Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 18 Entries. Thursday, April 30 View Page Started the growing season early morning Saturday April 25th. After filing and soaking the seeds for 6 hours they went into the peat pots and onto the germination mat at 6:00am. The 1180.5 Pukos popped on April 27th, the 1178 Lovelace and 694 Fowler popped on the 28th. I may start one more tonight but have not made up my mind which one yet. All plants will probably go into the patch this Sunday. If all goes well I plan to cross the 1180.5 Pukos with the 1178 Lovelace. The weather forecast for the next week has high temps in the mid 70's to 80 and lows in the mid to high 50's. Should be great transplant weather! Sunday, May 3 View Page Here are my three plants at eight days since the seeds were put in pots. Due to some really cool, rainy, crappy weather I had to repot them in bigger pots this evening. The weather forecast is calling for nice weather returning by Thursday so hopefully they will go in the patch then. All are looking very healthy and strong. Front left is the 1180.5 Pukos, front right is the 694 Fowler, and in the back is the 1178 Lovelace. Wednesday, May 6 View Page For unknown reasons the 1178 Lovelace dies in the pot today. I really hated losing that one. It was to be my main plant. I started the 998 Werner in it's place. The 998 is 898 Knauss X 805 Pukos. Should be a wonderful replacement for the 1178. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and the 1180.5 and 694 can go into the patch tomorrow. Sunday, May 31 View Page 694 Fowler is doing well, vine is now fully on the ground and running fast. I figure I am right on target for the July 1st pollination! The weather has been great here, at least one good rain a week and temps in the 80's. Sunday, May 31 View Page 1180.5 Pukos has finally came out of an early slump and vining nicely. The last couple years I have had problems with vines breaking at the stumps when they lay down. This year they did perfect. I also have the 998 Werner and 1203 Daletas which are a couple weeks younger than these. They are also doing well. I expect they will catch up to the 694 and 1180.5 soon. Sunday, June 7 View Page 694 Fowler seems very vigorous so far. Main vine right now is arounf 7 feet. A lot of males showing up. Hopefully a female will show soon. Over 2 inches of rain here in a 24hr period last Thursday/Friday. Really got the plants in overdrive but unfortunately the weeds are doing the same. Sunday, June 7 View Page 1180.5 Pukos is a little behind the 694 but has really come out of the kinks this week. Strong plant and already showing males. Both 694 and 1180.5 are throwing nice side vines. Sunday, June 7 View Page The 998 Werner was planted 2 weeks after the 694 and 1180.5 but she is taking off. It vined out really fast and laid down perfectly on it's own. I have not seen any bugs of any kind yet but did a light spraying of Thiodan this evening just to get ahead of the inevitable attack! Sunday, August 2 View Page Haven't posted anything in a long time so thought I would catch up a bit. The pumpkin to the right is on the 1180.5 Pukos and is crossed with the 998 Werner. The pumpkin to the left (whiter color) is on the 998 Werner and crossed with the 1180.5 Pukos. Due to consisent rain and warm temps both day and night the growth rate is awesome. I've been rotating Pristene and Dithane every week in an effort to fight off mildew and other diseases. So far insect level has been unusually low. I cut back quite a few leaves around the stump of each plant for better airflow around the stump. With the high humidity and wet soil I'm a little concerned about stump rot. Well, eight weeks to go so got my fingers crossed and just hoping for steady gains. If it's slow gains so be it. Take what I can get. Sunday, August 2 View Page Haven't posted anything in a long time so thought I would catch up a bit. The pumpkin to the right is on the 1180.5 Pukos and is crossed with the 998 Werner. The pumpkin to the left (whiter color) is on the 998 Werner and crossed with the 1180.5 Pukos. Due to consisent rain and warm temps both day and night the growth rate is awesome. I've been rotating Pristene and Dithane every week in an effort to fight off mildew and other diseases. So far insect level has been unusually low. I cut back quite a few leaves around the stump of each plant for better airflow around the stump. With the high humidity and wet soil I'm a little concerned about stump rot. Well, eight weeks to go so got my fingers crossed and just hoping for steady gains. If it's slow gains so be it. Take what I can get. Monday, August 31 View Page My nephew Dan, son-in-law Andrew, and daughter Lindsey standing with what hopefully will be two prize winning pumpkins at the state fair weigh-off in less than a month. Monday, October 5 View Page My best friend Thomas, his daughter Elexis, and Pastor Rex Williams standing behind the pumpkin grown on the 998 Werner. Tipped the scales at 703 pounds. Monday, October 5 View Page My good friends (and loading crew) Billy Shular, Thomas Travis, my brother Allen, me, and Pastor Williams. Thanks to Pastor Williams and Third Street Wrecker Service the loading was easy. This is the pumpkin grown on the 1180.5 Pukos. It tipped the scales to become the 851 Fowler '09. Monday, October 5 View Page Here loading the 703 with help of a lifting strap and the wrecker. Thanks to my brother Allen for hauling her to Richmond for me! Monday, October 5 View Page Here I am with the 851. Even though it finished fourth behind some very impressive pumpkins I was on cloud nine! When the scale registered a new personal best for me (157 pounds heavier than my previous best) the feeling was awesome! Monday, October 5 View Page Left is the 703 with 851 to the right. They sat in the patch for 3 months almost side by side and then did the same during their time at the State fair of Virginia. Monday, October 5 View Page My wife Teresa and I receiving our ribbons for fourth and fifth place. I owe her so much for supporting me and helping me in this crazy hobby! The first couple years she thought I was crazy but now I think she likes it almost as much as me. I can always count on her to be there for help and advise. And that goes for a lot more than just the pumpkin patch. Monday, October 5 View Page The 851 Fowler at it's temporary resting place. Helping advertise our churches annual fall Faithfest.