 6 View Page Memorial day bloom on the third female on the 848 Lilja 19ft out. Insurance set only. Five lobe self pollinated. Sunday, June 6 View Page It's finally done. Dale Marshalls 8 strap lifting ring. Just needs a 16ft piece of nylon 5/8 to run through the loops. I like the black on orange on this one. Sunday, June 6 View Page Should easily lift one over a 1000 lbs. Sunday, June 6 View Page Six strap Alaska State Fair lifting ring done as well. Hopefully it will be lifting multiple 1000 lb plus pumpkins come September. Sunday, June 6 View Page Distance shot of the Alaska State Fair lifting ring. Sunday, June 6 View Page When done lifting the straps fold up nicely. Sunday, June 6 View Page Eruption of Kiluaea continues day 19. Took the first measurements today circ 58, ss 43, ee 42 for a total of 143 for an est. wt of 72 lbs. I looked back at my records for 2006 when I grew the 1019, this pumpkin is 17 lbs heavier at day 19 than the 1019. Will see if it can keep pace. Sunday, June 6 View Page Stem end view of Kiluaea day 19. Sunday, June 6 View Page Covered up for the night in the pumpkin hotel. Sunday, June 13 View Page Cobra tomatos. Sunday, June 13 View Page Sweet 100 tomatos starting to ripen. Sunday, June 13 View Page Plants in the tomato greenhouse in mid season form. Sunday, June 13 View Page Pic goes with above post. Sunday, June 13 View Page Kiluaea taped today circ 87, ss 59, ee 57 = 203 OTT = est wt 187 lbs for a weekly gain of 115 lbs. Sunday, June 13 View Page Day 26, the whitest pumpkin I have ever grown. Just a long as it is big and heavy and stays in one piece it can be any color it wants other than green. Chasing the 1019-06 record as well. Checking back on my records from 2006 on day 26, the 1019 pumpkin weighed 156 lbs so this one is 31 lbs ahead for the same age. It also has a 10 day lead on the 1019 pumpkin as well. It is a long haul and Kilauea will have to be exceptional to pull this off even with this lead. Sunday, June 13 View Page Plant still filling out and exiting the greenhouse at the base where I have cut slits in the visqueen. Sunday, June 20 View Page After one of the worst weeks I've seen for weather in the middle of summer we get a beautiful day. Temperatures for the last week stayed in the low 50s for highs with heavy cloud cover and lots of cold rain. Not a recipe for good growth. I wouldn't blame the pumpkin if it cut itself loose from the vine and got as far away from here as possible. High today 67 and a low of 41, with light North winds. Sunday, June 20 View Page tomatos have reached the top of the greenhouse a sure sign that summer is almost here. With the summer solstice tomorrow comes the realization that the sun has reached its maximum travel Northward and will now begin its journey back toward the South. Sunday, June 20 View Page Maggie on critter patrol. Sunday, June 20 View Page Sea of leaves enjoying a rare sunny day. Top rolled back for 6 hours today. Sunday, June 20 View Page Genetics pumpkin on the secret weapon plant ( Stelts 1421 ) now the not so secret weapon plant. Looks like it will throw an orange one. Sunday, June 20 View Page View from the south side of the pumpkin greenhouse. Sunday, June 20 View Page Kiluaea basking in the afternoon sun. Pumpkin taped in today circ 103, ss 68, ee 66 = 237 OTT = est wt 289 for a net gain for the week of 102 lbs for a 14 1/2 lb daily average. It is now only 16 lbs ahead of the 1019-06 for the day 33 weight comparison. This pumpkin does not have what it takes to beat the 1019-06 record. Sunday, June 20 View Page Enough critter control, I'm sitting down and enjoying the day. Sunday, June 20 View Page Need more days like this one. Sunday, June 20 View Page Tomatos everywhere. Sunday, June 20 View Page Kiluaea day 33, good shape though almost void of any color. Will probably have the texture of bark on a 100 year old cotton wood tree when the season is over. Thursday, June 24 View Page First ripe tomatos of the season off the cobra tomato plants. Sunday, June 27 View Page Opened the top this morning for 3 hrs to allow the rain to water the plant, despite the 50 degree temps. Mean while the pumpkin stays warm and dry in its heated pumpkin shack. Sunday, June 27 View Page Another angle of the pumpkin shack and the glow of its inhabitant. What a sorry weekend weather wise, Rain most of the day yesterday with a stiff cold SW wind off the ocean, high only 56 degrees. Today even worse, rain all day and a high of 50. Welcome to mid summer weather in Alaska. Sunday, June 27 View Page Kiluaea day 40, has more fissures than the real Kiluaea. I swear this one started cantaloping before I pollinated it. The most crevassed pumpkin I have ever grown, even at day 40, sap has beaded and actually flowed down the sides so heavy I had to give up on covering the pumpkin at night with a blanket. Every year it's something new and you have to be able to adapt. Sunday, June 27 View Page Kiluaea day 40 measurements, circ 117, ss 75, ee 74 = 266 OTT = est wt of 403 lbs, a gain of 17 lbs from the previous day. For the week it gained 114 lbs. Now 13 lbs behind the 1019-06 day 40 comparison. Sunday, June 27 View Page One ugly looking hombre, good thing this isn't a beauty contest. Sunday, June 27 View Page Time to cover back up and ride out another round of cold rainy weather. Sunday, July 4 View Page Kiluaea day 47, on the backside of the growth curve already. Circ 125, ss 79, ee 79 = 283 ott = est wt of 482 lbs a pickup for the week of 79 lbs. Now 57 lbs behind the 1019-06 day 47 wt comparison. Basically the chase is over for this pumpkin. Sunday, July 4 View Page The 848 pumpkin has matured strangely to say the least. The green on the surface has given way to a lighter color and heavy cantaloping as it grows. Sunday, July 4 View Page Stem cracks that radiate into the pumpkin shoulders to a depth of 1/2 inch and about three inches in length. This occured during a fast stretch of growth. Basically healed dry and healthy now. Sunday, July 4 View Page Side view of Kiluaea. Sunday, July 4 View Page Tomato assualt. Sunday, July 4 View Page One of the cobra tomatos prior to becoming hamburger topping. Sunday, July 11 View Page Kiluaea day 54, definitely slowing down. Circ 132, ss 81, ee 82, for an est wt of 544 lbs, a gain of 62 lbs for the week. Now 109 lbs behind the 54 day comparison with the 1019-06. Sunday, July 11 View Page As close as I could get to a backside shot of Kiluaea. It is going to be a long one as it has finally passed its ss to ss measurement for the first time this year. Nickname fits this pumpkin for sure, it will have the look and texture of cooled lava when it is over. Picture doesn't really show the crevassing and convolutions on this pumpkin. Sunday, July 11 View Page Finally, after weeks of crappy weather with little sun a stellar Alaska day. Sunny with a high 70 and a low 48. Sunday, July 18 View Page Kiluaea day 61, circ 138, ss 84, ee 86 = 308 ott for an est wt of 617 lbs a gain for the week of 73 lbs. Sunday, July 18 View Page Pic was taken Friday when we had some sun. Sunday, July 18 View Page This just about sums up the abysmal weather we had for this weekend. Saturday cloudy with a moderate SW wind high 55 low 49. Sunday rain most of the day high 55 low 51. Despite the rotten conditions Sunday I still rolled back the top for 4 hours and added nutrients to plant and let it soak up some rainwater. Sunday, July 25 View Page Kiluaea still filling out...slowly I might add. Growth for the week down to 30 lbs. Sunday, July 25 View Page Ribs still filling out. Taped today circ 141, ss 85, ee 87 = 313 ott for an est wt of 647 lbs. When it's all said and done I can only hope it tapes 27% heavy like its mother. My only goal with this pumpkin is to top 800 lbs. Sunday, July 25 View Page You can see the length of this guy from a distance. Sunday, July 25 View Page A swirl of pumpkin vines including the main reaching for the sky. Seeing how high they can get before one of them breaks off. Currently 11 ft high. The Aleutian Chain weather continues, rain and cold all weekend high Sat 52 low 48, Sun high 55 low 48. Sunday, August 1 View Page One of Dr Nels Andersons' Gladiolus crosses. Sunday, August 1 View Page Tomato greenhouse starting to pump out the tomatos despite the cloudy rainy summer we have had to this point. Sunday, August 1 View Page Kiluaea day 74 circ 143, ss 86, ee 88 = 317 ott for an est wt of 672 lbs a gain of 25 lbs for the week. Has the texture of a 50 year old crocodile. Sunday, August 1 View Page As the pumpkin matures the cantaloping has eaten into the green patches that remain on the top middle of the pumpkin. This one came close to being a true squash. Sunday, August 1 View Page Set a record for not rolling back the top this summer. For the first time in almost 3 1/2 weeks I was able to roll back the top for some actual sunshine today. Partly cloudy high 64 low 52 with a light west wind. Sunday, August 1 View Page Best I can do for a backside shot of Kiluaea. This pumpkin is wide, low, and long. Sunday, August 1 View Page The jungle. Sunday, August 1 View Page Some of the Italian roasting peppers. Core'm, stuff them with cheese and other goodies and roast them on the grill. Sunday, August 1 View Page The pumpkin refused to grow anymore if I didn't bring it something cold to drink. At least it has good taste. Sunday, August 8 View Page Moose invasion. This mama and her little ones have hung around the neighborhood all summer long. Sunday, August 8 View Page Just when you would like for them to do a little pruning they snub their noses at the over flowing pumpkin foliage. Sunday, August 8 View Page You know the season is winding down when the silver salmon show up. Caught these 2 in the Swanson river this morning in 15 minutes after getting skunked yesterday. Sunday, August 8 View Page Our granddaughter Aaliyah from Oklahoma City showing me how to pumpkin surf. You go go girl!!! Sunday, August 8 View Page How am I going to eat all these pumpkin pies? Sunday, August 15 View Page Hard to believe this thing is still growing at day 89 with no sun what so ever for the last month. 700++++++++++ Saturday, August 21 View Page Day 95, weigh-off Sept 1st at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer. Sunday, August 29 View Page What's wrong with this picture? Oh yea, the sun is out. Finally with the season basically over we had 4 sunny days in a row early in the week. Sunday, August 29 View Page Looks like Martian rocks and soil. Actually it is dried clam guts and shells with a smell only a pumpkin grower can appreciate. A big thanks to Ron Crowder, Vice-President and Operations Manager of Alaskan Organic for supplying me with 60 to 70 lbs of this material to dig into the patch once the season is over. I've used Alaska Organics products in past season with great results. Sunday, August 29 View Page Kiluaea out of his shack in preparation for the lift on Tuesday afternoon. Sunday, August 29 View Page Kiluaea you are one mean looking customer. Sunday, August 29 View Page A portion of the roof has been removed for lift day. Peak Oil Field Services is lined up to do the lift with their 28 ton boom truck. I can't wait, this is going to be one cool lift. Will try and post as many photos as possible. Sunday, August 29 View Page Backside view of Kiluaea day 103. Final taping circ 145, ss 89, ee 91 = 325 ott for an est wt of 723 lbs. Tuesday, August 31 View Page Lift day. Tuesday, August 31 View Page My favorite day of the season. Big pumpkins going airborne, big equipment. And they don't get much bigger than Peak Oilfield Services Co. 28 ton Elliott Boom Truck. A huge thanks to Peak, Will Galloway and the entire crew for providing for such a thrilling lift. Tuesday, August 31 View Page Our neighbor Anna Claire Forster that lives on one of the Islands on Daniels Lake during the summer months. You know they make boats out of these things Anna Claire. Tuesday, August 31 View Page Outriggers out on the 28 ton Elliott. Tuesday, August 31 View Page Unhooking the block. Tuesday, August 31 View Page Positioning rigging overhead. Tuesday, August 31 View Page Organizing the lifting ring straps prior to lift. Tuesday, August 31 View Page Running the cinching rope through the lower loops. Tuesday, August 31 View Page Maggie has seen a few lifts in her day but the sheer size of the Elliott boom truck overhead has her mesmerized. Tuesday, August 31 View Page You think she owned the place. Tuesday, August 31 View Page Tied off and ready for lift. Tuesday, August 31 View Page We have lift off. Tuesday, August 31 View Page Over east wall of the greenhouse. I just can't get enough of these aerial pumpkin shots. Tuesday, August 31 View Page My favorite aerial pic. Tuesday, August 31 View Page Aerial close up of Kiluaea comiing in for landing onto the state fair pallet. Tuesday, August 31 View Page Thanks Will !!!!!! You guys at Peak are simply amazing! The coolest lift I have ever been a part off! Wednesday, September 1 View Page One man wrecking crew Dale Marshall with his wrecking ball size pumpkin being interviewed by KTUU channel 2 news prior to weigh-off. Wednesday, September 1 View Page Unloading Dale Marshalls pumpkin. Wednesday, September 1 View Page Dale Marshalls pumpkin off the 1483 Werner on display in the cavernous Ag Pavillon. Wednesday, September 1 View Page My entry off the 848 Lilja. Wednesday, September 1 View Page Beauty is definitely not in this pumpkins genetics. Wednesday, September 1 View Page Side view of Dales monster. Wednesday, September 1 View Page Moving Kiluaea into postion for weighing. Wednesday, September 1 View Page 757 lbs. 4.7% heavy. Wednesday, September 1 View Page The stem broke off less than a minute after it was weighed. Fortunately it held on long enough or it would have been only 3.7% heavy...lol Wednesday, September 1 View Page Now for the feature attraction. Just seconds off the ground...... waiting for the scale to settle out. Is it...Is it..... Wednesday, September 1 View Page It's official Dale Marshall of Anchorage, Alaska has set a new state record with a 1101 lb pumpkin. Wednesday, September 1 View Page You are da Man Dale! Tons of admiration from me on your record setting day. Terrific cross on top of all that ( 1483 werner x 1544 Revier ) hit on both sides on color, shape, and with a heavy heavy pollinator. Wednesday, September 1 View Page Yea! It's for real! 1101!!!!!!!!! Wednesday, September 1 View Page Thanks for being a pumpkin model Kelly and for all the hard work you and your mom Kathy put into making the Alaska State Fair an awesome event! Wednesday, September 1 View Page Wait a minute this pic was supposed to go with above caption. Thanks Kelly! Wednesday, September 1 View Page Pumpkins on display in the large crops display area. Dales 1101 in foreground, J.D.s 757 in middle and Dales 902 ( 21% heavy ) in the background. Wednesday, September 1 View Page Gidget with Alaska Department of weights and measurements division weighing and certifying large produce turned in. Thanks Gidget for a job well done! Wednesday, September 1 View Page View of the colossal Ag Pavillon in Palmer Alaska. Pumpkin Weigh-off is on the right perimeter. Wednesday, September 1 View Page Have a great weigh-off season!