Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 56 Entries. Friday, April 10 View Page test germination started Monday, April 13 View Page success :) Monday, April 27 View Page ok, so the test germs are not in my patch let all go... sadly,but one to my Dad and the rest i trashed. I started new seeds and looking for them to do well they are: 849.5 Seals, 880 Skinner and for some orange Gearling/verhoff 481. Thursday, April 30 View Page added some kelp meal and humic acid in planting areas in patch, looking to get hoops up next week and plants out :) have to treat patch with grub control and clearys and subdue when i get final till accomplished...doesnt look like that will be anytime too soon, rain projected now into next week, UGH! Friday, May 1 View Page ok..having a bit of technical issues, so if this is a double post...oops! Season underway, seeds started and transplanted in 2 gallon pots, these were mainly my test germs that i couldnt part with so... needless to say i may have jumped the gun, hopefully not the shark. . .they are under lights and holding their own. Friday, May 8 View Page plants in ground under hoops Thursday, June 4 View Page stump split on Seals 849.5 plant Sunday, June 14 View Page looking in on the 985 Werner cross (849.5 Seals'08) lookin good, this one is one that has the split stump, it has dried and seems to be doing just fine. Sunday, June 14 View Page 880 Skinner' 08 plant(1363 Werner x McKie 1041) doing very well, the plants have finally decided to vine and so far so good,watered with a fish and seaweed drench this eve. Sunday, June 14 View Page and the runt of the patch,my own Gearling/Verhoff 481, this one had a complete stump split that has healed also, it completely opened up on itself it looked like a stalk of celery thats the best way I can explain it. Wednesday, June 17 View Page well lost a good 3 ft off my 985 cross plants main,vine just collapsed looks like it was twisted up in the winds we had. I severed it back to a secondary and I am currently trying to train it as my new main. Sunday, June 21 View Page watered in a drench of bayer tree and shrub this am at 1&1/2 TB per 2 gal, continue to train secondaries and the mains on 2 of my plants have exceded the hoops, i have spotted only one female at the present time, so it looks like mid July til i have a chance to pollinate. Also took most plastic off hoops today. We have left some up for wind protection till the secondaries take off good and I can get to burying vines Monday, June 22 View Page aww back to work for the hubby....I sure will miss him...it was great to have his help in the patch this week, I look to till and weed patrol and mulch the garden today-tomorrow. Monday, June 22 View Page 849.5 Seals plant (985 Werner x 998 Pukos cross) this is the plant that I lost 3 ft off the main, secondary vine has taken over nicely. Monday, June 22 View Page 880 skinner plant'08 (1363 werner x 1041 McKie) doing quite well the plants have really started to pick up, finally!!! Female spotted apx 12ft out. Tuesday, June 23 View Page 481 Gearling Verhoff plant this seed has been constant in my patch, I like it because of its orange color, always a pretty one. Hopefully this year will be no exception. :) Sunday, June 28 View Page my 2 plants that were hit hard by wind/storm damage are trying to recover, most of the center main leaves were lost on both plants. They were the biggest leaves I have ever had. between recovering from storm damage I now have a burst of cuke beetles. Sprayed spectracide after sun down tonight. Monday, June 29 View Page pollinated the 880 skinner plant 4 lobes. apx 12 ft out on main. pollinated with the 849.5 seals(985 Werner,998 pukos cross) Tuesday, June 30 View Page hmm well, had a visitor to my patch overnight, a deer so nicely ate the blossom off my kin i pollinated yesterday and nibbled at several secondaries While waltzing right past my peppers and tomatoes... someone has the keen taste for kins... so I bought and sprayed the lovely scent of "Liquid Fence" around the perimeter and on plants so hopefully it will do its job as it has in the past. Wednesday, July 1 View Page Pollinated one on the Gearling /Verhoff 481 this am, apx13ft out 4 lobes, crossed with Seals 849.5(985 Werner x 998 Pukos cross) Tuesday, July 7 View Page 880 skinner plant today Tuesday, July 7 View Page skinner 88o first pollination, 9 days old Tuesday, July 7 View Page Gearling/verhoff 481 first pollination, 7 days old. Wednesday, July 8 View Page pollinated 2 more this am, 1st pollination on 849.5 Seals plant 5 lobes selfed. 2nd pollination on Gearling/verhoff 5 lobes crossed with 880 skinner. Wednesday, July 8 View Page looking into the patch this morning Thursday, July 9 View Page pollinated a deformed 3/4 lober on the 880 skinner this am. Not really sure if it'll even take, or if I'll keep. But Im pollinating all I can for now. Thursday, July 9 View Page culled the 2nd pollination on the 481 plant, didnt take. Friday, July 10 View Page the deformed 3 lober on the 880 plant is nicely shaped as a football, im having a real hard time deciding to off it. Tuesday, July 14 View Page dang deer, been visiting again, chewed several secondaries once again. Need to purchase more repellent, and possiably a crossbow,lol Treated with granular subdue, will water in am tomorrow. Wednesday, July 15 View Page had 2 late pollinations this am, did it just in case... 1 on skinner 880 4 lobes, selfed, one on 849.5 seals 5 lober x880 Skinner. Wednesday, July 15 View Page looking east in the patch, closest plant is 481, followed by the 880 skiiner and 849.5 seals Wednesday, July 15 View Page looking westward in the patch being greeted by the volunteer wildflowers. Wednesday, July 15 View Page 849.5 seals 1st pollination day 7 Wednesday, July 15 View Page 880 skinner 1 pollination day 17 Wednesday, July 15 View Page Gearling/verhoff first pollination day 15 Wednesday, July 15 View Page this is the 2nd pollination set on the skinner plant,(deformed 3/4 lober) having hard time culling it. . . time will tell Monday, July 20 View Page ok this is the first set on the 849.5 Seals plant at 12 days old. finally starting to grow, bit by bit. this is the plant that I lost the main vine on I estimate it lost me 2 wks in time, but hey, Im happy the plant still lives :) Monday, July 20 View Page this is the 1st and only fruit that remains on the 880 Skinner at day 22. Monday, July 20 View Page Back view of the 880, I am bummed I have misplaced my measuring tape,guess that isnt too bad, no disapointments in the slow growth rate. Daytime temps have only reached the high 70's with night time dipping into the low 50s. Monday, July 20 View Page this is the only remaining set on the Gearling/verhoff 481 plant, this one has already given the hint shes gonna prove to be orange once again, yay! this is day 20 for her. Monday, July 20 View Page all tucked in for the night, no canopies as yet, for those that recall my backyard usually looks like the circus has come to town but i have decided this yr to go with less work, sheets it is for now, maybe tarps to follow, we shall see. Tuesday, July 21 View Page Ok ok... which color shall I wear to the patch today,lol this is what greets one upon entering our back deck. Can one really tell a gardener lives here? nah... Saturday, July 25 View Page Congrats Andy & Tara! Saturday, July 25 View Page Yay! Thursday, July 30 View Page pickle packin mommas, thanks so much for the help !! Christy and Nick your pickles are the yummiest! Thanks for sharing your recipe, pickles and Yummy dill! Sunday, August 2 View Page HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRINCESS! Monday, August 3 View Page the pumpkin shed continued...thank you Dads! Monday, August 3 View Page 849.5 Seals fruit Monday, August 3 View Page Skinner 880 frt F werner 1363 X McKie 1041 cross day 34 Monday, August 3 View Page another view skinner 880 Monday, August 3 View Page G/V 481 frt Monday, August 3 View Page looking east in the patch Tuesday, August 4 View Page upon pruning i found this female, I think thats 7 lobes, thats a first in my patch. Wednesday, August 19 View Page looking east into the patch this afternoon G/V plant closest followed by the 880 skinner and the 845.5 seals. they are starting to really orange up. The powdery mildew and the weeds have the upper hand on me, but I am happy they all still live at this point :) Wednesday, August 19 View Page my afternoon project... yummy fresh peaches Wednesday, August 19 View Page the Seals 'kin, the babe of the patch but gaining on the others