Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 34 Entries. Wednesday, January 9 View Page Getting an early start to the season..just kidding..I did some germination tests on my 2012 seeds and decided to just let one of my 1018 Lombardi seeds grow as long as it will. Maybe I'll get a small pumpkin off it..Pumpkin stir crazy setting in!! Wednesday, January 9 View Page Front view of 1018 Lombardi Saturday, February 9 View Page We got 38" of snow yesterday..when I woke up the snow was more than half way up my backdoor.I thought it was just from blowing snow..butit was that deep all over. Streets are still not plowed and it looks like it may be a few days before we can get out of our neighborhood..I'm still not sure how they will plow this much snow..What a storm!!! Sunday, April 21 View Page Started 13 Seeds on Thursday...1495 Stelts, 1385 Jutras, 2009 Wallace, 1288 Wallace, 1634 Werner, 1536 Stevens, 17?? Pugh, 3- 1250 Lombardi, 3-1176 Lombardi...Tonight I see movement on 7 of them..good sign..Hoops have been up for 10 days..soil temp is 57 deg....I only ammended 100 sq ft in and around each hoophouse..I'll put the rest of the amendments on May 15th..Good luck everyone!!! Thursday, May 16 View Page Worst start ever....lost 2009,1385,1495 to seed maggots...then replanted 1288, 1634 and 1250..done in by more maggottts..MY LAST SHOT IS 1381 cHECKON, 1250lOMBARDI AND 1176 lOMBARDI. All transplanted this week...approx 5/12..looking good but way behind..Hope everyone else is cranking along...Cover crop i 5 ft high..gona have to harvest with a Machete....Mark Saturday, June 8 View Page Plastic removed today...LET THEM GROW... Plants look great...everyone is at 3ft or more Kinda excited..even though I lost 6 of the best seeds available...I am looking forward to growing 2 of my own this year. Also..Have implemented a few new strategies that I am curious to see how they produce..Seems so basic but ..maybe simplicity is the key? Good Luck everyone!! Mark Saturday, June 29 View Page Gotta love these freaks we grow...1381 Checkon...nice double female.. I might cull one to get the other pollinated..or just have a little fun and pollinate both? I already have 2 pollinations on the 1381..3 days and 5 days.. Monday, July 8 View Page Day 10 on 1381 x Self..Not Bad...31" circ..good shape and position (14 ft)..I'll post pictures at day 20 Tuesday, July 16 View Page 1381 Checkon x Self..Day 18 Tuesday, July 16 View Page 1381 Checkon x Self..Day 18 ..side view Tuesday, July 16 View Page 1250 Lombardi x Self..Day 10..34 inches Circ Tuesday, July 16 View Page 1250 Lombardi x Self Day 10..another pic Saturday, July 20 View Page 1381..day 22...growing fast... Saturday, July 20 View Page 1381..Side View Saturday, July 20 View Page 1250 Lombardi..day 14.. Saturday, July 20 View Page 1250 Lombardi..Much longer than the 1250..I like the shape .. Saturday, July 20 View Page Patch is almost filled in..leaves and vines are healthy ..fingers crossed.. Wednesday, July 24 View Page The 2 pumpkins on the left are my 1176 Lombardi..I decided that since they are so late pollinating I would grow a few on the plant ..Th pumpkin to the right is my 1250 Lombardi..Day 18.. Wednesday, July 24 View Page the 1381 rises above the leaf canopy..she is growing fast...day 26.. Sunday, July 28 View Page 1381 Checkon x Self..Day 30..growing at a good pace..did 30 lbs a day day 20-30 Sunday, July 28 View Page 1381 Checkon..side view Wednesday, July 31 View Page The other day I noticed the leaves were getting lighter and lighter green despite keeping up with my fertilizer program... I couldhave just chalked it up to aging leaves and that the pumpkin is ramping up and sucking out nutrients...BUT...upon closer inspection I found spider mites and aphids..not horrible but enough..problem taken care of...3 Days later the leaves looking much darker..Moral of the story..watch for any changes in your plant..then find the reason why!!! Tuesday, August 27 View Page Kinda going for broke on the 1381..spread a granular mix of 10 lbs total of: calcium nitrate, iron sulphate, potassium Sulphate, magnesium sulphate, and Granular Mychorizhea yesterday..pumpkin jumped up to 19.6 lbs for the day from 12 lbs per day for the lats 8 days......Tonight I will spray kelp, TKO and Boron (2 tsp)... Gotta get one to blow one of these years..She is taping over 900..ugly and lots of lumps..I think she can handle a last ditch run....PERFECT!!!! Sunday, September 1 View Page 1381 Checkon x Self is still growing..not gonna break any records..BUT..she thumps like a rock. Having some PM issues..tough to control with the weather we have been having ..hot and Humid. Measures in the mid 900's. No fruit issues.. Sunday, September 1 View Page 1381 Side View Sunday, September 1 View Page 1381 Blossom View Sunday, September 1 View Page My kids Fruit (2) 1176 Lombardi on the left. My 1250 Lombardi on the right..@ 750 lbs..still growing Tuesday, September 24 View Page 1250 Lombardi x Self..Just before lifting for the Durham Fair Tuesday, September 24 View Page Another shot of the 1250 Lombardi..Tapes @750 lbs Tuesday, September 24 View Page No Problems with the lift..Next stop Durham Fair Saturday, September 28 View Page My Daughter Elizabeth this the 1381 has muscles..we'll see at Ridgefield Weigh-off. Saturday, September 28 View Page Front Shot of the 1381 x self.. Saturday, September 28 View Page Loading on the truck..destination Ridgefield Weigh-Off Friday, October 11 View Page Mustard Crop is bustin out!!! I'll post a few pics next week..I am thinking of tilling it in November and seeding with a winter rye.