Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 98 Entries. Tuesday, February 21 View Page Went up to Buffalo, NY to visit my sister this weekend..got to see Niagra Falls for the 1st time..Amazing!!! Thursday, March 8 View Page I have a 2 year old Black lab...Kids said he needed a friend...Gotta be the cutest puppy I've ever had...they get along like they have been together forever...So now I have a Black and a yellow Lab..They are officially my patch guard dogs Monday, March 12 View Page Can't ever have enough patch...today I pitchforked another 5 ft to the width and 15 ft to the length...should be able to grow 3 plants now again.. Thursday, March 22 View Page Homer with Magic..The puppy is growing so fast... Thursday, March 22 View Page Homer all by himself..great patch dog...loves to till the garden..Fences will have to go up in the next few weeks. Tuesday, April 17 View Page Starting line-up set...I will germinate all seeds and then choose 3 ..the others will either be double planted as back-ups or grown by other local growers..1421 Stelts,1605 Sweet, 1789 Wallace, 1176 Lombardi, 769 Lombardi, 1248 Lombardi, 985 Werner. I'll be starting seeds April 25th..Also..fine tuned the patch with amendments today..4 yards of compost, granular iron, triple phoshate, epsom salt, Manganese Sulphate, and 0-0-50. soil should be as balanced as I have ever got it. Hoops will be set up this week to warm the soil...hoping to transplant in the patch @ May 2nd. Good Luck everyone! Mark Thursday, April 19 View Page Started seeds tonight...1421 Stelts, 1605 Sweet, 1789 Wallace, 769 Lombardi, 1176 Lombardi, 1248 Lombardi, 1556 Werner, 985 Werner, 1723 Marshall..I'll let them soak in paper towel and baggie for 36 hours at 85 degrees before planting in pots..Hopefully I'll have plenty of extras. Sunday, April 22 View Page Sprayed Merit 75 and powdered Mychorizhea on the pact today..supposed to rain pretty good the next few days. Hopefully all the ammendments will dissolve and i will be able to take a soil test next week.. Wednesday, April 25 View Page Germination Chamber mad from a clear Rubbermaid Tote. Heating Mat underneath...90 degrees constant..Seed were put in Saturday...all germinated by today..4 days.. Wednesday, April 25 View Page Inside the germination chamber..I have taken out the heat mat..all plants are germinated so the do not need the additional heat...I have 4 - 2 ft grow bulbs on top and use tin foill to drape over the top to reflect light back..The only one I am a little concerned about is the 1605 Sweet.Cots look bad but they are greenig up and there is a true leaf bud in the waiting. Wednesday, April 25 View Page Patch has been extended..new dimensions are 25 ft wide x60 ft long...I will plant 3 plants this year..Frontrunners are 1421 Stelts, 1605 Sweet, 1789 Wallace. I'll double plant the sites with my 1176 Lombardi, 1248 Lombardi, 985 Werner, and possibly one of my 1st 1000 lb seeds...the 769 Lombardi Wednesday, April 25 View Page Here are a few of my own 466 Lombardi Squash seeds (663 Andrews x Self)..They will go to a local Farmer, Also the 1723 Marshall will go to another long time grower. This years goal is to get 3 other growers to make the 1000 lb club this year...I will supply them with plants and visit weekly to help them get there.. Wednesday, April 25 View Page Soil Test will be done this week...Hoops will go up this week...I plan on transplanting in 7 days. Saturday, April 28 View Page Day 6 from planting..Pectobacterium carotovorum is running rampant..causing seedlings to grow out of control..hope I can keep it under control..LOL Saturday, April 28 View Page 1st time Ive dug pits around the planting area...I went 3 ft around and 3 ft deep..filled with compost and patch soil..a little calcium nitrate and Mychorizhea..Glad I did it because I did hit a layer of rock hard clay compaction at 12 inches..once I loosened it up stump will be able to room freely down at least 3 ft. I'll transplant Wednesday next week.. Saturday, May 19 View Page All the tomatoes are in..2.91 Marino, Black from Tula(Beautiful crimson purple) German Giant, Valencia, and a bunch of yellow and red cherries..Pumpkins are looking really good also...Should be lying down by Monday.. Monday, May 28 View Page Today I trimmed all the extra growth off the stump areas and culled each hoop-house down to the final choices...1161 Rodonis, 1421 Stelts, 1248 Lombardi...All are on the ground now and should be out of the hoops by next weekend... Wednesday, May 30 View Page 1161 Rodonis..about 5 ft out...found a special surprise today..see the last photo Wednesday, May 30 View Page 1421 Stelts..also about 5 ft out..looking really good Wednesday, May 30 View Page 1248 Lombardi (1385 Jutras x 985 Werner) 6 ft out..stocky plant... Wednesday, May 30 View Page Surprise..tiny female on the 1161 Rodonis at 5 ft..Normally I'd think that the plant was stressed and it caused an early female..BUT the plant has't had any stress at all..It won't be a keeper but it's nice to see a female..Looks like it's going to be an early pollination year. Wednesday, June 6 View Page 1248 Lombardi..8 ft out..hope I left enough room...patch ends at 25 ft... Wednesday, June 6 View Page 1161 Rodonis..also 8ft out..looks like a strong plant.. Wednesday, June 6 View Page 1421 Stelts..8ft out..you can see it is raining..sprayed Merit and Bloom Booster 15-35-15 tonight..get those flowers going...tomorrow is the 1st day of burying..perfect timing..Next week is supposed to really heat up and I think females will be coming soon.. Wednesday, June 6 View Page Earlier this week added 10 lbs of 0-0-50 granular..Potassium was at 430 ppm..in April..figure this probably rose it to over 500 ppm. fingers crossed!!! Friday, June 8 View Page My Garlic are massive..I picked one today because they are bolting and I wanted to see what they were looking like. The Elephant Garlic I picked was the size of a softball... Sunday, June 10 View Page Started setting up Drip-Tape..different pattern this year..Starting to see females ...pollinations should be starting around the 20th of June Tuesday, June 12 View Page 1248 Lombardi...10 ft out..female at 10 ft..sprayed TKO, Essentials , CO2, Kelp and Talstar W/Sticker.. Tuesday, June 12 View Page 1412 Stelts..also 10ft out..and also female at 10 ft..looks great. Tuesday, June 12 View Page 1161 Rodonis..10 ft out..female at 10 ft..all plants are performing equally so far.. Tuesday, June 12 View Page Picture of the 1421 Female..It's going to be nice to get a pollination in starting in 10 days..less heat pressure.. Sunday, June 17 View Page 1248 Lombardi..will pollinate tomorrow with 1161 Rodonis..flower 12 ft out Sunday, June 17 View Page 1248 Female that will be pollinated tomorrow..looks like a nice long stem.. Sunday, June 17 View Page 1421 Stelts..female at 13 ft..should be ready mid-week.. Sunday, June 17 View Page 1161 Rodonis..cranking along..female at 13 ft..also midweek pollination Wednesday, June 20 View Page Pollinated 1421 Stelts x 1248 Lombardi this morning..lots of ice and shade today...97 degrees outside...we'll see if she takes..it would be a nice position and is a nice shape..XXX Sunday, June 24 View Page Pollinated #2 on the 1421 Stelts..x 1161 Rodonis..1st Pollination tomorrow on the 1161 Rodonis...x 1605 Sweet Monday, June 25 View Page 1161 Rodonis x 1605 Sweet..Pollinated today Monday, June 25 View Page 1421 Stelts x 1248 Lombardi..pollinated 6/20 Monday, June 25 View Page 1421 Stelts x 1161 Rodonis..Pollinated 6/23 Monday, June 25 View Page 1248 Lombardi x 1161 Rodonis..pollinated 6/19 Thursday, June 28 View Page Pollinated 1161 x 1605 this morning..plant looks great..this one is in the perfect position..hope she takes.. Thursday, June 28 View Page 1421 Stelts..put up a hoop and covered in shade cloth..seems to work wel Thursday, June 28 View Page 1248 Lombardi..pollinated 1248 x 1161 this morning..very strong plant Sunday, July 1 View Page 1248 x 1161..pollinated 6/19..day 12..is only 8 ft out and has a deformed blossom (seeds and lobe)...growing fast but will probably be culled.. Sunday, July 1 View Page 1248 x 1161 Rodonis..pollinated 6/28..day 4...this is the one I am hoping on..also you can see tomorrows female..will also cross with 1161 Sunday, July 1 View Page 1421 Stelts x 1248 Lombardi..pollinated 6/20..Day 11..really kicking in the last 2 days Sunday, July 1 View Page 1421 Stelts x 1161 Rodonis..pollinated 6/24..Day 7..I am hoping this one is the keeper..I like the shape and position on the main Sunday, July 1 View Page 1161 Rodonis x 1605 sweet...1st fruit pollinated 6/25..day 6...2nd fruit pollinated 6/28...day 3..slow starters..it was very hot both days..I am really hoping one of them took... Sunday, July 1 View Page 1161 Rodonis Plant Sunday, July 1 View Page 1248 Lombardi plant is closest...the 1421 Stelts is the 2nd plant.. Monday, July 2 View Page Culled 2 fruit today...1248 at 8 ft...1421 at 11 ft..There are 2 sets on each of them that have taken and are in much better position.. Sunday, July 8 View Page 1421 Stelts x 1161 Rodonis..day14..I still have a second pollination on this plant but tomorrow it will go.. Sunday, July 8 View Page 1248 Lombardi x 1161 Rodonis..day 10..28 inches..looking good..nice long stem Sunday, July 8 View Page 1161 Rodonis x 1605 Sweet..day 10..22 inches..small crack at the base of the stem..very minor..shouldn't be a problem..fruit on this plant seem a little slow..time will tell Friday, July 13 View Page Last culls done today...3 plants..3 fruit..all seem to have kicked into gear..Fruit past the chosen ones have stalled to no growth so the decisions were easy... Saturday, July 14 View Page 1161 x 1605..day 16..54"circ Saturday, July 14 View Page 1161 x 1605..stem view Saturday, July 14 View Page 1421 x 1161...day 20..83-57-57=195...167 lbs.. Saturday, July 14 View Page 1421 x 1161..stem view Saturday, July 14 View Page 1248 Lombardi x 1161 Rodonis..day 16..65 " circ.. Saturday, July 14 View Page 1248 x 1161..stem view Thursday, July 19 View Page 1421 Stelts x 1161 ... Rodonis.Day 25..105 inches Circumference Thursday, July 19 View Page 1248 Lombardi x1161 Rodonis..Day 21...91 inches Circ Thursday, July 19 View Page 1161 Rodonis x 1605 Sweet..day 21 ...83 inches circ Tuesday, July 24 View Page Day 30..1421 Stelts x 1161 Rodonis..400 lbs + Tuesday, July 24 View Page 1161 Rodonis x 1606 Sweet..Day 26..starting to kick in..smallest fruit so far Tuesday, July 24 View Page 1248 Lombardi x 1161 Rodonis..Day 26..Very high and wide ..The last few days it started to pick up some length front to back.. Saturday, July 28 View Page Day 30..1248 Lombardi x 1161 Rodonis..My 1st ever over 500 lbs on Day 30..Trying to stay calm. The fruit is almost 36 inches tall! Saturday, July 28 View Page 1161 Rodonis x 1605 Sweet..Day 30..over 400 lbs..Should be nice color. Saturday, July 28 View Page Day 34..1421 Stelts x 1161 Lombardi..Doing @ 25 lbs a day..did find some early main vine rot about 5 ft up from the stump...cleaned/bleached and put captan on it..hopefully it doesn't become an issue. Friday, August 3 View Page 1421 x 1161..Day 40..700 lbs..Nice shape and color..steady gains Friday, August 3 View Page 1421 ...side view Friday, August 3 View Page 1248 Lombardi x 1161 Rodonis..day 36..Its bigger than the 1421! Saturday, August 4 View Page Roof shot of the patch..1248 Lombardi and the right..1421 Stelts on the left Saturday, August 4 View Page 1421 Stelts on the left...1661 Rodonis on the right.. Friday, August 10 View Page I've been on vacation for the week..hoping for some GOOD surprises when I get home tomorrow. Benn Hot and Rainy so their could be some casualties??? I'll post tomorrow. Monday, August 13 View Page 1421 Stelts x 1161 Rodonis..Day 54..Taping @ 850 lbs Monday, August 13 View Page 1161 Rodonis x 1605 Sweet..day 50..Also taping@ 850 lbs Monday, August 13 View Page Never grew a wheel before..all I know is the sand is still pushing hard.. Saturday, August 18 View Page 1st night for blankets...1161 Rodonis x 1605 Sweet is getting big... day 51..has done 20 plus lbs since day 16..still doing almost 30/day.. 1000 lbs today Saturday, August 18 View Page Tough night picture...Developed a bad split 8/4..1248 Lombardi x 1161 Rodonis...still packing on significant lbs per day. For scale..the cross bar on my hoop is 48 inches high..152-113-100=365....1018 lbs. I'll try to keep her growing...probably won't make it to a weigh-off Monday, August 20 View Page 1248 Lombardi x 1161 Rodonis..You can see the split above the blossom on the right..Was a what could have been.. Monday, August 20 View Page 1421 x 1161..better picture..fruit is like a boulder.. Monday, August 20 View Page 1161 x 1605..fastest grower so far..I'm a little worried about the blossom depression...BUT..what can you do? Monday, August 27 View Page This is the middle of the plant..It may be just normal aging ...BUT..any ideas would be helpful.. Monday, August 27 View Page 1421 Stelts x 1161 Rodonis..still doing pretty decent daily gains.. Monday, August 27 View Page 1161 Rodonis x 1605 Sweet..day 60..just over 1100 lbs.still putting on significant pounds.. Monday, August 27 View Page 1248 Lombardi..day 60..Splitter.. 1100 lbs + but it is still growing..my daughter has cared for this one so I'd like to at least weigh it when it's done. Sunday, September 9 View Page 1421 Stelts x 1161 Rodonis..Day 73..still growing! Sunday, September 9 View Page 1161 Rodonis x 1605 Sweet.Day 70..still growing in the teens/day. Sunday, September 9 View Page 1448 Lombardi x 1161 Rodonis..day 70..she just won't stop..even with the split she doesn't seem to care Friday, September 14 View Page 1161 has coninued to amaze me..day 75..still growing double digits/day..I've never had one hold on to significant weight gains this late in the season..another 2 weeks till weigh offs Saturday, September 15 View Page 1161 Rodonis x 1605 Sweet..Just a few more weeks till weigh-off..Keeping my fingers crossed!!! Monday, September 24 View Page Last Spray of the year tonight..1161 x 1605 Sweet is still showing signs of growth..splits are sapping and growing longer. Really in the dark about the weight on this one...I don't trust I am measuring the wheel correctly. Hoping it beats my PB 1248 lbs. Other than the minor splits she is in realy great shape..Nice and Orange Sunday, September 30 View Page 28 lb Chinook Salmon I caught this week up in Pulaski NY...What a blast I had..Landed 15 fish..hooked who knows how many.. Sunday, September 30 View Page My Daughter Lizzy helped me grow this one..1248 Lombardi x 1161 Rodonis..1018 lbs Exhibition Sunday, September 30 View Page 1161 Rodonis x 1605 Sweet...went 1250o lb..good for 2nd Place at CTGSPGA weigh off at Penfield Beach in Fairfield..Congrats to Ron Wallace..1st place