Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 166 Entries. Tuesday, February 3 View Page First entry for the year and we have snow, not something we get a lot of in Cornwall. We have had about 2-3 inches overnight but this evening a lot of it has thawed. The weather forcast says that there's more to come. Tuesday, February 3 View Page Here's a picture of my pumpkin patch from yesterday evening just after the first flurry of snow. Monday, February 16 View Page I have potted up my giant cabbage today, plants are smaller than last year but it's early days yet! Weather permitting I will hopefully plant out in mid March. Wednesday, February 18 View Page For christmas I had 35ft of soil warming cable and a digital thermostat. I have made a propagator that is 2ft x 4ft so plenty of room. The base is made from wood which is lined with polystyrene, then there is about 1.5 inches of building sand in the bottom, I then layed the cable onto the sand in a crisscross fasion and covered it with another 1.5 inches of sand. It's all sat in a metal frame which I have surrounded with bubble plastic. I'm thinking the finishing toutch will be a greenhouse vent opener for the warmer days. Wednesday, February 18 View Page My wife is the first to try it out, she has planted Tomatoes, Peppers, Courgettes and Broad Beans. The thermostat is set at 18C. Sunday, March 15 View Page The propagator is going very well, I have fitted a vent opener so when the sun comes out the plants don't get to hot. Sunday, March 15 View Page I have been playing with some seed from last years pumpkin, I have used the advanced method to germinate the seed http://www.bigpumpkins.com/ViewArticle.asp?id=66 and the results are very good, when I plant my main seed I will definately do the same. Sunday, March 15 View Page I have also potted up some giant tomatoes today. Sunday, March 15 View Page The forcast for the week is dry so by the middle of the week I am hoping to get my giant cabbage in the ground. They are smaller this year so hopefully they wont go to seed early like they did last year. Sunday, March 22 View Page I have planted my giant cabbage today. 12 plants 8 foot apart. Sunday, March 22 View Page I have also worked down my pumpkin ground and planted some potatoes. Wednesday, April 8 View Page I started my seeds on Monday evening, I took off the shell and then put them in sealable plastic bags with some damp kitchen roll. I have been experimenting a bit lately and found that I get good results by lightly soaking the kitchen roll with 10-1 Water - Hydrogem Peroxide. The baggs then go in the kitchen above the cooker where the temperature is 80F. Wednesday, April 8 View Page My lineup is Pumpkins 462 Thomas(1188 Patonx936 Raymont) 559.5 Bourne(1248 Fordx1689 Jutras) 1026 Kent(1689 Jutrasx511 Zaychkowsky) 475.5 Bourne(1689 Jutrasx1248 Ford) 1188 Paton(1068 Wallacex1231 Pukos) 1341 Baggs(1188 Patonx963 Paton) 936 Raymont(511 Zaychkowskyx598 Zaychkowsky) 830 Raymont(511 Zaychkowskyx843 Reiss) 1042 Zuhlke DMG 08(1248 Fordx1041 McKie) 1079 Frei 08(1207 Youngx898 Knauss) 1341 Baggs 08(1188 Patonx963 Paton) Squash 602 Hume*(740 Hume*x1055 Pitura) 1055 Pitura 2006(848 Mackenzie*xSelf) 836 Neily*(848 MacKenzie ’04 x1063.5 MacKenzie ’05) 824 Brunst 05*(980 Razo*x756.8 Kennedy) 423 Ruegger(848 Mackenzie*x1234 Wurston*) I am going to grow 3 squash and 3 pumpkins and the rest of the plants are going to 3 freinds of mine who want to have a go at growing. Wednesday, April 8 View Page When I came home from work this evening I have 12 seeds germinated so they are all gone into pots in the propagator. This one is the 1055 Pitura*. I only have 3 more to germinate - 602 Hume*, 1188 Paton and the 1341 Baggs. Thursday, April 9 View Page This morning the 1188 Paton and the 1341 Baggs had germinated, then this evening the 602 Hume* has germinated so all of the seeds are in their pots now in the propagator and just need to come through the compost 100% germination so far. Friday, April 10 View Page Tunnel sheet has gone on today, I am still using perforated plastic but I have done a double layer so most holes are covered by the second sheet. Sunday, April 19 View Page My cabbage are now starting to green up, they have had a cold start but are looking better now. Sunday, April 19 View Page I am going to put a couple more plants outside, probably the 836 Neily* and maybe the 423 Ruegger*. Tuesday, April 21 View Page This picture should have been the first one on Sunday but hasn't shown up. I planted out the tunnel and my final lineup is 462 Thomas, 475.5 Bourne, 1188 Paton, 936 Raymont, 1055 Pitura* and an 824 Brunst* so in the end I decided to grow 4 pumpkins and 2 squash. Sunday, April 26 View Page My plants have now been in for 7 days, last week when I planted them they only had the first 2 cotyleden leaves. This is my own plant 462 Thomas. Sunday, April 26 View Page This is a 475.5 Bourne which is a 1689 Jutras x 1248 Ford, good cross I think, thanks to Lonnie for the seed. Sunday, April 26 View Page This one is an 1188 Paton thanks Ian and Stuart for giving me the seed, this is the seed that produced Mark and Frank Baggs (Dorset Farmers) 1341 UK & European record last year. Sunday, April 26 View Page And a 936 Raymont, thanks to Mark (AXC). I grew this seed last year and though I didn't get anything off it I think it's worth a trying again as it is a very vigerous plant. Sunday, April 26 View Page This is a 1055 Pitura* that I bought, it produced the WR 1234 Wursten* in 2007. Sunday, April 26 View Page This one is an 824 Brunst* which I have chosen to cross with the 1055, thanks to Lonnie for the trade. Sunday, April 26 View Page Other Jobs today have included starting my marrow seed, I have started several different strains and intend to do some proper crosses this year. I am using the same method to germinate these as I used for my pumpkin seed. I have also treated my pumpkin plants for Red Spider Mite and Aphids. Sunday, April 26 View Page I have also topdressed my pumpkin ground with this stuff it's an organic based Nitrogen fertiliser made from chicken manure, my soil test came back as very high in P + K so I don't need to add any more. I have also planted long runner beans in pots today. Tuesday, April 28 View Page Most of my marrow seed have germinated and gone into the propagator. I have seed germinated from 82 Thomas, Thomas 07, Mark Baggs 08, Stott yellow 08, Stott green 08, Saint 08, 50.9 Wild 08 and 56 Wursten 08. I am just waiting for 44 wursten 07 and a 76.7 Wursten 08. Sunday, May 3 View Page The weather has been dull wet and cold this week we even had 2 mornings of light frost, just enough to scrape off the truck windscreen. Here is a picture of my 462 Thomas. Sunday, May 3 View Page 475.5 Bourne growing well, the sun has been shining for the last 2 days and the pumpkins are looking better for it. Sunday, May 3 View Page 1188 Paton plant is looking good. Sunday, May 3 View Page The 936 Raymont is growing faster than the others. Sunday, May 3 View Page 1055 Pitura*. Sunday, May 3 View Page The 824 Brunst seems to be more vigerous than the 1055. Sunday, May 3 View Page Nearly all my marrow seed are up and looking well, I will probably plant them out next weekend. Sunday, May 3 View Page My giant cabbage are growing fairly well now, they are just about to spill out over their frames. Sunday, May 10 View Page 462 Thomas is making steady progress, it is on the end of the tunnel and I think probably it's a bit cooler over there. Sunday, May 10 View Page 475.5 Bourne is quite an open plant so far, it has started to vine. Sunday, May 10 View Page 1188 Paton is moving on well now,the leaves are getting bigger and there is a vine started. Sunday, May 10 View Page 936 Raymont is still growing fastest, lovely big leaves. Sunday, May 10 View Page 1055 Pitura* looking well. Sunday, May 10 View Page 824 Brunst* still looking stronger than the Pitura. Sunday, May 10 View Page My marrows have gone out today and I planted runner beans in the tunnel yesterday. We did have a bit of late frost this morning just a bit of white on the grass and ice on the truck windscreen. I have covered my marrows with bubble plastic to keep them warmer. Sunday, May 17 View Page We have a tame pheasant in the garden, yesterday I had him eating corn from my hand, I hope he doesen't get a liking for Cabbage! Sunday, May 17 View Page Today started like this with heavy rain and strong wind, this week started fairly well with a bit of sunshine but since Thursday evening we have had a lot of wind and rain, there were even some hails yesterday. Sunday, May 17 View Page 462 Thomas growing slowly and in need of a bit of warmth. Sunday, May 17 View Page 475.5 Bourne is a bit bigger than the Thomas, I think it's about to take off and grow. Sunday, May 17 View Page The 1188 Paton is turning into a very nice plant, I have been looking at last years diary and compairing the size of this one, so far I am well ahead. Sunday, May 17 View Page The 936 Raymont is a lot bigger than 12 months ago, it's now about 3 foot long. I am finding the diary here very handy to track progress. Sunday, May 17 View Page 1055 Pitura* is looking OK. Sunday, May 17 View Page 824 Brunst* is also growing well. Sunday, May 17 View Page I have also made covers for my marrow plants, they have already outgrown the smaller frames I made for them last week. The covers are made from wire sheep netting and paller wrap. Sunday, May 17 View Page My cabbage have suffered a little bit from the wind but are growing fairly well. Monday, May 25 View Page The weather has been better this week with a lot more sunshine, 462 Thomas has grown this week but is still smaller than the rest. Monday, May 25 View Page The weather last monday was windy but the sun was shining all day so in the tunnel must have got very hot and my 475.5 Borne got a bit of leaf scorch. It has recovered now and is about 3 Foot long. Monday, May 25 View Page 1188 Paton is doing well and is now about 5 foot long, the leaves sre very big. Monday, May 25 View Page 936 Raymont is still the biggest plant at abou 6 foot long. Monday, May 25 View Page 1055 Pitura has grown well this week and is about 4 foot long. Monday, May 25 View Page 824 Brunst still going strong at about 5 foot long. I have planted out some tall corn today that Phil Wellington sent me, they are about 12 inches tall at the moment. Monday, May 25 View Page I have 2 freinds that are growing for the first time and hoping to take someting to Shepton Mallet in September. This plant is a 462 Thomas that Simon is growing, It's about 6 foot long and looking very well. He is also growing an 830 Raymont and a 599.5 Bourne, the Bourne is probably the biggest at the moment. Monday, May 25 View Page William had a bit of bad luck last week when the wind got up and blew the sheet off his tunnel which destroyed his first 2 plants. He managed to get another sheet on yesterday and has replanted today with a 462 Thomas, 423 Ruegger* and a 1055 Pitura* that I grew as a backup. The plants are a bit potbound but at least he will have the chance to grow something. Wednesday, May 27 View Page Problems!!!!!......... The stem on my 1188 Paton has snapped!!! Wednesday, May 27 View Page It has gone about a third of the way through. I have been trying to bring the main down slowly with bamboos but I must have gone to quick. I have covered the next leaf node to try and get it rooting but this may be wishful thinking. Sunday, May 31 View Page My 462 Thomas has moved on this week and is now starting to show some vigour. Sunday, May 31 View Page 475.5 Bourne is now abou 6 foot and is going along the ground flat. (462 Thomas is about 5 foot) Sunday, May 31 View Page Even though the vine on my 1188 Paton split earlier this week the main is still moving and is about 8 foot long, I picked off the first female to let the plant recover. Sunday, May 31 View Page 936 Raymont is still the best plant at 11 foot long and the side vines are all getting longer, there is a female in the tip of the plant. Sunday, May 31 View Page 1055 Pitura* has moved on and is now about 6 foot long, it is quite a compact plant so far. Sunday, May 31 View Page 824 Brunst is doing very well at 8 foot long, the weather this week started wet but this weekend has been hot with full sun, we had a lot of strong wind earlier in the week but today has been ok. Sunday, June 7 View Page 462 Thomas is now 10 foot long and looking a lot more like a pumpkin plant. The 462 I gave to Simon measured 12 foot on Thursday. Sunday, June 7 View Page 475.5 Bourne is now 11 foot long so it has put on 5 foot since last Sunday, side vines are slow to get going. Sunday, June 7 View Page 1188 Paton is now 12 foot long and has 2 females on the main vine. Sunday, June 7 View Page What a turkey! I have loaded last weeks pictures, here is the 462 this week. Sunday, June 7 View Page 475.5 Bourne this week. Sunday, June 7 View Page And the 1188 Paton. Sunday, June 7 View Page 1055 Pitura* is now 9 foot long. Sunday, June 7 View Page And the 824 Brunst* is doing very well at 12 foot. The weather has been good all week with plenty of sunshine and fairly warm nights. Sunday, June 7 View Page My giant cabbage are behaving at the moment with no sign of bolting. Monday, June 8 View Page I forgot to put my best plant on yesterday, it's the 936 Raymont now at 15 foot. Sunday, June 14 View Page 462 Thomas is growing well now, it's 12 foot long and has some good strong leaves, there are female pumpkins that will probable be pollinated near the end of the week. Sunday, June 14 View Page 475.5 Bourne is still a bit thin but the main is now 14 foot long. I have given all of my plants Calcium, Manganese, Magnesium, Boron and Molybdomen this week just to cover any deficiencies some leaves have some yellowing between the vains. Sunday, June 14 View Page 1188 Paton has recovered very well from it's split main and has a female at 11 foot that I am hoping to pollinate in the morning. The main vine is now 16 foot. Sunday, June 14 View Page 936 Raymont is still the strongest plant at 19 foot long. I pollinated a female at 13 foot yesterday morning, I have self pollinated it as there were no other male flowers ready on any other plants. Sunday, June 14 View Page I am trying a bit of a different pattern to last year, I am training the plants diagonally across their plots so that I can fit about 25' of main vine under cover. The right hand side of the plant will be stopped when it reaches the edge of it's plot and will all be inside the tunnel but the left hand side of the plant is going out under the sheet and keep going which will give me a far bigger plant (in theory). The secondary vines are trained at 45 degrees to fit the plot. Sunday, June 14 View Page 1055 Pitura* is growng fairly well now but the vines still all want to go up in the air. The main vine is 11 foot long. Sunday, June 14 View Page 824 Brunst is still looking good at 16 foot, there is a female at about 11 foot that may open by the end of the week. Sunday, June 14 View Page My marrow plants have started to vine now and range from 3 to 4 foot long, I have sprayed carefully around them this morning with some roundup to clean up the weeds. Wednesday, June 17 View Page Pollinated a real nice 5 lobe 824 Brunst* with a 1055 Pitura* this morning about 12 foot out, hope it takes! Thursday, June 18 View Page Pollinated the second 936 Raymont this morning with an 1188 Paton, tomorrow morning it looks like a 462 Thomas will be ready to pollinate, I will have to use a 936 male. The 1188 Paton has had 2 female flowers so far both have had seed on the outside so I have picked them off. Monday, June 22 View Page I took these photos yesterday but didn't get a chance to put them on. This is a picture of my 462 Thomas I pollinated the first pumpkin at 10 foot on Friday with a 936 Raymont and there will be another at about 15 foot in the morning which I hope to pollinate with a 475.5 Bourne. Monday, June 22 View Page My 475.5 bourne has taken off, it's now about 18 foot long. I pollinated a this morning with a 936 but the flower end had a couple of seeds in it so I am hoping that the next flower will be ok. Monday, June 22 View Page I pollinated an 1188 on Friday with a 936 it was a good flower but on a secondary. This morning another flower on the main was ready but again it had a couple of seeds on the outside, I have pollinated it with a 936 and will see what happens with the next one. Monday, June 22 View Page Here is the first 936, I pollinated a second one on Saturday with an 1188, both were very good 5 lobe flowers. Monday, June 22 View Page The 1055 Pitura* has got a bud at about 13 foot which I hope to pollinate near the end of this week. The plant is now about 18 foot long. Monday, June 22 View Page And here is the 824 Brunst*, I have 2 pollinated on this one both with a 1055 first one pollinated on Wednesday and the second was pollinated yesterday. Monday, June 22 View Page Here is a picture of the first 824, there are a few cracks in the flower end. Monday, June 22 View Page These are my runner beans, the first flower buds are about to open. Wednesday, June 24 View Page I pollinated a 6 lobe 462 with a 475.5 Bourne yesterday morning and this morning I have pollinated a third 824 Brunst* with a 1055 Pitura* and at last I have pollinated a perfect 5 lobe 1188 Paton with a 936 Raymont. I am just waiting for the 1055 Pitura*, should be this week. Friday, June 26 View Page I have pollinated a perfect 6 lobe 1055 Pitura* with an 824 Brunst* this mornig, yesterday morning I pollinated 2 1188 Patons on the main vine the first with a 936 and the second with a 475.5 Sunday, June 28 View Page To start with this week here is an overall view of my tunnel, the plants have all filled the space inside and are now growing out under the sheet. Sunday, June 28 View Page Here is my 462 Thomas, I have crossed it with a 475.5 Bourne and there is another one ready to pollinate in the morning. Sunday, June 28 View Page 475.5 Bourne, this is the one that I crossed with the 936, it's in a good position and I am hoping to keep it. Sunday, June 28 View Page Here is a nice 1188 Paton x 936 Raymont I have picked off the first pollinated on this plant because it had seed on the outside. Sunday, June 28 View Page And the star of the show so far is my 936 x self, it taped at 90" this evening, if it was 91" (which is where the chart starts) it would weigh 22.6lbs. 15 days since pollination. Sunday, June 28 View Page 1055 Pitura* x 824 Brunst*, I have another 1055 to pollinate in the morning in case this one is no good. Sunday, June 28 View Page 824 Brunst*, something has put a couple of marks on this one this week, I am going to see what it looks like in a day or two and may then cut it off. My wife is begining to wonder where all of the patio chairs have gone. Sunday, June 28 View Page Due to popular demand here is a picture of my cabbage, they are still very leafy with no hearts yet, I am watering them every morning now as the weather has gone dry and hot, quite a contrast to last years weather so far but it may all go wrong yet! Sunday, June 28 View Page I have also got some canatalope mellons on the go I have never tried these before. There seem to be plenty of Male flowers but no females so far. Thanks to Scott Robb who sent me the seed, they are from his WR melon. Sunday, June 28 View Page I am going to pollinate the first marrow in the morning, it's going to be a Stott green x Stott yellow, all of the marrow plants are looking very good. The weather for the past couple of weeks has been very good with day temps of 18 - 22C and the night temps have not gone much below 12C, hopefully this will continue and there will be plenty of competition at the shows at the end of the summer. Sunday, July 5 View Page Here is a view of the tunnel, as you see I have bought some cheap umbrellas on ebay, we now have the patio chairs back. Sunday, July 5 View Page The tunnel is full now and most of the growth is going on outside. Sunday, July 5 View Page 462 Thomas x 475.5 Bourne pollinated on 12/06 so 12 days old. Sunday, July 5 View Page 475.5 Bourne x 936 Raymont pollinated on 24/06 so it's 11 days old. Sunday, July 5 View Page 1188 Paton x 936 Raymont 24/06 11 days old. Sunday, July 5 View Page 936 Raymont now taping at 161" 99lbs, thats 77lb this week. Sunday, July 5 View Page I have picked off my first 1055 Pitura*, the second one looks no better. Sunday, July 5 View Page This is the third one which I pollinated with an 824 on 02/07 so I hope it takes. Sunday, July 5 View Page And here is the 824 Brunst*, I decided to keep it even though it has a mark. At day 18 it's taping 126" or 51.7lb (day 18 for the 936 was 46.6) Sunday, July 5 View Page I have started to pollinate marrows, this one is Saint x Baggs pollinated on 30/06. Sunday, July 5 View Page Tall corn from Phill Wellington is doing very well, now about 4.5 foot tall. Saturday, July 11 View Page It's raining today and the summer weather has gone again so I took a trip to see Simon, here he is in the middle of his pach. The plant in front is an 830 Raymont then he has a 559.5 Bourne and behind him there is a 462 Thomas. Saturday, July 11 View Page Here is his 462 Thomas, he taped it yesterday at 185lbs, he also has a pumpkin of about 100lbs on the Bourne. Sunday, July 12 View Page My 462 Thomas is away now at 63.1lbs. Sunday, July 12 View Page 475.5 Bourne is now 38.2lbs and is putting on 6 to 7lbs a day. Sunday, July 12 View Page 1188 Paton looking good at 56.1lbs. Sunday, July 12 View Page 936 Raymont still growing well at 202lbs a gain of 103lb this week. Sunday, July 12 View Page I have finally got a 1055 Pitura* pollinated. Sunday, July 12 View Page 824 Brunst* has put on 76.3lbs this week and is now 128lbs. Sunday, July 12 View Page My marrows have had a hard time with the wind this week, quite a few damaged leaves. Sunday, July 12 View Page My giant cabbage are a bit more sheltered and growing well. Sunday, July 19 View Page The weather this week has been wet and windy with a lack of sunshine, my 462 Thomas 188ott 151lb a gain of 87.9lb this week. Sunday, July 19 View Page 475.5 Bourne 165ott 105lb 66.8lb gain in the last 7 days. Sunday, July 19 View Page 1188 Paton is doing well 185ott 144lb 87.9lb gain in 7 days. I had a bit of blossom end rot in it this week so I have cut off the very end back to where it is clean and treated with Hydrogen Peroxide, it has dried up very well so I hope it is going to be OK. Sunday, July 19 View Page 936 Raymont 247ott 325lb 123lb gain for 7 days. Sunday, July 19 View Page 1055 Pitura* is now away 87ott not on the chart yet. Sunday, July 19 View Page 824 Brunst* 218ott 228lbs 100lb gain for the week. Sunday, July 26 View Page The weather has been very changeable this week, some days have been cold and wet then other days the sun has come out and warmed things up again so growth has been erratic. My 462 Thomas has still managed to put on 128lbs this week giving a total of 279lbs. Sunday, July 26 View Page 475.5 Bourne has grown 126lbs and is now 231lbs. Sunday, July 26 View Page 1188 Paton has put on 125lbs and is now 269lbs. Sunday, July 26 View Page My 936 Raymont put on 40lbs yesterday and was up to 430lbs. Sunday, July 26 View Page But it was to much for it and the back end split wide open. I seem to get this every year with at least 1 pumpkin, I blame the weather this week, Tuesday and Wednesday the 936 only gained 4lb a day then it grew fast at the end of the week, I have resisted giving any of my pumpkins extra feed this year. Sunday, July 26 View Page 1055 Pitura* is now 149ott or 82.2lbs, it's ok so far and the plant looks good. Sunday, July 26 View Page 824 Brunst* has gained 109lbs this week and is now 337lbs but it also has problems, it had a little bit of rot just under the stem so I have scraped the rot away with a knife and treated it with Hydrogen Peroxide now I ma trying to dry it out with a fan. Sunday, July 26 View Page 824 Brunst* Sunday, July 26 View Page The cabbage are loving the weather, the hearts are forming but they are still quite soft. Sunday, August 23 View Page I haven't had much luck over the past fer weeks, I have now lost my 462 Thomas and my 1188 Paton. Both pumpkins split open beside the stem. Here is my 824 Brunst*, it has some issues beside the stem, I have cut out the wound and dressed it with sulphur. Sunday, August 23 View Page 1055 Pitura* ok at the moment. Sunday, August 23 View Page My 475.5 Bourne is also just about hanging in there. There is a crack besige the stem but it has dried up now, the pumpkin has slowed down so I am hoping that it will last for another 10 days and go to Shepton Mallet. Sunday, August 23 View Page I am waiting to get this one on the scales (not me the cabbage) at least I have something going right. Sunday, August 23 View Page And here is the one next to it, not as much outer leaf but the heart is bigger, it's always difficult to know which one or two to cut and take to the show. Friday, September 4 View Page Just a quick update from Shepton Mallet, I have been beaten by a seed from my 462 Thomas, that's simon Goldsworthy sitting on his pumpkin in the middle weighing in at 670lbs, I am sitting on my 475.5 Bourne on the right weighing in at 634lbs and Mark Raymont is on the left on his pumpkin also grown from my 462 seed and is weighing in at 631.4lbs. The top 3 pumpkins at the show were grown in Cornwall, I also took 1st place with my 1055 Pitura* which weighed in at 591lbs, and I took 1st and second place cabbage with 99.88lbs and 98.56lbs so I have beaten my PB pumpkin and squash. Wednesday, September 9 View Page Just a few more photos from Shepton Mallet, here is me with my 2 cabbage 98.56 on the left and 99.88 on the right. Wednesday, September 9 View Page Here is my 591 Thomas* (1055 Pitura* x 824 Brunst*) which went 14% heavy. Wednesday, September 9 View Page 635 Thomas (475.5 Bourne x 936 Raymont). Wednesday, September 9 View Page Here is the winning pumpkin 670 Goldsworthy. Not bad for his first ever pumpkin! Wednesday, September 9 View Page 631 Raymont with Mark behind it. Wednesday, September 9 View Page This is Ian Stott who turned up with an impressive truck load of marrows. Wednesday, September 9 View Page And here is Ian Neal with 2 swedes both weighing in at 81.55lb, a world record for a short while until a few hours later when he was beaten by Scott Robb. Wednesday, September 9 View Page The show runs for 3 days so on the Saturday George, Simon, William and myself gave Ian and Stuart Paton a call to see if they wouldn't mind a few visitors. We had a great afternoon down with Stuart, he gave us plenty of advice on growing so we are all now planning next year. Thanks to Stuart and Ian for giving us their time. And what a great lot of pumpkins!! Wednesday, September 9 View Page My 824 Brunst* didn't make it, the damage in the back got worse. It taped at 555lb and was crossed with the 1055 Pitura*, I have taken out the seeds and have them drying. Sunday, October 11 View Page I had a great day yesterday up at the GPC show in Southampton, this is the lorry load of pumpkins that Ian and Stuart Paton turned up with, all over 1000lb, what a lovely sight!! Sunday, October 11 View Page Stuart and Ian kindly agreed to weigh a couple of cabbage for me, the first one weighed in at 99lb and I beat my personal best with this one which weighed in at 107lb. I am now looking forward to next year and hopefully growing a bigger one!! Saturday, November 28 View Page I started my cabbage seed on th 31st October, here they are ready to pot up. Saturday, November 28 View Page All potted up, I will just keep them frost free for the winter and plant them out next March. The weather has been very wet and windy for the past few weeks so I haven't yet got any ground ready. Saturday, December 12 View Page My cabbage are growing slowly, they now have 2 rough leaves, I have the greenhouse heater set on frost protection as we may have some this week coming. Saturday, December 12 View Page Here's a closeup cabbage picture. It was raining a couple of weeks ago on Sunday so I had a go at making a video for Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZYYhPVCesA