Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 183 Entries. Tuesday, February 5 View Page Final the day has come. Pollinated the 1290 Poirier!!!16ft,perfect 5-Lobe on the Main.I will "ice down" today with highs in 80's expected. (1290 Poirier X 819.5 VanHook) Sunday, April 6 View Page Well, I thought now would be a good time to start my 2008 diary. Pulled a Soil Sample Friday, April 4th and sent it in to A&L Labs.Anxiously awaiting results to see what my Fall Ammendments did and what I need to do before I start to Plant? Sunday, April 6 View Page Fence secured,Hoop Houses built,sprinkler system installed.I will be incorporating a automatic watering system with soaker house into the patch this year.Overhead foliar feedings of fish & seaweed every two days. Sunday, April 6 View Page Another early Patch shot..... Sunday, April 6 View Page Test germination that I did a few weeks ago. Just can't find it in myself to put this little guy down? Sunday, April 6 View Page Another experiment to see how this Plant does on it's own for a week in early April inside the hoophouse.... Sunday, April 6 View Page Just a example of the benefits of mounding to help keep the temps a little warmer in the early season....77.7 F at 5:00PM in the mound and 67.8 F in the soil at ground level. Sunday, April 6 View Page I would like to take this entry to thank all of the generous growers that sent me seeds this year. I really wish I could plant them all but I only have room for two? I have literally spent all winter trying to decide which ones to plant this year. The following seeds have made the list with back-ups and or Pollinators. Thanks Again to everyone, I will hold onto all seeds and try my best to let them all see dirt in the next few years. Sunday, April 6 View Page Start date for seeds is set for April 20th. This is my Germination/grow-out chamber. Test inside this chamber have been extremely successful. I can hardly wait to get started...It's been a Looooonggg Winter!!! Saturday, April 12 View Page 8:30PM, 48 degrees outside temps. Inside my Hoophouse with a outdoor floodlight on, a toasty 60+ degrees!!! Hoophouse warmer succesful!! Tic-Toc,Tic-Toc....Countdown till planting day!! Friday, April 18 View Page Well I received my A&L Soil Report back last night. All looks promising.... Ph 7.1 raised from 5.8 with the addition of 120lbs. of dolomitic Lime. Calcium levels increased from 1500ppm to 2800ppm; addition of 40lbs of Gypsum and a whole bunch of shredded maple leaves really helped. My OM levels went up from 3.0 to 5.3; again leaves,grass clippings and lots of manure really helped. My K(potassium) and Mg(magnesium) levels are at about a 1:1 ratio K 407ppm and Mg 431ppm My current C.E.C. is 18.7 Needless to say I am Pleased with the "fruits" of my labor last Fall. My Cations Saturations are the following.... K% 5.6 Mg% 18.9 Ca% 74.5 H% 0.0 Na% 1.0 Friday, April 18 View Page Today was my Planned day to finalize my patch prep in preparation of seedling Planting Day!!! Tilled in a bag of Scotts Grub-ex and tilled under my sparse Cereal Rye Cover Crop. I dug down about 3ft in a 4'x 4' where I will be planting my seedlings in this area I mixed in some organic soil ammendment called "Bumper Crop" and sprinkled each 4 x 4 plating area with 2lbs. of Espoma Bio-starter with Mycor. I ran my soaker hoses, connected my overhead sprinkling system, laid down walking boards to help eliminate compaction, ran electricity to the patch for some heat lamps if need be in May and surrounded one of my hoophouse with a "wind barrier" constructed with Shrink wrap. If this wind break doesn't hold up I will resort back to the black silt screen material I used last year. Rain is in the forcast for Sunday which will help set the Grub-ex and hopefully start the Mycorhizzial fungi spores to grow? the temps today and the last couple have been in the upper 70's. long term forecast looks promising. Sunday April 20th is Seed Soaking Day!!! I can hardly wait. Friday, April 18 View Page A&L Western Agricultural Laboratories Soil Sample Sunday, April 20 View Page Seeds were Filed last night. They soaked for 2 hours in room temperature rain water that I had collected a week before. Into damp paper towels at 90 degrees for about 36 hours.Then they will be planted into pre-warmed(85-90 degree) Pro-Mix Ultimate Organic Mix with Myco,watered in with same temperature rainwater. hope to see seedlings pushing thru in 3-5 days. After that growlight will be placed ~2"-3" overhead till first sign of true leaf development then it's out into the hoops after a day of hardening-off. Sounds good? I just hope it all comes together as I've planned it would over and over in my head the whole winter!!!! http://www.premierhort.com/eProMix/Gardening/fGardening.htm Monday, April 21 View Page In little under 17 hours all seeds have germinated!!!I've placed them 1" below the surface of 90 degree Pro-Mix Ultimate Organic Mix and watered them in with 90 degree rainwater.Hoping in 2-3 days to see the seedlings emerge. the slowest germinating of the three is the 932.5 Tanner seed. It just barely showed evidence of a "Foot" appearing? The other three seeds had ~1/2" "Foot" showing. Fingers-crossed all is going as Planned......... Wednesday, April 23 View Page 1290 Poirier busting thru the top layer of soil in just under 48 hours......The other three seedlings have pushed the top layer of soil up and all should be total out within the next 24 hours. I have placed a growlight 2" above these and will keep a 12 hour cycle of "Daylight"/Darkness till they go out into the hoops. Thursday, April 24 View Page 5 days Later this is where we stand....Everyones up!!! Left to right..1069 Zunino 07'(1191 Zunino X 1450 Wallace)),1290 Poirier 07'(772.2 Poirier X 500 Northrup),932.5 Tanner 05'(1225 Jutras X Self),501 Kane 07'(998 Pukos X 991 Urena) Saturday, April 26 View Page Everyones doing well with "Arwen Jr." in the lead. Hoping to get these guys in the patch Thursday May 1st but the weather is calling for cold and rainy with lows in the 40's so I don't know If this is going to happen? Time will tell? Saturday, April 26 View Page "Arwen Jr." WooHoooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!! Sunday, April 27 View Page "Arwen Jr." In his New Home for the next 6 months!!!!!!!!! Hoops secure, heat lamps (outdoor standard holiday floodlight)at the ready. It's grow Time!!!!!!!!! Sunday, April 27 View Page The Magestic 1290 Poirier finds a comfortable spot in it's new Home as well!!!! Let the Games Begin!!!!Woo Hooo!!! Wednesday, April 30 View Page "Arwen Jr." Day 4 comfortably in it's hoop. With interior daytime temps inside the hoop at 80 and outside temps in the 40's. Night temps have been outside in the low 40's-30's while inside the hoop the lights and addition of 1 gallon hotwater Jugs temps have been at a steady comfortable 60 degrees.Warmer weather due back in the next few days.. Wednesday, April 30 View Page 1290 Poirier also doing well at day 4 in the hoophouse. Wednesday, April 30 View Page 501 Kane(pictured) and 932.5 Tanner still inside under the lights awaiting the weekend for transplant into their hoops. Saturday, May 3 View Page Last Day Inside for the 501 Kane 07'(left) and 932.5 Tanner 05' (right). They will be planted outside tomorrow. Sunday, May 4 View Page 1069 Zunino 07' (Arwen Jr.) End of first week in the Hoophouse. Sunday, May 4 View Page 1290 Poirier 07' End of first week in Hoophouse. Tuesday, May 6 View Page Wondering what is causing the yellow edge on the First true leaf of "Arwen Jr."? Hoping it will outgrow this, could be the temperature fluctuation from 60's to upper 80's during the day? Again, time will tell............. Friday, May 9 View Page What a difference a few days makes....."Arwen Jr." is starting to "Vine-out" a little.Sprinkled a little bit of blood meal around the mound and watered it in with rainwater 3-days ago and whaalaaa!!! Friday, May 9 View Page 1290 Poirier is starting to develop a vine.Plants got a little water/Neptunes Fish & Seaweed today. Sunday, May 11 View Page New and improved "Hot Box" used some shrink wrap and angled iron for a last minute back-up hot house... Sunday, May 11 View Page Started a last minute back-up Seed just in case? Don't want to take any chances to loose out on the window of opportunity should something go a rye...The seed that I have choosen goes hand in hand with my final goals 819.5 VanHook 07'(932.5 Tanner X 998.6 Pukos). Monday, May 12 View Page "Arwen Jr." Seems to be growing bigger everyday?? You can really see the vine starting to form in this picture. Saturday, May 17 View Page The 819.5 VanHook decide to Pop up and spit its seed coat all in one day!!!!!Very happy this one showed it's self!!! Saturday, May 17 View Page "Arwen Jr." just stretching out.... Saturday, May 17 View Page 1290 Poirier, nice steady "very clean" growth.... Thursday, May 22 View Page Ok,This is the status of my 1069 Zunino("Arwen Jr.")Plant. It Main Vine wants to grow straight up!!! I am going to try to weigh it back down towards the ground by adding more weight(hanger-ends)each day? will see if this will work. I could really use some suggestions about now? Thursday, May 22 View Page Well I took a little break from tending to the Pumpkins yesterday.I took my son fishing,Boy did he hook a Monster Brown Trout!!!!! Sunday, May 25 View Page 1290 Poirier.... Sunday, May 25 View Page "Arwen Jr." growing like a Champ!!!I might just have him convinced to run on the ground instead of straight-up. ;) Sunday, May 25 View Page Well I got the 819.5 VanHook in the ground yesterday.I am very glad i decided to grow this one at the last minute as I just got word the My seregate Grower seem to have incinerated my 501 Kane and 932.5 Tanner by leavinging it in a unventilated hoop the last couple of days since the sun decided to shine and the temps have gotten above 70. I'm a little Bummed out cause I had huge hopes of pollinating my plants with either the 501 Kane or 932.5 Tanner? Thank goodness I have one remaining seed of both that I can hopefully grow myself next year. Monday, May 26 View Page Today I did a 1/2 teaspoon (Bayer Tree and Shrub) per 2 gallons of water drench on both plants. One gallon of mixture per plant. Tonight was the first Foliar feeding of Neptunes Seaweed and Fish(mixture rate was 1 once per 2 gallons of water)I only did a quick spray under and on top of each leaf. Vines are very close to touching ground, I removed one leaf and stalk that was impeading "Arwen Jr." journey towards his final touch-down. High winds all day and temps in the 80's,plants look great. thankgoodness for Hoophouses and windbreaks with all the wind Friday, May 30 View Page Day 34. "Arwen Jr." is a very aggressive plant!!!I feel that my early introduction of Blood meal prior to the vine actually laying down on the ground has caused such a task of getting the main vine to actual touch the ground? It has been a daily task of gradually coaxing it down. I can say this though the Mainvine and Stump is HUGE!!!! Sunday, June 1 View Page Woohoo!!!"Arwen Jr.'s" vine is down and running, so much so I had to extend the hoop further out. I actually have four secondaries over 3" long(2 on each side after the basal crown and before the main.) Sunday, June 1 View Page 1290 Poirier still slowly chugging along and is yet to laydown? Hopefully the warmer week ahead will bring some much need growth on this Plant? Sunday, June 1 View Page 819.5 VanHook doing well a week after being in the ground.Timing should be perfect for a bountiful supply of male flowers come The first week of July!!!! Thursday, June 5 View Page 1069 Zunino("Arwen Jr.) Gets a little fresh air today. I opened up the hoop to start training the secondaries.This weekend is expected to be really hot...Like upper 90's for 3-4 days. i am trying to figure out a way to keep the plants cool? Thursday, June 5 View Page Well in preparation for the heatwave this is what I have come up with for cooling things down. I figure I will mist them every 2 hours set on automatic timer, hopefully this will keep them cool enough. I really think I want to invest in some shade cloth. Not only will it keep the scourch sun off the plants but it will hopefully protect them from the freak hail storms of June and July? Thursday, June 5 View Page here is the status of the 1290 Poirier....On the run, slowly but surely.....The hoop will stay up on this plant until the secondaries start to develop and the main lays down properly? Monday, June 9 View Page "Arwen Jr." is really enjoying this heat!!!!I rigged up a few cheap bed sheets as shade cloth to keep the plants out of direct contact with all this intense sunlight and sprayed the plants down for about 15 minutes every four hours for the last few days while temps have been in the 90's.The wind has been a constant battle but the sheets have protect from the sun as well as the gust of wind. Yesterday I decided on giving a drench of 2 gallons of 15-30-15 and merit to each plant .I really anticipate a push on the secondaries growth with the additional phosphate push.The weather is expected to change tonight to heavy T-storms followed by a cooling down into the 70's and then back to the 90's for the weekend.I did'nt water today in anticipation of rain tonight so that I did'nt get caught in a overwater situation with the rains tonight and tommorrow.I will spend some time tonight "battenind down the hatches" in preparation for what could be high winds!! Monday, June 9 View Page 1290 Poirier also has made some great gains in lentgh over the last few days of heat.I am hoping the additional push of nitrogen and phosphorus gets it's secondaries into gear? Huge leaves on this Plant and very "clean" growth. Tuesday, June 10 View Page 1290 Poirier showing it's first female at about 6 1/2 ft. Tuesday, June 10 View Page Had a nasty weather day today!! Started out nice but at around 10:30am we were hit with high winds and hail!!!Luckily my back-up "Patch Master"(my wife) was ahead of the storm and did a super job covering my one exposed Plant with a large 30x30 poly tarp and saved "Arwen Jr." from a almost certain early end to it's season. Tonight while straightening things out from the extreme afternoon weather I noticed a female developing on the first secondary of "Arwen Jr.". Hopefully things get more steady as far as weather patterns go? Short term forecast shows day time temps in the upper 70's, low 80's with night time temps around upper 50's ,Low 60's for the next 4 days. I will be removing the hoophouse from the 1290 Poirier tommorrow afternoon as the secondaries are starting to hit the sides. With the soil drench of 15-30-15(2 days ago) and the heavy rainfall today I am anxious to see some growth spurts in the next couple of days... Wednesday, June 11 View Page 1290 Poirier is starting to laydown her secondaries. I opened up the hoops and have just placed a twin size white bedsheet as a shade structure and emergency hail protection over top.Their is a female at the end of this mainvine...WooooHooooo!!! Wednesday, June 11 View Page 819.5 VanHook is atarting to laydown a vine.It is about a foot long now and real a "clean" plant like the 1290 Poirier.My main goal with this plant is to get as many male flowers deeloped for the first week of July.I plan on pollinating the 1290 Poirier with this plant. The 1069 Zunino("Arwen Jr.") will be pollinated with 1290 Poirier if everything goes as planned? Wednesday, June 11 View Page Well a Quick NewsFlash! My Army of~200 Praying Mantis have just hatched, I am going to release these onto my Grapes and Pumpkin Plants in the morning. Beware Pests!!! My army of hundreds will seek you out and hunt you down till every last pest is eradicated!!!!Muahhaaaaaa!!!!! Saturday, June 14 View Page "Arwen Jr." in all her Glory with one of her 3 Babies at 11 Ft. Sprayed a 1oz. to 1 gallon solution of Orthenex tonight to start a gradual campaign to keep Powdery mildew from prematurely hitting the Patch and also to deter any cucumber beetles ,White flies or any other pesky pest from messing with the Plants Saturday, June 14 View Page a little better picture of "Arwens Jrs. prodigy...... Saturday, June 14 View Page 819.5 VanHook(932.5 Tanner x 998 Pukos) doing well and starting to ecscape it's "mini-hoop". Saturday, June 14 View Page 1290 Poirier starting to put on so secondaries and stretch out...She's now at 10 Ft. Monday, June 16 View Page Patch shot..... Monday, June 16 View Page Got Stump? Monday, June 16 View Page Got Hit with Hail tonight!!!Dime size hail fell a half hour after I finished straightening up the patch tonight. Almost every leaf on the secondaries received "Bullet-Holes":( I don't know what kind of impact this going to cause now but I'm quite certain the female at 11 ft on the Zunino Plant will abort? The weather is brutal this year? Hail twice in the last week. Monday, June 16 View Page More pictures of the damage.... Tuesday, June 17 View Page From upsetting to exciting in less than 24hrs.!!!!!The first male flower on the 1290 Poirier is ready to open tommorrow morning.Unfortunately it could'nt wait a few more days till the first female opens on the 1069 Zunino. But if it was that easy and calculated it would'nt be as much fun;) I'll definately get a picture in the morning of my first 2008 flower!!!!Even at this early stage in the game I have a strong sense of accomplishment...From starring at and contemplating the right seed all winter,to a successful germination early spring,to a problem free outside transplant,to watching the slow early growth daily in the month of May,to experiencing the satisfaction of getting the vine to hit the ground,to the first sign of secondaries appearing,to the first sign of males and female flowers developing; It's all extremely inspiring and fullfilling..I can honestly say this has become one of the most rewarding hobbies I have ever been involved with. Ok,I'll stop rambling. Tuesday, June 17 View Page First Female Flower approximately 11 ft. out on the main vine of the 1069 Zunino("Arwen Jr.") I predict it will open in the next 2-3 days.I really want to pollinate this one with a Flower from the 1290 Poirier but I don't think the timing will be on my side? Tuesday, June 17 View Page If the timing isn't right for the flower at 11 feet,I just might be able to get a male flower from the 1290 Poirier in time to pollinate this flower another foot out at 12 feet on "Arwen Jr.". Wednesday, June 18 View Page First Bloom of the Season!!!!! Wednesday, June 18 View Page Bagged and refrigerated. Hoping to use this to Pollinate the first female in the "Zone" on the 1069 Zunino. Saturday, June 21 View Page Pollination day. I pollinated this perfect 5-lobe female at about 5ft on the first secondary vine of the 1069 Zunino. I don't believe I will be keeping this one but really wanted to see how viable the pollen is off the male flower I cut 4 days earlier and have had stored in the refrigerator. Saturday, June 21 View Page I have a real dilemma now? A Female at 11 1/2 ft is going to open tommorrow morning and their are no male flowers ready to go yet? I really hope some of my fellow local growers have a male flower available? Saturday, June 21 View Page Well I awoke this morning to this beauty of a Flower on the first secondary vine about 5 ft out on my 1069 Zunino Plant.The "Choosen One" at 11 1/2 ft looks now like it will open tommorrow, so I really wanted to see If the Pollen I refrigerated 4 days ago was still viable so I decide to try to Pollinate the sidevine flower this morning? I'll post the results if it works? Saturday, June 21 View Page This is a shot of the 1069 Zunino(Arwen Jr.")to date. The "Choosen One" is pictured at 11 1/2 ft on the mainvine, it will open tommorrow morning. I might have a male flower to pollinate it with from my 1290 Poirier open in the morning, which would work out like I have dreamed all winter long!!! This morning however I was'nt so sure of the development of the male flower so i sent out a urgent plea for pollen to my fellow growers. One particular grower gave me 3 male flowers that just happen to open this morning for him; in trade I gave him a nice sheet of mill fabric:)Hoping for a perfect Morning!!!! Saturday, June 21 View Page The "choosen One" ripe and ready for pollination first thing in the morning!!!Wish me luck!! Saturday, June 21 View Page This is the intended male pollinator off the 1290 Poirier. I am really hoping it opens tommorrow to make my intended cross ? if not, I have back-up from another grower at the ready..time will tell? Saturday, June 21 View Page The 1290 Poirier has a Female at 13 and 14 ft. These two look to be ready on or about the week of the 4th of July? The plan is starting to come together!!!!Praying for good steady weather? Sunday, June 22 View Page Well she open this morning!!A perfect 5-lobed beauty,only problem the male flower on my pollinator didn't open:( Just to let everyone know If you attempt to get pollen from a male flower that hasn't opened don't do it, cause it won't have any pollen in it yet:( I ended up using the pollen gratiously given to me the day before from a very generous local grower. Keeping my fingers crossed for a successful pollination Sunday, June 22 View Page Keep'in Cool.....Styrofoam and Ice, high's expected in the 80's. I need to pull out every trick in the book..... Sunday, June 22 View Page Will be terminating and burying my first secondary vine at 13 feet. You can see it underneith the gate to my garden, I decided to let it grow past the point of termination so that the last leaf would be larger and sturdier,so I could put a stake in the ground and zip-tie the last leaf stalk to it to keep the wind from twisting it around or blowing it upward in a storm.The other side secondary is also at 13 ft but it has another 3- 4 ft left to grow before it gets terminated. I did another measurement of the main on the 1069 Zunino and it is at 16 ft.The 1290 Poirier is now at 15 ft. Monday, June 23 View Page Hail Again !!!!! This is becoming the Year of the hail!!!I never remember this many incidents of hail before? It looks like the combination of a cold wet spring and multiple incidents of hail, this could be a tough season just getting fruit to the scale,let alone achieving any record setting weights? Monday, June 23 View Page Hoping this one holds on, but I'm fearful that the pollination did'nt take? Time will tell? Monday, June 23 View Page Sprayed the Patch with Orthenex tonight. All this rain and cooler nights have me scared that Powdery Mildew might start to show up? While Spraying, I noticed tiny white flies fleaing from beneath the leaf canopy? hopefully this will take care of them as well;) Tuesday, June 24 View Page Pollinating three females on the 1069 Zunino in the morning with pollen from the 1290 Poirier. Two are on the first and second secondaries( one at 12ft the other at 11 1/2 ft.) The "Keeper"(shown in picture with male 1290 Poirier pollinator, the night before) will hopefully be the one opening a foot up from the one I pollinated on the Mainvine 2 days ago. It is sitting at 12 1/2 ft and looks to be in great position with a long stem!!!! Wish me Luck!!! Tuesday, June 24 View Page Male Flowers are starting to show up alittle more timely now on the 1290 Poirier.I have stopped all fertilizing as of three days ago now that Pollination has begun, probably will not start up again untill only one pumpkin is choosen and all others are culled. Tuesday, June 24 View Page One of the sidevine females about 11 1/2 ft. out on the 2nd left side secondaries.I am going to use 2 day old refrigerated pollen from the 1290 Poirier and really just see if it is still viable to pollinate with? The first female pollinated this year on the 1069 Zunino was also done with 4-day old refrigerated pollen and as of today appears to have taken? Tuesday, June 24 View Page Sorry Bee's, but these male flowers are just to rare to take a chance!!! Wednesday, June 25 View Page Awoke to this 6-lobed beauty.Could this be "Arwen's "Rosemary's Baby" as talked about in Zunino Lore? Wednesday, June 25 View Page Just gotta luv Zip-ties!!!!Quick and easy. Thursday, June 26 View Page Well in case anyone wants to know, pollen is still viable after 4-days left in a refrigerator....Day 6 and she's growing.... Thursday, June 26 View Page What a concept!!Cheap and effective!!!Want to protect your males from those pollen steal'in little S.O.Bee's...Go to your local Michael's Craft store and get a few of these "breathable",drawstring equipped, wedding favor bags.They are the nuts for covering the male flowers the night before.I'm now going to see if they carry slightly larger ones for the Females? Thursday, June 26 View Page Covered and ready to rock first thing in the morning!!!! Thursday, June 26 View Page These smaller "Baggies" might just be the ticket for both Male and Female Flowers? Thursday, June 26 View Page Here is the 11 1/2 ft Pollination on the mainvine of the 1069 Zunino.Pollinated on 6/22/08 (5-days ago) 5-Lobed, Pollinated at 9:00 am.Used another growers male flowers for pollen that I refrigerated overnight. I believe it is from a WoldXPukos cross but i will find out more details in a few days? Sunday, June 29 View Page Got Stem?????Wow!!!! Sunday, June 29 View Page How's these for Ribs? Day 9... Sunday, June 29 View Page Now here is a first...Twins!? Monday, June 30 View Page Some are chugging right along... Monday, June 30 View Page ..While others are getting cut..Day 9,First on the Main at 11 1/2 Ft. way behind on size and starting too loose it's "shine" she had to go!!!,But just up the vine a little something is definately GROWING!!!! Game On.... Monday, June 30 View Page Ever wondered what's inside? Wednesday, July 2 View Page 1069 Zunino 07' X 1290 Poirier 07' Day 8 6-Lobed 13 feet on the Main Vine 17"Circ. Would Ya just look at her Shine!!!!!!WoooHHHoooooo!!! Wednesday, July 2 View Page Pollinated a 4-lobe,2nd secondary vine(at about 13ft) First Pollination on the 1290 Poirier. 1290 Poirier x 819.5 VanHook(932 Tanner X 998 Pukos) Can You say Orange Monster!!!;) Thursday, July 3 View Page Ok,enough playing around!!!Now that the "Big One is "Rockin" it's time to get choppin................... Thursday, July 3 View Page Well, while I wait for them to grow I guess I better figure out some way of lifting them.. What's that old saying?" Don't count your pumpkins before they grow?" Thursday, July 3 View Page Size from Left to Right(largest to smallest) 30" 24" 22" 20" 17" 11" 9" 7" Great visual template Saturday, July 5 View Page More Food for "The Beast"!!!!! Saturday, July 5 View Page "Arwen Jr's" "Engine is raring too Go!!!!!!Now If I can just maintain this canopy till the end of September? Saturday, July 5 View Page The End to the "Twins" is drawing nearer.....A Monster is Lurking in this Patch. Saturday, July 5 View Page I don't know how long this cage will will be able to hold this "Monster" back?? Monday, July 7 View Page Cut the tap root under the main at the stem junction to give a little slack for upward movement...She's not breaking any records out of the gate but gaining day by day. Monday, July 7 View Page Looks like the 1290 Poirier Pollination was a success. The fruit on this plant tend to be long and oval in shape? Tuesday, July 8 View Page Wow..There dropping like Flies!!! Once Again more food for the Beast... Tuesday, July 8 View Page Strange the Pumpkins that are growing on this plant have very tough bumpy skin? Tuesday, July 8 View Page Another shot of the stem side..... (Anyone seen any young fruit develop like this?) Tuesday, July 8 View Page Surprise!! Suprise!! This one's for you John!! 819.5 VanHook x 1290 Poirier (pollinated 7/5/08, 5-lobes) Just could'nt resist?? Tuesday, July 8 View Page Day 6. Located on the second secondary at 12 ft., 4-lobed 1290 Poirier x 819.5 VanHook. Tuesday, July 8 View Page Wait Just a Minute....Is that really a 6-lobed Pumpkin?? Tuesday, July 8 View Page Would you just look at that STEM!!!WooHooooo!!! Friday, July 11 View Page Patch is just about Completely Full; 30'x30' of pure AG Powerhouse!!!! Friday, July 11 View Page Always amazed at the annual "Beer can stump shots" (1069 Zunino 07') Friday, July 11 View Page 1290 Poirier 07' stump shot... Saturday, July 12 View Page I hated doing this but this one has remained stagnent at 21"cc for over 6-days?Soft spots started showing? Monday, July 14 View Page After removing "The keeper" at 13ft on the 1069 after it seemed to stall for 4 days with no change in circumference. I now have a new prospect up the vine at 16ft? It to is starting to show the irregular Skin appearance and texture as the one's that came before it,However it is gaining in size? Monday, July 14 View Page 819.5 VanHook at day 9... Monday, July 14 View Page 1290 Poirier X 819.5 VanHook,4-lobed on 2nd secondary about 12ft. out....Day 12 Monday, July 14 View Page oops this is the secondary fruit at day 12 the last picture is the mainvine set at 16ft on the 1290 Porier X 819.5 VanHook,5-lobe..Day 9 Monday, July 14 View Page One more for all those Huge Leaf lovers!!!! Wednesday, July 16 View Page Well I got my straps back from the Local Shoe repair store .I had them sew loops in the bottom of the six Tow straps for my Home-made wagon wheel pumpkin Lifter. Ain't she Purdy!? Thursday, July 17 View Page Just when I thought I had'nt got any..This guy pops up from below the canopy!!!Squash Vine Borer (SVB)!!! I netted him and spent the next 45 minutes looking below the canopy at the Leaf stalks and vines for any little red eggs. If I missed any,I can only hope that the systemic merit drenches(Bayer Tree and Shrub,1.47% Imidacloprid) and Early Grub-ex applications also Foliar Orthenex Applications Kills the little s.o.b. larva? Again time will tell...? Sunday, July 20 View Page Got some help carrying a few more culls out of the Patch today. One of the pictured culled pumpkins was developing a very bad "Dill Ring". Sunday, July 20 View Page Upon opening up the "Dill-ringed" Pumpkin you could really see the internal cracks that had developed in the area of the problem... Sunday, July 20 View Page Side-view shot showing the external "dill-ring" and the internal damage it had caused. Wednesday, July 23 View Page This picture is to remind myself next year to commit to only 1 or 2 Pumpkins per Plant....Because of my fear of ending the season without a single pumpkin to show for it, these 20 pumpkins cost me 2 weeks of some quality growth on my "choosen" fruit. If you really want to grow Big you gotta commit 100% of the way!!!! Wednesday, July 23 View Page All this rain in the last few days has really put the "juice" to the pumpkins in a rather stressful way, as seen here on the stem area of my 819.5 VanHook Pumpkin. Applied some Daconcil to the area and hoping all heals up well and growth continues? Wednesday, July 23 View Page Long and wide 1290 Poirier, already starting to show it's Orange appeal:) Wednesday, July 23 View Page My very full 30x30 patch.All secondaries are now completely deadheaded on all plants.First sign of Powdery Mildew appeared on 2 leaves today and from now on out I will alternate weekly fungicide applications between Orthonex and Daconcil. Wednesday, July 23 View Page "Arwen Jr."Not to be out done, is showing some orange and "blocky" signs itself....Could this be Rosemary's Baby? Time will tell??? Friday, July 25 View Page This sport can be like a rollercoaster,One minute you think you have the world by the tail the next minute your out of the Race....Stem split, through to the cavity on my best 1069 Zunino Pumpkin....:( Friday, July 25 View Page To throw salt in my wounds the Pumpkin Gods threw two more curve balls at me this morning....Two of my best 1290 Poirier fruits showed white marks on them this morning which upon further inspection where soft and definately rotting....Weird thing was that the night before these "White spots" were'nt even visiable Friday, July 25 View Page This picture is for all those people that wonder how bad the small stem splits are that show up on the young growing pumpkin stems from time to time.As you can see they are usually just at the surface and heal over fairly quickly if left alone.Their is a fairly thick vascular amount of stem before entering the center area. Sunday, July 27 View Page Sprayed Patch last night with 2 gallons of Neptune's and Orthenex. Sunday, July 27 View Page Out of the ashes!!!!One of 2 Pumpkins doing well on the 1290 Poirier. Sunday, July 27 View Page 1290 Poirier pumpkin #2... Sunday, July 27 View Page Last Pumpkin on the 1069 Zunino.Come on Grow!!!Do it for "Arwen"!!!! Sunday, July 27 View Page Untimely demise of the 819.5 VanHook,sorry John and James? Sunday, July 27 View Page Last chance on the 819.5 VanHook.Thank God for secondary back-ups,and this little guy is really growing,with the cull of the large one this morning I'm expecting some great gains? Wednesday, July 30 View Page 20 day, 1290 Poirier x 819.5 VanHook, MainVine (~26ft),5 lobed. cc 44" s/s 34 1/2" s/b 36 1/2" total ott = 115 or 40.9 lbs. Wednesday, July 30 View Page 20 day, 1290 Poirier X 819.5 VanHook,7th Secondary (~5ft out from main) cc 53 1/2" s/s 39 1/2" s/b 38 1/2" total ott=131.5 or 58.3 Lbs. Wednesday, July 30 View Page Out of the Ashes.....819.5 VanHook X Open,Secondary vine. This one really came on strong in the last few days after cutting the Biggest fruit on the main that had blossom end rot. It can't be more than 13-14 days old..very exciting watching this one take off......I did apply some Captan to the stem 2 days ago where it appeared to be spliting towards the shoulder area, but all seems dry and fine now. Saturday, August 2 View Page Measured the 819.5 today...cc=44,s/s=36,s/b=35...115ott or 40.9lbs. Monday, August 4 View Page Just a Couple of "Ghost" hanging out in the Patch.... Monday, August 4 View Page 819.5 VanHook Monday, August 4 View Page 1290 Poirier Monday, August 4 View Page 1290 Poirier Saturday, August 9 View Page 30 days. 1290 Poirier X 819.5 VanHook,163 OTT or 102 Lbs. She's growing at only 7 lbs.a day with this wet cold weather we have been having:( Saturday, August 9 View Page This one is getting fun to watch...Sidevine, 1290Poirier X 819.5 VanHook, Day 30, 201 OTT or 181 lbs. she has been steadily packing it on for a week now at just 13 Lbs. a day. Great new spot to rest my "Soda";) Saturday, August 9 View Page Last but not least...819.5 VanHook X Open,Day ~20th,161.5 OTT or 100lbs. Steadily putting it on at 8.4 lbs. a day. Sprayed the Patch tonight with 2 gallons of Daconil(1 tbls per 2 gallons water)Also did a foliar cocktail application of Neptunes Fish and Seaweed and Orthenex thru my in-line sprinkler delivery system. Leaves looking a little yellowish with all this rain leeching out the nutrients in the soil? Will keep a eye on their condition. Praying for sun and warmth from here on out...... Only 57 more days till weigh-off day!!!! Tuesday, August 12 View Page 1290 Poirier x 819.5 VanHook Day 33, mainvine Grew another 4" cc in 3 days.... Tuesday, August 12 View Page 819.5 VanHook X Open Day 23,Sidevine Grew another 4"cc in 3 days..... Tuesday, August 12 View Page 1290 Poirier X 819.5 VanHook Day 33, Sidevine Grew another 5 1/2"cc in 3 days. I'm very concerned about a stem separation at the top half where it meets the vine. Any help in fixing this would be very much appreciated:( Tuesday, August 12 View Page This is a close-up of the stem separation area. I did apply captan to the area and it seems to have dried the area up? Any input on a resolution to this problem would be greatly apprecated. Tuesday, August 12 View Page These are my wife ana kids Black Oil Sunflowers.They are around 7 1/2 feet tall.The birds will love them this winter!!!! Sunday, August 17 View Page Holy Moly dad....It's so Huge!!!! Sunday, August 17 View Page Another..... Tuesday, August 19 View Page She's the kind of Pumpkin just made for a Screensaver image...Would ya just look at that color!!!!And Big to Boot!!! Hold on for another 47 days..... Wednesday, August 20 View Page Sad day today...noticed a white spot towards the bottom of the 819.5 VanHook,upon closer exmination My hand went right thru into the cavity!!!Seems to me that their must have been a tiny split towards the stem side that allowed enought air into the pumpkin to start it to rot:( Wednesday, August 20 View Page With the number of late casualties in the patch so far my wife insisted I get a Picture with at least one Pumpkin before anything else happens? Monday, August 25 View Page The weekly treatment of Orthenex and Daconil have kept the leaves in relatively good shape. If the next few weeks and into Septemeber stay fairly warm I think these leaves will carry me into October............ Tuesday, August 26 View Page One of my 1290 Pumpkins has me a little worried...If you look at the area below the can in the picture, you can see where a very deep rib is forming. I'm hoping it doesn't crack?? Tuesday, August 26 View Page 1290 Poirier Pumpkin #2...getting Bigger and "Bumpier" Tuesday, August 26 View Page Another disappointing split,on one of the few late-set pumpkins on the 1069 Zunino. One of our good neighbors thought it would make a great early season Jack-o-lantern!!! Monday, September 1 View Page Happy Labor Day!!!!!!Sept 1st... Day 51;Averaging 10lbs./day per for the last 5 days....Weather has felt like July the last week and definately helped stimulate growth. Saturday, September 6 View Page 1290 Poirier X 819.5 VanHook; Day 56. Fertilized and watered yesterday,rain is in the forcast for the next few days so will see how she does.... Wednesday, September 10 View Page Nice warm sunny "fall like" day today. I uncovered the Pumpkins and let them bask in the sun all day. Low temps tonight in the 40's so I pulled out the "Big Guns"...Covered the biggest with a large warm comforter. Still make gains; slow but steady. Saturday, September 13 View Page 70's and overcast with rain and humidity, it's definately got me a little nervous. she's absolutely loving it however so i'm also a little excited;). Tuesday, September 16 View Page Well tonight was the big night for building the lifting Tripod!! A big thank you to Joe P. for the schematics. I've done all I can do now; just have to leave it in the hands of fate for the next 18 days.... If for some reason something disastrous should happen, my daughter's excited to have a new "Swing". LOL!!! Good luck to all at the weigh-offs!!! Wednesday, September 24 View Page 11 days Left..Hold-on just a little longer.Weather has been perfect, sunny upper 70's during the days with 50 degree night temps. Friday, October 3 View Page Lifting Day!!!! Friday, October 3 View Page After 83 days on the vine....Loaded and ready for Weigh-Off Day!!!!! Sunday, October 5 View Page WooHoo!!!Another awesome season ends!!! My goal this year was Big and Orange and thats what she was...Thanks to all the generous growers that donated seeds and offered me help through out the season.Now on to patch prep for 2009. Tuesday, October 7 View Page . Friday, October 10 View Page Tilled in 76 Lbs. of Gypsum into the patch...leaves ,manure and cover crop of cereale rye to come... Monday, October 27 View Page Boo!!!!! Tuesday, November 11 View Page Preparing the new improved hoophouse for next spring. The solid 4x4 ridge will double as support for a large tarp to be drapped over top plant if we receive hail again like we did 4x this year. i will also run drip type hose with mister heads along the ridge to help cool down the plants on those abnormally hot spring days.This design will allow for a larger protected plant as well as help enclose my 4ft by 4ft buried soil warming cables area to keep the young plants at a toasty early spring 70 degrees!!! It's gonna be a another long winter in anticipation of Spring. I am so ready for 2009 to begin already:)