Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 102 Entries. Saturday, April 18 View Page I wish each of you a fairy tale season. May all your dreams come true! Saturday, April 18 View Page This year's seeds are inside, soaking up the magic spell. 1231 Pukos.....1413 Werner.....1313 Bowles.....993 Vincent/McGill.....1385 Jutras.....1102 Pukos.....605 Green & Shiney. Saturday, April 18 View Page This is my 1st year for a cover crop...winter rye. I planted it with my left-over mycorrhizae. So hopefully the little critters are alive & well....waiting to wake up & attach to pumpkin roots. Saturday, April 18 View Page Cucumber beetles will NOT destroy me again this year! Super Bug is poised and ready to attack! Saturday, April 18 View Page Along came a knight in shining red armor. Saturday, April 18 View Page Doing a fantastic job, as usual. Saturday, April 18 View Page It's getting there. All 270' of it! Saturday, April 18 View Page Lewis....Patch Cat Supreme....inspecting the job! Saturday, April 18 View Page He's anxious to get back to his duties in the patch. Saturday, April 25 View Page The guys are getting ready to blow 130 bales of shredded straw mulch over the garden. Saturday, April 25 View Page I'm excited to do a drip tape system this year. Don't let anybody kid ya.......this is a LOT of work to put down!! Saturday, April 25 View Page I'll take big help...... Saturday, April 25 View Page ....and little help! Saturday, April 25 View Page Hooray! It works! They named it right...drip....drip....drip! Now you see it.... Saturday, April 25 View Page Now you don't! Saturday, April 25 View Page Here you see corners marked for each of 60 party pumpkin plants. Busy weekend! As I'm sure your's was too! Sunday, April 26 View Page All 7 seeds successfully sprouted and are now potted.... Sunday, April 26 View Page and are soaking up the warmth of the sun. Friday, June 5 View Page My season started off a little rocky. I lost several of my big hopefuls to seed corn maggots. But that's behind me, and I'm moving on. Friday, June 5 View Page Creative wind blocks! Bales can be moved out as the plants grow. Friday, June 5 View Page Snug as a bug......1385 Jutras Friday, June 5 View Page 1313 Bowles Friday, June 5 View Page Little pig....little pig. Let me in.....let me in! Tuesday, June 30 View Page These are some of my "party pumpkins". This year I have Prizewinner....Phat Jack....Phat Albert....95 Bell....Valenciano....One Too Many....Wee B Little....150 Rea....and last but not least, Brooks famous giant pear gourds! Tuesday, June 30 View Page After I lost some seedlings to seed corn maggots, I finally got plants to take in those spots. This was a sorry looking seedling, planted a couple weeks after the others. It took off like a shot. It was determined to make something of itself, so I named it Spunk. aka 1313 Bowles. Tuesday, June 30 View Page 993 Vincent/McGill. I haven't pollinated anything yet, but all 5 AG's should be ready at 12 to 15 feet in a couple of days. Tuesday, June 30 View Page This is the entire patch, looking down from the top of the hill. 5 AG's (inside the straw huts!)and 50 party pumpkin plants. Tuesday, July 14 View Page 993 Vincent/McGill......day 8. Can you say "round" ? Tuesday, July 14 View Page 993 Vincent/McGill......day 12. Sunday, July 26 View Page Today was the OVGPG patch tour. What a fabulous day. Four great patches to look at and many great people to visit with. First stop...Alan Gibsons. Beautiful plants. This is the 985 Werner. Sunday, July 26 View Page Still at Alan's......824 Brunst. Sunday, July 26 View Page 2nd stop....Dave Rumancik's. Very impressive long gourd trellis! Sunday, July 26 View Page Dave's 991 Urena....lookin good! Sunday, July 26 View Page Taking it easy at Christy & Nick Harp's. Sunday, July 26 View Page Christy....telling stories again!!!! with Steve Daletas. Sunday, July 26 View Page Jerry Rose..."These cookies Glenna made are delicious!" Sunday, July 26 View Page Summit meeting. Sunday, July 26 View Page "The chickens used to live over there!!!" Sunday, July 26 View Page Faces in the crowd. Sunday, July 26 View Page 4th stop....Joe Piazza's. A beautiful patch tucked into an opening in the woods. Sunday, July 26 View Page I THINK this is Joe's 1120 Piazza. It was a great tour. I didn't get any pics at the delicious steak dinner. Maybe someone else can chime in with some. Tuesday, July 28 View Page The grandkids are putting plastic molds on a few of the pumpkins. Can you see the face on the mold? The pumpkin is a Phat Jack. Check out the thick stem! Tuesday, July 28 View Page Sean is putting the mold around the pumpkin, and fastening the bolts. The idea is to let the pumpkin grow & fill out the mold. Then remove the mold & let the pumpkin continue to grow. Tuesday, July 28 View Page Here it is....ready to go. Hmmmm...wonder if it'll work! Will keep you posted! Saturday, August 1 View Page 993 Vincent/McGill #1....day 30. Got some lumps going on! Est. 300 lbs. Saturday, August 1 View Page 993 Vincent/McGill #2....day 20. (no OTT's till day 30) So far, a nicer shape. Saturday, August 1 View Page 1385 Jutras....day 25. The plant was sooo small & pathetic, that twice I took out the anchor pins & started to pull it. But then I thought, Cripe, I bought the seed at auction & it was too late to start another plant in that space anyway. So, I'm babying it along, and letting any kind of vine grow to give her a chance! Saturday, August 1 View Page "Spunk"....1313 Bowles #2....day 25. She's living up to her name, and she also might be the beauty queen! Saturday, August 1 View Page 1313 Bowles #1....day 25. Different shape...different color! Saturday, August 1 View Page Party pumpkin patch. The plants are bigger & healthier than ever before. Hopefully I'll get lots of pumpkins. Saturday, August 1 View Page This is the left side of the patch. Mostly Prizewinners. Saturday, August 1 View Page These are Phat Jacks and Phat Alberts. They were such a hit last year, that I planted even more. How are yours doing Brooks? Monday, August 10 View Page Another week's gone by......here's the progress. 1385 Jutras...making slow gains. She won't be big, but hopefully pretty! Monday, August 10 View Page "Spunk"...1313 Bowles #2...day 34...373 lbs. She's counting on a boost from the rain followed by warmer temps. Monday, August 10 View Page Another pumpkin has acquired a nickname...."CLAW" ! 1313 Bowles #1 Monday, August 10 View Page I attempted to discuss this with Lewis, Patch Cat Supreme. He's not talking!!! Monday, August 10 View Page "Claw"...1313 Bowles #1...day 34...322 lbs. Monday, August 10 View Page Meet Cinderella...993 Vincent/McGill #2...day 32...434 lbs. Right now my best grower...and a pretty thing too!! Monday, August 10 View Page And THIS is her ugly step-sister, "Lumpy". 993 Vincent/McGill #1...day 39...472 lbs. GO JACKSON !! Sunday, August 16 View Page A little blurry, but I had to put this in. 13 kids...grandkids and great-nieces & nephews were here for a picnic....to find their favorite pumpkins and carve their names on them. What a GREAT TIME !! Sunday, August 16 View Page Heath....I don't need to tell you....he's lovin' it! Sunday, August 16 View Page A fabulous job, by Maddie! Sunday, August 16 View Page And a super job, by Megan! Sunday, August 16 View Page The ultimate in creativity by 5 year old Kasey!!!! Monday, September 7 View Page 1313 Bowles #1 .....pushing 700 lbs. Apologies go out to Lewis. Seems the claw mark was much wider than his paw. Must have been some renegade raccoon!! Monday, September 7 View Page 1313 Bowles #2 - "Spunk" .....pushing 800 lbs. That's her sister in the background. Certainly not twins!! Monday, September 7 View Page Here she is, showing off her wide behind! Monday, September 7 View Page This is Cinderella - 993 V/MG. #2 She's finally in the 900's and still growing. Monday, September 7 View Page The Ugly Step-sister - 993 V/MG #1....mid 800's. My granddaughters & great nieces have had great fun this year, naming the pumpkins and measuring the Prizewinners. Monday, September 7 View Page Shhhh....1385 !! This very small plant had a couple of early setbacks. But I decided to let it grow a pumpkin. Est at 425 lbs. The girls, keeping their Cinderella theme, named it after the mouse, "Gus-Gus"! Wednesday, September 9 View Page The Prizewinners are amazing this year. Some are taping 275 lbs. Wednesday, September 9 View Page Some Prizewinners pictured with my giant tomato. Oops! Wrong! Guess that's the OSU b ball! Wednesday, September 9 View Page Kissin cousins! Thursday, September 24 View Page Loading for Barnesville. Most pics of loading crews show a bunch of big strong guys. But a grandma & a bunch of kids can do it, if they have an OLD ford tractor! OK....so maybe we did have a couple guys! Thursday, September 24 View Page Backing up to the scale in Barnesville. Thursday, September 24 View Page 1313 Bowles....now the 830 Rea 09....14% heavy. Thursday, September 24 View Page 993 Vincent/McGill ....now the 1027 Rea 09....3.5% heavy. Nice stem split....goes clear through the stem. It split early in the season. Thursday, September 24 View Page Curtis Verhoff with wife Michelle's 2 beautiful pumpkins! Saturday, September 26 View Page The evening before our big party, we have a family doings and get the "named" pumpkins out of the patch. 2 men & a pumpkin....... Saturday, September 26 View Page I wonder who'll win! Saturday, September 26 View Page A boy and his dog.....and his pumpkin! Saturday, September 26 View Page The whole gang Saturday, September 26 View Page Miss Kasey Saturday, September 26 View Page I guess Christy & I were taking sunset pics at the same time! Saturday, September 26 View Page A bunch of happy kids at the end of a beautiful day! Tuesday, September 29 View Page Sunday was the annual "Punkin Pickin' Party". We made it between rain in the morning and rain in the evening. But that didn't stop 200 family & friends from devouring 300 hotdogs, 15 dozen dounuts and finding their favorite pumpkin. Here are some friends helping to set up. Tuesday, September 29 View Page There were enough Prizewinners for everyone this year. Tuesday, September 29 View Page My grandkids are always excited to show their school friends the pumpkins. Tuesday, September 29 View Page Signing in. My grandkids make the signs, which are saved, and all put up the following years. Tuesday, September 29 View Page Ready to take off for a hayride Tuesday, September 29 View Page "Wee Be Little's" are always a hit! Tuesday, September 29 View Page This guest couldn't decide which pumpkin to take home! Monday, October 5 View Page OVGPG Canfield Weighoff A big thanks to everyone who made this weighoff possible. You planned and put on an event that gave many people a thrilling day. Your hard work is much appreciated! Monday, October 5 View Page I'm in the chair my grandkids made for me....waiting for the action to begin! Monday, October 5 View Page 1313 Bowles..."Spunk"...now the 904.5 Rea Monday, October 5 View Page 993 Vincent/McGill..."Cinderella"...now the 1082 Rea Monday, October 5 View Page Congratulations to the Top 3! Amazing pumpkins...Amazing growers...amazing people! Such fun to see these pumpkins weighed! CHRISTY...WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU!!!! Monday, October 5 View Page "A good time was had by all!" Congratulations to another Stark County buddy, Dave Rumancik (bp "Venari"), 2nd year grower, who busted into the top 10 with 1443.5 lbs. Way to go Dave!!! Sunday, October 18 View Page Thanks to all who played a part in my '09 season. for the seeds...the words of wisdom...the encouragement...the friendship...and the funny one-liners!! You guys are the best! Sunday, October 18 View Page Several cars have pulled in the driveway with people asking if they could take pictures of their kids with the pumpkins. Fun! Sunday, October 18 View Page Today was a beautiful fall day....finally!! Sunday, October 18 View Page Lewis!...always the star of the show! He did a great job this year. Not a single critter in the patch!