Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 163 Entries. Tuesday, April 8 View Page Welcome to my 2008 diary. I'm excited to get going this year. It's been a long winter with lots of snow, but once again, it's time to start gardening. Here's my line-up for this year. I'm planting my own 988 from last year. I love the cross.....Eaton842 and Beauchemin500. Also putting in some untested bigguns.... Jutras1689, Rodonis1566 and Werner1556.5. Some excellent genetic backgrounds which should make for some great crosses for next year. Tuesday, April 8 View Page The snow is almost gone from the patch. The winter rye is greening up. I was able to get a soil sample off a week ago. The forecast is for a high of 69 and sunny on Thursday, but by Saturday (seed swap day here in New Hampshire) it'll be rainy and a high of 39. Winter isn't quite ready to let go. Tuesday, April 8 View Page I test germinated 2 of the 988 seeds and they sprouted within 4 days in a water bath at 85 degrees. I couldn't throw them away so they are planted. A few weeks early but if the weather turns out ok, I may be ahead of the game. I won't be germinating anymore for a couple of weeks. Saturday, April 12 View Page Say hello to my leetle friends....... A little early, but I'll run with them to see what happens. Saturday, April 19 View Page I'm working this weekend, but have been able to sneak away to finish my first rototilling of the season. I sprayed 1/3 gallon of liquid humate and will do a second tilling in a few days. Saturday, April 19 View Page I negelcted my test 988's and they aren't looking the best. I put them outside in a mini-greenhouse with heaters today. If they pick up and I get my plot ready, they could go in the ground in 1 1/2 weeks...otherwise they are toast. Saturday, April 19 View Page I filed, soaked and started my germinations today. I'm borrowing a method used by Jim Beauchemin. I'm using a medication planner floating in a water bath at 85 degrees. The seeda are resting on soaked paper towels and when they germinate... Saturday, April 19 View Page ...into their pots they go, under the lights. Once the first true leaf forms, I hope to get them outside into their heated and sheilded hoop houses. Monday, April 21 View Page All four of my seeds germinated last night...less than 36 hours. Tonight they will be placed in 4 inch peat pots with starter mix kept at 85 degrees on my warming mat. Once they are up, they'll be placed a bigger pot and when the first true leaf appears, outside into my warm frame they go. I plan on having my patch ready in 2 weeks with heated hoop houses, then it's off to the races. My test 988's are kept warm outside, but haven't yet picked up the pace. I hope to post more pics tomorrow. Tuesday, April 22 View Page I've got my germinated seeds warming in their peat pots. The Rodonis 1566 is just breaking the surface..it wants to grow. In a couple of days they'll be into bigger pots then out in the warm frame. Tuesday, April 22 View Page For the last couple of weeks we've had turkeys visiting every morning, foraging for bird seed. Huge birds, and yes, they can fly. Thursday, April 24 View Page A bit of frustration and disappointment today. It's been 3 1/2 weeks since I sent my soil sample in to UNH and I hadn't heard back, so I called them. They didn't have any record of recieving my soil sample, although they did remember a soil sample without paperwork...apparently putting the paperwork in an envelope on the outside of the box is no guarantee that they will notice it. They are going to check to see if they can find the box with the paperwork and match it up with the rogue soil sample, but even then, it won't be processed for 10-14 days (has to be sent to PA). I'm hoping to plant outside in 1 1/2 weeks, so this won't help me in balancing my soil before the beginning of the season. Frustrating... Maybe I should switch over to UMass for soil testing? I'm hoping my soil hasn't drifted too much...I'm leaning towards adding some muriate of potash and calcium nitrate this weekend, but it's a blind addition. On a brighter note, I've transplanted my 4 plants (all have broken the soil surface) into larger pots and they are all under grow lights with a heating mat underneath. I plan on putting them into my warm frame in a week or so, depending on their growth. Sunday, April 27 View Page Werner and Rodonis seedlings. One of the cots on the Werner is curled, but is otherwise ok. The Rodonis is the most agressive of the bunch so far. Sunday, April 27 View Page The Jutras and Stidwill seedlings. All were put into the hot frame today to begin the process of getting them ready for outside. I'm hoping to plant next weekend if all goes well. I need to put up hoop houses and bury heating cables. I had 5 yards of manure delivered today to mix with my 7 yards of leaves for application come the fall. Never too early. Monday, April 28 View Page I tilled in 20 pounds of calcium nitrate and 20 pounds of 10-10-10 over the weekend. Rain and cold for the next few days, but I still plan to get my hoop houses up and heated and put my plants int the garden this coming weekend. My paperwork for my soil was found, matched with my sample and sent off. It will still be another week or two before the results are back. I'll try to make any small adjustments needed at that time. My plants are growing nicely in the hot frame. Pictures tomorrow. Tuesday, April 29 View Page A look at my hot frame. Just a 4 x 4 box covered with 3 mil plastic. It has a heater inside and is covered with blankets at night. Tuesday, April 29 View Page Inside the hot frame. My plants are a little leggy right now...lots of rain and no sun. The buckets are full of water to act as a heat reservoir to prevent fluctuations in temperatures at night. I still plan to get them into the garden this weekend. Tuesday, April 29 View Page My garden after the third tilling. Five yards composted cow manure in the foreground. Tuesday, April 29 View Page One of my hoop houses is framed in. 18 x 8 feet. I'll build two of these, each containing 2 plants, soil heating cables and 2 space heaters and covered with 2 mil plastic. Should be up and running this weekend. Friday, May 2 View Page Hoop house frames are up. Pits are dug and ready for heating cables and plants. I still don't have my soil test results, but damn the torpedoes... Tomorrow I'll place heating cables, put my plants in place, install space heaters, cover the frames with plastic, plug it all in and watch them grow. Saturday, May 3 View Page I got the pits dug on May 1 for my heating cables. Saturday, May 3 View Page It's a miserable rainy day today- in the low 50's. Soil temperature is 47 degrees. I spent 4 hours positioning my heating cables, and covering my hoop houses. Saturday, May 3 View Page The final product. The hoop house on the left has the Stidwill and Werner plants, and the one on the right has the Jutras and Rodonis plants. Treated each hole with mycor and after settling in, drenched with a quart of 15-30-15 each. Saturday, May 3 View Page Another view. I'll post pics of the plants as they start to grow. Tuesday, May 6 View Page I finally got my soil results. My O.M. has dropped to 6.2%- still acceptable but I'll be ammending the soil this fall to raise it. My pH has dropped to 6.4. I've added calcium nitrate which may help some, but I will retest in the fall before I add lime to raise it. My potassium has dropped to a low level so I've added 10 pounds of potash to raise it. I will rototill it in tomorrow. Tuesday, May 6 View Page I was late getting to the hoop house today to open it. By 1 pm it was 105 degrees inside..only slight drooping of the plants. 10 minutes after opening up, it had cooled to 85. Tuesday, May 6 View Page Soil temperature has risen nicely to 79 degrees... a rise of 32 degrees in the last 3 days. Heating cables and hoop houses...ya gotta love 'em. Tuesday, May 6 View Page Rodonis 1566 seedling. Tuesday, May 6 View Page Jutras 1689 seedling. Tuesday, May 6 View Page Werner 1556.5 seedling...not looking happy but is actually looking better than a few days ago. I'm sure it will pick up. Tuesday, May 6 View Page Stidwill 988 test seedling. I decided to go with it and it's doing nicely. Drooping a bit from the heat, but starting to vine.... Tuesday, May 6 View Page I gave all plants a drenching of 1/2 gallon of fish and seaweed emulsion today. Will apply 15-30-15 again this weekend. Sunny and 70 today. Saturday, May 10 View Page Plants are starting to pick up in the last 4 days. Rodonis 1566 plant. Saturday, May 10 View Page Jutras 1689 plant. It looks yellow in this pic, but must be the camera..it's all green. Saturday, May 10 View Page Werner 1556.5 plant- now thickening up in the stem and starting to grow some nice looking leaves. Saturday, May 10 View Page Stidwill 988 plant..now a foot long thickening vine. Starting to really take off and throw out secondaries. Definitely ahead of last year. Sunday, May 11 View Page Fed each plants with 1 gallon of fish and seaweed emulsion yesterday. Sunny and 70's today. Cool and rainy for the next couple of days...the heaters will be useful this week. Tuesday, May 13 View Page Rodonis 1566 plant after a feed of 15-30-15 today. Fuzzy pics because of my hoop house humidity. Tuesday, May 13 View Page Jutras 1689 plant. Tuesday, May 13 View Page Werner 1556.5 plant starting to put out nice looking leaves. It has developed a longitudinal split in the stem that I'll keep an eye on, but shouldn't be a problem. Tuesday, May 13 View Page Stidwill 988 plant, now a foot and a half plus, and putting out secondaries. If it grows too fast, I'll have to take down my hoop house in a week or two. Tuesday, May 13 View Page A present from my wife to look over my pumpkins. Thursday, May 15 View Page Sprayed each plant with Orthenex today. Stidwill 988 now 3 feet long with 4-6 inch secondaries. I may have to take down my hoop house before I like if it continues to accelerate it's growth. Cloudy, wet and 60's forecast for the next week. Saturday, May 17 View Page Beautiful, 70 and sunny today. Fed each plant with fish and seaweed emulsion. The Rodonis plant looking good and starting to vine. Saturday, May 17 View Page Jutras plant starting to pick up as well. Saturday, May 17 View Page Werner plant with a thick vine after the split. The main vine split is clearly visible, but the plant as a whole is picking up and looking good. Saturday, May 17 View Page The Stidwill plant is close to 5 feet and growing extremely well. It has a one foot secondary vine behind the leaf on the mid-right, just peeking out. The hoop hose will definitely have to come down by next weekend, if not sooner. I'm hoping for, and should get, an early pollination with this plant. Tuesday, May 20 View Page Fed each plant 2 gallons of 10-60-10 bloom fertilizer (ran out of 15-30-15). Here is the Rodonis plant. Tuesday, May 20 View Page Jutras plant now at 8-10 inches and doing well. Tuesday, May 20 View Page The Werner plant picking up steam, but..... Tuesday, May 20 View Page ...the early season wouldn't be complete without some problem. This plant was leggy at first with a deformed coteledyn. Then it developed a split in the stem. Now it's clearly flatvined. Notice the thick, wide vine with 2 leaves arising from the same node. I'm going to try the Jim Kuhn method of cure (flooding it with 40-50 gallons of water). If that doesn't work, I'm selecting a secondary vine and cutting the main early. My 988 from last year grew off a flat vined Eaton842, so all is not lost. I don't have a back up plant so I have to push this one. Tuesday, May 20 View Page The Stidwill plant, now reaching the end of the hoop house. Fast growing and big with 1 1/2 foot secondaries. It's time to take the hoop house down and start burying vines. Tuesday, May 20 View Page I cut a hole in the end of one of the hoop houses to allow the Stidwill plant room to grow. I was able to bury 2 feet of the main and the first node on the first secondary. Interestingly, the 1st secondary vine ribboned for the first 2 nodes, but seems to have reverted back to a single vine. None of the other vines on this plant are affected (yet). Must be a genetic trait passed on by it's mother, the Eaton842. All plants have been doused with Orthenex today. Tuesday, May 27 View Page Beautiful weather. Sunny and 85 today, but a threat of thunderstorms. I took my hoop houses down last weekend as it was getting too hot inside and it was limiting my access to the plants. I put a wind break up around all the plants. Each plant got a feeding today with 26-6-12 miracle grow. The Werner got only a quart and the Stidwill 4 gallons. Tuesday, May 27 View Page The Stidwill plant is a beast, now at 7 feet long. It grow 4-5 inches in the last 24 hours and has a 2 1/2- 3 foot secondary. No signs of a female yet, but at the present rate of growth, one should be forming within a week. I have to keep reminding myself this is a long distance marathon and things can, will (and did as I'll show you), go wrong. Tuesday, May 27 View Page Some good news. This is the Werner plant. I flooded it for 3 nights in a row with 10-15 gallons of water in the form of a slow trickle from my hose, and stopped applying any form of fertilizer, and... Tuesday, May 27 View Page ...viola! The ribbon vine mess has now become a double vine. I will watch them for a while and terminate one once I'm sure they are going to grow okay. Tuesday, May 27 View Page The Jutras plant, solid looking at 2 feet long. The main vine is wanting to stay up in the air, but I believe it is slowly coming down. It makes me nervous. Tuesday, May 27 View Page The Rodonis plant. It wants to grow in the opposite direction to which I was intending, and the main vine was almost straight up. After watering on a windy day yesterday... Tuesday, May 27 View Page ...DISASTER!!! The main vine cracked. This is what I mean about being slow and methodical - things do go wrong. I have a nice secondary that I'll have to train to be the new primary. This puts me back a week or two on this plant, but all is not lost. I feel bad...sorry Bill. (I think this plant is empathetic and feeling the pain of your bum leg...) Tuesday, June 3 View Page Rodonis plant after a 24-8-16 feeding. I've trained a secondary vine to be the main primary and it looks like it's going to do well. Starting to run. Shortly after my last disaster photo, the main secondary vine went down to the same fate as the primary, with a through and through crack. A brittle plant, but looks like it's going to do alright now. Tuesday, June 3 View Page Jutras plant. A solid grower now at 4 feet long. So far it has been problem free. Starting to bury the main. Tuesday, June 3 View Page My own Stidwill plant, now at 10 feet. No females visible yet, but I expect them to start forming soon. Definitely will have an early pollination with this plant. Fed this plant and the Jutras plant with 36-6-6 today. I'll spary this evening with Orthenex. Main secondary is 5 feet long. Werner plant in the background. Tuesday, June 3 View Page Werner plant. I give credit to Jim Kuhn's idea of flooding the plant to strighten out the ribbon vine. The vine seperated into 2 mains, and one has been removed. The ribbon vine section is clearly visible, and the new primary is starting to run nicely. Given a feed of 24-8-16 today. AG mutations are interesting. As the plant was ribboning..... Tuesday, June 3 View Page ...it seemed to put out 2 females six inches from the plant base. These are not normal looking females. At first I though they were males because they are on long slim stalks sticking straight up. Notice the leaf forming off the stalk in the foreground. Whatever they are, they'll have to go. Tuesday, June 3 View Page Just an FYI- my pineapple is outside and soaking up the sun, slowly getting bigger. Friday, June 6 View Page True to my expectations, I noticed a female forming at the tip of the Stidwill plant last night. I want to cross it with the Jutras 1689, but my problem will be getting mature flowers off it for pollination. The Stidwill plant is 2-3 weeks ahead in growth. I may have to self this female(should be at 11 or 12 feet) and wait for a later one to get the cross I want. Tuesday, June 10 View Page We're in the middle of a heat wave. Temperatures in the 90's. The plants are growing well. Here's the Rodonis plant, recovering nicely from earlier troubles. All plants have been fed with 36-6-6. I've had alot of cucumber beetles and dusted yesterday with Sevin with good results. I've notice a number of squash bugs as well. I'll spray everything with Orthenex tonight. Tuesday, June 10 View Page The Jutras plant is doing beautifully at 6-7 feet in length. It's full and symetric with a deep green colour. Male flowers are forming. I'm hoping a couple of males will be ready for my Stidwill female in 7-10 days. Tuesday, June 10 View Page The Werner plant continues to bring up the rear at 4-5 feet long with a primary vine but short secondaries, just starting to form. I removed the two earlier mutant females but ... Tuesday, June 10 View Page ...a thrid female has formed at 3-4 feet out. It's been removed. I don't want any energy going to pumpkin production yet. It's way to close to the stump and the plant hasn't produced enough green to support anything of any size. I'll keep after it, but this plant is definitely the runt of my 2008 litter. Tuesday, June 10 View Page My own Stidwill plant continues to lead the pack, now at 12 feet long. The Werner plant is at the top of the photo, behind the Stidwill. With the heat, watering and fertizing, it's exploded with growth. Tuesday, June 10 View Page It's started to produce male flowers opening early in the morning which can only mean one thing... Tuesday, June 10 View Page ...a female can't be far behind. I'm hoping this developes and is ready to pollinate by the 20th, hopefully with a Jutras 1689 male, if I'm lucky. This is going to be an extremely early pollination for these parts, if everything continues as planned. Heavy thunderstorms are suppoed to develope later today, and last year I got "thumped' with a hail storm, so...I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Thursday, June 12 View Page I counted a total of 9 females forming on the Stidwill plant this morning. Only one is on the main vine, so the rest will be culled. The heat wave must have triggered females to form. I should be getting more females on the main vine soon. Plenty of males for pollinating now. Sunday, June 15 View Page Cool and wet with a high of 65. A big difference from the 90's of last week. The Jutras plant flowered yesterday so I may get my Jutras/Stidwill cross this week. I will spray with seaweed/fish emulsion this evening. All plants are enjoying the rain (although an extra 10 degrees of heat wouldn't hurt). The Rodonis is doing extremely well and has almost completely recovered from it's snapped main. It's throwing off a female at 6-7 feet, but this will have to be culled. The Werner is just starting to put out secondaries off it's main. Pics to follow in a couple of days. Tuesday, June 17 View Page It's been cool and wet, but is starting off sunny and 70 today. Everything has been given 15 gallons of 36-6-6. Sprayed last weekend with seaweed, fish and humic acid. This is the Jutras plant. Tuesday, June 17 View Page On careful inspection of the tip, the Jutras is forming a female which I should be able to pollinate within the next two weeks. End of June to early July is perfect timing for the end of September fairs. Tuesday, June 17 View Page The Rodonis plant has been picking up nicely, given it's major set back earlier. A 7 foot female was removed last weekend. It was too close to the stump to be a keeper, but I expect more females within a couple of weeks. Tuesday, June 17 View Page The Werner plant is starting to throw off secondaries, but is way behind on greenery production. I'm afraid it's not showing enough growth to produce a monster later in the year, but I'll see it through. Tuesday, June 17 View Page The Stidwill continues to be my best grower. I've already terminated some side vines as they reached the edge of the alotted space. Tuesday, June 17 View Page The female is enlarging and looks like it'll be ready to pollinate in 2-3 days. The only males I have in abundance are the Stidwill's so it looks like this one will be a self pollinated pumpkin. I want to use the Jutras males but it's iffy. I've had one male bloom, but the rest don't look like they'll be ready in time. We'll see in a few days. Tuesday, June 17 View Page Disaster...again!!!! The Stidwill main was shooting straight up and curled backwards, starting to grow back towards the stump. With gentle coaxing, I was able to get it pointed in the right direction. All was well until I was burying secondaries and heard an audible, but very soft "cccccrrrrack". A minimal transverse hairline crack had appeared, just a few millimeters long. I carefully took any strain I could off the vine, but this morning, this was the end result. I can't stand it! This crack is one node down from the female I'm hoping to pollinate, so if it's a good pollination, all should be just fine. The small secondary seen in the picture will be the new main, but I've lost a couple of weeks on pumpkin production. I think my best bet is to stay out of the garden as much as possible. The Jutras is the only plant left that hasn't been damaged or mutated, so I'm staying away. Last year it was hail, bugs and ribbon vines...this year it's me! Tuesday, June 24 View Page Sprayed a fish/seaweed emilsion on Monday. Applied 36-6-6 today. I will spray with orthenex tomorrow or Thursday when I get a chance. This is the Jutras plant. Growing steadily and putting out females. Males are flowering daily. Tuesday, June 24 View Page Female on the Jutras at 10 feet. It should be ready to pollinate in a week or so. I'm planning to cross with the Rodonis1566 for a 3200+ pound cross. Tuesday, June 24 View Page Rodonis plant steadily picking up steam. It's got males flowering and is now 10 feet long so the next female should be close to forming. Tuesday, June 24 View Page Werner plant...still wants to ribbon. I had a secondary form with 3 tendrils and 2 leaves at a node. The main continues to be okay and is growing strong, but overall, it still lacks vigor. Still the slowest growing of my plants. Tuesday, June 24 View Page Werner plant...still wants to ribbon. i trimmed a secondary with 3 tendrils and 2 leaves at a node. The main is continuing to grow well without trouble, but overall, this plant lacks vigor and remains the smallest of my plants. Tuesday, June 24 View Page The Stidwill plants continues to grow strong. The new main is on the left by the white stakes, and is 1 1/2 feet long. The plant has filled in 1/2 of it's space already. Tuesday, June 24 View Page I pollinated a five lobed female on June 21 (selfed) at 13 feet but I'm not sure that it took. I'll have to wait a week or so to see if it continues to grow. Monday, June 30 View Page Pollinated a 4 lobed Jutras1689 this morning, using the Rodonis1566 as a male pollinator, at 10 feet. My Stidwill pollination definitely didn't take, but I will have females on all plants pollinated over the next 7-10 days. Sprayed with a seaweed/fish/humic acid combination last night. I have a few cucumber beetles, but no SVB's so far. Tuesday, July 1 View Page Happy Canada Day! I found this little guy near my garden. I've seen quite a few around. Also, spotted my first SVB today. It was too quick for me to get. I plan on spraying a double dose of Orthenex this evening. The cucumber bettles are also on the rise. Tuesday, July 1 View Page The Jutras plant. A solid grower with nice deep green leaves. I hope my first pollination takes...it's hiding under the white terry cloth towel to prevent over heating in the sun. Fed each plant 15-20 gallons of 24-8-16. Sprayed seaweed/fish/humic acid over the weekend. Tuesday, July 1 View Page The Rodonis plant is back to back with the Jutras plant. I was able to use males from this plant for my Jutras female. I should have a female ready to pollinate this weekend at 12 or 13 feet. Tuesday, July 1 View Page The Werner plant is still coming along. It has a female at 14 feet that will get pollinated this weekend. It remains the smallest of my plants. Tuesday, July 1 View Page The Stidwill plant. My June pollination failed. The new main is beside the white stake and is forming a female that i should be able to pollinate withing a week, at about 18 feet. It remains a large a vigorous plant. If I can just get a female pollinated, it's ready to start growing a bigun... All my plants are ahead of last year, when my only fair pumpkin didn't get pollinated until July 19th. Tuesday, July 1 View Page Baby wild turkeys running around the back yard. There were 7 of them with moma keeping a close eye. I hope they don't like pumpkins... Wednesday, July 2 View Page I'm having some more trouble with my Stidwill plant. The new main has develoed a hairline transverse crack, 2 nodes before the developing female. This plant is fragile, but a great grower. I have females on 2 side vines before the new main which I will pollinate. I may have to turn one of them into the new main. I'll decide over the next week. I still believe this plant has good potential, given the size of the "factory" I have to produce a pumpkin. If it grows something over 1000 pounds, I'm going to grow it again next year, being careful to not loose the main, and taking advantage of it's early pollination potential. I figure I've lost at least 2 weeks growth on this plant because of my mistakes. Live and learn. Thursday, July 3 View Page Pollinated a female on the Stidwill plant this morning. It was a four lober on a side vine located 12 feet up the main, six feet out. Used the Jutras1689 as a male pollinator. Saturday, July 5 View Page 2 pollinations this morning. Second Jutras pumpkin at 12 feet on the main, again with the Rodonis1566. Werner pollinated at 14 feet using the Jutras1689. Tomorrow, I'll pollinate a second Stidwill and the first Rodonis. The Stidwill continues to be brittle, with it's 3rd cracked vine. It grows up, then transversely cracks under it's own weight...too agressive a grower?..too much rain? I'm not sure of the reason, but the other plants are not showing this trait, so I'm sure it's genetic. I'll probably have to stay with my 1st pollination on this plant. Sunday, July 6 View Page View of all plants from the garage window. Jutras in the front, Stidwill to it's right, Werner in the back and Rodonis to the left, behind the tree. Sunday, July 6 View Page Another cracked vine on the Stidwill. This is about 5 feet after the pollination of July 3rd. This plant is killing me. It is a vigorous grower. Both the male and female flowers are the biggest I've seen, but this trait is discouraging, to say the least. This makes the fourth cracked vine, all of them coming around pollination time. I was able to pollinte another female on this plant at the 18 foot mark, a beautiful large 5 lober, but I don't hold much hope for it's growth because the vine feeding it has a transverse crack involving about 1/6th it's circumference. I'll let it grow some to compare growth and cull my slowest growers in a few weeks. Sunday, July 6 View Page Jutras pumpkin now at 6 days old. I didn't have Guiness on hand, so Sam's summer will have to do. Nice ribbing showing up early. Sunday, July 6 View Page Stidwill pumpkin at day 3, off a side vine. I was able to pollinate a Rodonis pumpkin today using the Stidwill as a male. It's 12 feet out. A second is forming and should be ready to pollinate within a week. Tuesday, July 8 View Page View of the patch today. A scorcher, humid and into the 90's. Luckily, I'll be home to keep the misting going. Tuesday, July 8 View Page Eight day old Jutras pumpkin. I'll take a 10 day measurement. Tuesday, July 8 View Page Second Jutras at 3 days old. Tuesday, July 8 View Page First Stidwill pumpkin at 5 days. It has a nice thick stem and is long, just like it's mother, the Eaton842. I believe this seed has great potential (ask me again in 2 months...). Tuesday, July 8 View Page Second Stidwill pumpkin at 2 days. Tuesday, July 8 View Page Werner pumpkin at 3 days old. I'm glad I didn't give up on this plant. It's main is shooting out and is now at 21 feet. the second longest vine in the patch, surpassed only by the Stidwill at 24 feet. The Rodonis is at 19 1/2 feet and the Jutras is at 18 feet. Tuesday, July 8 View Page Rodonis pumpkin at 2 days old. I have another ready to pollinate tomorrow at 16 feet. You'll notice I've switched beers again. I like a large variety of beers and can't limit myself to just one, so the pictures are taken with whatever happens to be in the fridge that day. I think with all four plants pollinated, the race is officially on...good luck to all and see you on September. Wednesday, July 9 View Page Pollinated a second Rodonis today - a 4 lober at 16 feet using the Stidwill as a male pollinator. Thursday, July 10 View Page Pollinated a 5 lobed Werner at 18 feet, using the Jutras males. The Jutras pumpkin 10 day circumference is 25 inches, in keeping with 1000+ benchmark numbers, but 2 inches below the 1200+ benchmark. Sunday, July 13 View Page I pollinated a 3rd Jutras on 7/11 using the Rodonis males. I'm not planning any more pollinations- I'll be culling backups over the next 1-2 weeks. Sunday, July 13 View Page Jutras pumpkin, now at 13 days old. Circumference of 35 inches. Sunday, July 13 View Page Stidwill fruit, now at 10 days old with a circumference of 33 inches. It's a long fruit and I suspect it will have the growth characteristics of the Eaton842. Sunday, July 13 View Page Werner pumpkin, now at 8 days. Sunday, July 13 View Page Rodonis pumpkin, now at 7 days. Tuesday, July 15 View Page I'll have to make some choices soon. Here is the first Jutras pumpkin on day 15 - circumference of 45 inches with an OTT of 109 for an estimated 35.7 pounds (18 pounds in the last 2 days). The problem is... Tuesday, July 15 View Page ...here is the second Jutras pumpkin, 2 feet further out, on day 10 with a circumference of 26.5 inches, 1 1/2 inches larger than my first pumpkin was at day 10. Do I go with the first pumpkin, 5 days further along and putting on 9 pounds a day, or go with the second younger pumpkin that seems to be larger for it's age? I'll watch them for a few more days before deciding. Tuesday, July 15 View Page The Stidwill pumpkin is picking up steam. The other pollinated pumpkins on this plant seem to be aborting, so this will be my keeper. Twelve days old with a circumference of 38 inches and an OTT of 88. The pumpkin this came from (Stidwill 988) was 36 inches circumference and 86 OTT at the same age. Tuesday, July 15 View Page Werner pumpkin at 10 days. Circumference is only 22 inches - off the benchmark 10 day mark, but I'm hopeful it will pick up. The plant has recovered nicely from earlier troubles and is looking good. Tuesday, July 15 View Page Trouble with the first Rodonis pollination. Nine days old and it doesn't look like it's growing anymore. So... Tuesday, July 15 View Page ...it looks like I'll have to go with the second Rodonis pumpkin at 6 days old today. Starting to swell. I'll have to pollinate a third Rodonis in a week, just in case this one aborts as well. Friday, July 18 View Page I culled the second Jutras pumpkin last night and and main pumpkin has responded by putting on 18 pounds in the last 24 hours- 150 OTT for an estimated 80 pounds. My second Rodonis pumpkin pollination has taken with the pumpkin swelling to 18 inches circumference at day 9. I've had alot of leaf burn on the Stidwill plant due to the heat and lack of rain. I don't seem to be able to water it enough. I think my problem is sandy soil with not enough organics. I'll have to load this area with extra compost in the fall. Pictures to follow in a day or 2. Saturday, July 19 View Page Hot weather. I'm trying to keep ahead of the watering, but my Stidwill plant isn't tolerant and all the new growth is wilting. This is the Jutras pumpkin at day 19. OTT of 163 for an estimated 102 pounds. It's put on steadily increasing amounts for the last 4 days- 14, 15, 18, 21 pounds. Hopefully it will climb into the 30's or even 40's and stay there for a while. I cut the second pumpkin, but have a third ready if anything bad happens in the next 1-2 weeks. Saturday, July 19 View Page Stidwill pumpkin at 129 OTT for an estimated 55 pounds. A gain of 12 pounds in the last day, eight the day before. At 16 days old, it remains a "weenie" shape. Saturday, July 19 View Page The Werner pumpkin at day 14, circumference of 35 inches with an estimated weight of 17.6 pounds. It has a very short, thick stem which may cause me trouble later. It has developed a longitudinal crack in it today that shouldn't pose a problem. Saturday, July 19 View Page And finally, it looks like I've got one on the Rodonis plant. Day 10 with a circumference of 23 inches. Below the benchmark values, but I have confidence it will pick up nicely. I've got a pollinated back up further along in case this pumpkin quits as well, but it looks like a keeper. Monday, July 21 View Page I pollinated a "just in case" Rodonis female this morning, using Jutras males. It's late for a pollination, but I did grow my 988 off a July 19th pollination last year. It's cooler with lots of rain and all my pumpkin growth has slowed down. Pictures and weights tomorrow. Thursday, July 24 View Page Lots of rain and cooler. The pumpkin growth has slowed. My home computer is down with a virus so no pictures to post until(if) I get it fixed. I haven't had much time to work in the garden in the last week, so my vines are getting a bit unruley. The short stem on the Werner continues to be a problem. A small transverse crack at the junction of the stem and vine has formed and I'm afraid that if I attempt to move the pumpkin (still only at 75 degrees to the main vine), it'll snap off. I still havn't culled the second pumpkin on this plant since I may have to go with it. The main pumpkin will definitely put pressure on the main vine if I don't fix this. The part of the pumpkin on the side of the cracked stem seems to be growing less than the opposite side. Tuesday, July 29 View Page Still not able to post pics. My home computer has a virus and my antiviral software isn't able to remove it. Disheartening day in the patch. My Jutras pumpkin is now 350 pounds at 25 pounds a day, but has a deep stem split that is threatening to end it. My experience tells me this pumpkin has only a couple of days before it's down. Beautiful looking plant... The Stidwill pumpkin is growing at 15-18 pounds a day, pushing 200 pounds. It's not going to grow into much of anything. All the new growth is withering when the sun is out and I'm not sure why. This pumpkin is on a side vine and I noticed it has a healing crack in the vine proximal to the pumpkin. This plant showed early promise, then ran into trouble that just wouldn't stop, late in June. The Werner pumpkin stopped growing at 50 pounds and had to be culled. I've got a backup pumpkin growing that was pollinated July 10th...not much so far. My Rodonis pumpkin looks good, but again was a late pollination on July 9th. It's growth has been accelerating slowly...too early to say what will happen. I'm frustrated by these gourds, given the input of time and my less than expected results. I should know better. I'm toying with the idea of just growing 2 next year and spending more time with family. That's never a bad idea. If I do that, I'm going to try obtaining 2 "proven" seeds to lower my chances of splitting. Over the last 5 years, I'm running at close to a 75% split rate. That's got to be higher than average.... Friday, August 1 View Page I'm hoping for pics this weekend. My Jutras is a monster. The split is stable and doesn't appear to be expanding, but I realize that could quickly change. Measured at 444 pounds this morning, with a growth of 46 pounds in the last 24 hours. The Werner and Rodonis pumpkins are ramping up and putting on 22+ pounds a day. The Stidwill is stable at 14-18 pounds a day and resists climbing any higher. Monday, August 4 View Page My computer is up and running again, but my patch is collapsing. The Jutras pumpkins finally completed it's split 2 days ago at an estimated 508 pounds. Not a bad growth for a 33 day old pumpkin. It put on an estimated 46 pounds in one 24 hour period. Unfortunately, the seeds are useless. I really wanted to plant this cross next year. Sorry Joe. Monday, August 4 View Page Another view. Monday, August 4 View Page A close up view of the split. I was hoping for the impossible, but probing yesterday revealed a hole into the cavity. Monday, August 4 View Page Now, more bad news. The wet weather we've been having has wrecked havoc with the Stidwill plant. In the last few days, leaves have been falling over. A closer look showed that pale brownish areas were developing on the stems, expanding and turning the stems into mush, then rotting the leaves. My main root gives way a little when pushed on...phytophthora, I believe. I've done surgery, removing 4 of the first side vines, and 1/4 of the remaining leaves in a effort to slow it's progress and save my other 2 plants. I've also drenched the remaining 3 plants with Orthenex and Infuse(propioconazole). If this stuff spreads, my season is over. Monday, August 4 View Page The Stidwill pumpkin, just over 300 pounds. Growing at only 14 pounds a day. Monday, August 4 View Page Rodonis pumpkin at 26 days, pushing 200 pounds. The blossom end is recessing..another thing to worry about. Monday, August 4 View Page Werner pumpkin at just under 200 pounds. It may end up being my only survivor after an awful start. We'll see...the weigh-offs start in a month, Topsfield in 2. Saturday, August 9 View Page We've finally got a day of sunshine, but lots of cool rain in the forcast. Lots of diseased and splitting pumpkins out there. I got around to cutting open my Jutras 1689 pumpkin today. Except for the stem/pumpkin junction (where it split open) it's pretty solid looking. The upper left shoulder is about 8 inches thick. No other obvious weak points. Tuesday, August 12 View Page Rain and cool...just about every day. Just the right conditions to rot my patch. Here's the Stidwill pumpkin, putting on 10 pounds a day, now at 400 pounds. This will be my Hopkinton fair pumpkin, if it lasts. The stem has rotted off and I've got a split in the pumkin just below the stem. I'm keeping them uncovered, trying to get them to dry up, and I've treated the problem areas with a dusting of captan. I've lost a total of 50% of this plant to phytophthora, and it continues to spread with the miseable conditions. I sprayed everything today with a double dose of Orthenex and Infuse. Tuesday, August 12 View Page Here's the Rodonis pumpkin. Now at 400 pounds with the same measurements as the Stidwill pumpkin. I'm worried about the receeding blossom end. Not putting on the weight I hoped for because of the bad weather conditions, but steady at 20 pounds a day. It's supposed to dry a bit by weeks end, and be somewhat warmer, so hopefully everything will pick up and the rot will stop. All plants were fed 20 gallons of 24-8-16 today. Tuesday, August 12 View Page Werner pumpkin at around 365 pounds, still growing nicely at just over 20 pounds a day. Again, the weather.... It's very short stem is starting to cause problems, with the shoulder abutting the vine. I've had to tie the vine back with linen cloth. I eventually may have to remove some of the distal vine, if the shoulders overgrow the vine too much. That's a problem I'd be glad to have in a few weeks. Tuesday, August 12 View Page A side view of the Werner stem with the vine pulled back using peices of linen. Tuesday, August 12 View Page My dying Stidwill plant. Tuesday, August 12 View Page Mistake. I posted that the Stidwill stem had rotted off, when in fact, the blossom end was rotting. The stem is looking a little ratty though. Sunday, August 17 View Page My season is fast ending. My Stidwill pumpkin is down with masive phytophthora infection. It hadn't grown for 4 days, so the plant was hauled off into the woods, hopefully never to be seen again. Unfortunately, my Rodonis plant is 10% infected and leaves are falling fast. I've trimmed as much as I could. The dry weather should help as well. The Werner plant is showing only a spot or two of damage and these have been trimmed out the best I could. I've doused with an extra spraying of Orthenex and Infuse, and sprayed a few suspicious areas with Concern, a copper fungicide. With the Rodonis plant starting to fail, and a suspicious crack developing on the Werner on the blossom end, I'm beginning to suspect I won't get to any weigh-offs this year. I'm already thinking of next year. I may cut down to 2 plants to give them more room and trim out secondaries to provide better areation. I'm thinking of growing spider patterns. I may do a soil drench next spring with Ridomil (?spelling) to help keep the phytophthora in check. Wait until next year...... Tuesday, August 19 View Page Back to cool and wet. I've lost about 20 % of the Rodonis plant to phytophthora- it just keeps hopping from leaf to leaf and I keep cutting away. Still growing at 20 pounds a day, but I'm sure the cool weather and decreasing number of leaves will slow it down. My daughter- off to college this year. What a ham... Tuesday, August 19 View Page The Werner plant is chugging along with it's short stem. It has almost caught up to the Rodonis pumpkin, and I'm sure it will. It remains disease free, but I'm spraying heavy and cleaning up debris to try and keep this plant healthy. Some plants are just naturally more disease resistent. Tuesday, August 19 View Page A close up view of the rotting stem on the Stidwill pumpkin. Too bad, it was a beautiful shade of orange. Next year I think I'll go with 2 pumpkins in this patch, and give each more room. I'm sure poor air circulation and over crowding lead to this years problems. I'm thinking of opening up a new area for a third, but it would take me a couple of years to get it ready... Tuesday, August 26 View Page Update of my two remaining pumpkins. Here's a picture of my neice, Madison, with the Rodonis pumpkin at just over 600 pounds. Still putting on 15 pounds a day despite a slow death by disease. The Werner pumpkin is in the top left corner and is putting on 20 pounds a day, now just over 650 pounds. 10 gallons of 24-8-16, fish/seaweed spray, sevin and infuse/orthenex spraying tonight...trying to keep them going (all I need is 40 pounds a day for the next month for a new record :) ). Tuesday, August 26 View Page Here is my best growth out of my garden. My wife holding a genuine NH grown pineapple - 6 years in the making. Smells great. We're having it for supper tonight and I'll start a new plant using the top...6 more years for a new crop. Saturday, September 6 View Page The Rodonis plant was finished off bu root rot so I decided to take it to the Hillsborough fair. Here is is being hoisted. Saturday, September 6 View Page A close up, before getting it up high. Saturday, September 6 View Page In the back of my truck. It was taping out at 670 pounds and weighed in at 708 pounds. Now the Stidwill708. Saturday, September 6 View Page A side vies of my Werner pumpkin. It was putting on 15 pounds a day and taping at 750 pounds, but for some reason it seems to have suddenly stopped. It seems solid with no obvious damage and only a touch of wilting leaves. I'm worried the bottom is cracked. I'll find out soon enough. Not a good season... Wednesday, September 10 View Page My season has come to an end. The Werner pumpkin hadn't grown for a week and I suspected a bottom crack. This morning, this is what is left. Wednesday, September 10 View Page Another view. At least I have an extra month to work on my garden to get it ready for next year. I need to add my compost and get some winter rye planted. Tuesday, September 16 View Page My Stidwill708 now on display in my front yard. It was good enough for a 5th place ribbon at the Hillsborough fair. Tuesday, September 16 View Page A view of it sitting on a tree stump. I'll arrange a more elaborate display as we get closer to Halloween. Tuesday, October 21 View Page My pumpkin on display for our Oktoberfest party this weekend. A little late, but still fun. Tuesday, October 21 View Page I've tilled in 15 yards of rotted manure and leaves from last year, and sowed 20 pounds of winter rye. It's sprouted nicely and should be snow covered in another month or two. I'm planning on only 2 pumpkins next year to give them more room and so that I can pay more attention to them. I'm using proven seeds so I should have a better showing. Next posting...spring 2009.