Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 45 Entries. Monday, January 11 View Page Put the 1355 Bhaskaran and the 763 young in the ground in the old patch today. Out of the 4 pumpkin seeds and 4 watermelon seeds I started almost 10 days ago they were the only 2 that sprouted. I tried to think if I did anything different from 2 weeks ago when I had 4 of 5 germinate, and the only thing I can think of is that the day after my knee surgery I couldnt mix up the soil I start the plants in and my mom did it for me, and she used a bucket that used to have chlorine in it. Maybe this contributed to the bad germination. Haven't been to the new patch since the first, haven't been able to drive with my knee yet. Going to go out there tonight or tomorrow, hopefully they are doing well and I can get some pictures. Thursday, January 14 View Page Here is the 958 and 1094 at the new patch. Thursday, January 14 View Page Here is the 1467 Perham. Let them get way to lanky before planting, and buried this one about 6" deep, but was afraid to go any deeper. Trying to train it in the opposite direction with the rock. Thursday, January 14 View Page 1022 growing the best so far. Thursday, January 14 View Page temps have been about 40-70 lately checked the min-max feature on the thermometer in the remay hut at the new patch and the min was 48 max was 91 for the week so I would say it is doing its job. Monday, January 25 View Page Heard from my dad that the new patch recieved over 5 inches of rain this week. Considering our average rainfall is between 7-10" thats quite a bit. Monday, February 1 View Page The plants got their first feeding today a little bit of fish emulsion. Wednesday, February 3 View Page Here is the 1467 growing pretty well. Wednesday, February 3 View Page Here is the 1022 Growing the best so far. It is the only 1 that is laying down a vine. Wednesday, February 3 View Page Here is the 1094 Wednesday, February 3 View Page Here is the 958 Wednesday, February 3 View Page The leaves on the 958 are yellow along the veins. From the little bit of searching I did on the site it looks like it could be a Fe,Mg,or Mn defieciency. If anybody knows how to tell which one it is without a soil test or has any suggestions what I should fertilize them with to get rid of this feel free to email me. Wednesday, February 3 View Page I was each plant individually, but it was a pain to lift up the hut each time so I have just been setting the sprinkler on top lately. Wednesday, February 3 View Page Here is the hut with the light at sunset. Tuesday, February 9 View Page Took the hut off the pumpkins for the first time today to start training and burying vines. The plants are starting to take off and should outgrow it soon. By sunday it should be feeling like spring with temps in the mid 70's for the following week. and the hut should be gone for good. Wednesday, February 10 View Page Here is the 1022. It is growing quickly and I may have to make a choice between it and the 958 soon. The other two are growing away from each other and should be fine. Wednesday, February 10 View Page Gave plants a foliar of fish emulsion. One of the plant has some yellowing of the leaf veins and it may be a genetic thing but I spread some stuff with iron and manganese just in case. Monday, February 15 View Page Plants outgrew the hut today, and it is off for good. All 4 pumpkins are starting to vine and have about 3 foot main vines except for the 1022 which is at about 6 feet, and showing the 1st female. Unfortunately the 958 is going to have to be culled, but I am waiting till the last possible minute as something bad usually happens to at least 1 plant. Spring is here for now with highs in the 70's lows in the upper 40's. Part of me wants it to stay warm for the pumpkins, but the other part of me wants it to stay cold so I can ski in April after my knee heals up. Thursday, February 18 View Page In my last submission I said something bad always happens to at least 1 plant. What do ya know it happened. I went out to the new patch today, We got a big windstorm and the 1022 plant is likely a goner. It twisted about 90 degrees and split down the middle about a foot along the main vine, and one side of the foot long split broke laterally so it has less than half of a main vine. The other plants just got alot of leaf damage. I have always grown in my nieghborhood with small yards and 6' block fences so I never had to worry about wind. I didn't even think about a wind fence, but I will have to build something quick as it gets really windy at my dads house. I'm glad I held of on culling the 958. Monday, March 8 View Page Cold weather lately with lots of rain. plants in the old patch still arent growing, haven't been to the new patch in about a week, but my dad called last night and said it was in the 30's with a rain sleet mix. Very cold weather for this, or any time of year, should be about 75-80. Tuesday, March 9 View Page Pumpkins took a real beating from the sleet and hail. Tuesday, March 9 View Page Plants are relly beat up and just not trained very well with work and school I have had trouble getting out to the patch enough. Tuesday, March 9 View Page The side of my dads yard to give you an idea of how much ran we have had. Tuesday, March 9 View Page 1022 and 958. The 1022 still seems to be growing well despite having more than half of its main vine destroyed. Tuesday, March 9 View Page Whats left of my wind fence after the 50mph winds we had. Monday, March 15 View Page Plants are relly beat up and just not trained very well with work and school I have had trouble getting out to the patch enough. Wednesday, March 17 View Page Weather is finally warming up. Temperatures should be around 80 for the next week almost perfect pumpkin growing weather. Have had a few females open on the 1022 and 958, but they were in the garden box, and I want to wait until the pumpkins are out of the box to pollinate. Thursday, April 8 View Page Plants have really taken off lately here are some current pictures. Almost perfect weather about 50-80 degrees. Thursday, April 8 View Page Here is a shot from the roof. Friday, April 9 View Page Pumpkins have been popping up like crazy. Been getting to the patch about twice a week to weed, prune, and fertilize but due to school and work in the mornings I can only get out there one morning a week. The last 2 weeks I have pollinated 6 pumpkins each day I was there. I have tried to show my dad how to do it but he is not nearly as enthusiastic about it as I am. Friday, April 9 View Page Another one of my hobbies is offroading, heres a couple of shots from trips I took this winter. Friday, April 9 View Page Sheeps Bridge on the verde river. Friday, April 9 View Page Couple of shots from 1 of my favorite trails the sunflower mine loop. Friday, April 9 View Page The truck doesn't actually have 4 wheel drive just a rear locker, so this is about the roughest trail it can handle. Friday, April 9 View Page Whats left of the old sunflower mine. Friday, April 9 View Page Four peaks, one of the most prominent mountains you can see from phoenix, not as many people see it here from the backside though. The last of the winter snowpack is melting off. Friday, April 9 View Page Plants in the old patch are finally starting to take off. Friday, April 9 View Page I didn't get a heating cable or a hut up this year, so thats why they are about a month behind last year. Also the hollyhocks behind are getting really large, and blocking out sunlight, if it was up to me I would yank them out. Friday, April 9 View Page Here are the trees growing about 2 feet from the pit, Not the ideal spot for pumpkins, but the trees sure do love all of the amendments and fertilizer. Friday, April 9 View Page Tomatoes are growing well should have a ton of them soon. Tuesday, May 18 View Page Pumpkin on the 958 Tuesday, May 18 View Page View from the backside Tuesday, May 18 View Page Pumpkin on the 1022 Tuesday, May 18 View Page Pumpkin on the 1094 Tuesday, May 18 View Page Pumpkin on the 1467