Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 80 Entries. Saturday, March 22 View Page First entry for 2008, here's a shot of the new patch at our house, this was taken last week. I think were already playing catch up with our neighbours to the south. Plan is to have the patch about 2000 sft this year with 4 plants. If this damn snow doesn't leave soon it might be one plant. Have a great 2008 season everyone. Kirk Wednesday, March 26 View Page Well we just got 7" of snow last night. Will this ever end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tuesday, April 22 View Page Here is the new 2200sft patch now that the snow is gone, lots of tilling ahead. Tuesday, April 22 View Page Here is the patch with about half of it tilled and some of the 36 cubic yards of additional soil on it. Tuesday, April 22 View Page This is the pile of 36 cubic yards of loamy sandy soil I will add to the patch, I'm currently doing 10-15 large wheelbarrow loads a night but my back is telling me to rent a skid steer loader. Tuesday, April 22 View Page As many of you know I am a proud member of the GVGO we are going to pull out all the stops this year to hopefully pull ourselves back to the top of the pumpkin world. Good luck and good growing to all of the clubs and growers this year, at the very least we will have a few more stories to tell after the season. - Kirk Sunday, April 27 View Page OK - I have all the soil I'm going to add on the new patch, always more work than one thinks! I had some help loading as you will see in the next picture. Sunday, April 27 View Page The too piles are now gone and my wife got 6 or so yards for her new garden which happened to be right beside the location of the piles. My little helper is in the background, one scoop and the wheelbarrow was loaded and this proved to be much easier on my back and about 4 times as fast. Wednesday, April 30 View Page The pill box method is what I'm going to use from now on, 6/8 seeds after 24hrs. The 1502 Wallace was busting out and the 2 843 Reiss seeds are out, the 788 Cheam and the 965 Pukos are doing well and all are now potted and in the chamber. Cover is not on in the picture. Also pictured is the 1446 Eaton which was done another way and is slowly coming out, the seed cot is nearly out of the soil. Wednesday, April 30 View Page This picture shows the germination box with the 1093 Hunt and 847 Hunt. The 1093 was a little late last year also so no worries its a tiger in waiting! Thanks to Russ Landry for posting this method on the GVGO website its a keeper. Kirk Sunday, May 11 View Page Ok My diary entries are a little behind, sorry. Plants are under lights and have started some other back ups for the back ups, or for people that kill their plants they are growing for the new Keene Pumpkin festival. Sunday, May 11 View Page The patch is all tilled up and the green houses are in, two with automatic openers and two without. This view is from the high side of the patch. Nearest one has the 1093 Hunt and the next one has the 1502 Wallace. Sunday, May 11 View Page Here is the green house with the 1093 Hunt, this shot shows the automatic opener and how well they work. It also has a ceramic heater for the cooler nights. Can't let the Prez down on this one!!! Sunday, May 11 View Page This shot is from the bottom of the patch and I think it shows my carrot tubes also. The only failures I had this season were the 1297 Ghaye - snapped its leaves upon exiting the soil in the peat pot and the 847 Hunt and 1091 Vader never germinated. I have many other plants on the go for back ups and one "secret weapon plant" I will not let Russ, the Prez and the rest of the GVGO down and also want to kick butt in our growers pool. Kirk Saturday, May 17 View Page Had an epiphany today that I should only grow 3 plants instead of 4, my 1446 Eaton is not doing well so I'm probably going to pull it and go with the 1502 Wallace, 1093 Hunt and my secret weapon plant. I'm going all out with larger plants now, gotta keep up with the Prez, 007 and the Barrie bomber Friday, May 30 View Page OK, I know I'm not doing as many entries as last year but having just as much fun, plants are doing well with the 1093 Hunt leading the way and the 1502 Wallace not far behind, my secret weapon plant is doing better these days. Giant carrots are sprouting and I just received some long carrot plants from Norm Craven and will have to rig up the 10 foot tubes for them soon.Raining out but I will not complain about the rain after last year. Hope all is well in peoples patches. Saturday, May 31 View Page Latest shot of the patch, rained like heck last night and this morning so water container fille itself up from the barrels as I left the hose in it. Will weed entire patch sunday. Saturday, May 31 View Page Shot of the 1093 Hunt, doing well. Will cut off the 965 Pukos backup plant. If anyone is groing this seed it should do well as it showed strong signs right from the start. Saturday, May 31 View Page 1502 Wallace is doing well also, it has a very thick stem on it. Its back up will be cut off sunday as well. Saturday, May 31 View Page Here is the shot of the secret weapon plant. i didn't want to get to close to it in case you recognized it. Its a little farther behind than the other two, but its not in a automatically controlled greenhouse. It will be a while before i totally introduce this plant to you all. Have a great weekend. Friday, June 6 View Page The greenhouses are off now and its very hot today 41 degrees celcius with the humidex. Friday, June 6 View Page The wind barriers are now up and the open side faces east. This is the 1093 Hunt and the vine is close to running. Compared to last year its 7 days behind right now. Friday, June 6 View Page 1502 Wallace in its new wind sanctuary, added myco and several other ammendments to "soil pockets" as they await the root system to find them. Friday, June 6 View Page Here is the Secret Weapon plant and wouldn't you know it the name tag is turned the other way - Darn. This plant is a little behind but I have full confidence in it. Friday, June 6 View Page This is a pic of my 3 foot carrot plant, I doubt it will get that big but this is mostly an experiment to test my growing technique for these. Sunday, June 22 View Page I have taken all of the wind barriers down for now as the patch needs to dry out and I'm worried that disease will arrive if I don't have good air flow. We have just been getting rain everyday and the patch is saturated. Sunday, June 22 View Page The 1093 Hunt is coming along nicely, behind last years size at this time but I have high hopes for this plant. It is being grown in a xmas tree pattern. Sunday, June 22 View Page 1502 Wallace will be grown in a flag pattern. It's doing well, roots are at least 3 feet outside the leaf edge. In this picture you can see the little rodent deterent things I fashioned out of chicken wire. Sunday, June 22 View Page Here is the secret weapon plant. The Dummer township defense department is on high alert as interest is high trying to find out the origins of this plant. I'm going to consult one of our resident lawyers in the gvgo for advice. Sunday, June 22 View Page Last but not least my wifes garden. Its doing quite well and I have erected a netting hut over her strawberry plants to keep the birds out. This is a new garden so I think it will have good yield its first year out. Monday, June 30 View Page This is what happens when a partridge flies into you dormer window. Has to be the hardest window to get to!!! Monday, June 30 View Page Here is the secret weapon plant - AKA the 788.2 Cheam/06 Its starting to catch up to the other plants and looks very healthy. I wanted to get some 1097 Beachy crossed into the 1093 Hunt so this should do also adding more 1068 wallace back in to the mix. Monday, June 30 View Page The 1502 has had its share of problems this week. We have been hit by three bad storms and one storm snapped the main vine tip, another snapped the next largest secondary tip and the third took out another secondary tip. Only on this plant which is the puzzling thing, so now I'm not sure which vine I'll train as the main but it should be one funnly looking spider designs when I'm done. Monday, June 30 View Page The 1093 Hunt is by far the largest plant in my patch. The dibbling is working quite well as the root system is quite far outside of the leaf edge. It's getting quite a few females on it as it did last year also, might be one of my magic solutions causing this also. Monday, June 30 View Page As you can see from the picture I have moved my shade fabric to be over the small leaves as to prevent burning them. we are suppose to get a week of sunshine so growth should be good this week and catch up a little on the more southern growers. Thursday, July 10 View Page 1093 Hunt is out about 18 feet and have 3 pollinations on it. Hopefully they take but the hot weather has taken its toll on the plants. Thursday, July 10 View Page 1502 wallace is quite a weird shape due to all the vine breaks due to heavy rain. I'm going to let it grow and I'll bring the pumpkin from this one to the Keene Pumkin Festival. Thursday, July 10 View Page 788.2 Cheam is chugging right along. This plant is the most symetrical shape wise out of all three plants and I have one pollination on it. 788x1502 Wallace. Thursday, July 10 View Page A overall shot of the patch after I have weeded, buried all the vines, I have had to stop dibbling as I think the cat next door likes the kitty litter smell of the myco and continues to dig up the holes. Will have to start watering all plants on saturday morning. Sunday, July 20 View Page Here is the patch as of the 20th of July, growing in nicely and cleaned up as we had the GVGO Prez and a few others over for a visit. Keeps raining so no watering has been done to this point other than applying ferts. Sunday, July 20 View Page 1093 Hunt x 1502 Wallace @day10 - 22.5" perfect angle from the vine, the next ones a day younger so we will have a hard decision Sunday, July 20 View Page Day 10 on the 788.2 Cheam x 1502 Wallace - 21.5" great looking plant but will have to turn fruit away from the vine as it grows, I'm using woven filter cloth under the pumpkins with clean sand this year for protection and movement. Sunday, July 27 View Page 788.2 Cheam at day 15, not earth shattering numbers but steady and some sun in the forecast. 41" CC 94" OTT. Maybe being beside the best beer in canada will help. Sunday, July 27 View Page Day 15 for the 1093 Hunt, 41"CC, 94" OTT. I have now culled another large pumpkin off this plant so growth will take off and the numbers today were good. WE need some sun thats for sure. Tuesday, July 29 View Page 788.2 Cheam at day 20 - 61 CC, 138 OTT - Not earth shattering but I'll take it. Wednesday, July 30 View Page Day 20 for the 1093 Hunt x 1502 Wallace, 67 CC, 150 OTT These numbers aren't great but considering the weather they will have to do, gained 10" OTT yesterday. One more day of rain and then sun for a week hopefully. Wednesday, July 30 View Page The patch has filled in nicely and just a few more vines to terminate in a few days. One of my giant carrots is doing quite nicely but the long carrots have not had to strive for water so they are not long at all. Thursday, July 31 View Page A nice surprise this morning as I checked out my late pollination on the 1502 Wallace x 1093 Hunt and at day 10 its 27". It may be a sleeper. Thursday, July 31 View Page This is a shot of the Corn Maze that we have done up for the Keene Pumpkin Festival - its 2 1/2 acres and cut with a lawnmover, we laid it out by hand over three evenings. Thursday, July 31 View Page Just checked the 1093 Hunt and its starting to ramp up now in the last day it has gained 10" CC (77")and has a total of 164 OTT now on day 21. Lets hope it keeps up. Monday, August 4 View Page Day 25 for the 1093 Hunt x 1502 Wallace, its coming along ok with limited sunshine OTT is just over 200". I'm afraid it's not going to compete with the ontario growers this year but hope to break my personal best. Thursday, August 7 View Page Well its been raining like hell with sunny periods and more rain on the way so who knows what will happen. Day 28 for the 1093 Hunt x 1502 Wallace better known as pudge and its at 228" OTT hope it stays in one piece. Friday, August 8 View Page Latest shot of my patch taken on wed. night just before some more rain. i have the covers off the fruit as everything is so wet I want what little sun we have to dry things out Friday, August 8 View Page Day 30 on the 788.2 Cheam x 1502 Wallace, 101 CC 64, 66 = 231 OTT growing along nicely and has high shoulders. tommorrow is day 30 for the 1903 hunt and day 20 for the 1502 wallace. the 1093 is surprising me and close to meeting the 1200 pounds benchmark numbers Saturday, August 9 View Page Day 30 for the 1093x1502 This pumpkin has chugged along so I have name it Pudge. Steady weight gain even with the terrible weather. 119 CC 62, 65, 246 OTT Can't complain as it still together and thats a feat in itself with all the rain. A little sun today and then more rain!!!!!!!!! Saturday, August 9 View Page Heres a shot of the heavy carrot I'm growing that Norm Craven was so kind to give me. Its about 3 1/2" across the top of the carrot. Just have to keep it from rotting. Thursday, August 14 View Page 1093 Hunt Day 35 - 275 OTT (444lbs) which I'm really happy about but I have a stem crack issue which you will see in the next picture Thursday, August 14 View Page Here is the crack, I pondered as to doing a relief cut or not and decided to try it as the crack would only get worse. Seems to have held up ok. I used sulphur paste on it, if anyone has any other suggestions please email me - Thanks [email protected] Friday, August 15 View Page Can anyone tell me what might make my leaves go like this, they aren't all like this as the next one is dark green. We have had alot of rain and the plant might be stressed due to that. The next entry has a pic of a leaf also. Thanks Friday, August 15 View Page Another shot of the leaf. Mostly on my middle plant but all have it on some. Saturday, August 16 View Page Now I know why I have stem split issue, the 1093 Hunt gained 37 lbs & 48 lbs the last two days. I will ride this out as its all or nothing with this one as the 788 cheam plant is coming along nicely and taking on that 1097 Beachy look to it. Gonna have huge ribs !!! Tuesday, August 19 View Page Well another monster storm has ripped through ontario and more heavy rain so split season is still on. This is the 1093 Hunt at day 40 149-77-80 = 306 OTT Which I'm quite happy with and the stem splits are holding up I think, I'm now using a blow dryer in the mornings to dry out the inside of the stem and cracks and then reapplying fungicide. Tuesday, August 19 View Page Here is a wide load shot of the 1093 - it sure is a wide sucker. Sunshine in the forecast and the GVGO patch tour coming up on sunday so these suckers will be growing. Saturday, August 23 View Page Ok the cracks are holding their own but still large, I'm now using a fan and blow dryer and made a real thick sulphur paste and it has dried quite well. Not pretty but I can't give up on it now. Saturday, August 23 View Page Another shot of the cracks, I will talk to Arnold Vader sunday on our patch tour as he had a large crack last year and did a great job of patching it up. This pumpkin is now at day 44 and a conservative OTT of 324 as I have alot of sand around the bottom of the pumpkin. Friday, August 29 View Page 1093 Hunt at day 50 - 335 OTT for an estimated 790 lbs which would set a new personal best for me. The pumpkin has developed some serious side ribs in the last three days so its packing on the pounds. Friday, August 29 View Page Side shot of the 1093, the stems cracks are holding up after a thorough cleaning last night. Another 4 weeks to pack on the pounds. Tuesday, September 9 View Page Well with all the rain we have had and now more, powdery mildew is creeping in my patch even with all the prevention I took. The 1502 Wallace plant has a disease probably compliments of a cucumber beetle but considering the weather we have had it could be worse. 21 days to the weigh off for the 1093 Hunt fruit. 1093 x 1502 - sounds heavy to me! Friday, September 12 View Page Here is the latest shot of my 1093 Hunt - I just realized I forgot to take the comforter and tarp off. The split is still holding up and lets just say is BIGGER than the last picture in my diary. It's getting quite orange also. Tuesday, September 16 View Page 788 Cheam x 1502 Wallace - its coming in around 525 lbs, nice shape but didn't grow much in the last 3 weeks Tuesday, September 16 View Page 1502 x 1093, this plant was doomed from the start with vines breaking in major rain fall, its around 400 lbs and will be a good decoration for our local weigh off in Keene Tuesday, September 16 View Page Heres a shot of the stem end of the 1093 Hunt x 1502 Wallace on day 68, its still growing and will set a new PB for me. Thats a 36 inch fan in the picture for size comparison. Tuesday, September 16 View Page Just kidding about the fan size its only 10 inches in diameter. GO GVGO Thursday, September 25 View Page Nice shot of all the pumpkins from 2008 with the nice fall sun setting on them. Thursday, September 25 View Page Tonight was extraction night for the 1093 hunt x 1502 Wallace. It was buried in alot of sand so I gained a few inches on the OTT. The very kind farmer from down the road came up and lifted it out no problem Sunday, September 28 View Page The Pembroke weigh off hosts look over the field and tally the measurements to determine the order of weighing. Sunday, September 28 View Page Another shot of the field at Huglis Blueberry Ranch Weigh off Sunday, September 28 View Page Well the 1093.4 Hunt x 1502 Wallace finally hits the scale and was estimated at 1027 lbs and final official weight is 1066 lbs, this is a new personal best for me and the first time over the 1000 pound mark so I'm very happy with it. Now lets hope the 1066 Chenier has some seeds in it!!! Tuesday, October 14 View Page Heres the result of an experiment I tried with growing carrots in a plastic tube, next year longer tubes will be needed. The wascally wabbit never got it way up in the tube. I did see the RatZ once though! Thursday, October 30 View Page This is a shot of the growers that braved the crappy weather at the 1st Annual Keene Pumpkin Festival. Chris Lyons was the winner. This is an open event which allows re-weighs. There are enough GPC events in Ontario so its nice to have a place for people to bring their pumpkins for all to enjoy once again.