Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 83 Entries. Wednesday, May 6 View Page Storm tally 2009.... Mother Nature: 1 Chris: 0 Darn it. Wednesday, May 20 View Page 97 in the Twin Cities yesterday. Unreal. We are BONE DRY and could use some rain so I can keep mowing my lawn. The last 2 years I haven't mowed from June 10th until late July / August. Maybe this year Memorial Day will be my last mow. Wednesday, May 20 View Page 672 plant looks awesome again this year. Last year it was taping 1200 the first of Sept. If early vigor is any indicator we'll be pushing 400" this year by the first :) Hey dream big. Thursday, May 28 View Page Well I had my first little setback yesterday. Lost all the main on my 1160 plant. I believe a heavy leaf literally got too heavy and cracked off taking about 30% of the main with. It left 2 short secondaries one of which I will train as the new main. I learned last year on my 998 plant if you crack one this early cut it off so you don't have to "baby sit" the damage the rest of the season. I still expect 1400# off the 1160. Wednesday, June 3 View Page Here's how not to lay down a plant. This is the second time same plant. For some reason my leafs want to break off and take lots of vine with them. First time I cut the vine as you can see in the picture (scar). This time I have no secondary to train so I'll rub a little dirt on it and go with it. I'd assume the plant can not "re-grow" plumbing so I'll have a little handicap with this one. We'll see how hard it can push a pumpkin. Friday, June 12 View Page Well I was gone fishing in Canada for 6 days. I've never seen plants not grow in 6 days until now. Unreal. It's been COLD apparently. I literally have no vine burying to do to get caught up. The good news is I caught a lots of big walleyes. Monday, June 22 View Page My wife ran her first marathon this weekend. It was WAY too hot and she still ran a 3:36. Not bad for a first timer. 84th out of 2257. I'm having a HECK of a time getting my stuff done in the patch. Weeds are killing me. I spray them and they come right back. I'm not sure I'll be able to see my plants come August. I'm running a very thin line time wise and the simple fact is I don't have enough! Monday, June 22 View Page Here's a shot of my 1140 plant. It looks real good and is NOT in the weedy soil. 1073 Carlson Petersen x 998. Plant looks lots like my 998 from last year. Monday, June 22 View Page And here's round 2 of the "kids" pumpkins. This is my 2 year old's plant but she didn't want to be in the picture so Kailey is posing. Kailey's pumpkin was broken by the wind so we have a "cot stage plant" that just came up yesterday. Hope to pollinate both of these with my 772 Poirier. Monday, June 22 View Page Both kids plants are 869 DMG. 1046 Bowles x 998. Monday, June 22 View Page Oh and we got .90" of rain here yesterday. Now I need to mow the lawn this year darn it. I needed something else to do I guess. Sigh. Thursday, June 25 View Page First pollinations today. Got an inch of rain about 30 minutes after I pollinated. I wonder how that went? It was windy, but I haven't found damage yet. Somehow my "keeper" on my 772 got damaged. I'm thinking a birdie got it. Oh well that's just more plant to push the next one :) It's pumpkin humpin time! Monday, June 29 View Page Missed a female on the 1140 this morning. Would have been my keeper too darn it. Oh well more plant behind the keeper now. I do have a little softball on the plant, but only about 12-14' out I think. Saw my first bug Saturday. First spray application of the season. Bugs are dead. Tuesday, June 30 View Page Well with the recent change in weather I'm starting a new "compost pile" with plant parts. I've got every plant surrounded with wind protection and it's not enough. The good news is when the weather changes I'm looking forward to the plants putting out lots more nice leaves. Monday, July 6 View Page Well I learned something this weekend. I shouldn't be growing pumpkins. I ran my first 5K of the season Saturday. I've been running 2-3 times a week and ran a 17:44 (5:43 pace). Man what I'd give to get back into real shape someday. Then Sunday I went golfing for the first time this year (2nd time in 2 years) and shot a 43 with FOUR 3 puts and 2 out of bounds. Maybe I should stick to the athletics. Pumpkin growing is not a sport :) Monday, July 6 View Page OK OK, back to pumpkins then. Wednesday, July 8 View Page Well I think I learned more valuable information this year. Never set a fruit until you are ready for it to be your keeper. I'm having trouble getting my pumpkins to grow downstream from the first set....or even from where the first set was located! We'll see what happens in the next couple days here, but I'm afraid it's not going to be real good. Friday, July 17 View Page Well here is is July 17th and I worked in the patch this morning in my winter jacket??? What the heck. My 672 hits D20 tomorrow. Based on today's measurement it will be 55" or less tomorrow. That's only 20 inches less than last year or less than half the size at D20!! I'm going to put a positive spin on that and say it's the weather. Lol. Good grief. Tuesday, July 21 View Page 985 Werner D20......51 INCHES....L...O....L. This fruit has 12 secondaries each side behind the fruit. I culled the first good set and I believe that set zapped the keeper and I might be left with a dud on a world class plant. Oh well live and learn. Tuesday, July 21 View Page I think for my 985 and 672 I can refer back to my July 8th entry. DON'T set a fruit until I'm ready for it to be a keeper. Friday, July 24 View Page Here's a nice shot of my 772 Poirier. It should definitely be a looker. I think it's about 7 days old :)...or I wish it was anyway. I have a picture of my 2 year old Amber with her 869, but since I didn't notice it was all underpants and belly buttons when I took the picture I can't really post....wife wouldn't approve :) It's just a little guy anyway about 6?? days old. Saturday, August 1 View Page I had my first splitter today. I've got 3 really nasty pumpkins this year. Well now 2. Not sure if the nasty lumpy is a problem I create or something mother nature creates. Had a rib open to the cavity today though. Less work for me! Will try to get some more pics up here when my wife gets home with the camera. Tuesday, August 4 View Page Nasty. I had 3 pumpkins do this to me this year. Good thing is 2 are still growing...kind of. Not sure if it's weather or what...lumpy. Tuesday, August 4 View Page Amber's 869. Tuesday, August 4 View Page ...no I don't apply Amber's chapstick! Tuesday, August 4 View Page 772....going to be a beauty I think. Tuesday, August 4 View Page 772 is by self...I don't feel anything else is worthy :) Tuesday, August 4 View Page And yes Amber is 100% sober in that picture :) Wednesday, August 5 View Page Well I split #2 yesterday....of course my biggest. 53 degrees here this morning.....good grief. Thursday, August 6 View Page Just for future reference I took a soil temp this morning.....61 degrees in the canopy...brrrr. Wednesday, August 12 View Page Amber's 869...now split stem end and blossom. Not sure if it even has a 1% chance. This female was the worst one I've ever seen...twisted lobes / etc. etc...but I had to go with it. Oh well. Wednesday, August 12 View Page Kailey's 869 looks real good. Wednesday, August 12 View Page If this one makes it...I hope nobody else shows up at the weigh-off hoping for a Howard Dill award! No chance at 1290 with this 772 seed though. Wednesday, August 12 View Page 672 Stevens 2006 attempt #2. Growing fairly well now. Neighbor has one as well. Yesterday his 672 Est....672...lol. Monday, August 17 View Page 672 now easily exceeding the bench mark for 1400++. 2 years in a row this fruit has grown like crazy. This time it's doing the slow and steady way. Monday, August 17 View Page I'm a big fan of seeds with the 1231 as a pollinator. Monday, August 17 View Page OK....maybe light on the "slow" and heavy on the "steady." :) Monday, August 24 View Page Future Sandbaggers of America photo opp. This is my 1428 Revier. Super shape, super color, just not super big. Barring wierd stuff...which I'm good at...should still hit 1000. Monday, August 24 View Page Pleasantly surprised that this beauty 772 has averaged 27 / day for the last 10. Monday, August 24 View Page After 2 years Kailey finally got her wish. Since she first saw the 1445 "sit pumpkin" Marsh she's always wanted one of her own. Here it is. 1160 seed of mine. Not going to see 1445 on this one with no stump though. Monday, August 31 View Page We had patchy frost last night. 40.1 at 2 am. 38.7 at 4 am and I was outside running sprinklers. I don't have automatic stuff. I got water on my thermometer so don't know the low, but had to rinse some frost off some leaves on a couple plants. We'll see how that goes. Should be ok. I've had enough of that for a couple weeks and I know the wife didn't appreciate the alarm going off every couple hours. Thursday, September 10 View Page No entry for a while...been super busy. Anyway the kids pumpkins still look good. Kailey's looks super nice and is approaching 400#. Should be able to hit 500. Amber's is about 650 I think and I've cut just about every secondary and the main almost to the fruit trying to slow it down...lol. 150 sqft is just too much I guess. Thursday, September 10 View Page And my stuff...well... 772 now does look like a 772. Looks like someone dipped it in liquid orange plastic. Could still hit 1K on the tape by the end. Everything else appears healthy. 1428 did in fact crack 1000. 1160 did in fact crack 1000. 985 should crack 1000...I guess that means everything should crack 1000...lol. Now for 1100. Friday, September 11 View Page Hmmm...little bit of a math error on 1428. Only by 10" on the CC...which in fact keeps the fruit UNDER 1000...oops. Darn it. Monday, September 14 View Page STILL no updated pictures. I feel bad cause usually I do a good job, but this year I'm going to be thin even with stuff for myself and my family. I still have 6 pumpkins. Once again September has been handed to Wisconsin on a silver platter. Unreal. We've been warmer the last few nights than I think ANY night in July. Gains are slow, but staying steady. Monday, September 14 View Page Things are getting "interesting" with 1160 FYI...hmmmmm. Monday, September 14 View Page Also wanted to mention we should have 2 very nice events this year in Red Wing and Stillwater. Probably 2 of the most scenic sites in the country. Red Wing on the Missippi and Stillwater on the St. Croix river. Both events will have HUNDREDS of dollars in door prizes and anyone bringing a pumpkin has a chance at those. We've worked very very hard this year and our hard work is beginning to pay off! Tuesday, September 15 View Page FINALLY... 772 Poirier x self....1000....ish. Tuesday, September 15 View Page 672... 1000...and some change.... Tuesday, September 15 View Page Ambers 869....blossom and stem splits that HEALED. Pollinated with 772. Tuesday, September 15 View Page Kailey's 869...very very young yet. Cut almost all the plant off both kid's fruit to slow them down. Tuesday, September 15 View Page 985...ribbed for your viewing pleasure. 1000....ish. Tuesday, September 15 View Page 1140...found this one in the back 40 growing wild...no idea how it got there really...it's amazing how these plants can grow just about anywhere. I taped it and the darn thing is also 1000.....and some change. Tuesday, September 15 View Page 1160....no stump the last 30 days or so now...broke it off laying it down. 1000...and some change Tuesday, September 15 View Page 1428 Revier... 1000...and some change Tuesday, September 15 View Page Prizewinner...no idea on size...maybe close to 100#??? Tuesday, September 15 View Page I should mention I got a call last night from the bomb squad...not sure why??? :) Seriously is anyone having fun yet? I wish everyone only the best during weigh-off season. Tuesday, September 15 View Page Huh, looking back to June 22 I guess I did plant an 1140 this year....forgot about it till now. Thursday, September 17 View Page Looking back on Aug 24th I mentioned that 1160 wouldn't hit 1445....well..... Friday, September 18 View Page ....I was right! Monday, September 21 View Page Well here it is. 672 Stevens....taken yesterday out my kitchen window. Yup, I'm proud as heck. This is a huge pumpkin. About 200, about 120, About 110...lol. Yes that's a 5 gal Neptunes bucket on top. 16.75" on D10...haha. As far as I know.....and boy am I setting myself up here...by far the biggest ever grown in WI...lol. Probably the kiss of death, but no matter what it's a huuuuge pumpkin by anyone's standards. We've worked very hard this year and I'm proud of myself. If anyone has a problem with that....I guess that's fine. I truely wish everyone only the best from here on out. I hope everyone can get the satisfaction out of their season that I have. Saturday, September 26 View Page Today was the end of the road for 672. Official weight was 1502. I believe official OTT was 426". This pumpkin lost a LOT of weight the last 24 hours while loading / unloading. I'd guess about 50#. Saturday, September 26 View Page The crack in 672 hurt. It hurt bad, but like a wise grower once said "it is what it is." I believe this was the largest pumpkin ever grown in WI by 14". Had the fruit not started to rot it would have easily eclipsed 430" and weighed over 1600. This pumpkin refused to slow down while it was still intact. I had a large cheering section and I thank each and every one of you. It was a bummer to in a way let everyone down, but at least we got it to the scale. The expressions on the faces of the growers that visited my patch were priceless. Thanks guys and gals! Monday, September 28 View Page Pics to follow...BUT.... Weighed in 772 and 1428 this weekend also. 772 is x self and weighed about right to the chart at 1046. Official measurements I cannot remember. It might be 10-15# light??? 1428 was x 1500 and was 15% heavy!!!!!! WHOOO HOO! Nobody was surprised either. It was flawless and thumped heavy. Monday, September 28 View Page Also John Hopkins with the THUMPER 1500 Revier. I believe 9% heavy. Pollinated with 1140....my 1140 not his. John's 1364.5 is ranked #2 in WI ever. Sunday, October 4 View Page Quick update. My 1140 hit the scale in Nekoosa yesterday. We knew it was going to be close, so I held the state record for ohhh....5 minutes I spose. Sunday, October 4 View Page I knew there was no way it was under 1500. I was really hoping to crack 1600. Oh well. We held the state record for about 5 minutes anyway and made a pretty good run at the bigger fruit. One week left then time to take a much deserved rest....ahhhhhhhh. Sunday, October 4 View Page The fun part of the season was picking which fruit to bring where. Having my monster go down early made it hard. 672 would have gone to Nekoosa. Oh well. Still I've got so many I've still got to good ones for Stillwater. Sunday, October 4 View Page Last remaning fruit....1160 and 985 Werner. 985 is quite a bit smaller probably in the 1100++ range. Sunday, October 4 View Page 1543 family shot. Amber hamming it up....again. Sunday, October 4 View Page Kailey my 5 year old was in her glory yesterday. She went around and "inspected" almost all the big fruit. It was funny. She can talk the pumpkin talk for sure. Sunday, October 4 View Page Here's John Hopkins with his 1296.5 also off my 672. 2 big ones this year on 672. Sunday, October 4 View Page John should end up with 5 fruit this year over 1179. Something no WI grower has ever accomplished in a lifetime if I have my facts straight. He did it in a single season. Tuesday, October 13 View Page 1113.5 Stevens 2009. 985 Werner x 1140 Stevens 9% heavy. Tuesday, October 13 View Page 1046.5 Stevens 2009 772 Poirier x Self. Weight right to the chart. Tuesday, October 13 View Page Stem end shot of 1046.5 Tuesday, October 13 View Page 1375 DMG. 200" CC on this one. 2% heavy. Tuesday, October 13 View Page 1375 Again. Tuesday, October 13 View Page 1245.5 1428 Revier x 985. 15% heavy. Tuesday, October 13 View Page 1502...with a little bonus slop. Huge pumpkin. Tuesday, October 13 View Page Our sponsors. Banner is missing from Growth Products. Thanks to them for their support also. Wednesday, October 14 View Page One more shot of the big one. Wednesday, October 14 View Page Here's the crack in the bottom of 1375. That's a 40" long strip of wood for sizing.