Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 21 Entries. Tuesday, April 13 View Page Well I am down to one planting site. I went to get my 904 Stelts seed from my seed catalog. I so wanted to plant my 904 Stelts. Seems when they broke in the house and stole the rifles,they took the seed catalog, and other pumpkin seeds. Which concerns me as to most people they would not know what the seeds are or actually steal them. Tuesday, April 13 View Page Tilled the 25 x 40 area for garden. I have my work cut out for me.. I have about 10" of nice topsoil with a clay hard pan underneath. I stole the leaves and grass clipping from the neighborhood. Added amendements as needed. Had a heck of a time finding a fertilizer with phospate in it. Seems the city of menomonie has outlawwed it. Will top dress the rest of the patch with llama compost. Then let things rest before planting. Tuesday, April 27 View Page 818.5 Engel and 598 Savage have germinated. Patch has been prepped and will be given a final till. I think I have to increase the fence size to atleast 36". The new golden retriever puppy has been in there...that is what the muddy paw prints in the hallway tell me. Friday, May 7 View Page We interupt this beautiful spring like weather for a taste of winter..Chance of Snow accumilation 90%. Brrr glad I only have one babyto worry about Friday, May 21 View Page Chardonnay planted (2) 197 Snicker melons today... then surrounded the plot with giant sunflowers and long beans Wednesday, June 16 View Page Wow we could really use more rain.. I think we have received 3 inches this week. Plant is slow growing. The Axis of the sun does not allow the Plant as much morning sun as I thought it would. Going to have to tear down the garage, and possibly move the house :) Friday, July 2 View Page Pollinated a 818.5 Engel x self this morning. Not real happy with the female..The lobes looked like a bowl of Corn Pops. Wednesday, July 7 View Page Pollinated a perfect 5 lobe pumpkin on the Main 818.5 Engel plant today at 10 feet. 818.5 x sib. Crazy yellow main vine so I hope I get the Dark Orange and Shiny off this plant that Chardonnay had in 2007. Monday, July 12 View Page The Stem on the pumpkin I set was shorter than I like and wanted to turn to sit the pumpkin on the main vine. We had to do a plan change. Cut the main after the pumpkin. A christmas tree and wishbone pattern hybrid. Otherwise things are going fine.. A little more rain would be good. Wednesday, July 14 View Page We got hit with straight line winds and the patch was flattened. We will see what it looks like in a few days..The sunflowers busted off Wednesday, August 11 View Page 5 INCHES OF RAIN LAST NIGHT... NEXT SEASON INSTEAD OF IRRIGATION, I AM GOING TO PUT IN A SUMP PUMP TO GET RID OF SOME OF THIS WATER. Thursday, August 12 View Page Here is a picture... Friday, October 15 View Page Well we did not take 1st place for pumpkin size at StillWater. But we did take Grand Prize in the Pumpkin Cook Off. You can just about taste this double layered Chai Pumpkin Cheese cake with a Rum Carmel Sauce, and pecans. Friday, October 15 View Page Chardonnay with the 1810... Friday, October 15 View Page Well the year did not turn out that bad for virgin soil with partial shade. We ended up with 734.5 on an 818 Engel x Sib. The Sib pumpkin grown off the pollinator plant was the long and skinny. Very solid I will be carving it tomorrow. Thursday, October 28 View Page We end the Pumpkin Season on a good note. While I did not break my personal best. I was able to grow which is what matters the most. I am getting married this afternoon to a wonderful woman who doesn't get the Giant Pumpkin thing. She loves little pumpkins and can carve better than me any day. We are having a Halloween Reception Tomorrow night..Pictures will follow. I look forward to building a new Engel's Great Pumpkin Patch and spending the rest of my life with Jodi.. P.S. I saw the recipe for the Chai Pumpkin Cheese Cake with Carmel Rum Sauce on the counter yesterday :) Friday, October 29 View Page Today we had our Halloween Wedding Reception. It was great, everyone came dressed. The if you don't come dressed we have a costume for you warning worked. I was a Cowboy, my bride was a Southern Belle. My Brother-in-laws family was Alice and Wonderland. Sunday, October 31 View Page For the wedding reception I carve out my pumpkin for the beverage cooler. Then we brought it home to decorate the front yard with next to all our other awesome pumpkin carvings. I decided to sit in the Giant Pumpkin and hand out the candy. We actually had some kids refuse to come get candy... Tuesday, November 2 View Page Here was our beverage cooler. I wanted to make a football helmet but could not figure out how to get the tub inside the pumpkin. It had to be transported, I was afraid I would weaken it to much. Tuesday, November 2 View Page Here is Chardonnay as a Spooky Spider Fairy... Tuesday, November 2 View Page Jodi, Chardonnay and I...