Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 32 Entries. Sunday, March 23 View Page A little late on starting the eiary this year. I am growing 2 plants. The 857 chrestensen 2006 and the 207 Brandon 2007 seed-559.5 Christensen Pollinator-857 Christensen. They were planted february 1st. Sunday, March 23 View Page Will be doing a few things differntly this year in hopes of growing a larger pumpkin. 1.I will be using a 150 gallon drum to catch rainwater when wet, and when it has been dry to fill with city water and let the chlorine burn off before watering. 2. I will be watering more often last year i would wait until the plants began to wilt to water again not a good idea. 3. Dug a 4' by 3' pit and added 3 bags manure 1 bag leaves 1/2 bale of hay, gypsum and 2 bags potting soil. Last year i dug a 2'by 2' pit and just filled it with manuure, I think i burned the roots early in the growing season. 4. I will be burying secondaries. Last year i didnt and only watered the stump. 5. I will be using a mister system once it gets up over 100 to help stop wilting. 6. I will cover the entire patch in shade cloth once it consistently hits 100. 7. I will be spraying to control powdery mildew, last year I didnt spray for it at all and it took over the patch. 8. I will try using an outside evaporative cooler and spraying across the patch once the temp hits about 110. Monday, April 21 View Page This is the 207 Brandon plant. Secondaries aren't showing very much vigor, they are only a few feet long. The vine is about 12 feet long. There is a pumpkin that was pollinated on April 16 at 8 feet out another will open tomorrow at 12 feet. Tuesday, April 22 View Page The pumpkin on the 207 Brandon at 5 days. Its only 8 feet out, and i dont think the plant is big enough yet, but this will be the pumpkin i keep if it doesnt abort. I don't want to wait any longer because by June it will be 110+ degrees every day, not great pumpkin growing weather. Tuesday, April 22 View Page This is the 857 Christensen plant. It is about 15 feet long and seems to be the stronger plant the stump is about twice the size of the 207 It has a pumpkin on day four and another that will open in about a week. Tuesday, April 22 View Page Here is the pumpkin on the 857 at day 4, again its not in a great spot but i can't afford to wait another week to set a pumpkin, so if it doesnt abort i will keep it. Tuesday, April 22 View Page another shot of the 857 Monday, April 28 View Page The first pumpkin on the 207 was only 16 inches at day 10 and hasn't grown since and will be culled soon. Monday, April 28 View Page The second pumpkin on the 207 plant this pumpkin is at day 6 and measures 17 inches, much better growth than the first one. Monday, April 28 View Page Here is a new picture of the 857 plant. Monday, April 28 View Page Pumpkin on the 857 at day 10 and 19.5 inches this one started really slow but is now taking off. Monday, April 28 View Page Here are some pictures i found from the weighoff i entered last year, the pumpkins had to be there by 12 noon. this picture was taken at 11:55 my 2 pumpkins were in first and second place, they are the ones on the hay. Monday, April 28 View Page Then a guy from pinetop showed up at the last minute with these two. they weighed in at about 450 each, knocked mine out of the running. Wednesday, April 30 View Page Pumpkin on the 207 measures 23" on day 8 Wednesday, April 30 View Page Pumpkin on the 857 measures 25" on day 12 Thursday, May 1 View Page Pumpkin on the 207 25" on day 9. Pumpkin on the 857 28" on day 13 Saturday, May 3 View Page pumpkin on the 207 27" at day 10, by far my biggest 10 day measurement ever. Pumpkin on the 857 31.5" on day 14. Sunday, May 4 View Page The post above should be Friday may 2nd. Today the 207 measures 29" on day 11. The 857 measures 35" on day 15 Thursday, May 8 View Page I think the pumpkin on the 207 is going to abort. It was doing 3-4 inches a day, the last 3 days it has only done 1/2" an inch a day, an is turning a dark orange really quickly. I'll give it a few more days, then pull the plant, because I won't have time to set another pumpkin before the July heat hits. This will leave me with just the 857 plant. Friday, May 9 View Page The 857 is doing good pumpkin is 48" on day 19. Friday, May 9 View Page Above post should be thursday. plant is starting to get alot of powdery mildew, have been spraying with neem oil, but it is still spreading, tonight i tried a 10% milk foliar, we'll see if that helps. 857 Pumpkin is 50.5" inches on day 20 Monday, May 12 View Page 857 pumpkin is 55 inches on day 23. Tuesday, May 13 View Page Instead of pulling the 207 I pollinated a pumpkin on the main today. Average high's now are around 100, to hot for very succesfull pollination, and today was only 78, so i figured i'd try one more pollination on the main. Wednesday, May 14 View Page the 857 is now at 58 3/4" on day 25 Thursday, May 15 View Page The pumpkin on the 207 that aborted. Thursday, May 15 View Page The last chance pollination on the 207. Thursday, May 15 View Page powdery mildew on the 857. Thursday, May 15 View Page The pumpkin on the 857 60" cc on day 26. Starting to slow down already, not sure why? probably the heat. Saturday, June 7 View Page The 207 on day 48 70" about done growing it has only grown 1" in the last 2 weeks. Dont know why it stopped growing so early, probably the heat. Saturday, June 7 View Page The post above is the 857 not the 207 Saturday, June 7 View Page The pumpkin on the 207 is lopsided and developing a soft spot. Monday, June 16 View Page I picked the pumpkin on the 207 last week weighed about 60lbs. The bottom was only about 1/2" thick and fell apart in my hands. The rest was soldid so i carved it up. 113 today 110+ all week, I will pick the 857 soon it is 71" cc