Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 63 Entries. Thursday, April 23 View Page 2009 season underway! *605 Huff already in the germination chamber. I decided to grow one of my Dads seeds in place of a 1385 Jutras seed this year (because I traded my last one for a 998 Pukos,, lol). One of the seeds I will be growing is a 102 W.Bosworth 08' ( 1385 Jutras x self). Whats the next best thing to growing a 1385 Jutras?.... A 102 Bosworth seed!! (I hope),,,lol. My Dads 102 was a long bright orange pumpkin that was super thick inside. I am planning on growing 8 to 12 plants this year that I will start germinating in about 4 days. Tuesday, April 28 View Page Started 4 seeds yesterday and 2 today. 998 Pukos 985 Werner(s) 1413 Werner 1209 Kuhn 805 Pukos 1161 Rodonis I was planning on planting 12 plants this year but due to other things that have came up recently, I'm only going to go with what I think will be my best chances and see where it leads me. One of my main plants that will go in my best spot will be the 102 Bosworth (1385 Jutras x self),its a seed that my father grew last year, Id really like to grow that seed over a 1200lbs for him. Wednesday, April 29 View Page Most all of my seeds started on the 27th have started a root(I peeked,,lol). Only seed that hasnt shown any signs of life yet is the 998 Pukos :( Although the 998 seed was kinda rough looking from the start on the outer shell , it did feel very very rock hard solid on the inside, and that's all that counts. The seed still looks in great shape at this point, so I still think I have a great chance in getting her to grow. But I gotta admit and would be lying if I would say I wasn't worried about it just a little at this point in the game. All I can do is keep my fingers crossed and PRAY!!..LOL!! Thursday, April 30 View Page Checked the 998 Pukos this morning with still no signs of life still, so I took it out and opened the seed coat,,,, EMPTY! It did feel solid as a rock with out question, but this seed really fooled me,,, what a bummer to say the least. Things like this happen when growing pumpkins and you definitely got to expect it for sure, cause your going to have your ups and downs,and hopefully I have my ''downs'' out of the way,,lol. I still have some great seeds that I think will do well, so its not a total lost at all really, just a little disappointing finally being able to get a chance to grow one of the best seeds in the world and it ends up being a dud,lol. I still have another great seed and that's the 805 Pukos that has done well for me, cause how the saying goes around here, you ain't growing pumpkins unless you have a Pookie seed in your patch!,,lol. Tuesday, May 26 View Page First plant with the hoop house removed, the ''1209 Billy The Bee Keeper Kuhn'' plant. It was hard setting this plant free yesterday to the world with out its protected cover, and then now hearing the rain coming down hard this morning,,,,,hope she is ok out there,,,,LOL! Im really happy with this seedling so far. The rest of my plants I will take the hoop houses down once my leaves start touching the sides of the plastic, which will be in the next couple days. Tuesday, May 26 View Page Picture of 3/4 of my patch, the other 3 seedling are to the right of the picture that I couldnt fit in. I told myself I was only planting 6 to 8 plants, but once I got started planting seedlings I couldnt stop,,lol!! I still will cut back to 6 to 8 plants and go with the best plants come end of June,first part of July. It will be Just to much work this year to let them all grow with all the stuff I have going on. I have 3 back up plants in 3 of these hoop houses that will be culled in the next few days. Thursday, May 28 View Page My dog (Laya) has been my left hand man in the patch for the last 6 years who has never, ever, came close to hurting any of my plants ,she knows the golden rule of staying back away from the plants, but the other day was a little different. I was in the patch and I look over at Laya laying all sprawled out in the cool dirt that was just tilled, and she is laying smack down in the middle of one of my plants, the 605 Huff 'Green and Shiney''. I couldn't believe what I was seeing!,,lol. After inspected the smashed, flatten, squished, torn, paw print in the center of the broken 605 plant, It sure didn't look good. Lucky I didn't pull the plant right away, because I noticed some growth off a little section of the plant that is still living!,,lol. These plants have a will to live. I cant be mad at my best bud for squishing my plant, and all I can really do is have fun with it now and see what I can get to grow off it,, thats if the plant still makes it and I can get a vine to grow off it!,,lol! Pictures of the 605 flattened Huff plant to come,,,, I will warn you, the pic is not for the skirmish stomach,,,,,Ba hahaha! Thursday, June 11 View Page 1209 Kuhn Thursday, June 11 View Page 985 Werner Thursday, June 11 View Page 1413 Werner Thursday, June 11 View Page 985 Werner (plant #2) Thursday, June 11 View Page 1161 Rodonis Thursday, June 11 View Page 1566 Rodonis Thursday, June 18 View Page wow,,,,, hell of a storm last night that did some damage. Most all my plants are 10 ft out or more, and this morning I have done a lot of repairing, and spraying the leaves off from all the mud splatter on them. I lost some leaves due to the wind, and also lost the main on one of my 985 plants, a piece of hail hit the main perfect putting a big hole in it. One good thing Is,I do have a pumpkin before the mains break. Only bad thing is its only about 8 ft out on the main. I still think I'm going to go with it, that's if I can get it pollinated. I'm going to try something new one the 985 plant and keep as many vines as I can growing off the secondaries for more roots and leaves behind the plant. Will it work to grow me a monster?,,probably not,,lol, but I'm gonna give it a try. One weird thing about all this is that my 1209 Kuhn didn't have one bit of damage to it like all my other plants do, it has no broken leaves, twisted vines, nothing!,, Maybe its a OMEN ,that the 1209 plant has a big one in store for me,,LOL! Monday, June 22 View Page Great fathers day yesterday, son Brandon helped me in the patch to bury vines and also weed, I'm sure he doesnt realize it but the work he did yesterday helped me out tremendously, it definitely helped me get caught up from all the rain we received that prevented me from getting into the patch the last 4 days. Greatest fathers day present I have ever received, it wasn't the help I enjoyed the most, but was just spending the day with him . Hard to believe in just 3 or 4 years both of my kids will be out of the roost and going to college. Cherish the time when your kids are young Is what I have learned from my first daughter Kady, because before you realize it, they are already grown up. Ill be pollinating 3 and maybe even 4 plants this morning in the dark with a flashlight before I go to work this morning (approx 5:20 am approx), The 1209 Jimmy the Bee Keeper Kuhn seed, the 1161 Rodonis, 1556 Rodonis and a good chance the 1413 Werner plant. I have already pollinated 2 plants on the 21st, the 985 Werner and the 641 Bosworth. Earliest year I have ever had pollinating plants, and that's even considering I started my plants a lot later then usual, why this is I have no idea, because I have definatly had better weather then this year before. I also be pollinating a couple of Ron Rahe's smaller varieties, his Triamble squash cross's. I plan on crossing one of his Triamble Squash with a prizewinner plant that Glenna Rea had grown last year. The other cross's I plant to o I havnt decided yet. Ron's cross's are always great fun to grow, I have grown his seeds every year for the past 3 years.. they always amaze me , cause you never know what your gonna get. Wednesday, August 5 View Page Lost half the main vines and stump on 2 of my plants a couple days apart on my 1413 Werner and 985 Werner. The main vine at the center of both plants was like mush, weird thing about this is that the roots where still real healthy looking and white. And the disease seemed it started from the middle of the vine and worked itself back to the stump because the main vines in the middle of the plants was completely gone, just like putting a knife into butter. The stumps wasn't that bad but they was still starting to rot also. I'm pretty sure it isnt Fusarium and Im guessing what I have is Yellow Vine Disease. I did end up saving half my plants though by cutting out the bad spots, and surprisingly I'm still getting great gains from the 985 Werner plant, its growing like it had a stump still, but I dont think this will last for long, just not enough plant and roots behind the pumpkin. My 1413 has slowed considerably after taking all the bad spots out, but thats how I figured something was wrong with this plant when I only seen a small gain of weigh over a few days, which made me investigate and find this shitty disease. I'm thinking my season is pretty much over now, but its going to be fun to grow these pumpkins out to see where they end up at the end of the season. Thursday, August 6 View Page Here is what is left of my 985 plant, lost stump and half the plant. Thursday, August 6 View Page 985 pumpkin at 33 days, I really like the shape of this pumpkin and think it would have been a monster if the stump and main stayed healthy, but surprisingly Im still getting 25, 30 lbs and more a day so far on this pumpkin, will it last? Im thinking it wont, but these pumpkins sure do surprise me so I shall see,,lol. Im just hoping I still get half these weight gains since losing half my plant, but Im not complaining Ill take more,,lol. Thursday, August 6 View Page Another pic of the 985 Thursday, August 6 View Page Picture of the 1413 Werner pumpkin at 32 days old. This plant was a heck of a grower until I lost the stump and half the main, you can see how much plant I have left behind the pumpkin. Its still gaining, but not near as much as the 985 Werner. I like the blocky shape on this pumpkin, to bad I cant see its full potential now, but there is always next year to see what she will do. Thursday, August 6 View Page 1161 Rodonis (x 1209 Kuhn). 40 days old. This is a great growing plant so far, but the shape of this pumpkin Im not to fond of, I grew this seed because of the great shape pumpkin Quinn grew off his 1161 and look what I end up with,,HA!,,, its still a good grower, I just have to watch the stem end so it doesnt start growing into the ground. Thursday, August 6 View Page and here is my dark horse that I think might be my best plant ''if luck goes my way'' the 1209 Kuhn! this plant was pollinated late and is now at 24 days old. I have over 30 ft of plant behind this pumpkin. Thursday, August 6 View Page 1209 Kuhn Pumpkin 24 days old. Thursday, August 6 View Page Phat Albert pumpkin was growing good untill this happend,,, Thursday, August 6 View Page OOCH! first time I ever had a blossom end split on a field pumpkin variety,,lol! Thursday, August 6 View Page this Tomato was grown off the 4.46 Ohio state record seed. Thanks Duane! http://www.bigpumpkins.com/DisplayPhoto.asp?pid=6113 I cant grow them like Duane can, but these things get pretty darn big , especially for a beginner like me,Ha! This tomato was 15 inches CC. I have about 8 more tomato's on this plant the same size or just a little bigger. I have to put a plug in for this pocket knife in the picture I received from Ray Waterman at, http://www.pandpseed.com/ I have had this pocket knife for over 3 years or so and this is by far the best made little pocket knife I have ever owned, I have never had a pocket knife that is as well built as this one is, and also that has lasted me this long, Its lasted me because not only how well its made, but because I make sure I dont lose this one,,lol. I used to lose little knives like crazy,,lol,, but I make sure I dont lose this one,,ha!. Best little tool in my patch by far, Id be lost with out it . Thursday, August 13 View Page Well, lost the stump on my 1209 today, thats 4 out of 6 plants that I have lost this year with some great pumpkins growing on the vine, and then all of a sudden,,,, WHAM!,,, foaming stump bites you in the ass . I Dont understand it ether, it hasnt been that wet in my area this year, and its the first year using the rootshield, I thought my chances was good as far as not catching a disease as easy, but thats sure wasnt the case at all this year. I used Rootshield at planting, and at every leaf node that was burried, I also have used Clearys 3336, Alliette, BannerMax, daconil, and the list goes on,,, all on a strict rotation schedule, and one thing I made sure I did this year was good drenches with my fungicides, but guess what,,,, foaming stump on 4 out of 6 plants so far,,, It still didnt help. Just goes to show ya that no matter how much money you spend on fungicides, or how much work you put in religiously applying the stuff, that it doesnt always mean your not going to lose a plant or two, but in my case 4 plants down and counting. This disese sure has let alot of air out of my tires this year thats for sure. I sure would like to get a handle on this foaming stump bullshit,but I dont think anyone quite knows for sure yet what really causes it or how to prevent it. Hope we get a break through on this sometime soon. Saturday, August 15 View Page here is a pumpkin (that I havnt lost the stump yet!,,lol) off my Dads 102 Bosworth(1385 Jutras x self), its not going to be very big because where it was planted, but looks like its going to have a excellent orange color to it. Sunday, August 16 View Page My only plant left that has a stump,,,LOL,, the 1161 Rodonis at 53 days old. This pumpkin sure is hard to get a accurate measurement off of thats for sure. Sunday, August 16 View Page 985 Werner, this pic was taken at day 41, growth has slowed alot the last couples days. Its not going to win any weigh offs but still growing pretty good on less then half of a plant and no stump. At day 41 this pumpkin is taping roughly 750 lbs. Sunday, August 16 View Page half of plant my 985 is growing on. All the dirt you see in the picture used to be full of leaves, vines and one stump. Tuesday, August 18 View Page 1413 pumpkin, love the blocky fat shape this pumpkin has and think it would have been a real grower. This pumpkin has been growing off of only 7 secondaries, it is roughly 550 lbs and has slowed on growth,,,,SUCKS!. Tuesday, August 18 View Page Other side of the 1413, these pics was taken at day 41. Tuesday, August 18 View Page I want one more shot next year to grow this plant, I know it will produce some huge pumpkins.Plant behind the 1413, its life line, only 7 secondaries left to feed it. :-( Sunday, August 23 View Page 1209 Kuhn (x 985 Werner), this probably wont hit 800 lbs, but this by far is the prettiest shaped/colored pumpkins I have ever grown. What ya think Wiz and Biz?,,, Howard Dill Award if she makes it???,,, Bahahahaha!!lol Sunday, August 23 View Page Other side of the 1209 Kuhn. 39 days old Sunday, August 23 View Page 985 Werner, right around 50 days old,,,,, and still growing, its amazing to me im still getting 2 inches circumference on this pumpkin a day. Sunday, August 23 View Page 1161 Rodonis, over 60 days old,, still growing! Thursday, August 27 View Page I really like the shape and color of this pumpkin off the 1209 Kuhn, its not going to get much bigger so I'm hoping it keeps turning orange. I crossed this 1209 with my 985 Werner which surprisingly it has a very nice orange color to it compared to some of the 985's I have seen grown. Thursday, August 27 View Page 985 Werner 162 circumfrance. growing on about 10 secondaries. The big empty spot you see behind the plant used to be full of leaves ,vines and 1 stump,,lol Thursday, August 27 View Page 1413 Werner pumpkin growing on about 7 secondaries, same story with this plant, the empty spot you see behind the plant used to be filled with leaves ,vines and 1 stump, Ha! Still not to bad for the size of this pumpkin for all the plant it has left to grow on. Thursday, August 27 View Page Dads 102 seed (1385 x self) Kinda has a funny shape dont it Dad? LOL! This pumpkin is approx 300 lbs. Thursday, August 27 View Page Nothing to big coming from my patch this year, had some bad luck that I hope I can turn around next year. Saturday, August 29 View Page 1161 Rodonis, keeps on growing, this pumpkin has been a slow but steady grower. Thursday, September 3 View Page Here is a Rahe Triamble squash #1 x 1180 Pukos 07,,, it looks kinda like a cinderella pumpkin only a little fatter around the center. Ron did a 3 lobe pollination on a Triamble squash, Lobes #2 and #3 was selfed. I grew the #3 cross that was a selfed triamble cross and did get exactly that, a green triamble squash. Looks like your single lobe pollination cross worked Ron! and why is it I am the only one that grows your crazy cross's??,,,LOL http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=98753 http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=98754 http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=98523 Friday, September 4 View Page Sorry about the half pic but his 16 year old sister doesnt know how to take pictures yet,,lol!! This my 13 year old son Brandon with the 1161. Its hard to believe hes wearing a size 14 shoe already and taller then his ole man! Im 5'11 and onl wear a 9 1/2 shoe,,lol!! Something isnt right here I think?,,lmao! I passed my personal best a couple days ago as far as OTT measurements go on the 1161 Rodonis. I am really worried about the blossom end on this pumpkin as I can see fine cracks starting. I'm really considering cutting it from the vine if the cracks gets any worse,cause it doesnt look like its ready to stop growing anytime soon. Never thought I would be hoping a pumpkin would stop growing this time of the season,,lol! Right now its just a couple hair line cracks but its in the worst possible place it can be on a pumpkin. I have grown pumpkins before where these hair line cracks starting at the blossom end grew them all the way to the end of the season that never was a problem, and I also have grown them to where they became a problem and split. The thing about this pumpkins blossom end is that its sunk so far down into the pumpkin,and with it pointing straight up in the air like it is that gravity has got to be working against me on this one. This is one of the toughest calls I ever had to make growing pumpkins,cutting it from the vine,,,, today or tomorrow the decision has to be made. Should I grow it, or chance blowing it. aghhhhhhhh!!! Thursday, September 17 View Page I really pushed these 2 fruit hard. Front is the 985 Werner taping over 900 lbs and in the back ground is the 1413 Werner taping just right under 900 lbs. Still not bad for fruit that lost their stumps at day 30's. The pumpkin that surprised me most this year was the 1413 Werner with only 7 secondaries feeding it. Its pretty much done growing, but it seemed like it would never stop considering the trouble it had. It was a really slow grower for sure that I never expected to get this size in a million years. Wednesday, September 23 View Page Lost one of my best friends in the whole world last night to cancer . He loved going to the weigh offs and never stopped talking about meeting all the growers at them and at Niagara. I never will forget how he talked about how pumpkin growers are the nicest group of people he has ever been around. He had his favorite growers that he followed like other people follow there best player on a football team.. He was a real big fan of Joe Jutras even though he just met joe for a brief instance at Niagra, and ever since he grew his 1385 seed to 102 lb his only year growing, he always talked about that 1385 seed and how he was going to find another seed and grow it. But deep down I knew that it wasn't going to happen because how sick he had been for the last couple years, and he would always would ask me have you heard how Joe Jutras is doing this year? How come he never posts a diary,,lol He also was a big fan of Doc Liggett who called Dad up on the phone last spring when he was first diagnosed with cancer, not even knowing Dad personally and invited him to his patch, Dad never did stop talking about him ether after Doc showed him around his patch. And of course he liked Dave Stelts alot also, which every time I would mention his name around him he would get a big smile on his face and talk about how funny that guy was, Dave really made my Dad smile and laugh, not only when he seen him but mostly when I would just mention his name and talk about him,my Dad and I always did get a kick out of Dave Stelts. Other guys he also talked about was Tom Bohica and Dwane Perry,(and the list goes on) but them two guys really helped him out alot when Dad first started growing, and he really enjoyed going to Perrys web site and chat with them guys on the boards. I really loved having a big one growing and watch Dad get all excited about it like a 5 year old kid,lol,,he really made the weigh offs and Niagara that much more special for me. I'm sure going to miss him. Wednesday, September 23 View Page Wednesday, September 23 View Page Wednesday, September 23 View Page Dad and Stan Wednesday, September 23 View Page Thursday, October 1 View Page This little pumpkin is off the same 985 plant that my 900 plus lber is growing. Maybe this is a induction it might go heavy,, I hope so!,,lol Thursday, October 1 View Page Dads 102 Seed (1385 x self) 512 lbs on the trailer. Let this pumpkin grow on her own, only thing I did do the first month was drenched with Merit. Sure is a pretty orange for a 1385. Dads favorite seed. Thursday, October 1 View Page Another shot of the 512. Unfortunately this was a open pollination. Friday, October 2 View Page 1190 Bosworth 09 (1161 Rodonis x 1209 Kuhn), Barnesville Pumpkin Fest. Friday, October 2 View Page Loaded for Canfield. 985 Werner on left, 1413 Werner on the right. The stumpless wonders! If these two pumpkins go over 1000 lbs Ill be a happy camper, Im praying for a tad heavy,,, gonna be close! Thanks for the seeds Quinn! Friday, October 2 View Page Another shot. Monday, October 5 View Page Well, one pumpkin went heavy and the other one went really light,,lol,, Weighed them at the OVGPG weigh off Saturday. The one I thought would go really heavy(985) went light and the one I thought would go light(1413) went heavy,,,lol,, so go figure, this hand thumping on the pumpkin to see if it will go heavy never works for me,,lol!! (Right now the 918 Pumpkin seed and cross are listed wrong on the GPC Web site, which will soon be fixed. Heidi Brunst I know has been a buzy camper doing all the numbers for our club for every pumpkin weighed in Saturday, its people like her who gets over looked sometimes , but I commend her for the awesome job she does for the OVGPG club. It sure is nice having people like her in the club thats for sure!) 918 Bosworth (1413 Werner x 1209 Kuhn) Ott measremnt was 341 total inches, est weight 833Lbs , went 85lbs Heavy. 886.5 Bosworth( 985 Werner x Sibb) -3% light 1190 Bosworth(1161 Rodonis x 1209 Kuhn) 4% heavy (Barnesville weigh off) Thursday, October 22 View Page I made a couple cross's this year that might be good ones, one cross is from the 1566 Rodonis that I grew for a pollinator plant that I never did use as a pollinator,,lol. But I did grow a pumpkin on that plant to about 400 lbs that I crossed with the 1161 Rodonis. Good cross on paper though, (1566 Rodonis x 1161 Rodonis) not sure how many of them type cross's where made this year, but the 1566 produced a real bright orange pumpkin for me. I also grew another 985 Werner to a EST of 847 Lbs (343 Ott)that I Sibbed with my 886.5 Bosworth (985 x sibb) The 886.5 was also sibbed pollinated with the 847 est plant. So I have two 985 Werners cross's that where both Sibbed 843 Bosworth (est) (985 Werner x Sibb) 886.5 Bosworth (985 Werner x Sibb) Here is a picture of the 843 Est that was sibbed. Both pumpkins are totally different looking from each other. One thing I have found out is the 985 grows two different type pumpkins, one a orangish color and one a yellowish color, and it seems like the ones that are the yellowish light color is the ones that go heavy for growers. Thanks for the 985 seed Quinn! Sunday, October 25 View Page 914 Bosworth (1209 Kuhn x Open) uow Carved by Dave Shula from Weirton Wv. He does all his carvings for the kids, its what he enjoys about carving these giants the most. Thursday, October 29 View Page 512 Bosworth 09, grown off my Dads 102 Seed ( 1385 Jutras x self),, the 1385 can sure throw some pretty orange pumpkins. This is another great Carving by Dave Shula. Friday, December 25 View Page Wanted to put the pumpkins I grew to finish my diary out for 2009. Not a good year, but it could have been alot worse so I really cant complain to much. 1191 Bosworth 09 (1161 Rodonis x 1209 Kuhn) 918 Bosworth 09 (1413 Werner x 1209 Kuhn) 914 Bosworth 09 ( 1209 Kuhn x open) 886 Bosworth 09 ( 985 Werner x Sibb) 847 Bosworth 09 ( 985 Werner x sibb). And also grew a really orange 500 plus lber off my Dads 102(1385 x self) seed. And probably the best cross of them all I did this year, and the only one I have seen done is what I call the ''Rodonis cross 09'' I was kinda surprised how many growers wanted this seed to grow next year. Hope they grow it, sure would be fun to see what it produces. Bosworth 'Rodonis cross' 09 (1566 Rodonis x 1161 Rodonis) That Rodonis cross is definitely going in the ground next year, and maybe I can get lucky in growing my own seed big next year.