Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 62 Entries. Saturday, March 17 View Page Note to self and others....Cut 60lb cabbage plant down prior to cover with straw and leaves. Friday, March 30 View Page Hmm my soil needs a little tweeking otherwise I am set. I sure wish I new how to read this Monday, April 23 View Page It begins.... 777 Young 2011 (993 Vincent-McGill x 1059 Vincent McGill) 454 Engel 2004 (808 Beachy x 231 Engel) Both had the same 801.5 stelts clone as the pollinator. 863 Garrell 2009 (801.5 x 238 Garrell 03) 238 was a selfed 801. Also planted (2) 57 Shymanski's (162J x Self), and two pink porcelain doll pumpkins Good luck to all growers..Please rememember my name is spelled Engel when you fill out the Howard Dill Award Plaque :) Tuesday, May 1 View Page 777 Young is in the dirt...863 Garrell is in the super duper huge pot. Soil temp 75 degrees...This just in a Tornado Watch is in effect...What the heck.. Tuesday, May 8 View Page Had an Excellent Seminar tonight for the Chippewa Falls Oktoberfest September 22nd. Going to be some pumpkins there.. Thursday, May 10 View Page 863 Garrell has been moved to its new residence. Sorry buddy you only get a simple shelter comprised of a clear rubbermaid container...the 777 Young gets to prime spot. I promise to feed you, and give you everything the the 777 gets. You will get more morning sun than the others though. Friday, May 18 View Page High 80's and mid 60's for lows...you can almost hear them growing Friday, May 18 View Page Started some 118 Engel's, (2) 57 Shymanski, some Vanhook seeds for field pumpkins, a couple One To Many, and some gourds to grow on the fence row... Monday, May 28 View Page Not happy with this years growth so far. My soil should be perfect after all ammendments were added. I have short segemented plants that seeme to very bushy versus vining like I prefer. We will see, maybe this warm weather is making me think I should be further ahead of where I am. Wednesday, June 6 View Page 777 young is about 7 feet and showing females...still a little early.. 863 Garrell is just beginning to throw a main vine. 57 Shymanski is on the ground and running...someone planted it backwards.. Friday, June 15 View Page Killed two SVB's today...earliest I have ever seen them. I saw a squash bug on one of the treated plants and decided to check the field pumpkins.. Sprayed all the field pumpkins again Thursday, June 21 View Page Pollinate a 777 Young ten feet out with an 863 Garrell. Saturday, June 23 View Page Pollinated 777 Young by Self this morning..As this was the only pollen available. Stupid 863 Garrell plant had 8 flowers yesterday Sunday, June 24 View Page Looks like the 777 young x 863 pollination was a no go..now the 777 x self is bright shiny and expanding. I hate when you plan a cross and things don't work out Tuesday, June 26 View Page 777 Young x self is a keeper. Starting to plump up nicely. The plant is filling out with this heat, and is extremely healthy. Will this finally be the year I break 1,000lbs Thursday, June 28 View Page 57 Shymanski x self pollinated this morning. Watch out World Record Saturday, June 30 View Page Pollinated 777 Young with 863 Garrell this morning. The bees were very active...with this heat. This pumpkin is just in case as the 777 young x self is growing quickly Sunday, July 1 View Page 777 Young 7 days old...nice yellow and smooth fruit Sunday, July 1 View Page 57 Shymansky x self....This fruit sure looks like a Marrow to me...even the segmented leaves Sunday, July 1 View Page This is what I mean by segmented leaves on the 57 Shymansky....nothing like a normal field pumpkin Sunday, July 1 View Page Here is a female on the 863. That will be opening in the morning Wednesday, July 4 View Page Pollinated a Pink Porcelain with an 863 Garrell, along with selfing a bunch this morning...hopefully they take in the heat Friday, July 6 View Page 12 days old...starting to get blocky... Thursday, July 12 View Page Here is the pumpkin on the 777 Young 19 days old and growing like a weed. Could really use some rain to help things out... Thursday, July 12 View Page Here is my "Ugly Duck" on the 863 Garrell...She has a baboon butt and a lemon drop shape...I have faith that she will mature into a beautiful and graceful swan Thursday, July 19 View Page "ENVY" on the 777 Young 27 days old...102-65-70 she is going to be a Howard Dill Award winner :) Thursday, July 19 View Page The Ugly Duck pumpkin on the 863 Garrell aborted :( I am now in the set as many pumpkins as possible mode and let 4 or 5 of them grow for carving mode..This heat is taking a toll on the young pumpkins this season Tuesday, July 24 View Page Have you ever went to prune your vine tips and found them already pruned...Hmmm what sort of city beast does this...rabbit...squirrel....WOODCHUCK this my little furry friend is not a wise move...I would sleep with one eye open and the other to the ground. Thursday, July 26 View Page 777 Young C-121 S-E77 S-S 81 we need rain bad to get some real growth Wednesday, August 1 View Page No rain again...it is dry as a popcorn fart here....We got .11 inches of rain in July...Hopefully August rewards us with a little rain Friday, August 3 View Page Here is the 777 Young at Day 38 starting to get a mottled orange. Saturday, August 11 View Page Well the 863 Garrell was officially pulled and placed in the compost pile. I am afraid to measure the 777 Young as it is so big it scares me...Sprayed kelp,humic, and tomatoe fertilizer today. Then topped it off with a little daconil seeing some Powdery Mildew Saturday, August 25 View Page 777 still growing...low temps have slowed her down Saturday, August 25 View Page 222 Werner at about 17 feet..just starting to head Saturday, August 25 View Page Here is a head shot...The morning glories are all the way up to the top... Thursday, August 30 View Page 97 degrees today....crazy...still no rain Monday, September 3 View Page Here is two of the Pink Porcelain Doll Pumpkins they are starting to get a little rosier Monday, September 3 View Page Here is "ENVY" her foliage is getting a little rough on her mature leafs...I don't know how big she is, although Linus appears to have a big smile on his face...Have not seen him this excited since he thought the Great Pumpkin had finally arrived,,,and it turned out to be Snoopy Sunday, September 16 View Page 5 Days left to weigh off...Frost predicted for tuesday night...probably just cover the pumpkin and get the patch cleared for next year..I do not know how much she weighs as I stopped measuring :) Monday, September 17 View Page I have thrown the weigh off results so far in a histogram so far it seems very accurate, I will do the same thing at the end of the season Friday, September 21 View Page OHHH OHHH ENVY weighs to much...she snapped the springs on the trailer....hmmm how much does she weigh Saturday, September 22 View Page OK what is a weigh off and are you sure all the other dogs will be dressed like this... Saturday, September 22 View Page Mission Accomplished...The Howard Dill Award belong to ENVY. Saturday, September 22 View Page She weighed a little light like most of the pumpkins today. Estimated weight of 1165lbs she weighed 1048. New personal best and I finally broke 1,000lbs. Here is Jake Leinenkugel giving me the award Sunday, September 23 View Page Close up showing the awesome color...And for those of you that dont spray your fruit with an insecticide that is a Squash Vine Borer Bite Monday, September 24 View Page Forgot the 1048 was 777 young x self Sunday, October 14 View Page Did I get it all? Here is my siamese pumpkin from the 118 Engel. This one is going to be awesome to carve...it appears to have two complete seed cavities. Sunday, October 14 View Page Here is a Sculpted Logo Pumpkin...for a Local Grocery Store.. Sunday, October 14 View Page Here is what I call a shaved and through pumpkin carving...The Peanuts Characters are my favorite.. Sunday, October 14 View Page I have made the mistake of explaining how I sculpt the pumpkins to my wife Jodi...Who is a true artist. She says she made this while looking at me...I must say I am one handsome looking frankenstein Sunday, October 14 View Page Here is her Masterpiece...She is getting real good at this..Not sure but this kind of artistry could lead to marital problems..as I am supposed to be the pumpkin carver Sunday, October 14 View Page Here is a Sculpted Logo Pumpkin I made for the Best Hitch Manufacturer in the United States. If you are buying a hitch or towing product please buy CURT. This was the 57 Shymanski x self. Which was a 161 x self Tuesday, October 23 View Page Here is a pumpkin I carved for an Interview tomorrow morning. Portraits are harder than they look.. Tuesday, October 23 View Page Here is one of my quick Stencil Pumpkins Wednesday, October 24 View Page 1048 Engel 2012 777 Young x Self 1165 estimated weight 10% light 500 Square feet Pollinated June 23 Harvested Sept 21 Sunday, October 28 View Page We brought "ENVY" to her last public viewing before she receives some reconstuctive surgery for her Halloween showing. Still has great color Wednesday, October 31 View Page Happy Halloween...Did a reverse carving on the 1048...I would not recommend this as the shoulders are way to thick. Although it turned out good. It was difficult to get the needed thickness in the mouth area Wednesday, October 31 View Page Here is a smaller AG pumpkin Shaved and Through style Wednesday, October 31 View Page Here is one of my wifes awesome carvings Saturday, November 10 View Page Chopped the 1048 Engel up and transported it to the garden to compost..5 gallons at a time. Sad bitter end to a good season. added bales of straw to the compost pile from the display. Hope they break down by spring Tuesday, December 4 View Page We have received the following seeds...Keep them coming so the veggie exchange can go out on time..Christmas is the deadline... Tom Brasher Susan Barber John Butler Dan Boelman John Ciesielski Marty Snicker Andy Hamilton Scott Marley Kreig Taylor Mike Lee Darrell H Berry John Fanning Jim Hudson John Young Hezekiah Wahl Thomas Swain Mike Beiser Peter Sweet Jeff Warner Sandy L Houck Michael Cole David Thomas Sunday, December 9 View Page 1st big snow storm of the season...I have shoveled the driveway twice already today. I will do it once more before I watch the Packers kick the Lions butt