Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 132 Entries. Monday, February 4 View Page Fisrt entry for the year its too early for pumpkins so heres a picture of my cabbage. I've now got them in 25 Litre pots, they are bigger than usual at the moment because of the mild winter we have been having here in Cornwall. I will plant them out towards the end of Feb or early March as soon as the ground is dry enough. Good luck to everyone for the coming season. Sunday, March 16 View Page Here is a picture of my Giant Cabbage taken 2 days ago, I would like to plant them out but we have had a lot of wind and rain for the past 2 weeks so the ground is too wet. Sunday, March 16 View Page 3 weeks ago I did manage to plant one cabbage but it has not liked the gale force winds in the past few days. The forecast for the next week is much better so by next weekend I am hopeing to get on and plant the rest. Sunday, March 16 View Page I have been kindley given what I think are some very good pumpkin and squash seed this year, 1188 Paton07 (1068 Wallace x 1231 Pukos) 963 Paton07 (1502 Wallace x 998 Pukos) 936 Raymont07 (511 Zaychkowsky x 598 Zaychkowsky) 1131 Timm06* (848 Mackenzie* x self) 990 Hume06* (627 Hume* x 715 Kennedy*) 602 Hume07* (740 Hume* x 1055 Pitura*) 657 Hume07* (990 Hume* x 1131 Timm*) Thankyou to everyone who sent me seed, not long now before they can be planted. I plan to start them off around 10th April this year. Friday, March 21 View Page I planted out my giant cabbage yesterday, the plants were getting tender in the greenhouse so some of the leaves have broken off. Sunday, March 23 View Page Yesterday I added another 5 hoops to my tunnel so I can grow an extra pumpkin. First of all I dug out a trench 3 foot wide and 12 inches deep then filled it up with horse manure then back filled it. When the hoops were up I then covered the ground with more horse manure, the plan was to till it in today but we have had some heavy rain and the ground is now wet. I have now got room to grow 3 pumpkins and 2 squash. I'm planning to put the sheet on the tunnel asap so the ground can warm up. Sunday, April 6 View Page Managed to get the sheet on my tunnel this afternoon in between gusts of wind and light sleet showers, thanks to my wife and daughter for holding on to it. Sunday, April 6 View Page I've used perforated polythene again this year as it worked very well last year. The extra 5 bays added has made the tunnel look a lot longer. I'm now looking forward to planting my seed at the end of this week. Sunday, April 6 View Page My Giant cabbage have taken a bit of a knock since they were planted but they are now beginning too grow again. Friday, April 11 View Page I've just put my pumpkin and squash seed to soak in water/hydrogen peroxide mixed 10-1. A day later than I wanted but I've been away 2 days for work. Tuesday, April 15 View Page I soaked my seed on Friday evening then planted them on Saturday morning (about 12 hours later) and this evening I have come home from work to find life in the 1188 Paton, 936 Raymont, 963 Paton, 1131 Timm*, 657 Hume* and 990 Hume so far so good. Thursday, April 24 View Page Just a quick picture of my daughters sunflower plants, seed given to us by Lonnie Bourne, they have all germinated and are looking well, hopefully they will go out this weekend. Saturday, April 26 View Page I've planted my pumpkins and squash, the line up ended up as 936 Raymont, 990 Hume*, 657 Hume*, 963 Paton, 1131 Timm* and an 1188 Paton. The 2 Hume squash are planted together so i will cull the weaker one. Saturday, April 26 View Page I have made up some mini tunnels to give them some more protection. Monday, April 28 View Page Marrow seed have gone into the propagator today, I'm going to grow 6 or 7 outside on ground that had rotted horse manure last Autumn. Thursday, May 1 View Page Pumpkins have made slow progress until now but today they have grown. This one is a 936 Raymont. Thursday, May 1 View Page The front plant is a 990 Hume* and the back one is a 657 Hume*. At the moment they are both growing equally. Thursday, May 1 View Page The 963 Paton is growing very well. Thursday, May 1 View Page The first true leaf on the 1131 Timm* took a long time to come out and is a little distorted but I think the plant will be ok. Thursday, May 1 View Page 1188 Paton. Thursday, May 1 View Page My giant cabbage are now getting over the cold weather in early April. Monday, May 5 View Page I have rigged up drip feeds to my plants this weekend, they are run from black dustbins to warm the water up. The bins are all connected by siphon hoses so the water movement is slow giving it plenty of time to warm. The next thing to go in will be a mist kit. Monday, May 5 View Page 936 Raymont growing well. Monday, May 5 View Page 990 Hume, I think I will keep this one. Monday, May 5 View Page The 963 Paton is the biggest plant so far. Monday, May 5 View Page The 1131 timm* has started to grow a lot better. Monday, May 5 View Page And th 1188 Paton is also looking very good, so far I am quite please with all the plants. Tuesday, May 6 View Page I've put my misting kit in the tunnel this evening because the weather is going to get hot in the next few days. Tuesday, May 6 View Page I have 7 of these 4 way misting nozzels spread down through the tunnel, the water comes on when the air temperature gets warm and prevents the plants from scorching. Tuesday, May 6 View Page This is what I have made to turn the water on for the mist kit. It's a lever type tap attached to a ram from a greenhouse vent opener, so as the air temperature gets hotter the ram expands and opens the tap. It works well - if a cloud floats over it's not long before the tap turns off. I find it very handy as I'm at work all day and don't have to worry so much about my plants scorching. Sunday, May 11 View Page 936 Raymont making good progress, the leaves are a bit paler than than the others but I think it's ok. Sunday, May 11 View Page 990 Hume*, the weather is hot today so my mist kit is working. Sunday, May 11 View Page 936 Paton still the star of the show, it's just starting to vine. Sunday, May 11 View Page 1131 Timm* Going well. Sunday, May 11 View Page 1188 Paton was standing up straight this morning so I've helped it over with a couple of bamboos. Sunday, May 11 View Page Yesterday I planted out 8 marrows, the weeds were sprayed with Roundup last Tuesday so will soon die and make a stale seedbed. Saturday, May 17 View Page 936 Raymont a lot greener now. Saturday, May 17 View Page 990 Hume* looking healthy. Saturday, May 17 View Page 963 Paton is now vining, the heavy rain that we have had in the last 2 days has dripped through the sheet and damaged one leaf. Saturday, May 17 View Page 1131 Timm* is growing steady, both squash plants seem to be a bit slower than the pumpkins. Saturday, May 17 View Page 1188 Paton is also looking well. Saturday, May 17 View Page My giant cabbage are now growing fast, they have greened up well, the only problem this week has been pigeons so I have put some net over them. Saturday, May 24 View Page I went to see my freind George this afternoon, heres a picture of his 1188 Paton, the plant is now about 6 foot long and it looks healthy. (Bigger than My 1188) Saturday, May 24 View Page George has also got a very nice 936 Raymont on the go. Saturday, May 24 View Page Back home I have cabbage problems,,, 3 of them are seeding, I think this is probably due to the mild winter we had and then just after I planted them outside we had a cold week in which temperatures went as low as -4C. I am not sure what will happen to the rest of them now! I have some backup plants in a trial plot of different varieties so all is not lost. Saturday, May 24 View Page Back to pumpkins! My 936 Raymont is growing well it's about 3 foot long now and I can see a difference every day. Saturday, May 24 View Page 990 Hume* wants to grow up straight so I'm bringing it down with bamboos. Saturday, May 24 View Page 963 Paton is now about 5 foot long and still growing well, there were some signs of yellowing in the leaves this week so I have given all my plants some Manganese. Saturday, May 24 View Page 1131 Timm* growing well. Saturday, May 24 View Page 1188 Paton is looking well at about 2 foot long, it's got a bit of catching up to do with George's 1188 but the season is'nt over yet! Saturday, May 24 View Page I had some backup plants so I have given them to my daughter to grow, this one is a 630 Renninger(1104 Van Kooten x 951 Popp). They are in hoop houses at the moment but are nearly outgrowing them. Saturday, May 24 View Page Here's the picture! Saturday, May 24 View Page The other plant is a 1174 Ghaye (1502 Wallace x self), the seed came from EGVGA (European Giant Vegetable Growers Assosiation). There were also some long gourd seed in the package from the EGVGA which I hope to grow next year. Sunday, June 1 View Page 936 Raymont really looking a good plant it is now about 7 foot long. Sunday, June 1 View Page 990 Hume* now about 5 foot long. Sunday, June 1 View Page 963 Paton is now about 6 foot long and still going strong. Sunday, June 1 View Page 1131 Timm* about 5 foot. I've speeded up the drips this weekend to give more water. Sunday, June 1 View Page 1188 Paton is about 6 foot also. Sunday, June 1 View Page The weather has been very hot here this weekend so the mist kit has been working for most of the day. Sunday, June 8 View Page I've had a bad week, my 963 Paton,1131 Timm* and 1188 Paton have all split on the growing point. Sunday, June 8 View Page No problems with my 936 Raymont at the moment, the vine is growing along the ground very well. Sunday, June 8 View Page 990 Hume* is also Ok. Sunday, June 8 View Page The 963 Paton was the first to split so I am now training a secondary vine forwards. Sunday, June 8 View Page 1131 Timm* has had the same treatment. Sunday, June 8 View Page And finally the 1188 Paton, all three plants have been trying to grow straight up which has put pressure on the stem, I'm still quite pleased with the speed the plants are growing and hope to see some flowers soon. Sunday, June 15 View Page 936 Raymont is now my best plant, it's about 12 foot long and it has a female flower bud at about 10 foot. Sunday, June 15 View Page 990 Hume is also a good plant, now about 10 foot long and also has a small female flower. Sunday, June 15 View Page 963 Paton is now looking a bit better, I have 2 secondary vines trained forward so when I decide which one is strongest I will set a pumpkin on it. The plant is about 10 foot long. Sunday, June 15 View Page 1131 Timm* has a very stong secondary with a female bud on it, the plant is about 10 foot long. Sunday, June 15 View Page 1188 Paton also about 10 foot long. Sunday, June 15 View Page My marrow plants are going well, all of them are about 3 foot long and growing fast. The weather has been good over the past week and the forcast for this next week is faily good. Sunday, June 15 View Page 630 Renninger started to vine well. Sunday, June 15 View Page 1174 Ghaye Sunday, June 22 View Page 936 Raymont, what a plant! it's now 18 foot long and 18 foot wide at the back end. I can see a female in the growing point so hopefully by next weekend I may get a flower. Sunday, June 22 View Page 990 Hume* looking well at about 14 foot long, I did have a female bud but had a bit of an accident when removing the leaf next to it, there is another bud further along. Sunday, June 22 View Page 963 Paton is looking ok but it's a pity the the main vine snapped because the secondaries are not so strong. Sunday, June 22 View Page The 1131 Timm* has got a decent secondary vine and is now looking a lot better, just waiting for a female now. The plant is a bout 15 foot long. Sunday, June 22 View Page Bit of a disaster with the giant cabbage, they are giant but but there is no class for giant flowering cabbage! I still have smaller cabbage looking ok. Friday, June 27 View Page Pollinated 2 963 Paton x 936 Raymont at about 10 foot out both 5 lobes, also 1188 Paton x 936 Raymon at 12 foot 5 lobes. Sunday, June 29 View Page 936 Raymont plant still going strong, 20 foot long and has a female at about 16 foot which will probably be ready to pollinate on tuesday, I would like to cross it with a 963 Paton. Sunday, June 29 View Page 990 Hume* plant is looking well, by about Thursday i think there will be a female flower so I will hopefully cross it with the 1131 Timm*. Sunday, June 29 View Page 963 Paton has one Pollinated with a 936 Raymont. Sunday, June 29 View Page 1131 Timm* still has a Female in the growing tip but I think this could take another week to open. Sunday, June 29 View Page 1188 Paton has got 2 pumpkins pollinated with a 936 Raymont. Sunday, June 29 View Page My marrows are looking well, they have had a lot of wind this week but are standing up to it fairly well. There are a lot of female flowers on all of the main vines which will probably take until next week to open. Tuesday, July 1 View Page Pollinated a 936 Ramont yesterday evening with a 963 Paton and this morning I have pollinated a 990 Hume* with a 1131 Timm*. Sunday, July 6 View Page Weather was very bad yesterday we had wind and rain all day so I took a trip down to see George, he has 2 plants a 1188 Paton and a 936 Raymont both looking very good and both have pumpkins pollinated this week. He has crossed both ways 1188x936 and 936x1188. Sunday, July 6 View Page Here is my 936 Raymont 5 days after pollination. Sunday, July 6 View Page 990 Hume* also 5 days old. Sunday, July 6 View Page The 963 Paton 8 days after pollination, it's a bit of a funny shape so I may not keep it depending on what the next one looks like. Sunday, July 6 View Page 1131 Timm* will probably take about another 3 days to open. Sunday, July 6 View Page Biggest pumpkin at the moment is the 1188 Paton, the Shape is good and at 8 days since pollination its growing fairly well. Friday, July 11 View Page I've got some problems!!! - two squash plant are looking like this and the three pumpkin plants also have a few leaves going the same way. I'm guessing it's a virus and there's nothing that I can do. If anyone has any ideas then please help. It's not sun scorch as the last week has been cloudy. Saturday, July 19 View Page I have had help from a lot of growers this week and they all tell me that my pumpkins are suffering from Red Spider Mite, Thanks to every one that got in contact. I cannot believe such a small pest can do so much damage at such speed, I have sprayed the plants and they are begining to recover. Saturday, July 19 View Page The 990 Hume* has lost a lot of leaves but the squash on it is growing fairly well. Nothing set on the 936 Raymont yet. Saturday, July 19 View Page 963 Paton is growing well, the plant has not suffered to much damage from the red spider mites. Saturday, July 19 View Page Nothing set on the 1131 Timm* and the plant has a lot of damage. My 1188 Paton is growing well, I measured it today ott 135 which is 61.9 lbs. Saturday, July 19 View Page Marrow plants are getting bigger and there are a lot of small marrows set on them. Sunday, July 27 View Page 963 Paton 168 ott 111 lbs. Sunday, July 27 View Page 990 Hume* 135ott 61.9 lbs its putting on about 10lbs a day. Sunday, July 27 View Page 1188 Paton 187ott 149 lbs which is an 87.1lb gain in 8 days. Sunday, July 27 View Page I have left the 936 Raymont and the 1141 Timm to open pollinate, both plants have several females on them at about the size of tennis balls, next week I hope to have one on each plant. Sunday, July 27 View Page I've got about 12 marrows all looking about the same as this one, the plants have really grown a lot since last week. Monday, July 28 View Page I have been down to see George's pumpkins this eveing, they are looking very impressive. Here is a picture of his 1188 Paton which is taping at 154ott which is 88lbs. I like the shape of it, it's very long so I think will weigh heavy when it fills out. Monday, July 28 View Page He also has a 936 Raymont which was open pollinated about a week ago, the 1188 Paton was pollinated with the 936 Raymont. Sunday, August 3 View Page The week here has been dull and wet so growth has been slow, 990 Hume* 161ott or 99lbs. It has only put on 37lbs in the last week. Sunday, August 3 View Page 963 Paton 198ott 174lbs, 63lbs weight gain this week, the skin on it is still looking young and fresh so I think it has some potential if we get some sunshine. Sunday, August 3 View Page At last I have a squash on the 1131 Timm*, probably about 15lbs at the moment, a lot of the plant has died back because of the red spider mite but the fresh growth is doing well. Sunday, August 3 View Page 1188 Paton is growing steady, 225ott or 249Lbs it has put on 100lbs in the last week. Saturday, August 9 View Page The weather has not been good this week and today it has hardly stopped raining, weight gains are slow. Heres a shot of my marrow patch today in the rain, I have white sheets above each marrow just in case the sun comes out. Sunday, August 10 View Page 1188 Paton has had a slower week 246ott 322lbs which is a gain this week of 72lbs. Sunday, August 10 View Page 963 Paton has kept in pace with the 1188 this week its 224ott 246lbs which is a gain of 72lbs. Sunday, August 10 View Page 990 Hume* is still growing slowly 178ott 130lbs which is a gain of 31lbs this week. Sunday, August 10 View Page At last I have a 936 Raymont growing, it's outside the tunnel on quite a steep slope so I have made a platform for it to stop it rolling down the hill. At the moment it is 106ott 33.2lbs. I plan to give it a cover to keep the wind off and put some sand underneath it. Sunday, August 10 View Page My first 1131 Timm* split this week but I have this one on the same plant 92ott 23.2lbs. It is also growing outside so will need some protection. Sunday, August 10 View Page My marrows are looking ok, most of them are now looking like this one. Sunday, August 17 View Page I've had another bad week, my 963 Paton has split in 2 places and my 990 Hume* has gone down to Blossom end rot. The weather has been bad again this week with rain on most days, the forcast for the next week looks no better. Sunday, August 17 View Page There is all the bad news out of the way, I have managed to get some cover over my 936 Raymont and 1131 Timm*. It seems pointless to try and grow any pumpkin in the open this year! Sunday, August 17 View Page 936 Raymont 142ott 70.6lbs a gain of 37.4lbs this week, and the 1131 Timm is 118ott 43.7lbs a gain of 20.5lbs. Sunday, August 17 View Page My 1188 Paton is now 246ott 394lbs a gain of 72lbs for the week, the picture of the pumpkin looks the same as last weeks picture so here is a picture of one of my biggest marrows, it's still growing despite the weather! Monday, August 18 View Page More problems, I came home from work today to find 3 marrows split on the ends, I'm guessing it,s because of the heavy rain at the weekend. This one weighed in at 45lbs on the bathroom scales. Sunday, August 24 View Page 936 Raymont 167ott 109lbs a gain of 38.4lbs this week, the 1131 Timm I had has split. Sunday, August 24 View Page 963 Paton 267ott 448lbs a gain of 54lbs this week, the last 3 days have been very slow at abou 5lbs a day. Sunday, August 24 View Page And another 2 marrows split, the one in front weighed 61lbs and the one behind weighed 65lbs. Tuesday, September 9 View Page Since I last posted I have been to Shepton Mallet show, I decided to take my 1188 Paton as it had stopped growing. It actually weighed in at 462.8lbs and was big enough to win. Tuesday, September 9 View Page It was not the biggest veg there though, Frank and Mark Baggs (Dorset Farmers) turned up with this beauty, a squash weighing in at 757.1 lbs. Tuesday, September 9 View Page The show runs from Friday to Sunday, on the Saturday my wife and daughter fancied going shopping, not my idea of fun so I had a better idea I gave Frank and Mark a call to see if it would be ok to take a trip down to Dorset to see how a pumpkin should be grown! I took my freind Ian Stott with me, as you can see in the picture we were very impressed with what saw. Thanks to Frank and family for a good day and also a very good dinner to go with it. Ian and I now know what to aim for. Tuesday, September 9 View Page George Rogers won the cabbage class with this beauty weighing in at 87.94lbs he also took second place. Another 2 world records were also broken, Ken Dade grew a marrow which was 143.3lbs and Alf Cobb broke his record for the longest Cucumber again at 36". Sunday, September 28 View Page The stump on my 462 Thomas has gone rotten this week so I have cut it open and taken the seed out. I had nearly 600 seeds inside, the cross was 1188 Paton x 936 Raymont. I was hoping to take it to Southhampton but it would not have lasted another 2 weeks, I'm still looking forward to the show even though I will be empty handed. Saturday, December 6 View Page Not much going on at the moment but I have got my giant cabbage to look at. I have transplanted them today into 3 1/2" pots, I will keep them growing slowly through the winter. Wednesday, December 31 View Page I have found some very well rotted cow manure and have pulled 3 loads of it home today. Wednesday, December 31 View Page Then I have used one and a half loads (probably 10 to 12 tonnes) on my pumpkin tunnel. Hopefully tomorrow I will lightly till it in.