Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 49 Entries. Sunday, March 7 View Page Wheeled in 2 yds of nice composted leaves today...2 more to go in this week... Add nutrient amendments per fall soil test ...then till 3rd week of March and take a new soil test the 3rd week of April... Mark Friday, March 19 View Page Added amendments...0-0-50, manganese sulphate, micro nutrients...and made my 1st till. Soil looks really good...I'll send out a soil sample in 3 weeks and see where we're at...High hopes for 2010...Mark Wednesday, April 7 View Page Pulled out the hedges that line my patch..tons of roots running into the patch..water efficiency should go up this year...more water for the pumpkins...hopefully increase weight..Mark Saturday, May 1 View Page Started seeds 4/25. 1246 Lombardi(998 Pukos x 1450 Wallace), 1248 Lombardi (1385 Jutras x 985 Werner), 876 Lombardi (985 Werner x 1385 Jutras) and 915 Labosky (1161 Rodanis x 985 Werner). This is a picture tonight..plants are really stocky and strong. I have been putting them out in the sun for the past 3 days.. Monday, May 17 View Page Weather has been excellent this spring compared to the last 2 seasons. Plants are looking nice and strong. I double planted my 1246 Lombardi and 1248 Lombardi. I'll cull one of each sometime next week. So far they are all even. Sunday, May 30 View Page 1248 Lombardi (09)...cleaned off extra leaves around the crown..weeded...main is at 5 ft...I also saw my first cucumber beetle of the year..I sprayed with 1/2 strength Demand CS. Sunday, May 30 View Page 1246 Lombardi (08) 998 Pukos x 1450 Wallace..also cleaned up the extra growth around the crown and sprayed with Demand CS. So far looking pretty good..the main started to go double but returned back to a normal vine the last 2 ft. The main is also at 5 ft. Monday, June 7 View Page 1246 Lombardi (998 Pukos x 1450 Wallace). Main is at 8ft..1st sides are out 5ft..1st female showed on the main. Took off hoop-houses today and buried vines..plant looks very healthy. Monday, June 7 View Page 1248 Lombardi (1385 Jutras x 985 Werner) Main is out 9 ft..1st female is at 9ft on the main.. Monday, June 21 View Page 1246 Lombardi...18 ft..started terminating secondaries today There are 3 females showing on the main..should pollinate a few over the next week. Monday, June 21 View Page 1248 Lombardi..16 ft..Also terminated some secondaries..1 pollinated 6/20..2 more should open this week on the main. Thursday, June 24 View Page Had some fun this morning nailing SVB's with the fly swatter..5 casualties.. Friday, June 25 View Page Lots of damage due to storms yesterday..Thanks god I had a bunch of bamboo stakes to straighten up what was left...Mark Friday, July 2 View Page 1248 Lombardi..2 pollinated..this week..decision time ??? Friday, July 2 View Page 1246 Lombardi..also 2 pollinated...nice looking fruit..very long..the original 1246 was also very long... Monday, July 5 View Page 1246 Lombardi (998 Pukos x 1450 Wallace) x 1248 Lombardi(1385 Jutras x 985 Werner)..Day 12..tonight I put mill fabric under this one..there are still 2 others pollinated on this plant but this one seems to be the one Saturday, July 10 View Page 1246 Lombardi..Day 17..100 lbs.. Saturday, July 10 View Page 1248 Lombardi ...Day 13.. 45 inch circ Sunday, July 11 View Page Culled some today..my daughter Gina wanted to keep this one!! Monday, July 12 View Page Every year this is the toughest day for me.. I culled down to my final pick on each plant..all fruit are in final position..Time to grow!! Friday, July 16 View Page Day 23..1246 Lombardi..starting to ramp up on daily gains Friday, July 16 View Page Day 19..1248 Lombardi..very blocky fruit like the mother.. Wednesday, July 21 View Page 1248 Lombardi...First Foaming Stump I've had...had to do some surgery today. I decided to cut slots above and below the infected areas for air flow. Then I rinsed 50% bleach through the area and set up a fan to dry it out. I think I caught it early and hopefully this is done! Wednesday, July 21 View Page Another angle... Wednesday, July 21 View Page Side View.. Thursday, July 22 View Page 1248 Lombardi foaming stump seems to be under control..BUT..learned a little about AG's the past 2 days..I know that people always said fruit grow mostly at night..well I believe I have seen the proof..the slot I made to relieve the pressure was dry all day..then about 6 pm it started to drip like a faucet...It has done this 2 days in a row like clockwork. These plants store energy all day and pump that up the vine after dark. Friday, July 23 View Page 1248 Lombardi..day 26..doing 29 lbs a day..this is the one with the foaming stump..doesn't seem to care ... Friday, July 23 View Page 1246 Lombardi..day 30..doing 27 lbs a day.. Friday, July 23 View Page 1246 Lombardi..another angle..nice long fruit..color should be really orange!! Monday, August 2 View Page This is my 1248 Lombardi that Paul Marino is growing...120 " circ. Monday, August 2 View Page My 1246 Lombardi..Day 40 Monday, August 2 View Page My 1248 Lombardi..day 35..Fruit is growing well..I really like the shape...keep growing!!! Thursday, August 5 View Page 1248 Lombardi Stump..seems to still be functioning but I am not sure how much more it will hold out...Had to do more surgery tonight..more soft spots..Just trying to hold on another 2 weeks... Saturday, August 7 View Page Sad Day here..chances of a big one are gone..I lost the stump and 1/2 the main vine on my 1246 Lombardi..It was doing 28 lbs a day for the last 3 weeks..that will be greatly reduced. Saturday, August 7 View Page Here is what is left..1/2 a plant..the 1248 is currently 143-96-88.5 = 327.5"....740 lbs..day 41..Lesson learned....Don't let a foaming stump get out of hand..the rot traveled very quickly.. Monday, August 16 View Page 1248 Lombardi..Day 50..850 lbs..Only 1/2 a plant left...and still fighting vine rot.. Monday, August 16 View Page 1246 Lombardi...Day 54..700 lbs..The plant is being invaded by Aphids and Spider Mites..Sprayed Friday and Sunday..hopefully that problem is over.. Wednesday, September 1 View Page 1246 Lombardi..Not much growth going on...Taping @ 740 lbs Wednesday, September 1 View Page 1248 Lombardi..Starting to Orange up..Taping @ 950 lbs..still doing @ 7 lbs a day Thursday, September 9 View Page Went to the Bethlehem Fair Tonight...Tied for 3rd Place 854.4 lbs. 1246 Lombardi x 1248 Lombardi 13% heavy Thursday, September 9 View Page My son wanted a picture before I left... Sunday, September 26 View Page 1248 Lombardi..1 week till weigh off..in the last 2 weeks it has been 80 degrees plus sunny...some cracks started on the left side and got a little soft...cleaned them out and painted with fungicide and fan. Plant is all but shot... Sunday, September 26 View Page Another view of the 1248... Wednesday, September 29 View Page 1st time holding for an October weigh -off...what a difference...soft spots, stem issues...terrible weather... Never easy!!!!! Sunday, October 3 View Page CTGSPGA Weigh off was today...I came in 4th place. My 1248 is now the 1066 Lombardi. But the best part of today was my friend Paul Labosky joining the 1000 lb club. He has been close 2 years straight and this year he made it.. Congrats to all the growers. Sunday, October 3 View Page CTGSPGA 1st and second place...Ron Wallace and Ray Leonzi...both fruit were off the 1288 Wallace. Wednesday, October 27 View Page Cover Crop of Mustard is cranking...Mark Wednesday, October 27 View Page 1066 Lombardi 2010..1248 Lombardi x 1246 Lombardi...Considering all the problems this year...I am very happy with this fruit...I am thinking that the 1248 Lombardi will be planted again given it was 803 lbs on August 1st...then the foaming stump got out of control... Tuesday, November 23 View Page Cover Crop is doing great..the weather has been very mild..Mustard,Fava Bean, Bell Bean, Rye, Vetch..Nice mix.. I got it from http://www.groworganic.com..Great selection of products.. Mark