Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 59 Entries. Wednesday, January 27 View Page Well, I got my wish...If there was every any doubt, I'm an official Redneck! Thursday, January 28 View Page Me and our 1236 Vincent-McGill 09 World Record squash. Sunday, March 21 View Page Oh Canada Eh! Saturday, April 24 View Page Starting seeds tonight: 2 x 901 Hunt, 1 x 1421 Stelts, 1 x 1161 Rodonis, 4 x 1059 Vincent-McGill, 1 x 869 Calai, 4 x 1236* Vincent-McGill, 3 x 792* Olsen, 2 x 943 Jacobus. All are files and soaking in a mild seaweed solution, Azos and unobtainium. The 869 Calai will be used as a pollinator for the 1059 and may be grown by another grower. One spot still undecided...have to sleep on it...lol (up to eight plants) Built a "Lonnie Bourne: seed germination chamber tonight. Works like a charm...thanks Lonnie! Worked over the patch today with the chisel plow, two passes. Had 40 metric tonnes of sand delivered yesterday for the north patch. I will try to get it spread early this week, along with a generous coating of composted manure. Sunday, April 25 View Page Also, Started 3 x 1339 Vincent-Mcgill's at Midnight on the 24th. Saturday, May 1 View Page After one week...all germed except 792 Olsen* and 943 Jacobus*. Other seedlings up and looking good. a couple days yet till pot up. Started 549 Wells* x 2, 785 Vincent-McGill* x 2, 792 Olsen* x 3 more and 2 more 943 Jocobus. Also started tonight 2 x 118.5 Eaton LG, 2 x 128 9/16 Kline LG. and 134.25 Johnston/Butler LG x 2. Today, spread 40 Metric tonnes of coarse sand on the North Patch. 10 Tonnes of Compost spread on south portion of North patch to accommodate two additional plants, one for my daughter Amanda, and the other for the additional squash. Patch is very dry and very warm out today. Time will tell weather this is a set back not having the plants in the patch early. Slight thunder shower late afternoon slowed down patch prep. Monday, May 3 View Page Potted up all of the first batch of plants tonight to 1.5 Gal pots. All have the first true leaf just poking through. Plants look great. Promix was inoculated with RTI, JumpStart, Azos, and RootShield. Both 785's* germed and were potted up tonight. The first 549 Wells* popped a club root. Still in towels. The second one has a small root just poking. Will likely pot both tomorrow. No action yet on the 792's* or the 943's*. Wednesday, May 12 View Page I delayed my patch work and given the cold weather and frost here the last few mornings, I think the plants were just as well inside! I applied my amendments tonight. These are all per 1000ft2: 19lbs k-Mag (0-0-20K-10mg-20s), 3 lbs MAP (11-52-0) 6 lbs SOP (0-0-50) 37 lbs 90% sulfur 37 lbs Black Earth Humic Acid I have increased the patch area to 6000ft2 to accommodate 2 extra plants for a total of 8. I did a final tillage pass with the s-tine Both 901 Hunt plants are really crappy and I am disappointed. I took them up to the neighbours green house to see if they can perk them up a bit for me. The 782*'s and 549*'s are all doing good, but behind the other plants because they were started a week later.I took them up to the green house as well to see if they will catch up a bit. All the 792*'s and 943*s failed to germinate. 1161 Rodonis, 1421 Stelts, 1339 Vincent-McGill, 1059 Vincent-McGill, 1236 Vincent-McGill*, 785 Vincent-McGill*, and 549 Wells* will all make the cut. waiting on the 901's. I started quite a few LG's a little over a week ago and another batch on Sunday. Final cut will depend on germination. I also started my field pumpkins on Saturday, 100 Starr, 89 Starr and 55 Rea. I hope to get the hoops up before the next rain and get the AG plants in the ground in the next couple days. The forecast is calling for warmer weather from here on...woohoo! Sunday, May 16 View Page Finally...Planting day! 1421,1161,1339,1059,1236* in the ground! Saturday, May 22 View Page 549 Wells* and 785 V/M* in the ground tonight and they look great...the rest of the plants look like crap...major transplant shock...note to self, let plants get a little larger next year! Very hot here today, plants flaging badly. The best 901 ribbon vined, the other still looks crappy. I will likley plant both in the same mound in a couple days. Sunday, May 23 View Page Temps are down right hot here and are supposed to continue for the next few days. Applied a foliar spray tonight, 3% seaweed, + Co2 (1/4 tsp to 5L) and Azos 1/2tsp to 5L. The 785* and 549*, are doing really well. they hardly flagged at all in the heat today. Planted out some giant onions, cabbage and kohlrabi today. Monday, May 24 View Page Temps soaring near 100F today. Installed misters..plants like..:-) Tuesday, May 25 View Page The back up 901 made the cut and is in the ground tonight. The primary with the ribbon vine has not straightened out and will likely be discarded. All the plants are a bit behind normal and it is basically due to me not getting things done on time. Final Line up: 1421 Stelts, 1339 Vincent-McGill, 1161 Rodonis, 1059 Vincent-McGill, 1236* Vincent-McGill, 785* Vincent-McGill, 549* Wells. Brian and Noah have a 1236* and a 1339 going at his place. Misters operating all day, last couple days...100F here again today and tomorrow as well...cooler by Friday. Tuesday, May 25 View Page Roof shot! Friday, May 28 View Page Its time to come out of the closet! I have secretly been a member of Team Lunatic, for several weeks now. I am ashamed to have kept this a secret! Friday, May 28 View Page My early plants are still stunted but slowly coming out of it. The worst plant currently is the 1421 Stelts. I place no bearing on the genetics, just some problems I created. I plan to make major changes before next season with my early seedling care. The best plant in the patch is the 785* Vincent-McGill (995* V/M x 800* Neily). I expect great things from this seed. The 549* and the 901 hunt are all doing well. These three plants were the last ones put in. I attribute this to have better root systems established before transplanting. The others are in various stages in between. I expect most to be down and running in the next few days. Long Gourd plants are still in the green house. 134 Johnson-Butler, 99 and 96 Urena, and 116 Lyons are all candidates. Giant tomatoes are coming along as well as the Giant Field Pumpkins. Wednesday, June 2 View Page Plants are starting to lay down and are looking better. Applied Roundup to the whole patch Sunday and Monday and removed all the plastic last night. Applied 50 lbs AMS tonight on the 6000ft2 patch. Rain began just as I finished..:-) Sunday, June 6 View Page The plants are finally starting to take off here with most down and running. I am behind many of the Ontario growers as I had a late start and didn't bother with heating cables early on. Although behind, I believe I am ahead of normal. Good rains here this week have alleviated the drought, at least temporarily. I accidentally cracked the main on the 1236* yesterday, doing a routine repositioning...crap! I will likely go with a secondary, although I have a huge 1236* back up in a pot, I may out in beside the original plant to see if it takes hold quickly. Tuesday, June 22 View Page Removed an open female this morning on the 546 Wells* at about 7'. There is another coming at 9'. I may pollinate this one. Females on most of the plants now but all are too close and will likely remove most of these. Applied a soil drench this morning in about a 12' circle around each plant. The drench contained insect control along with a couple new products I will be testing this season. Immediately after that I applied a general over spray of compost tea. Plant growth has exploded here with the heat and humidity. The plants are still behind, but I should still be able to get June Pollinations on most plants Wednesday, June 23 View Page Battening down the hatches and preparing for the worst! Severe thunderstorm watch here with possibility of tornadoes. Holy crap. I used all my bamboo stakes and covered all the plants with tarps in case of hail. Fingers crossed XX. Monday, June 28 View Page I am testing a new product this season (CG351). This is a rooting stimulant. Here is a picture of one of the vines on the 549 Wells* taken on Saturday just at the last buried node. You can clearly see the top and bottom root coming out of the vine. The vines were exposed to CG351 on Tuesday! Saturday, July 3 View Page It's been a while since I have posted. Here is the 785* Vincent-McGill squash (985 V/M* x 800 Neily*). One pollination x 549 Wells*. Saturday, July 3 View Page The 901 Hunt Plant. Straightened out after ribbon vining early on. One pollination x 1421 Stelts, yesterday at about 11' Saturday, July 3 View Page The star of the show, the 1059 Vincent-McGill. One pollination at 11-12 ft x 1370 Rose, thanks to Bryan Mailey for the pollen! Saturday, July 3 View Page After breaking the main out of the 1236*, its trailing the pack. Hopefully a pollination by the end of the week! Saturday, July 3 View Page The 1339 V/M. A very nice plant adopted by my daughter and getting neglected. I may have to take this one over soon! One pollination x 1161 Rodonis....very nice! Saturday, July 3 View Page 1161 Rodonis, one of the nicer plants, one pollination x 901 Hunt. Saturday, July 3 View Page 1421 Stelts a very slow plant right from the start is finally starting to catch up. No pollination's yet, but soon to be crossed with the 901. Saturday, July 3 View Page 549 Wells*, one of the best plants this year. Two pollination's on this one, the first at about 10' x 785* V/M and the second at about 12' x 1236*, either cross is acceptable! I am really struggling to get enough time to bury plants this year. Way behind..note to self....don't grow 8 plants again! Tuesday, July 13 View Page A nice set on the 1339 Vincent-McGill (904 Stelts x 998 Pukos) at 10 days today, 31".One of the best 10 day measurements I have had. Crossed with 1161 Rodonis! Monday, July 19 View Page I have had a tough start like may others. I have fruit set on 785* V/M, 901 Hunt, 1421 Stelts and 1339 V/M. All these fruit look really good! I have no fruit set on the other 4 as of yet, 1059 V/M, 1236* V/M, 549* Wells and 1161 Rodonis. I am still trying to set fruit, although getting very late. I am pollinating all female flowers on the later secondaries as well as the main, trying for something. Also, I have had very little time to care for the plants, so pruning and burying had suffered a lot. I will concentrate my efforts on the plants with the set fruit. No females yet on the field pumpkins. LG's are just reaching the top of the trellis. Monday, July 19 View Page I had a chance to visit the patch of Art Johnson and John Butler, about 10 days ago, and was able to snap a couple interesting Pictures. This is a Northern Giant cabbage, that they were able to keep over the winter. It is totally loaded with seeds. Monday, July 19 View Page A Pick of the "Scaffold" at Art Johnson's. This thing is awesome! Thanks guys for the great visit. Looking foreword to the patch tour. Monday, July 19 View Page Not the best colour in world, but this fruit on the 785* Vincent-McGill is sure packing on the pounds. Day 21 today, she tapes 195.5" ott....holy crap! Wednesday, July 28 View Page Day 30 today for the 785* Vincent-McGill Fruit x 549* Wells. (785* = 995* V/M x 800* Neily [800 plant grew 1236*]) measurements 105+68+75=248=329lbs just under the 1200 lb bench mark. A bit of a bird bath at the front, but nice and square in the rear. Unfortunately, colour may be an issue, however it does have a green hue overall and may darken with age....time will tell. Wednesday, August 4 View Page 1421 Stelts fruit, August 2nd, day 30, 254" ott. Not bad numbers and good colour also. The picture doesn't do it justice. Wednesday, August 4 View Page The beginnings of foaming stump disease on the 1421. I scraped out the affected area, drilled a burr hole and treated with alcohol. I will apply drying agent and use a fan on it later today. Hot weather and high humidity continues here. The 1421 is at Day 32 today and ramping up! Typical foaming stump conditions! Friday, August 13 View Page The 1421 Stelts, day 40 today, taping around 600 lbs,but not getting the growth I would like. Still a nice pumpkin and my best bet for a new PB. Crossed with the 901 Hunt! Thursday, August 19 View Page After a very slow start, the plants are finally starting to take off! Other Ontario growers already have a pollination or two. My best plants are out about 8'. Best plants are 546 Wells*, 785 VIncent McGill* and 1161 Rodonis. The 1236* that I brok off the main vine is going with a new main, but only out about 30" or so. The 1421 Stelts is really poor, but picking up. The 1339 V/M is looking good also. Applied a soil drench of Fish, molasses, Actinovate and Azos to about 2/3 of the patch. I used a tow behind sprayer for this, but used the wand. It worked really well. Started the first batch of compost tea today. Applied second general application of Roundup to the patch. Started vine burrying today and was able to get cought right up. Applying a generous amount of a combination of RTI innoculant, Granualar humic acid, root shield and JumpStart, to each node. Removing all tendralls and burried the main vine completly Male flowers showing up on 549* and 785*, with small females at 7-8'. Mutant 901 Hunt is looking like it will grow out of the ribbon vine, after minor surgury earlier in the week. Monday, August 30 View Page Growth has slowed on the 1421 Stelts, taping in the 850 range and gaining 10-11 per day. Monday, August 30 View Page 785 Vincent-McGill* fruit, not enough green at this point to be called a squash. Taping 750ish, but it looks rock hard!, still saping. Monday, August 30 View Page 901 Hunt fruit, also looking heavy and taping mid 600's...no record breakers here. Monday, August 30 View Page The late pollinated primary fruit on the 1059 Vincent-McGill, crossed with the 1161 Rodonis, taping in the mid 300's at day 38. Monday, August 30 View Page The open pollinated fruit on the 1161 Rodonis near the rear of the plant. Looks like this may be have been a good choice for a cross with the 1059! This fruit is about 40 days old Tuesday, September 28 View Page Weighed the 785* Vincent-McGill fruit on the weekend at Hugli's Blueberry Ranch. The fruit was exhibited as a pumpkin as it did not meet the squash colour requirements. She weighed 935.9 lbs and was 17% heavy! This line is produces consistent heavy fruit, just have to work on the colour. It is crossed the 549* Wells. I placed 6th at Hugli's. Monday, October 11 View Page We exhibited the 901 Hut fruit at Woodbridge fair on Saturday. It weighed in at 852 lbs 6% heavy. Good enough for 6th place. The fruit was pollinated with the 1421 Stelts. Monday, October 11 View Page We exhibited the 901 Hunt fruit at Woodbridge fair on Saturday. It weighed in at 852 lbs 6% heavy. Good enough for 6th place. The fruit was pollinated with the 1421 Stelts. Monday, October 11 View Page Sue and her 1059 Vincent-McGill fruit which weighed in at 513.5 lbs. It placed 12th and won the Howard Dill Award. This is three generations straight of Howard dill awards for this line. Monday, October 11 View Page A picture of me with the 513.5, taken today at home with better lighting. The 513.5 was crossed with the 1161 Rodonis. Monday, October 11 View Page Another view. 513.5 Vincent 10 (1059 Vincent-McGill x 1161 Rodonis) Monday, October 11 View Page Here is a view of the 1161 Pollinator. What awesome colour and a great pollinator for the 1059. Thanks to Martin Reiss for suggesting it as the pollinator. This was an open pollinated pumpkin that will not be weighed. Unfortunately, we were unable to get a closed pollination on this plant. Monday, October 11 View Page And here's whats left in the patch. The 1421 Stelts fruit crossed with the 901. not likely a personal best, but a darn nice pumpkin. Still gaining 3-4 lbs per day. Tuesday, October 19 View Page My wife Sue and I had the honour of supplying the Prime Minister of Canada, Steven Harper with two giant pumpkins to display at their residence, 24 Sussex Drive in Ottawa. For our American friends, this equivalent to taking a pumpkin to the White House! We were treated very well and visited with the Harpers for about an hour, having coffee in the residence. I will have more, hopefully better pictures later. Saturday, October 23 View Page I donated the 935.9 squmpkin to Queens University for a pumpkin drop! what a rush....you could feel the shock wave when she hit!...very cool. http://www.ckwstv.com/index.cfm?page=news&id=3525 Tuesday, October 26 View Page Here are some video frames of the pumpkin we dropped at Queens university last week! Tuesday, October 26 View Page Some additional Pics. Here is the link to the You Tube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEEjjWAfb3Q Saturday, November 6 View Page Norm Creven's new World Record Beet Root. 51.6lbs. Royal Winter fair 2010, Toronto Ontario. Congrats Norm! Sunday, November 14 View Page My 43 lb Kohlrabi, 1st place at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto Monday, November 15 View Page Sue and I on the front lawn at 24 Sussex drive, Ottawa.