Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 85 Entries. Tuesday, March 10 View Page Well I guess it's getting closer to starting time. I added some amendments to the patch...am running some test germinations...bought some supplies (Pulp Mill Fabric, 0-0-50, liquid Humic acid/seaweed, Micronutrient package). Getting a little anxious!!! I'll use Cowpots again this year...they were really easy to extract the seedling without damaging any roots. Mark Sunday, March 15 View Page Upper Patch 1st Spring Prep. Chopped up leaves and mowed Winter Rye. I'll till next week and do my soil sample. 2 Plants will go in this area...@ 400 sq ft each. Sunday, March 15 View Page Lower Patch...Winter Rye looks good..I'll till it under next week. 2 Plants will go in this area..One will be a pollinator. I did a lot of Fall amending so that my spring amendments should just be minor adjustments. Gonna learn from last year and add a few new tricks...Mark Thursday, April 23 View Page Started Seeds tonight...1246 Lombardi (998 Pukos x 1450 Wallace) 1157 Lombardi (769 Lombardi x 998 Pukos), 320 Lombardi (1450 Wallace x 998 Pukos), 985 Werner, 1385 Werner. I'm pretty excited about this years line-up...sticking to my plan to grow out my own crosses BUT..gotta grow a few provens also. Thursday, April 23 View Page Mistake...1385 Jutras!!! Sunday, April 26 View Page This years Line-up Sunday, April 26 View Page This is my Germination set-up. Mini Greenhouse.. Thermometer, Germination Mat, Thermostat controlled heater, $ 20" flourescent grow lights. The bowl of water is to keep it fairly humid so that the soil doesn't dry up as fast. Temp Range 85 - 100 constant. I'll take out the heaters when they germinate so they don't get leggy. My 1246 is just breaking ground on day 2. Friday, May 1 View Page Germination set up was a success...9 out of 10 came up in 4 days. All look good..1385 has a bad cot but it will be fine..In the ground they go Tomorrow. Friday, May 1 View Page Upper Patch is ready for transplants tomorrow..supposed to have a few overcast ...mid 60's temps the next few days. I personally like this ...Doesn't stress the plants out the first few days..Mark Sunday, May 3 View Page Transplanted yesterday..This is my lower patch..1157 Lombardi and 1246 Lombardi (Each site is double planted) Sunday, May 3 View Page This is my upper patch..Each Hoop is double planted. 985 Werner and 1157 Lombardi on the left...1385 Jutras and 320 Lombardi on the right. Fingers crossed ..good strong start this year...soil tests was really good..seedlings look strong..moderate temps.. Monday, May 4 View Page Daily Temps have been in the 50's..nights in the 40's...I put my heaters out tonight to keep the temps at 80 degrees constant...Mark Sunday, May 10 View Page 1246 Lombardi and 1385 Jutras..1385 looks like it's on it's way..very healthy and strong considering we had 6 days of cloudy/rain..no sun...All plants were transplanted 1 week ago. Sunday, May 10 View Page 1157 Lombardi /985 Werner..985 Werner is picking up steam..looks like it will be the winner in this hoophouse. Sunday, May 10 View Page Lower Patch..1246 Lombardi..so far it is where I would like it..3rd true leaf deveoping and it has good color.. Sunday, May 10 View Page 320 Lombardi on the left..1157 Lombardi on the right..this spot has no hoop house..just 2 laundry baskets over them..the 320 might nudge the 1157 out of my line-up..320 was 1450 Wallace x 998 Pukos..It was at 260 lbs at day 24...my biggest at that time..them we got 5 days of rain and cold and it shutdown..The pollinator was my 1246 (998 Pukos)..It would be cool to grow this one out..!! Sunday, May 17 View Page 1385 Jutras doing well..what a difference heated hoophouses makes..Check out the last 2 entries of the post to see the difference in size comparing heated to unheated . Sunday, May 17 View Page 985 Werner closest...1157 Lombardi farthest...985 is a strong plant.... Sunday, May 17 View Page Lost my 1st 1246 to corn seed maggots in this spot..Replanted 1157 to the right..Tranplanted my 1246 from the top patch to this spot. A Little behind but should catch up. Sunday, May 17 View Page 320 Lombardi to the right..1157 Lombardi to the left. Not sure which one will stay..This week will tell.These were tranplanted the same time as the 1385 Jutras and 985 Werner..What a difference the Heaters made!!! Thursday, May 21 View Page Final Line-up for the top patch....1385 Jutras..should be on the ground by Sunday. Thursday, May 21 View Page 985 Werner...culled the 1157 Lombardi today..both were going strong but..My crosses this year will be 985 x 1385 and 1385 x 985.The 985 should be on the ground within a day or two. Saturday, May 30 View Page 1385 Jutras...I took off the hoophouses today..Main Vine is just about to touch down..should take off some the next 2 days ae supposed to be 80 degrees and sunny. Saturday, May 30 View Page 985 Werner..This one is growing well ahead of anything else I've ever grown. Main vine is out 4 ft...very strong plant..I just hope she doesn't grow to fast..I am looking to start pollinating no earlier than June 25th. Saturday, May 30 View Page 985 Werner to the left...1385 Jutras to the right. I sprayed round up 2 days ago before removing the hoop houses. The patch was throwing massive weeds...I am weeding in sections all weekend to get the weeds under control. Sunday, June 7 View Page 985 Werner..7 ft out..secondaries starting to fill in... Sunday, June 7 View Page 1385 Jutras..6 1/2 feet. Secondaries are giving me fits..some are above the leaves..some are on top of the vine..the 2nd and 3rd sets of secondaries seem to be correcting themselves. Sunday, June 7 View Page 1157 Lombardi..just starting to lay down..it is in a shady part of the yard and doesn't get the attention that my top patch plants get. Sunday, June 7 View Page 1246 Lombardi (1157 backup behind it)..vine is on the ground and is about 1 1/2 feet out. This plant was transplanted from the upper patch on 5/18 when my original 1246 went down to corn seed maggots. It is starting to really pick up now that the temps are in the high 70's. Saturday, June 13 View Page 985 Werner..Way too many cloudy rainy days BUT..Still approximately where I want to be on this date..Plant is very healthy and responds veryy aggressively when the weather is permitting. Saturday, June 13 View Page 1st Female on the main of the 985 Werner..@ 9 ft out..I'll go ahead and pollinate but I really want the ones at 14 - 20 ft. Saturday, June 13 View Page 1385 Jutras..This one is a little less aggressive as the 985 but still in OK position for a late June Early July Pollination. Monday, June 15 View Page Supposed to get a pretty nasty Thunder Storm cell this afternoon...Hail..50 plus MPH Wind..Torrential Rain. This is my attempt to protect the 985 Werner.. We'll see!!! Sunday, June 21 View Page 1385 Jutras..Doing OK..weather is killing me..it rains everyday..I have only had a few moments to get in the patch because it is so wet.. Sunday, June 21 View Page 985 Werner.She is filling out better than expected..inspite of the rain and cool temps the plant is very healthy. Sunday, June 21 View Page Front view of the 985 Werner Sunday, June 21 View Page 1st female on the 985 Werner at 10 ft..I'll pollinate her if I have any male flowers..doesn't look likely.. Thursday, July 2 View Page 1385 Jutras..got one pollinated at 10 ft..another out at 14 ft..plant is realy filling out. Thursday, July 2 View Page 1385 Jutras x 985 Werner..10 ft 3 days old Thursday, July 2 View Page 985 Werner ..retraned 2 secondaries as mains..I will choose the stronger on. There are females on both that will open early next week. Thursday, July 2 View Page Wrong picture..here is the 985 Werner Friday, July 3 View Page My lower patch is now officially my wife and kids summer project. After last Fridays Hailstorm it is going to be grown to produce as many pumpkins as we can to give out at my kids school. Too bad but the neiborhood kids will be very hapy this Halloween...My 1157 should produce some nice orange fruit..Mark Monday, July 6 View Page 1385 Jutras..11 secondaries before the pumpkin..8 have been terminated..Pollinated a nice 4 lobe 7/4/2009. Monday, July 6 View Page 985 Werner..11 secondaries before the pumpkin..pollinated 2 today..both 4 lobers..985 x 1385 Thursday, July 16 View Page 1385 Jutras x 985 Werner..Day 12..28 " circ... Thursday, July 16 View Page 1385 x 985..day 7..18 ft out.I'm hoping this one takes off. Thursday, July 16 View Page 985 Werner x 1385 Jutras..Day 10..20" circ..low 10 day numbers but considering the weather nothing to do but hope they pick up the pace this week. Thursday, July 16 View Page 1246 Lombardi x 1385 Jutras..day 7..Long fruit just like the 1246. If this one takes it is in a perfect position 17 ft out and lots of room ..It will only take 1 or 2 minor adjustments to position this fruit. Monday, July 20 View Page 985 Werner..Day 14 ..nice looking fruit...I'm doing a "Y" pattern on the opposite side secondary before the fruit and growing it forward to provide new leaves later in the season. Monday, July 20 View Page 1385 Jutras..Day 16..starting to pick up some speed..I was worried this fruit was going to be a wheel..BUT it is not and should end up a blocky fruit.. Monday, July 20 View Page 1246 Lombardi..Day 11..I like the shape, position,and sq ft of plant behind it..is outpacing the others so far... Wednesday, July 22 View Page These next 3 are the chosen fruit for 2009. Today I put mill fabric undar all the fruit and made any small adjustments to stem angles. This is 985 Werner x 1385 Jutras..Pollinated 7/4/09 Wednesday, July 22 View Page OOPs..985 Werner pollinated 7/6/09 Wednesday, July 22 View Page 1385 Jutras x 985 Werner..Pollinated 7/4/09 Wednesday, July 22 View Page 1246 Lombardi x 1385 Jutras...Pollinated 7/9/09 Thursday, July 30 View Page 1385 Jutras x 985 Werner... Day 26..296 lbs Thursday, July 30 View Page 985 Werner x 1385 Jutras..Day 24...174 lbs Thursday, July 30 View Page 1157 Lombardi x 985 Werner..Day 9 Thursday, July 30 View Page 1246 Lombardi x 1385 Jutras..Day 21...99 lbs Friday, July 31 View Page Big rain coming again today..I drenched the patch with Aliette/Serenage/ and some micronutrient soluables. Gotta stay ahead of the disease before it can get started. Mark Tuesday, August 11 View Page Day 38 1385 Jutras x 985 Werner...steady 25 lb a day grower Tuesday, August 11 View Page Dsy 36..985 Werner x 1385 Jutras...23 lbs a day Tuesday, August 11 View Page Day 21...1157 Lombardi x 985 Werner...78" Circumference Tuesday, August 11 View Page Day 33..1246 Lombardi x 1385 Jutras...21 lbs per day Tuesday, September 1 View Page 985 Werner x 1385 Jutras..Day 57..@ 740 lbs...Plant is really healthy but pumpkin is down to 9 lbs a day...Hoping for 900 lbs at weigh Off Time. Tuesday, September 1 View Page 1246 Lombardi x 1385 Jutras..Day 52..@ 600 lbs.. Tuesday, September 1 View Page 1157 Lombardi x 985 Werner..Day 41..@ 600 lbs..Still doing 24 lbs a day.. Saturday, September 5 View Page Just when I was ready to watch My pumpkins coast into weigh offs the weather warmed up and they picked up speed..many stem and shoulder splits. Nothing drastic but now I have twice the work keeping the stems healthy and dry. Guess you have to take the Bad with the Good? Monday, September 7 View Page Spent the morning trimming off old leaves around the stump areas. The middle of the plants are definitely starting to show some age! Guess weigh offs are around the corner. Mark Sunday, September 13 View Page 985 Werner x 1385 Jutras..Final Measurements before Bethlehem Fair: 141-102-93 = 336 OTT 792 lbs est Sunday, September 13 View Page Off the ground....and into the truck. Sunday, September 13 View Page 876 Lombardi 09 (985 Werner x 1385 Jutras)...9.9 % heavy... Monday, September 14 View Page 876 Lombardi 09...Got a good seed count..nice 12 inch wall thickness... Tuesday, September 22 View Page Tonight I picked and weighed the 1246 Lombardi x 1385 Jutras...742.5 lbs. Was taping 145-91-89= 325 (723 lbs)+ 2 % Tuesday, September 22 View Page Front View Tuesday, September 22 View Page Side View Sunday, September 27 View Page 1385 Jutras x 985 Werner..going to CGSPGA weigh off at Penfield Pavilion Sunday, September 27 View Page Not the prettiest... Taping 386 " 1202 lbs Sunday, September 27 View Page On the truck he goes... Sunday, September 27 View Page 1248 Lombardi 09 (1385 Jutras x 985 Werner) New Personal Best...(+ 3%) 2nd Place at CGSPGA weigh off. Monday, September 28 View Page CGSPGA Weigh Off Top 3 ....From right to left... 1st Place: Ron Wallace (1341 lbs), 2nd Place: Mark Lombardi (1248 lbs), 3rd Place: Mark Breznick (1043 lbs). All three fruit went heavy to the chart..1341 Wallace 09(+200lbs), 1248 Lombardi 09 (+ 40 lbs), 1043 Breznick 09 (+100 lbs) Monday, September 28 View Page CGSPGA Howard Dill Award ...915 Labosky 09 (1161 Rodanis x 985 Werner) Congratulations Paul! Tuesday, October 6 View Page After Harvesting this year I did some digging in the patch and noticed a layer of compaction...so...I pitchforked the whole patch down 15 inches before tilling and seeding with Winter Rye...what a back-breaker..I also expanded the patch out again..The past 2 years I was limited to @ 400 sq ft per plant..This year I should be able to go with @ 500 sq ft each. Tuesday, October 6 View Page The lower patch has been RETIRED!!. Seeded with regular grass...kids are looking forward to their new play area. Saturday, October 31 View Page My 742 Lombardi (1246 Lombardi x 1385 Jutras) Painted up for Halloween,,Go Yankees!!!