Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 108 Entries. Sunday, February 3 View Page I wonder if I should dump out all those bags of leaves and till them in before winter arrives? Friday, April 18 View Page Here is my line up for 2008: 998.6 Pukos 2005 (1420.5 LaRue 04 x 1446 Eaton 04) 1041.5 McKie 2006 (842 Eaton 02 x 1068 Wallace 03) 1208.5 Daletas 2007 (1068 Wallace 03 x 805 Pukos 00) and back ups: 2x 719 Tanner 2007 (1370 Rose 03 x 775.5 Tanner 06) 755.5 Tanner 2006 (670 Daigle 03 x 869.5 Calai 00) I'm starting the seeds today using the paper towel method. Monday, April 21 View Page All 6 seeds have germinated and are going into the ice cream buckets. Monday, April 21 View Page Here are all the seeds/buckets in the window. Friday, April 25 View Page All the seedlings are now up out of the dirt and growing. Saturday, May 3 View Page Here is the stem on my 1041 McKie plant. Instead of being a normal tube it is a "C" shape. I haven't experienced one of these before. I'm assuming that it will be OK, but I don't know? I was wondering if anybody has had any experience with one like this. if so send me an email ok. [email protected] Thursday, May 8 View Page I was able to get the seedlings out in the patch today. (Finally after a lot of cold and wet weather this spring) 998.6 Pukos 1041.5 McKie 1408.5 Daletas and 719 Tanner as a back up to the 1041 I still have two other back ups in side. Thursday, May 8 View Page Here are the two remaining back ups. 719 Tanner 07 (1370 Rose x 775.5 Tanner) and 775.5 Tanner 06 (670 Daigle x 869.5 Calai) Thursday, May 8 View Page And here is what the entire patch looks like. Thursday, May 8 View Page Here is another shot of the patch with the shade cloth structure out on the lawn. Notice the snow is still on the mountain. If fact some was added there yesterday. Tuesday, May 27 View Page The plants have been doing ok inspite of the crazy weather. Two weeks ago snow. Then the high temps in the mid 90°'s for 3-4 days about a week ago. Then it was cool and wet this last weekend. At least the rest of this week looks good. All are looking good except the 1041 McKie that is behind the others and looking a little yellow. The other 3 (1408 Daletas, 998 Pukos and 719 Tanner) all are going to need some main vine adjustment soon. They are growing at least 90 degrees from where they should be. Monday, June 2 View Page The plants have done well in the last week. The pictures shows the four plants that are in the main patch. 719 Tanner 07 (1370 Rose 03 x 775.5 Tanner 06) 998.6 Pukos 05 (1420.5 LaRue 04 x 1446 Eaton 04) 1408.5 Daletas 07 (1068 Wallace 03 x 805 Pukos) 1014.5 McKie 06 (842 Eaton 02 x 1068 Wallace 03) The 1041 is a double vine. I'm leaning toward my 719 that is a back up to it but will keep both in the ground for a while. I have one of my 775.5's (775.5 Tanner 06 [670 Daigle 03 x 869 Calai 00]) in the secondary patch between the fruit trees. The corn & sunflowers sprouted today. Monday, June 9 View Page Here are the 4 plants in the patch as of today. 1041.5 McKie 06 (842 Eaton x 1068 Wallace) 719 Tanner 07 (1370 Rose x 775.5 Tanner) 998.6 Pukos 05 (1420 LaRue x 1446 Eaton) 1408.5 Daletas 07 (1068 Wallace x 805 Pukos) The weather was mostly cool and rainly during the last week. Highs only in the 60's and low to 40's and 50's. 40 one day. The last two days have been in the mid to high 70's. But the next two days are supposed to be in the 60's again. I've been taking the hoop houses down during the warmer sunner days. They go back up each night about 30 min before sunset. The plants have almost out grown the hoop houses. execpt the 1041 which is a behind the others. Tuesday, June 17 View Page WOW I hope this means the wet cold spring is finally over! Tuesday, June 17 View Page 1041 McKie (842 Eaton x 1068 Wallace) plant. Tuesday, June 17 View Page 719 Tanner (1370 Rose x 775 Tanner) plant. Tuesday, June 17 View Page 998.6 Pukos (1420 LaRue x 1446 Eaton) plant. Tuesday, June 17 View Page 1408.5 Daletas (1068 Wallace x 805 Pukos) plants. Saturday, June 21 View Page OK this is for everyone who told me to pick the 1041 McKie 09 over the 719 Tanner 07. The 719 came out of the patch today - it WAS the biggest plant in the patch. It was a tough thing to do. But which ever one culled, I'll second guess myself. Monday, June 23 View Page 1041 McKie 06 (842 Eaton 02 x 1068 Wallace 03) Monday, June 23 View Page 998.6 Pukos 05 (1420.5 LaRue 04 x 1446 Eaton 04) Now the biggest plant in the patch. Monday, June 23 View Page 1408.5 Daletas 07 (1068 Wallace 03 x 805 Pukos) Monday, June 23 View Page Here is a leave on the 998 Pukos with sun/heat damage. All of the plants suffered some sunburned leaves over the weekend. Summer solstice plus mid-high 90°F temperature caused the damage. I decided to try the patch with out shade cloth this year. Friday, June 27 View Page Another shot of the whole set up. Friday, June 27 View Page and one more shot from inside. The shade set up also protects the patch from strong winds and hail. Saturday, June 28 View Page I've had a few people ask me how my shade cloth set up works. So I'm posting a few pictures from prevous years that show how it goes up. I did put the shade up this year on June 28th. I should have had it up sooner since we have been having such hot weather. This first picture show the structure I use underneath the shade cloth. I have four 10 x 20 ft car canopies. I bury the feet of the canopies about 8-12 inches in the ground to help secure everything. Saturday, June 28 View Page Next I pull the shade cloth over the frame structure. I have two pieces of shade cloth each 12 x 120 ft. They are 66% shade blocking. If I had to do it again I would probably try cloth that lets more light thorugh. somewhere between 30% and 50%. Also if I could do it again I would probably use steel fence poles instead of the car canopies and figure out a way that I could cover and uncover the plants fairly easily and quickly. Saturday, June 28 View Page This is what the plants look like inside the shade at this point in time. Saturday, June 28 View Page At this point I attach the shade cloth to the structure with shade cloth clips and plastic zip ties. I also have a misting system that can add at this time if I want to. It has a main line that runs across the top middle of the structure with misting heads in it, and with secondary hoses and misting heads that come off the main line. Saturday, June 28 View Page here is a picture of the shade cloth clip with a zip tie through it. Saturday, June 28 View Page Here you can see the hoses that lead to the misters and the misters on the outside of the shade. Saturday, June 28 View Page On the grass side I put 2 ft long 1/2 inch diameter rebar pieces every 2 feet. Then I slip a 5 ft long 1/2 inch diameter pvc pipe over the rebar. Each pipe had a hole drilled through it at the top where the zip tie attaches it to the shade cloth and the shade cloth clip. Saturday, June 28 View Page This is what it looks like with the misters going. (I added the cups the next year) Saturday, June 28 View Page And this is what the whole patch looks like. Saturday, June 28 View Page Here's a picture from Aug 2004, the year I broke the Utah state record with a 906 lb pumpkin. I've used this set up every year since 2004. Monday, June 30 View Page The fence has "O" screws every two feet. I attach the shade cloth to the fence again with a shade clips and a zip ties. Saturday, July 5 View Page Spent about 7-8 hours in the patch today. Getting caught up on burying vines, pinching and pruning. I did some weeding, just kept ahead of the plants a couple of feet. So I have more to do this week. 102° F yesterday on the 4th- HOT HOT HOT- It was in the high 90's all last week and the 7 day forcast is for more of the same. plants are doing fine under the shade. Sunday, July 6 View Page Pollinated a few females over the last couple of days. July 5th: One on the 1041 Mckie plant (x 998 Pukos). And one on the 1408 Daletas plant (x 998 Pukos also). They are not as far out as I would have liked but if they take they will be the keepers and hopefully do fine. July 6th: One on the 998 Pukos plant (x self). I debated the cross on this for days... x self, x 1041 Mckie or x 1408 Daletas. I think the all would have been great crosses but in the end I picked the x self. Sorry no pictures. I can't find my camera?! Tuesday, July 8 View Page This female on the 1041 Mckie 06 (842 Eaton x 1068 Wallace) will open tomorrow. I plan on pollinating it with the 998.6 Pukos. I don't like the way the leaf stem in touching the pumpkin already. Tuesday, July 8 View Page This female on the 1408 Daletas 07 (1068 Wallace x 805 Pukos) plant should open in two days. Wednesday, July 9 View Page Made two pollinations today. 1041.5 McKie 06 x 998.6 Pukos 05 and 998.6 Pukos 05 x self Thursday, July 10 View Page pollinated one today. 1408.5 Daletas 07 x 998.6 Pukos 05 Monday, July 21 View Page Pumpkin pollinated on the Pukos plant on July 9. 998 Pukos x self, It has a nice round shape and should have good color. I'm going to have to do a lot vine moving to get everything into decent postions. But I still have a ton of weeding and vine burying to do first. Monday, July 21 View Page Pumpkin on the 1408 Daletas plant. 1408 Daletas x 998 Pukos pollenated on July 10th. Long stem, ok shape. Also need to spend some time to get this plant where I'd like it to be. (See what I mean about the weeding!) Monday, July 21 View Page Pumpkin on the 1041 McKie plant. 1401 Mckie x 998 Pukos, pollenated on 9 July. Has an OK shape. but the blossem end doesn't look as symetric as I would like - but oh well... as long as it grows big I'll be happy! Nice lone stem. Right after I took this picture I cut off the leave and move the main, pumpkin and secondary to give the pumpkin more space. Yup- you guess it... I have lot of work to do on this plant too. I think I'll take tomorrow off and try to catch up on all the work I have to do in the patch. I haven't measured any fruit yet hopefully tomorrow. Friday, July 25 View Page 1408 Daletas 07; day 20- circ 66 in. Friday, July 25 View Page 1041 Mckie 06; day 20 ; circ 72 in. Saturday, July 26 View Page Pumpkin on the 998.6 Pukos 05 plant, a wheel. day 20; circ. 60 inches. Saturday, August 2 View Page Put some systemic spidermite granules out today. I also Sprayed seaweed and fish. the whole patch stinks for a couple of days. and I always love it when I get some fish on my cloths! Saturday, August 2 View Page Here is the 1041 KcKie 06 plant. I didn't measure the pumpkins today. I will tomorrow. All the plants are looking good. Saturday, August 2 View Page Here is the 998 Pukos 05 plant. Saturday, August 2 View Page Here is the pumpkin on the 998 Pukos plant. It's a x self. I'm a little worried about the concave blossom end. I'm not sure what I can do other than watch and hope is doesn't split. It seems like a lot of growers have had this problem the last couple of years. Saturday, August 2 View Page The 1408 Daletas 07 plant. The pumpkin on it looks like a triangle from the blossem end. Hopefully that's a good structural shape. Monday, August 11 View Page Pumpkin on the 1041 McKie 06 (842 Eaton 02 x 1068 Wallace 03) plant, just over 500 lbs. Monday, August 11 View Page Pumpkin on the 998.6 Pukos 05 (1420.5 LaRue 04 x 1446 Eaton 04) plant, 536 lbs. Still worried about the blossom end. Monday, August 11 View Page Pumpkin on the 1408.5 Daletas 07 (1068 Wallace 03 x 805 Pukos) plant, 584 lbs. Monday, August 11 View Page Here is a shot of the whole patch. (1408 Daletas plant closest, then the 998 Pukos, then the 1041 McKie) Saturday, August 16 View Page It was quite windy here yesterday and today. I check the patch several times yesterday avernoon and evening. Before I went to bed I staked and roped down several places on the shade cloth. This morning when I check... there was lots of damage from the wind over night. The worst of winch was a 16 foot section of fence had fallen over into the patch. NOT GOOD! Saturday, August 16 View Page Here is a picture from another angle of downed section. Saturday, August 16 View Page Most all of the shade cloth along the fence had come loose. The winded wipped it up and down all night cause damage to all the plants along the fence line between the fence and the shade structure. Saturday, August 16 View Page The shade cloth only stayed attached to the fence at one spot and the east end of the patch. Saturday, August 16 View Page In most places the zip tie that held the clip to the fence failed. but in a few places the shade zip tie/clip held and the shade cloth was just torn away from the clip. Saturday, August 16 View Page This is typical of the damage to the plants along the fence line. :( Saturday, August 16 View Page Here is the damage to the 1041 McKie plant where the fence fell on it. There was also damage to the plants along the grass-patch edge. Lots of leaves there had leave damage. Some of the leaves were blowen right off their stem. Well it could have been worse. At least the whole patch wasn't wiped out (as we've seen at some patches this year). The damaged area along the fence is approximately 1/4 of patch. and the damaged near the grass was only 1/8 or a 1/16 of the patch area. so all between 5/16th and 3/8th of the patch was damaged. Hopefully it won't set the pumpkin growth back to much and I can still get some decent ones to the weigh off. But I don't think I'll have a chance at first at the weigh off this year (which I though I did have before this). I believe I was on target for 1000 lbs this year. Which would have been my first time reaching that mark. Now I don't think I'll make it. It's quite depressing! I guess over the next couple of weeks I'll be able to tell how much the pumpkin growth has been affected and what weights I might be able to get the pumpkins too this year. Tuesday, August 19 View Page pumpkin on the 1041 McKie plant (842 Eaton 02 x 1068 Wallace 03) Tuesday, August 19 View Page Pumpkin on the 1408 Daletas plant (1068 Wallace x 805 Pukos) Wednesday, August 20 View Page Pumpkin on the 998 Pukos plant (1420 LaRue 04 x 1446 Eaton 04) Wednesday, August 20 View Page side view of the 998 Pukos pumpkin. Monday, August 25 View Page 1408 Daletas pumpkin on the 19th and the 25th. I'm worried that the ribs have gotten deeper - maybe fallen in some. There are cracks in the rib valleys. at day 50 it taped 873 lbs. Monday, August 25 View Page Here are the cracks... not to bad - just hoping they don't get any worse. Monday, August 25 View Page 998 Pukos plant pumpkin. It's really difficult to take a circ measurement on this one... I took the biggest I could get and used that one. circ parallel to the ground was 11 inches smaller. makes a huge difference in the estimated weight. day 50 -tapes to 867 lbs. the fasting growing pumpkin in the patch last week - if the circ measurement is correct- it's catching up to the 1408 Daletas plant pumpkin. Monday, August 25 View Page pumpkin on the 1041 McKie plant. at day 50 (earlier this week), taped to 669 lbs. (Day 50 for the 1408 was also earlier this week) Monday, August 25 View Page the 998 blossom end now hold water and is officially a "bird bath". Monday, August 25 View Page 998 Pukos plant pumpkin stem - you can see where it detached itself from the secondary that was there last week. (straight on - the leaf was below it) :O Monday, September 1 View Page The semi-obligitory first snow on the mountains photograph. The storm came in strong yesterday afternoon. The wind knocked over a few leaves, pulled apart a few joints on the shade structure, lifted some pvp shade structure poles out of place, and snaped some zip ties that hold the shade cloth to the structure, but damage to the plants was minimal. Got almost an inch of rain. Which is a lot for around here. It was cold last night, in the mid 40's. I think we made it to 70 this afternoon after the storm past on and the sun came out. Tuesday, September 2 View Page Frost last night around my neighboorhood. The plants made it through fine with out any damage. Wednesday, September 3 View Page Pumpkin on the 998 Pukos plant (1420 LaRue 04 x 1446 Eaton 04) The pumpkin is a 998.6 Pukos 05 x Self. C:159.0, s-s:104.5, f-b:97.5 OTT 361.0 estimated weight 985.8 lbs, 13.8 lbs./day over the last 5 days. On track for a new PB. Wednesday, September 3 View Page 998 Pukos side view. Anyone have any experience on how I should measure circ on this one? Black? Red? Blue? Wednesday, September 3 View Page 1408 Daletas plant (1068 Wallace x 805 Pukos) Pumpkin is 1408 Daletas 07 x 998 Pukos 05 day 60 C:170.75, s-s:99.0, f-b:96.5, OTT 366.25 in. estimated weigh 1028.9 lbs, 15.0 lbs./day over the last 5 days. Wednesday, September 3 View Page Pumpkin on the 1041 McKie 06 plant. (842 Easton 02 x1068 Wallace 03) The cross is 1041 x 998 Pukos 05. day 60 C:149.0, s-s:89.0, f-b:88.0, OTT: 326.0 estimated weight 729.4 lbs Monday, September 8 View Page I went out and check on the 1408 Daletas pumpkin today. It split. :( Monday, September 8 View Page Closer up view of the split in the 1408 Daletas pumpkin. Saturday, September 27 View Page 1041 McKie plant. Many of the leaves have died on this plant. The pumpkin hasn't grown for several weeks. Saturday, September 27 View Page 998 Pukos plant pumpkin. Circ 164.0, s-s 108.0, f-b 101.0 OTT= 373.0 EST weight= 1086.2 lbs. Saturday, September 27 View Page Side view of the 998 Pukos plant pumpkin. Saturday, September 27 View Page 998 Pukos plant pumpkin from another view. Saturday, September 27 View Page 1041 McKie plant pumpkin from a different view point. Circ. 153.0, s-s 89.0, f-b 88.0 OTT= 330.0 Est Weight= 756.1 lbs. Saturday, September 27 View Page The pumpkin on the 1408 Daletas plant continues to grow some even though it split on Sept 8th. Saturday, September 27 View Page The huge stem on the 1408 Daletas plant pumpkin. Saturday, September 27 View Page 1408 Daletas pumpkin showing the circ. measurement. Circ. 182.5, s-s 101.0, f-b 100.0 OTT=383.5 Est weight= 1179.5 lbs Would be a new state record if it wasn't split and came in at the estimate. Friday, October 10 View Page Tomorrow is weigh off day. Here are the three fruit in the patch. 1041 McKie fruit front, 998 Pukos fruit middle, 1408 Daletas fruit back under the swing set/pumpkin lifter. There was a hard frost last night as you can tell by looking at the leaves. Friday, October 10 View Page Getting things prepared to lift the 1408 Daletas pumpkin out of the patch. Friday, October 10 View Page 1408 Daletas pumpkin on the trailer. It only took about 3 hours to get it there. The chain hoist was cheap. The pull chain kept getting stuck and wouldn't move, and main chain holding the pumpkin kept slipping through the main gear. It was not fun. In the middle of the lift the local TV news crew showed up and wanted to do a interview. So I lowered the pumpkin down to be safe. They came to my house because Andrews big pumpkin split, so now my 998 pumpkin is the biggest not damaged one in the area. I'm going to load the other two pumpkins with my tarp later this evening. Friday, October 10 View Page This is what the split looks like now in the 1408 Daletas pumpkin. I'm a little surprized that it hasn't rotted completely yet. It has been over a month since it split. It was to big to silicone shut so I just put a lots of captan on it, a pillow case over it and tarp above it. Friday, October 10 View Page It is supposed to be COLD tomorrow for the weigh off with rain/snow also in the forecast. Saturday, October 11 View Page 1170.5 Tanner 2008 dmg off the 1408.5 Daletas 2007 (1068 Wallace x 805 Pukos) pumpkin came in really close to the estimated weight. We weighed the damaged pumpkins first so the wouldn't distract from the rest of the weigh off. But a couple of TV crews where there and took pictures of the big damaged pumpkins and then left before the weigh off was over. The weather forcast was correct for the most part. It was really cold today. There was some rain and a little snow too. but it held off for most of the weigh off. Saturday, October 11 View Page Here is Andrew Israelsen's moster pumpkin being unloaded. It split a week ago. I felt badly for him. Saturday, October 11 View Page Andrew's pumpkin off his 948 seed from last year. Now it's the 1086.5 Israelsen 2008 dmg. To bad it split and came it light too. A double whammy. You can see where he caulked it. It split some more on the trailer on the way to the weigh off. It was a huge, beautiful pumpkin. Saturday, October 11 View Page The 1041 Mckie 2006(842 Eaton 02 x 1068 Wallace 03) pumpkin is now the 796.5 Tanner 2008. It came in about 40 lbs or 5% heavy which was nice. Saturday, October 11 View Page Andrew's day wasn't a total loss. He took 3rd with this 893.5 pound pumpkin off my 719 Tanner 07 seed (1370 Rose 03 x 775.5 Tanner 06). Saturday, October 11 View Page Kenny Blair came in 2nd at the UGPG weigh off with a 969.5 lb pumpkin. It was another long flat pumpkin. Kenny seems to grow these every year. The picture doesn't show how long it was. Saturday, October 11 View Page The sun came out for the weighing of my 998.6 Pukos 2005 (1420 LaRue 04 x 1446 Eaton 04) pumpkin. Now it's the 1054.5 Tanner 2008 It came in a light and under the state record 1104, but I can't complain because I took 1st place and got my first pumpkin over 1,000 lbs! Whhoooo Hooooo ! Saturday, October 11 View Page opps I should have posted this picture before the last entry. oh well. Here you can see how tall the pumpkin was. You can also see the lifting ring we used for the heavier pumpkins at the weigh off. I think we need to get wider/bigger straps. They worked but they made some noise and streched alot - making me and others a little nervous before the pumpkin lifted off the ground. Saturday, October 11 View Page Here is Andrews pumpkin hook up with the lifting ring ready to go onto the scales. Sunday, October 12 View Page This is what my patch looked like the morning after the weigh off. 3-4 inches of new snow. I told you it was cold! Saturday, October 18 View Page 1170.5 Tanner 08 dmg on the trailer. Saturday, October 18 View Page an another shot of the 1170.5 Tanner 08 dmg pumpkin. The can is near the split. You can see a rotten spot too. Saturday, October 18 View Page 1170.5 Tanner 08 (1408 Daletas 07 x 998 Pukos 05) In spite of the split and the rot, we set it up against the house and carve it. I'm not sure if it will last till Halloween. It was a little surprising to me how round it looks from the driveway. I never got a look at it from that angle (top view) until we moved it here.