Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 136 Entries. Tuesday, January 1 View Page Well another yr, another polarbear plunge done and gone. luckily the wind died last nite otherwise it would have sucked. Cant wait to grow pumpkins. Wednesday, January 2 View Page As the thought of growing this yr. So hard with so many choices. I have had been saving a 810 howard dill 99 seed, But Since hearing about Howard dills medical condition. I am thinking of planting it. I was given the chance to grow it several yrs ago and while it was the prettiest pumpkin it went lite. But when i was given anouther one I have saved it until i could do it justice. But I am still waiting for a couple seeds to make my final decision. Saturday, January 12 View Page Talked to dad today about our pumpkin patch, Still not sure on the seeds. 1502, 275 vanhook, 1075 scherber, 910 barry todd, 1096 Tom Prioverta. 1319 Greene, 1245 Marsh are just some of the great seeds that have been given to us this yr that we are thinking of planting. WE thank everyone who has sent us seeds and we are sorry we can't plant every seed we have been give. BUT if we promise to grow it we will. He grew a 80.5 inch long gourd last yr, So i hope he can grow em again. Thursday, January 17 View Page Cold here today got down to -5 here at my place. Cold but no snow, worried that my artichokes may not come back this spring. Friday, January 25 View Page well I got my seeds from RMGVG's wow there was one seed I badly needed. Atlast I got it. yyyyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Sunday, January 27 View Page Worked in the patch a little today, removed a little debre. Since I have posted what seeds I will grow, I failed to mention that there are several seeds that I will not mention until it gets closer into the season. So for the growers who have given me seeds I thank you for them. I have one hill that is still waiting for the seed to arrive, and one left that has been narrowed down to 10 possiblities. We are in great debate over which seed to be planted, I hope to ask several growers which seed they think will do better in certan harsh conditions.Wind intense sun, Dogs walking though the patch, and the high colorado elevation. Tuesday, February 5 View Page AAAhhhhhhhhhh Fat Tues is here, I got a seed bubble that I have been dreaming about. (It has a 2 special seeds that I needed/wanted.) Still waiting on a couple bubbles, but have gotten most of the bubbles back. Saturday, February 9 View Page Well watched the auction on the post, Had to support our club. Today it was a little windy but high of 45 oh its so nice to see warmer temp. lol Trying to big on some seedslol. Saturday, February 16 View Page Well here it is mid Feb, Less than 2.5 months I will be planting pumpkins. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa I have been debating which seeds should be grown as reserve plants. While I plan on growing and promoting seeds grown in our great state of Colorado. Only time will tell on what I decide to finally grow. 2 hills are now up on debate. Monday, February 25 View Page well I found out today that a seed company that I had placed orders from in late Dec. Well they ran out of eggplant seeds, the ones I wanted. So much for show caseing diff types of eggplant this yr.Now I have to figure somthing else out. Tuesday, February 26 View Page Well I tilled the patch for the first time last night, started at 5:30 and finished by 7pm had to use the barn lights. It snowed about 2-3 inches last nite so I am glad I got it done.I try to get the first drilling/tilling done by Feb 28th every yr. I still can't get over all those mountains of leaves have been brocken down to just a thin layer of new compost for the patch. Thursday, March 13 View Page Well, what a great day. I have to rethink what seeds I will plant. I good friend of mine was kind enough to give me some really great seeds. Cant wait to see em. I still plan on growing what was planned just deciding what to grow where now. Sunday, March 23 View Page Well the tubers went into the ground on St Paddy's day. (Blue tubbers will be planted at a later date.) We did manage to plant some of the lettuce before the nice 2 inches of snow that fell in the night. Sunday, March 23 View Page Garlic plants seem to be growing, but I don't expect to be winning any ribbons on em.(they were planted about 2 weeks ago) Onions were planted (on sat)in anouther patch, hopefully that patch dosen't have onion maggots. (about 100 onions were planted.) Lost most of my elephant garlic last fall to onion maggots so I will be starting all with a couple cloves. Monday, March 31 View Page Well I have been sick since last wed. Haven't done anything to the patch,since last week, putting me a little behind. Still haven't decided on two rows of red cabbage or one. I don't know if I will enter the state fair this yr, so it's hard for me to grow an extra row of red cabbage. Monday, March 31 View Page Ok so as of now, I have in the ground, one row red cabbage, one row of califlower, half a row of brussel sprouts, one 20 ft row of red potatos, one/half row of sweet texas and walla onion. The garlic looks ok, it looks like it is having a hard time this spring. Also lettuce was planted last sunday.(on easter sunday) Friday, April 4 View Page Well last nite I placed some plastic cold caps over my cabbage(lost some of them when it got down to 13 degrees a couple nites ago. This morning when I went out to check on em. They were gone. Hope this dosen't continue. Friday, April 4 View Page RMGVG meeting tommorrow, I can't wait, lots of questions, plus I want to see how everyone is doing. Saturday, April 5 View Page Well, Our club's meeting was today, And I saw a 1068 wow I thought it would be treated like gold, but there it was so pretty and beutiful. wow. I hope he grows a bigge. The meeting was great, I learned alot, Barry and I talked about some of the same ideas that both of us had. I really had fun meeting all the people/growers that I had chatted with in the past. Ron H gave me some scallions to plant.(THANKS RON) Pizzzza and beer really hit the spot. This is the first time that I have been happy I got some worms..lol Thanks Wormman for the worms, they went into dad's garden Sunday, April 6 View Page Dad has spent the weekend working in his garden/patch. I gave him the bag of worms that wormman gave me. There is a little too much leaves, but hopefully they will break down in time. I am worried about a hardpan effect in his garden, May have to use a sharp shooter shovel.(Yaaa I know who will do this lol) Sunday, April 6 View Page Weeds are already growing, spent an hour weeding on the path by the patch. Califlower looks horrible and so does the onions. I did plant the scallions. Monday, April 7 View Page RAWK SHAWK JAYHAWKS GO KU Tuesday, April 8 View Page RAWK SHAWK JAYHAWK. Wow what a game for KU to come from a 9 point def and to shoot a 3 point to send it into over time which they won, 75-66 wow. It had been 20 yrs, since they had won it and wow best college basketball game I have ever seen. KU NATIONAL CHAMPS YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaa. Tuesday, April 15 View Page Well Dad and I havent decided what for sure to plant yet, But were going to do this as a father and son patch. We may not win many ribbons, but we are going to make some great memories. We decide on what to plant April 28th. Sunday, April 27 View Page Well the potatoes frooze last nite even with tarps on em. onions, garlic and the Shallots look good. While the Cabbage and brussel sprouts are struggling. I wont even mention how pittiful the califlower are doing. Monday, April 28 View Page Spent yesterday(my only day off in a while lol) working in the patch and on the barn. Spraying weeds, Alfalfa is about 6 inches tall, Wheat is about 4-6 tall but is sporadic, the sugar beets haven't came up yet. Havent decided how much corn I will plant. Monday, April 28 View Page Well the pumpkin patch looks good, the mounds are nice, added some gypsum and humic acid. Still debating on what to plant. We've agreed to wait a little longer since we may be getting snow this week. But 1502,910 are in their little cups ready to be filed. Tuesday, April 29 View Page Oh we want to plant our seeds, but holding out a little while longer. Monday, May 12 View Page Well dad and I put down manure(it was free) it was starting to rain and was getting cold. Yep that was a pretty good memory of us freezing cold and wet. But free means more money for beer, Right dad?? Thursday, May 15 View Page well the last couple nites have been getting down to the late 20's lost a couple tomato plants. (Even in walls of water can't figure this one out.) Sunday, May 18 View Page Well I planted 24 tomatoes, 8 summer squash, 12 eggplants today. Garden taking shape. Tuesday, May 20 View Page Well dad and I picked our first green onions and dad had to have one right their in the patch, he said it tasted good. Radishes still haven't done a damn. lettuce looks good. Wednesday, May 21 View Page ://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080521/pumpkin_king_080521/20080521?hub=TopStories&s_name= Friday, May 23 View Page Howard Dill Passed away on tues from liver cancer. I am saddened that I never got to meet one of my heros. Even this yr he made sure that someone planted some seeds for him. I hope they grow BIG. Howard dill loved growing pumpkins. Not many people have impacted Gardening as much as this man has done. I wish I could have met him, I am sad not to have met one of the greatest pumpkin growers ever. Tuesday, May 27 View Page I noticed this morning that a couple of the plants looked like they may have suffered some wind and rain damage, hoping I dont have to replant. Thursday, May 29 View Page Well having lost 3 plants in 2 days and had low germ rate, I went to the 4th reserve unit. hoping for a 500 pounder. Sunday, June 8 View Page Mom got second at the fishing tournament, lot of fun, but the current was fast. lots of rainbows. Tuesday, June 10 View Page Well went to the doc, My right arm is really bruised but i didnt break anything in the fall. I am supposed to take it easy for the next couple weeks.lol ya thats going to happen Saturday, June 14 View Page Well arm still hurts, but doing best i can. Cabbage and onions look good, cucs arent growing and the mellons died. but it still looks good(the garden) Sunday, June 22 View Page I discovered cuc beetles last nite. sprayed em. Pete offered to help me weed my garden since its hard to weed with one hand. Right hand is feeling better.But it stillhurts like heck. Thanks for the offer pete. dad did a little to help. Sunday, June 22 View Page Dad picked radishes from our garden, nice three inch white radishes Pink and red radishes. and watermelon radishes. Garlic is almost ready and its barely the size of a nickel. Tuesday, June 24 View Page First zuc female blooms today, yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Tuesday, June 24 View Page Thought arm and hand were feeling better, but hit it this evening in the patch and oh man did it hurt. Garden is doing ok, just trying to take care of weeds. lol Tuesday, July 1 View Page Well growing up this time of yr was about the wheat harvest, wheat prices fell 37 cents a bushel yesterday, making me glad i am not a farmer anymore. Tuesday, July 1 View Page pollinated my first paris pumpkin on sat, and my second paris pumpkin last nite. Friday, July 4 View Page Picked 4 zuccini today, and some nice baseball size onions. Tuesday, July 8 View Page Plants that dad still has 1470w (I lost mine but he still has his) 747 barrytodd Tuesday, July 8 View Page Plants I still have 1502, 1225j, and another(my secret weapon) evil laugh. hahahaha My 65ccw paris pumpkin aborted the first one polinated, but the second and possibly third look good. Tuesday, July 8 View Page Thinking of letting on of my zuccini go to grow a huge one for the county fair, haven't decided if I will do the yellow or black beuty varity. 24 days till fair I should be able to get a 10 pounder hopefully. Tuesday, July 8 View Page wt and madman and barry have been helpful in helping me try to figure out WTF is happening to my tomatoes, Extension office said no virus. Sunday, July 13 View Page Went up to the mountains last nite and today, It was so nice I had a migrain headache(this one lasted over 3 days.) but sleeping out on a freinds yard for a couple hours really hit the spot. Love the heat makes pumpkins and my migrains grow lol. Monday, July 21 View Page So I missed a week with the diary oops. Well picked our first black tomato on tuesday. WE measured an onion and it was 14 inches circ. cucs are just starting to bloom. Zuccs are producing lots, i think the number is already over 50 for the season. Plus we have a yellow zuc that we are letting get big for the fair. Monday, July 21 View Page Well the fair is Aug 2 and I dont know how much vegies I will have for the fair. My Red Cabbage dosent look as great as it has in yrs past. Due to the fact that I had a hard freeze in april and had to replant. But shooting for over ten items to enter(my motto is quality over quanity) In yrs past I have entered over 25 items on average one fourth to one third woould be first placers. hoping just to get a couple first placers this yr. I have won Grand Champ and best of show for 4 yrs in a row. I am saddly relizing that maybe i should let someone else have a shot at it. The produce I enter is always quality or i dont enter it. I know that I am not a threat at pumpkin weigh offs, BUT at the county fair (dad and I work as a team and try to both enter when possible) We are one of the top 3 people/families to beat at the fair and the top 3 have won grand champ/best of show for 6 yrs in a row. Its sad when my yr is determined by how I do at the fair.But I wouldnt have it any other way. Monday, July 21 View Page Well have gotten a game plan ready for the county fair Aug 2. I have writen down what I need to do to get my crops ready(meaning size and quality needed to win first place) I will fertilize a little more with organics to help the plant not grow to much(a problem in cabbages, and mine are smaller than softballs.) With no end to the heat in site, I am forced to water a little more than I would like, but I have no choice. Tuesday, July 22 View Page pollinated a 3 lobe and a four lobe today on the same plant. Never done that before. First pollination of the yr for us. way behind, but its before Aug so we have a chance. Tuesday, July 22 View Page Our giant zuc looks good, cant wait to see how big it gets by fair. Wednesday, July 23 View Page Pollinated dad's 1470 with four males from the 1225j. I really hope that this one takes, it is around 12 ft out and looks good. It had 5 lobes on it. Wednesday, July 23 View Page Well we got a little rain today, not much but a little to cool the temp down. Showed pete my garden today. just happy that i will be pollinating 2 more fruits tommorrow(on same main a ft apart lol) I am so glad to be pollinating. Wednesday, July 23 View Page Paris pumpkin is 42in cc. looks like it will be ready for fair. Sunday, July 27 View Page yep something started nawing on my pumpkins damn tree rats. Monday, July 28 View Page Well on sat nite, I was inside my house trying to sleep off a migraine headache. I went outside to water the garden only to discover that my shallots had been dug up, I dont think that the picker thought i would be outside. I got the shallots and wow they look great. I didnt even have to dig em lol. I got lucky. I dug half the onions last nite and will dig the rest soon. I would love to leave em but cant risk someone picking em. Monday, July 28 View Page Well the day of the walking wounded lol, Mom stepped on a yellow jacket wasp (with bare feet) got stung. Dad got stabbed in the hand with a tool. yep walking wounded. Tuesday, July 29 View Page Well since yesterday we had clouds for part of the day.So nice . That I had energy to pull most of the onions.(left a few to grow) and then I picked my first mess of beans. Man they were very pretty. Purple and then yellow with purple stripes so I got a nice cap full of beans. I put them into my frig just in case i need beans for the fair on sat. The onions look great one of the best crops of onions I have ever grown. I am really proud of these. Tuesday, July 29 View Page The pumpkin that got nawed on looks like its healing, so I will leave it for now. Dad's 1470 is the biggest and fastest growing pumpkin in our patch. Looks like we will have a pumpkin to show at the patch tour on Aug 16th. Saturday, August 2 View Page Well dad beat me at the fair, he got 7 first place ribbons and I got 6. He also won champion ribbon for his pumpkin entry. I am proud of ya dad keep doing a great job. Saturday, August 2 View Page For the 5th yr in a row I have won best of show at thecounty fair. HUROOO. I did hear someone complain that I always win.lol my responce was the truth. I replied, " I put alot of time into planning the garden, planting, weeding watering etc. but every yr I start new." Monday, August 4 View Page Dad's 1470 at day 13 was 30 inches. Best pumpkin in our patch. Monday, August 4 View Page pollinated the 1225 today hope it takes, I will have to cull a pumpkin off the 747 todd, but one is a 4 lober the other is a 5 lober but the 4 lober is growing faster. hard choice. Tuesday, August 5 View Page Went out to check the pumpkins this morning and one of the 747's is starting to split.(I didnt know they could split that small lol) luckily thats the one i was going to cull.phew. Wednesday, August 6 View Page Been thinking about what a lot of people at the fair said, " That I should go to the state fair in Peublo and enter my cabbage. deadline is august 20, but it depends on how well the cabbage are doing. I think i need 6 great looking identical cabbage. (I really want to do this, just have to find away to make it happen. ) thinking about missing a weigh off or two and taking that gas money and putting it into going to the state fair. Saturday, August 16 View Page Well got up this morning turned on the heat for my expected company, thought of putting a fire in the fireplace for my company. got out the nice warm coat and walked outside to see that it was raining and 48 degrees out at 11 am. WTF here it is Aug 16 and its rainy and almost spring like. wow first time this has happened lol Sunday, August 17 View Page Tour on sat went great, Even though there were only 5 growers there it still was a huge success. We have been wanting to do apatch tour for 3 yrs and finally did it. (This may be come an annual event. Will showed up and even though it was raining I gave him a tour. Later when all had arrived and the rain had stopped we went back outside and looked at our patch. lots of weeds, got to make a point to pull em all. Pete's patch was awesome and it was great to see his patch and talk about what he is doing different. Barry gave some incouragement about growing em big. It was a great day even with the rain. Luckily it quite raining just long enough for our tour. Monday, August 18 View Page The pumpkins haven't really grown much since friday. Getting worried that they stopped growing. hoping for over 500 pounds but only time will tell. Tuesday, August 19 View Page Well I noticed last nite that someone had been in the zuc patch area and picked all of the harvestable zuc(this is getting old.) Saturday, August 23 View Page Well day 30 measurements for the 1470 weren't as good as we had hoped, the cold weekend we had last weekend, really slowed it down. still getting a couple pounds a day but nothing worth bragging about. hoping to make 300 this yr. Saturday, August 23 View Page 1225 jutras has a nice pumpkin on it finally after aborting a lot of fruits. its growing nice, about the size of a soccer ball. Saturday, August 23 View Page 747 todd is doing well 133 inches ott on day 30, but considering it has less than 100 sqft of vine its a good start. hoping for 250lbs out of this one. Saturday, August 23 View Page Spent morning getting ready for the Colorado State Fair, I leave tommorrow morning. I am a little nervous, i would like to have more to enter, but I am proud of what i have. Hoping for a ribbon. Monday, August 25 View Page Well I took my entries to the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo colorado. Got up really early picked what I needed and left. It was a nice trip there, But wow once I got to the fair and finally made it to where I was supposed to go. I saw all of these people with their produce wiping it cleaning it. There were alot of great looking vegies and everyone was so nice too me. It really was fun and learned alot. I have never had such great competition and did so well. I brought home 5 firsts. cabbage, potatoes, squash, squash and anouther one plus a fourth and a fifth. I have always wanted to do this good thing my family made me. Thanks to Marc for giving me radar info once I got to Colorado springs it was raining and the skies looked nasty. I did see a lot of hail when I was driving back. but I had just missed it. Parker did have a tornado but no one got hurt. In all it was a great trip. Tuesday, August 26 View Page Pumpkins are growing slow and steady. Had a minor split but didn't go all the way down. Wednesday, August 27 View Page The 1470 didnt grow any from yesterday to this morning. getting worried. the 747 todd small plant but still growing. Friday, August 29 View Page Well dad's 1470 has still been producing pounds just not that many. the 1225 has promise of producing a 250 pounder. So I start with the war on gaining weight for the pumpkins. I am hoping to get 40-700 pounds more for the 1470. and so I well try to spend more time out in the patch this weekend. wish us luck we will need it. Monday, September 1 View Page Well, Hurricane Gustav made landfall, one of my closest friends lives in New orleans. He decided not to leave, his wife decided to stick with her man. I have been worried about em but Rich is a Marine and well we all know how Marines are.lol Monday, September 1 View Page Did a little weeding today, and mowing 1225 could be impressive/underdog. I culled a lot of babies today. making room for the bigger guy. Wednesday, September 3 View Page Dad's 1470 hasnt grown since monday. I am tired of on and off again growth but at least its growing. Just hoping for a 300er but relize I may have nothing for the weigh offs worth bringing. 399 got me 9th place last yr. so were in debate weather to bring em or not. Saturday, September 6 View Page Well garlic is planted. I havent decided if I will Plant elephant garlic this fall. (onion maggots seem to love em) Wednesday, September 10 View Page Poor dad hit his head(HARD) on our trailer door. I think he may have had a minor concussion. poor guy is not feeling well. So I will do his share of the pumpkin work lol. Friday, September 12 View Page Well it's raining pretty good today. We need the moisture but I want the nice sunny days. dad's 1470 is still growing slow but steady. I have let a couple pumpkins develop for jack o lanterns. Found a lemon cuk last nite that should be mature enough for seeds. Thursday, September 25 View Page Wow what awesome weather we are having, leaves are starting to turn and my tomatoes third batch are growing nice. leaves are turning in the mountains. Friday, September 26 View Page Well dad's 1470 hasn't grown much in the last 3 weeks. Decided not to fert too much since we only have one pumpkin big enough for a weigh off. Its taping around 300 pounds or so. But its not my meassurement that matters its the judges at weigh off time. Friday, September 26 View Page My ornamental pumpkins are doing well, not as many as in yrs past but there are a few REALLY nice ones. As of now no new varities that I planted of pumpkins has really impressed me. But havent looked to hard. I am thinking of selling some to raise money for fertilizer next yr. But then again I may just give em away to friends. Saturday, September 27 View Page Well last nite was my 15th reunion and they won 50-0 a blow out I decided not to go. The reasons work needed to be done, Gas Prices, My bro wasnt going. and after listening to some growers I relized that why go back, when I need to go forward. Monday, September 29 View Page I removed 2 huge truckloads of garden debre to the eco cycle. made a tiny dent. I have anouther pumpkin that is rotten. I truly am having a crappy yr at growing pumpkins. But my marrow will cheer me up. Wednesday, October 1 View Page ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG. Wednesday, October 1 View Page i went out to the patch last nite to confirm my fears that some one picked my monster marrow. Yep they did and they picked several of my galeax and queensland pumpkins. But didnt touch my Awesome artichokes or mytomatoes. I still have a second but smaller marrow. Dad and I will still go to the weigh offs with only one pumpkin this yr but 300 pounder wont get us a ribbon. This yr has had great ups and downs. Thursday, October 2 View Page found out that anouther grower had his kids 150 plus pounder stolen last nite. I am wondering if there is a conection. I hope not. Worried about dad's and my pumpkin. Even though she is small. Lit the name of our pumpkin in honor of an old man in my youth that even in a rest home still gardened and is on of the reasons why I garden. Plus he was a friend of the family close to my father. I hope lit is honored by this as he is in mine when i am gardening. (He died in the 91) Thanks LIT the man and the pumpkin. Friday, October 3 View Page As I covered dad's pumpkin last nite I was saddened by the thought that at 7pm on friday the pumpkin would be picked and in our truck. This yr has had Awesome highs and several lows, but its been a good yr. I have had some awesome memories of working with my father at work and in the patch. I would love for us to win a ribbon, but relize that 10th place will probably be higher that 400 pounds. He beat my but at the county fair 8 firsts to my 7 firsts his 1470 is bigger than my pumpkin by 200 pounds. but we have had fun. Friday, October 3 View Page With the help of longmont pete, Bruce, Dad, myself and 3 firefighters we got our pumpkins loaded. Hoping for pumpkin to go heavy. Marrow should be PB for me. We are locked and loaded ready for the weigh off. Thanks to pete for helping us out. Friday, October 3 View Page Wish us luck we gonna need it. Friday, October 3 View Page Tommorrow 8 hundred hours the journey begins. Monday, October 6 View Page Supposed to freeze tonight, so I covered mom and dad's tomatos Decided to let mine go. Not enough tarps lol. Tuesday, October 7 View Page Dad and I helped longmont Pete put his tripod together. Dad did the sawing and I watched lol. It was good to help Pete get it done. hopefully sat wont be as cold as they are predicting. Wednesday, October 8 View Page Well I have lightly been thinking about pumpkin season next yr. So many things to consider. 3 weigh offs dad and i each growing. and limited space. oh what hard decisions to make. I do enjoy growing for fun, and I also enjoy entering the fairs, so that makes it really hard to decide on what to do. Heavy vs pretty pumpkins. vegie's vs pumpkins. so many hard choices.lol Saturday, October 11 View Page Wow, What a day. Dad and I helped pete with his pumpkin, we loaded it with the help of Wiz, Biz, Barry, Joe, dad,pete, mark, mike, we loaded petes pumpkin into our truck and we along with 6 other vehicles were in a pumpkin convoy. Yep it was awesome. This was pete's day and I am happy for him Saturday, October 11 View Page Holly SH** Pete's pumpkin weighed 1004 pounds very pretty. I placed 9th wow I didnt think I would get a ribbon this yr.That made me soooo happy. Even though it rained all day. It still was a good day Sunday, October 12 View Page Spent a good part of morning and early afternoon in the patch removing vines and other yard debre. Thanks to Mike S for giving me advice on what to look for gave me a lot of good insite. 3 truckloads and not even half done with the removal of debree. Did find a few pumpkins i didnt know about lol.Cold Tuesday, October 14 View Page Well last nite I decided to cover my tomato's and a few other items. Its a good thing I did, It got under 28 degrees last nite. resulting in a killer frost. but Tomatoes are safe.yaaaaaa did pick some green tomatoes last nite . shouldnt done that but was a fraid of loosing em. Thursday, October 23 View Page Well last night it got down to 23 so first hard frost of the yr. Lost my tomatos last nite, but i had picked most of em earlier. Mom and dad still have living tomatos they covered theirs. lol well still pretty good.lots of green matos to eat. Thursday, October 23 View Page Picked the artichokes last nite. wow I had some of the prettiest artichokes I have ever grown. must have picked over 20. some I can't eat because they are blooming. but still nice harvest. Wednesday, October 29 View Page Well I started carving my pumpkins tonite. Man a sawzall sure made it easzzzzzzzzyyyyyyyyy. wow it was fun, even though I am not good at carving pumpkins, I do so enjoy it. I do regret not having enough for all my dad's neighbors. Sunday, November 2 View Page Helped Pete rake leaves for his patch, then on monday I delivered a whole load of maple leaves for his patch. Wednesday, November 5 View Page Well I tilled the patch working in the leaves and watering really well. Wednesday, November 5 View Page Well I decided to redue my drawings of the garden. I am thinking of only a couple pumpkins for next yr. 1248 Ford looks good, As for other ideas, waiting for bubbles from nice growers. Open to any ideas though. Sunday, November 9 View Page Wet fishing today, I caught a ton of trout and released some nice fish. I had fun. I also picked some of the brussel sprouts I still have growing. Monday, November 10 View Page Well mom and I started to clean and freeze the brussel sprouts that we picked yesterday. A full 5 gallon bucket produced more than half full when cleaned and ready to be blanched. Mom is happy to get em.She'll eat em all winter long. Monday, November 10 View Page Picked my last califlower that is ready It has a very nice white color to it. Glad to still be picking lol.(even though i have one more I dont know if it will be ready before it gets to cold) Tuesday, November 11 View Page Added 2 loads of leaves to the patch. Saturday, November 15 View Page Well We got back our 371 dad 08 pumpkin. It was being displayed at a local bank. They wanted to keep it longer so thats why i didnt get it till friday. Sunday, November 16 View Page Well Friends of mine were having a 1 yr aniv party of their weilding shop, they have a party every first friday of the month and when they feel like it. I brought our pumpkin to be cut up and displayed. It was a big successs. Everyone loved it. Dawn did a good job carving it up and lots of people had their pic taken with it. It was a good feeling to say good bye to it in a good way. Monday, November 17 View Page Well I got the seeds out of the bucket. Not many in there, kind of sad was hoping for a lot more. This yr my seed counts were really low. I wonder why? But the seeds are drying. Soon I will start the whole process again with my other ornamental pumpkins. Monday, November 24 View Page Well Mom,Dad and I went out to Miller Farms for the free vegie give away. Wow we were there at 8 to 8:30 and we finnaly made it inside the farm at 9:20. There were lots of people. paper said over 40,000 people and I can believe it. While we were there we got carrots a ton of beets, red and yukon gold potatoes. wow we left with our limit but it was so much fun. I like eating the yukon gold alot. may not grow the reds next yr. Monday, December 1 View Page Need advice on what seeds to plant Saturday, December 20 View Page got the bubble from our club, I am not sending out as many bubles (less than 5) this yr due to cost(thying to save money) I need to get the 1248 ford. Gotta send a bubble after x-mas. I have had people send me a bubble with out asking for a bubble THANKS. Saturday, December 20 View Page Decided to grow enough vegies for atleast one county fair and then state fair in Peublo. I have been learnig as much as I can of looking for the right vegie. I have been told that in 09 I will be a target a couple vegie growers are trying to beat me in the fair and take away my 5 yrs of grand champ and best of show. I say bring it on. Atleast somewhere people consider me a threat. IT sure aint the pumpkin world. LOL Saturday, December 20 View Page Well this week it got down to neg 19 I am worried that I have lost all of my artichoke plants. even with the snow and straw bales on em. Monday, December 22 View Page I got some seed catalogs today, WOW some great vegies. Plus I have traded for some hard to get stuff. 2009 looks good. Wednesday, December 24 View Page Well my gift to dad was a membership into our club(ok were sharing) but I got myself 50 pounds of humic acid, fish and seaweed, bloom booster molases(thanks to pete) gypsum. I have already spent more than last yr and am not done. Wednesday, December 24 View Page Well been debating what to plant. 1248 ford will see dirt. 1004 mohr. Marc sawtell seeds look good. and there are several others that look good. Wednesday, December 24 View Page I havent decided how many plants for sure. With the economy in the tanker. Part of me wants to plant edible stuff so that we have something to eat next winter. Yep I am getting responsible (darn it lol) My vegie garden will be bigger than in any time that I have grown since I was a kid. My pumpkin patch will be good for 2 pumpkins, if I dont decide to grow only one and the other half to edible vegies. Will wait to decide closer to spring Saturday, December 27 View Page AS I look back at this yr, I have relized that despite not breaking the 500 pound mark. WE did really well. over 30 ribbons. including a first. 2 gpc ribbons 8th at coloradosprings. 9th longmont. 5 first place ribbons at the Colorado state fair. plus Grand champ and best of show. I got a pb marrow unow 42. dad's was over 50pounds cert. Saturday, December 27 View Page every day for the rest of the yr, I will post how I think I need to improve and comments about 08 growing season. First better organic fertilizers A step I am already taking is ordering the fertilizers. 50 pounds of humic acid is already here. last yr I put down 5 pounds. Monday, December 29 View Page Well went ice fishing yesterday and today. oh I did awesome. 4 trout 14 inches in 20 minutes. wow what fun. the ice is starting to get clear but it still is 8 inches thick in some places. Monday, December 29 View Page Vine placement is one of the biggest factor for me to concentrate for 09 season. Making time to spray will be vitale in 09. Tuesday, December 30 View Page Wind was bad today up to 70mph gusts here in my area. helped the Ypaac with the de-icers for the polarbear plunge. Only time will tell if I will help next yr. man I miss my garden. Tuesday, December 30 View Page Just heard from dad that the Denver Broncos just fired Mike Shanahan. Wow didn't see that one coming. Wednesday, December 31 View Page Well As I look back one final time on my diary, I relize that I can't spell lol(done on purpose) and that no matter what I grow I just love working in my garden. It helps release the stress that I get from work. But I just enjoy growing. Yes it would be nice to get a big one, but I forget that with everything I grow not everything I grow can do really well. Not enough time since I work a lot during the summer. But I must remember that if I get too stressed about growing pumpkins it may become not fun anymore like the polarbear plunge. The SPORT of growing pumpkins is something I enjoy and look forward to. Sometimes this is lost by my competitve streak. But I did REALLY awesome in Ribbon count this yr Dad and I got over 30 for the first time ever. It was a good yr. I made alot of pumpkin grower friends who have let me bug them with questions Thanks To MARK S and his nephew Mike aka ScareCrow, Matt man, Longmont Pete, Barry Todd, These guys have really helped me. Mark has invited me to his patch anytime so I can see how he does it. I WILL TAKE HIM UP ON THIS. will a case of beer be enough? THANKS guys