Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 95 Entries. Saturday, April 25 View Page It's the start of a new season. It's into the 80's today. I started my seeds germinating last night, tucked in a medicine dispenser with wet paper towels in a water bath at 85 degrees. I hope to see results in a couple of days, then into pots. I'm only going with 2 plants this year, the Jutras 1385... Saturday, April 25 View Page ...and the Rodonis 1161. I'm attempting to germinate some seeds from the Jutras1689 that split on me last year (I salvaged some immature looking seeds) that was crossed with the Rodonis1566. I'll use them as backups, IF they germinate. Soil report: pH 6.7, Ca2+ 2883 (VH), Mg 328 (VH), K 222 (O), P 388 (VH), cec 20.3, Organics 8.8%. I've since added 6 yards of a commercial compost and 5 pounds of muriate of potash. Should be in the ground in 2 weeks... Saturday, April 25 View Page The garden has been tilled twice and is just about ready to go. I added 10 pounds of calcium nitrate today. I'll be digging my pits and placing heating cables this weekend. Before putting the plants in I'll be doing a final tilling with an application of merit prior. Sunday, April 26 View Page Boy was it hot today. Still April and my magnolia's in bloom. The Jutras 1385 has sprouted and has been put in a pot. My season has officially begun. Rodonis 1161 is swollen and should pop soon. Sunday, April 26 View Page I've dug my pits and placed my cables. If it stays hot like this, I may not need them. Soil temperature 5 inches down is 63 degrees. Sunday, April 26 View Page Here's the second pit covered back up. The plug can be seen to the left attached to the stake. I still have to put up my hoop houses. I'll have that done by next weekend. Monday, April 27 View Page Rodonis 1161 has sprouted and will be put into a pot tonight. Saturday, May 2 View Page My plants are under the lights and greening up. First true leaves forming nicely. Saturday, May 2 View Page Rodonis 1161. Saturday, May 2 View Page Jutras 1365. Notice the cot on the left failed to form. On closer inspection, it's just hanging on by a thread. Interesting malformation, but the rest of the plant looks good. Saturday, May 2 View Page The garden is just about ready for the plants. Hoop houses are up. I'll cover them with plastic later today (I use a 1.2 mil clear plastic). I tilled in a bag of grub beater by bonide (active ingredient is same as merit) and laid out boards for walking on. Saturday, May 2 View Page A close up view of one of the sites. The container is just acting as a spacer and will be taken out when I put the plants in. The wild turkeys are back, but I haven't been able to get a pic yet. Wednesday, May 6 View Page I got my plants in the ground yesterday, inside cozy hoop houses at 70 degrees. The weather is rainy and cool, with highs in the 50's and lower 60's. Each plant was given 1 gallon of 10-50-10, and each hole wash treated with mycorhizae before planting. Pictures to follow as things progress. Each 1st true leaf is about 1 1/2 inches across now. Tuesday, May 12 View Page My plants are just starting to vine. Here's the Jutras1385 in it's hoop house after a feed of 1/2 strength 10-50-10 (2 gallons). Progressing, but not aggressively. I have to be sure to open the hoop houses in the morning or it gets extremely hot in there. Tuesday, May 12 View Page Here's the Rodonis1161 after 2 gallons of the same fertilizer. It's progressing faster than the Jutras with a longer vine, but it's still very early. They are both a little paler than I would like, but still looking healthy. I'll switch to a more aggresive nitrogen fertilizer in a couple of weeks. Tuesday, May 19 View Page We had scattered areas of light frost last night, but my plants were warm and cozy inside their hoop houses. It looks like a sunny day so the hoops are opened to keep the temperature down. Each plant got 2 gallons of 10-50-10 and a drenching of funginex. I've worked out a time table of anti-fungal and pesticide applications, trying to use a combination of sytemics and contacts, and using anti-fungals that minimize (I hope) damage to mycorrhiza and developement of resistance. I'll be using funginex, infuse, fungonil, benomyl, and mancozeb on a rotating basis, as well as bayer tree and shrub, cygon and malathion on a rotation for bugs (and, of course, sevin as needed). Infuse and benomyl will be used lightly because of their tendency to suppress myco, and medium to high development of resistance. I'll be using copper late in the season for spot treatments as needed. Tuesday, May 19 View Page The Jutras 1385 plant. It's laying down nicely in the direction I want it to go, and looks on the verge of really taking off. Tuesday, May 19 View Page The Rodonis 1161 plant. It has a really thick stem developing. It's leaning in the right direction and looks very healthy. Tuesday, May 26 View Page Jutras1385 growing nicely with a 1 1/2 foot vine and the first secondary picking up steam. We've had weather extremes here in the last week. One day it was in the nineties and last night, down to freezing. Tuesday, May 26 View Page Rodonis1161 is also at 1 1/2 feet long. I had a few of the leaves get damaged by the heat in the hoop houses, even though they were open. Otherwise looking promising. I've had to stake it to keep it in the right direction. Each plant got 2 gallons of 10-50-10 today. Tuesday, June 2 View Page Jutras1385 plant, now at 4 feet plus with a secondary of 1 1/2 feet. It's down and running. Tuesday, June 2 View Page Rodonis1161 now down and running as well, at 3 1/2 feet. Tuesday, June 2 View Page I still have my hoop houses up and plugged in. The nights are still cool with daytime highs in the upper 60's and low 70's. Drenched today with bonomyl and 2 gallons of 10-50-10. I'll start fish/seaweed foliar feeds this weekend and switch to a different, but diluted chemical fertilizer. I'm backing off on my nitrogen feeding this year. Tuesday, June 9 View Page Jutras1385 now pushing 6 plus feet with nice secondaries. Tuesday, June 9 View Page Rodonis1161 pushing five feet. You can see the heat damage from not having well ventilated hoop houses. Tuesday, June 9 View Page I've got the hoop houses down and wind breaks up. Of course it's now cool and rainy with a high in the 50's. Fed with 2 gallons of 24-8-16 today and treated with infuse. I treated with cygon last weekend and this weekend will lightly spray with malathion. Saturday, June 13 View Page I've got my SVB trap up for the season. The NHGPGA bought some and are loaning them annually to NH growers. I'll keep track of the numbers daily. It's been up 2 hours...no SVB's yet. A good sign :) Saturday, June 13 View Page It's been cool and wet. We've got some rare sun this morning. The Jutras plant is now at 8 feet long with nice secondaries. Saturday, June 13 View Page The Rodonis plant is slower growing. It doesn't seem to like the cool weather..now at 6 feet. Sprayed with fish/seaweed foliar and malathion. Saw my first squash bug today but the spraying should eliminate them for now. Wednesday, June 17 View Page Continues to be cold and wet overall, although we have a rare sunny day today. My plant growth is slow with the tips all taking on a slight yellowish hue. Gave both plants a 2 gallon feeding of 24-8-16 yesterday, with a spraying of funginex. No world records here unless we get a drastic weather change... Saturday, June 20 View Page Too busy to post pictures. I buried more vines today and sprayed with cygon 2E and a fish/seaweed mixture. My plants are small and the Rodonis1161 doesn't want to grow at all. They're putting out females though...probably because they're under stress. At this rate, it'll be another 2 weeks before I get the vines to the length I want for a female set. More rain and cool temps in the forecast. Going off to Foxwoods for a little R and R. What else can you do in this weather? Tuesday, June 23 View Page Just got back from Foxwoods, so no pictures today. Not much growth happening. It continues to be wet and cool. I don't think my Rodonis1161 is growing. The Jutras1385 is just reaching 10 feet with a female at 9 feet. I fed both plants with 6 gallons of 12-4-8 and spayed with fungonil. There might be some sun and warmth coming this weekend...but then again, it may just be a rumor. Saturday, June 27 View Page I final got some photos and time to post them. My turkey is back. It's been throught the garden and neatly "removed" my melon seedlings, but has left the pumpkins alone. Saturday, June 27 View Page Here's the Jutras1385 on June 16... Saturday, June 27 View Page ...and today. We've finally got some warm and sunny growing weather. Saturday, June 27 View Page Her's the Rodonis1161 on June 16... Saturday, June 27 View Page ...and today. Drenched with Bayer tree and shrub (merit) and will spray later with fish?seaweed emulsion. This plant is just past 9 feet with secondaries that are sparse but showing signs of picking up. Saturday, June 27 View Page The Jutras plant has a nice female, but unfortunately it's only at 9 feet. I have a second forming at the 11+ foot mark but it won't be ready until next week. I figure the weather has kept me back one to 1 1/2 weeks but damn the torpedoes..... Monday, June 29 View Page I pollinated a female on the Jutras1385, but it's only at 9 feet so I'll eventually cull it. I have a second one at 11+ feet that won't be ready for a week. Raining and cool again...it looks like it's going to continue for at least another week. A month of summer has gone down the tubes because of the weather. It's starting to look like the whole summer could be this way... Tuesday, June 30 View Page Jutras1385. Growing nicely despite the rain and clouds and more rain and more rain...... The weather forecast for the next week...you got it...more rain. Tuesday, June 30 View Page Rodonis1161. The first 4 feet of this plant is doing poorly but after that it appears to be growing normally. I'll have a pollination at 10+ feet next week. Fertilized with 12-4-8 today and then spayed with bonomyl. So far, no bugs and no mildew.... Tuesday, June 30 View Page They're here..... The fist male SVB of the season, caught in my trap. Thursday, July 2 View Page Still more rain with highs in the low 70's. Forecast...rain, showers, cloudy, thunderstorms, cats, dogs, infestations of slugs, locust, plague, famine....................... I think we're starting to go crazy in the northeast with our own form of "water boarding" torture. Endless cool, wet conditions. Arrrrrgggghhhhhhh...................... Saturday, July 4 View Page Two days in a row of sunny weather...I can't believe it! I pollinated a female on the Jutras1385 using the Rodonis1161 as a male, at 11 feet. I'll have one at 15-16 feet in another week, but time for pollinating is running out, especially with the weather we've had. The Rodonis1161 had a female open pollinate 2 days ago, but it's only at 8 feet, so I plan to cull it. I'll have a female at 14 or 15 feet in the next week. Sprayed everything today with fish/seaweed, humic acid and cygon 2E. Tuesday, July 7 View Page We had 4 nice, warm, sunny days, but now we're back to 60's and wet. Here's the Jutras1385. It's a nice sized plant despite the poor weather with no signs of disease (knock on wood...). Pollinated at 11 feet on July 4th, and should have one at about 15 feet within a week (although it's getting late). Tuesday, July 7 View Page Here's the pumpkin at 8 feet that I plan to cull. Tuesday, July 7 View Page And the pumpkin at 11 feet. I hope it took...it's in a good position. Tuesday, July 7 View Page Here's the Rodonis1161. Definitely much smaller of the two plants. It doesn't like the cool, wet weather. I should be pollinating at 14 feet by this weekend. Each plant was given 20 gallons of 12-4-8 today, and then sprayed with Infuse. Tuesday, July 14 View Page We've got a stretch of sunny weather but it's still cool. Here's my garden with the Jutras1385 in front and the Rodonis1161 in back. Tuesday, July 14 View Page Here's a July 4th pollination at 11 feet on the Jutras. I just culled a basketball sized fruit at 8 feet, so I'm hoping for an acceleration of the growth of this one. I pollinated back ups at 16 feet on the main yesterday, and at the end of the first secondary at 16 feet today. Tuesday, July 14 View Page Here's the Rodonis1161. This plant is only half the size of the Jutras. Pollinated at about 15 feet on the main yesterday. I hope it takes....the season is getting short. Each plant got 20 gallons of 12-4-8 today. Tonight I'll be treating with funginex. Tuesday, July 21 View Page We had a good week of sunny and warm weather and the plants took off. Here's the Jutras1385. Fed 20 gallons of 12-4-8 to each plant then sprayed bonomyl. No signs of disease...yet. Tuesday, July 21 View Page Here's the Jutras1385 pumpkin. It's just starting to expand nicely. I have two other backup pumpkins that will be culled as long as this pumpkin continues to grow. Tuesday, July 21 View Page Here's the Rodonis1161 plant. I've got a good pumpkin pollination and have removed the vine distal to it. I'll let the tertiary vines from the last two secondaries grow out to fill in space. I should be able to get just as much plant, but it will all be proximal to the pumpkin...a little experiment. Tuesday, July 21 View Page Here's the Rodonis1161 pumpkin. Removing the distal vine makes pumpkin placement a lot easier. Tuesday, July 28 View Page We've hit a stretch of hot, sunny weather. Everything is growing like gangbusters. Here's the Jutras1385 plant. I'm holding off on fertilizing this week to avoid excess nitrogen which may have contributed to past pumpkin splits. Everything looks healthy so I think I can skip a week. Tuesday, July 28 View Page A close up of the Jutras1385 pumpkin, now starting to put on reasonable daily gains. Tuesday, July 28 View Page The Rodonis1161 plant, now growing nicely. I just hope we don't run out of season for this plant to show it's potential. I'll be spraying with fungonil and mancozeb this evening. Tuesday, July 28 View Page A close up of the Rodonis1161 pumpkin. I've read J.D.'s diary (from Alaska) and am aware of his aborts on this plant. I've checked it's stem, and I too am developing longitudinal cracks. I've applied captan and will keep an eye on it... Wednesday, August 5 View Page This is my Jutras1385 plant. Healthy and disease free so far, covering close to 800 square feet and still growing (but the vines are definitely slowing as the pumpkin picks up). Wednesday, August 5 View Page Jutras1385 pumpkin. It's an irregular shape, with bulges that may be a problem later. Not growing fast (12-15 pounds a day), now at around 150 pounds. Wednesday, August 5 View Page Rodonis1161 plant. It likes the warmer and dryer weather we're having. Wednesday, August 5 View Page Here's the Rodonis1161 pumpkin. I like it's shape. Although it was pollinated 9 days after the Jutras pumpkin, it's only 5 days behind in growth and picking up steam. Sprayed everything early this morning with a mixture of fungonil and infuse. Thursday, August 13 View Page Jutras1385 at just over 300 pounds. Chugging away at 20 pounds a day..hasn't got any higher than that. Stopped half of the remaining vine growth and will stop the rest over the next week. Thursday, August 13 View Page The Rodonis1161 now pushing 225 pounds. It also is putting on 20 pounds a day. Nice colour. Deep blossom end recess. Everything was given a treatment with mancozeb and funginex. Each plant was given 20 gallons of 24-8-16 to try and push daily weight gains up. It's supposed to be warm for the next few days. Tuesday, August 18 View Page Jutras1385 pumpkin, now just over 400 pounds. It has a small superficial blossom end crack that shouldn't be a problem. It's been present for more than a week and doesn't seem to be enlarging. Tuesday, August 18 View Page Rodonis1161 pumpkin, now almost 340 pounds. It's a beautiful deep orange. If the blossom end doesn't sink in to China (or Litchfield, which is close enough), it will be a beauty at the fair, but won't win for size. Great weather- too hot, into the nineties. I've been watering daily. No fertilizer this week. My leaves all look a deep green. I'll spray with Bonomyl this evening. Tuesday, August 18 View Page Wrong pic...this is today. Monday, August 24 View Page And down she goes...... Uncovered the Jutras1385 pumpkin last evening and found a large white spot on the bottom/blossom end, about 4x6 inches. Oozing and split this morning. I'll cut it open tomorrow to salvage seeds and I'll post pics. This was a nice plant to grow, but the pumpkin growth had been less than stellar. I'm down to one pumpkin with 1 month to go. Tuesday, August 25 View Page I hate the smell of rotting pumpkin in August...it means one less fair to go to. This white soft spot has turned black over the last 2 days. Tuesday, August 25 View Page A close up of the rot. It is spreading fast. Tuesday, August 25 View Page I opened it up and it was full of a rotting mess, but the walls were very thick and sturdy. I couldn't find a crack or internal thin spot. This was either a crack that I couldn't see, or something rotted it from the outside in. Either way, it's gone. I salvaged a few seeds. Tuesday, August 25 View Page I'm down to one pumpkin, the Rodonis1161. Now, be good to me Bill! It's a pretty orange, just shy of 500 pounds. I'll be lucky to have 800 pounds by seasons end, if it holds together. Sprayed Fungonil and Mancozeb today. Tuesday, September 1 View Page I've got a second pumpkin going on the Jutras1385, but there's no season left to get any size. If it gets to 300 pounds I'll be happy to use it for a display pumpkin. Tuesday, September 1 View Page Interestingly, since my main pumpkin rotted on the Jutras1385 plant, the crown has developed a crack and I've got some foaming. Tuesday, September 1 View Page The Rodonis1161 continues to creep along at 10 pounds a day since the cool nights hit. It has developed a stem split that goes into the pumpkin about an inch deep. It's small so I don't think I'll have to worry about it. Sprayed with Infuse today. Saturday, September 19 View Page Some pics from September 15th. This is the Rodonis1161 creeping along at about 730 pounds. Hoping to get it to Topsfield at 800 pounds...not a winner, but it will get me in the door. Saturday, September 19 View Page Interesting pic of some mushrooms I found growing near my patch. A nice orange pumpkin color...just like the Rodinis pumkin I have growing. This must be a Rodonis fungus...named after you, Bill. lol Saturday, September 19 View Page Here's the second pumpkin growing on the Jutras1385, now over 330 pounds. I'm hoping for a 400 pounder. Not bad for a mid-August pollination. The cold nights are shutting down growth, so it's hard to maintain any significant gains. It's fun to keep it growing, but for show only. I'm one of the few people still putting on 15 pounds a day in September, although that number is dropping fast. Saturday, September 19 View Page A side view of the Rodonis pumpkin. Although it's got height and width, you can see how it's lacking the length necessary to reach 1000 pounds. A pretty orange with a deep recessed blossom end. Tuesday, September 22 View Page This is the final stretch...10 more days until Topsfield. Here's the Rodonis1161, still chugging along at 5-10 pounds a day. Now at 770 pounds. Looks like I've got a good chance at an 800 pounder. I gave my plants a last feed of 12-4-8 and will give a last spraying of mancozeb and fungonil with some seaweed/fish emulsion this evening. Tuesday, September 22 View Page Here's my second pumpkin on the Jutras1385, now at 400 pounds. It's amazing that it's growing at exactly the same pace as the original pumpkin did in August. With some warmer weather, I might hit 500 pounds (or more?). If there's a weighoff someplace in 2 more months, I might bring it...lol. Tuesday, September 29 View Page My Rodonis1161 is just about finished growing. Maybe increasing an inch every 3-4 days. It's now measuring at 790 pounds, so I'm hopeful it'll go a little heavy and be over 800. Tuesday, September 29 View Page When I'm not home, my dog, Zoe, is making sure it's safe. Tuesday, September 29 View Page I even got my son to pose. My second Jutras pumpkin is now at 470 pounds, so it should easily make over 500 pounds. Not bad for a mid-August pollination. I'd like to get an official weight on it so I may bring it to Rhode Island, just so I can see the festivities. By then it might be 550 pounds. Nothing to brag about but it'll get me in the door... Friday, October 2 View Page Had to run home after work to get my pumpkin loaded. It gets dark fast, especially on cloudy days. Last measurements taken and it's taping 1834 pounds....I wish! It's taping 790 pounds and I'm hoping for 800 pounds. Friday, October 2 View Page Tripod set up and ready to lift....getting darker. Friday, October 2 View Page Up in the air...very dark. Friday, October 2 View Page Into the truck...night has fallen. Friday, October 2 View Page On the driveway and ready to be strapped in. Friday, October 2 View Page Strapped in tight, in the garage for the night. See you at Topsfield tomorrow. It's going to be a rainy one, but fun all the same. Tuesday, October 6 View Page My pumpkin off the 1161 Rodonis, now the 832Stidwill. I got a 20th place ribbon and a plaque for winning the site (Topsfield) Dill award for prettiest pumpkin. Now, if I can just grow a pumpkin 1000 pounds heavier....lol. Tuesday, October 6 View Page A view of my tripod in action, lifting the second Jutras1385 pumpkin, estimated at 500 pounds. Tuesday, October 6 View Page My Ford Ranger loaded with 1332 pounds of pumpkins. Not bad for a 1/2 ton, but if I grow a really big one, I'm going to need a new truck. Wednesday, November 11 View Page I loaned my pumpkin out for a haunted hayride and got this response: "Hi, My name is Kim Comtois and I did the concession stand at the haunted hayride as part of my senior project for Coe Brown Academy , I am raising money for the make a wish Foundation of NH , my brother was a wish child when he was young and it is such a worth while cause , I just wanted to thank you for the use of your pumpkin and hope you enjoy the pictures I have attached. Sincerely, Kim Comtois" Glad to be of some help. A nice end to my "pretty pumpkin" season. Now it's time to cut her open and dry my seeds for next year.