Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 129 Entries. Monday, April 6 View Page Well I figured now would be a good time to get my 2009 diary started. I've expanded the Patch by another 300 Sq Ft. making it 1200 Sq Ft. I've choosen to grow 2 plants again this year and to try my luck at Long Gourds.I will be growing from the center of the Patch this year "back-to-back" style in seperate Hoophouses. Monday, April 6 View Page After receiving many helpful e-mails and suggestions for Long Gourd trellis design, I completed my first 13 foot tall Long Gourd trellis. Monday, April 6 View Page I have been busy the last few weeks ammending the patch with Gypsum,Lime,Horse Manure and Leaf Compost. This year Hoophouses are larger, with a design that should be more successful protecting plants from late May early June hail. This year I am also using Soil Warming Cables. Monday, April 6 View Page Hoops covered and soil Cables on, temps in the last 24 hrs in the planting mounds inside are between 68-70 degrees. I will be testing the air temps at night inside a styrofoam box that will cover the young plants at night. Monday, April 6 View Page Test germinations have gone well. I will be once again using the paper towel germ method and than transferring to 85-90 degree pro-mix soil inside custom 12"x4"PVC containers inside a cooler with a heating Pad.I will be starting seeds in the next couple of weeks. Monday, April 6 View Page This will be my Long Gourd lineup.... (A big Thank you to John & Ryan Vincent and Sam Loveless) Monday, April 6 View Page My 2009 Pumpkin Line-up..... (A Big Thank you to Thadd Starr as well as John Vincent and Joe Pukos.) Monday, April 6 View Page Could'nt resist a few Free Yds of 3 year old leaf compost, pitched into my new 2009 5'x8' "Pumpkin-haul'in" Trailer!!! Wednesday, April 8 View Page Outstanding Hoophouse test results!!!The electric soil cables are a big success!!!They have a built-in thermostat set at 74-degrees F. I placed a test germination seedling outside in a hoop two days ago and just set it on top of soil above the area with the cables placed a stryofoam box over the seedling and left it for two days in the hoop with outside temps. in the 32degree range and snow everyday; much to my surprise the seedlings look Great!!!!WooHoo!!!This is now great insurance that the "real deal" plants will have great protection in case of any freak May weather curveballs:)... Huge change to my Line-up just came very real today!!Thank you Cary and Eddy!!!!!;) Sunday, April 12 View Page Ok I have had heating cables going for the past few days and a styrofoam box over-top the ground above the area to record temps; this morning upon lifting the box I was surprised to see this white "cotton-like" growth on the soil surface? Could this be myco fibers? Any input please e-mail me? Monday, April 20 View Page All seeds germinated in 34 hours using the damp paper towel method. I soaked seeds for 6 1/2 hours in a solution of rainwater and hydrogen peroxide, and than placed them into damp paper towel using the same water they where soaking in. Paper towel was fold and placed into a plastic bag and then put into "germination chamber" at around 88-90 degrees. The *811 Vincent and *605 Huff had about a 1" tap root. The 1350 Starr also had a 1" tap root but the 702 Colbert just had a visiable tip protruding. Placed seeds into pre-warmed mix and watered in with pre-warmed rainwater. Tuesday, April 21 View Page Day 4; and this is where we stand.....3 of 4 seeds are above ground!!!! Hoping to see the 4th by the morning:) Tuesday, April 21 View Page *605 Huff..."Green-n-Shiney"!!!!;) Tuesday, April 21 View Page *811.6 Vincent-McGill(1055 Pitura 06* X 824 Brunst 05*) Tuesday, April 21 View Page 1350.5 Starr 07'(985 Werner 06' X 227 Leland 06') Thursday, April 23 View Page Day 5;Left to right,1350,*605,and *811 Thursday, April 23 View Page Day 5; Will start the "hardening-off" process in the morning.... Friday, April 24 View Page Let the Games begin!!!!! 1350.5 Starr is in the ground and ready to rock!!All I was waiting for was a better defined firt true leaf to help position into the hoop and it was go time................. Monday, April 27 View Page 3 days later...Alot can happen with temps. in the upper 80's...1350.5 Starr Monday, April 27 View Page 702 Colbert(1420.5 Larue'04 X 1446 Eaton '04) Second Day in it's new home...... Tuesday, April 28 View Page WooHoo!! It made it.....Filed and soaking,will be heading for the germinator shortly. Tuesday, April 28 View Page A few of my Long gourds germinated for me today. I lightly sanded the edges and used a nailclipper to just nip the top of the seeds to open them up alittle to allow water in during their 12 hour soaking in warm water with a small amount of 3% Hydrogen peroxide. I used a small coffee thermos to keep the water warm for their 12 hour soak. I then placed them into damp paper towel into a plastic bag and into the germinater at 88 degrees within 36 hours 2 of the 4 seeds had a 1/4" tap root. The 2 that sprouted are the 111 7/8" Lovelace '08 and the 106.50" Lovelace '07. Wednesday, April 29 View Page Day 5(in the ground): Vine is starting to develop on the 1350.5 Starr third true leave is forming...... Thursday, April 30 View Page Three of my long Gourds are up and at this stage!!!WooHoo!!! Thursday, April 30 View Page Wondering If this is a example of a "club root"? Saturday, May 2 View Page Day 9(In the patch): 1350.5 Starr is really starting to move, vine is really starting to form as well as now 1st,2nd,3rd,4th and just barely 5th true leaves!! I really feel the heating cables are playing a big part this year in development. Saturday, May 2 View Page 111"Lovelace doing well...gave them a little outside air and sun today. Monday, May 4 View Page Day 11(in the patch)702 Colbert Monday, May 4 View Page Day 2(In the patch)1004 Mohr. Monday, May 4 View Page Day 11; 1350.5 Starr,this plant is really doing well... Monday, May 4 View Page Re-potted the Long Gourds and Buried them up to their cots. They will stay in these pots till the weather gets warmer and the chance for frost is total gone, I don't have soil warming cables in the ground where they will be planted but it has been ammended and covered for the last month. Monday, May 4 View Page Hmmmmmm?? Got thinking about getting the LG's out a little earlier than what I thought I would be able too?.."Wall-a-2-liter Sprite Bottles"!!!!! Wednesday, May 6 View Page 1102 Pukos and 1408.5 Daletas went into the hoop today. I have 3 plants in this hoop and will cull down to just one in the next month.The other plant is the 1004 Mohr it was planted into this hoop on May 2nd. May the best Plant win!!!! Wednesday, May 6 View Page 1350.5 Starr(Planted 4/25) and 702 Colbert(Planted 4/28) May the best Plant win!!!! Thursday, May 7 View Page WooHoo!!! 110.75"Vincent 08"(125 Urena x 118 Lyons)She's up and just kicked off the last bit of seed coat with a little help from me. Thursday, May 7 View Page First true leaf showing up on LG's now. This one is the 106.50" Loveless '07(126.5 Jutras X 107.5 Timm) Thursday, May 7 View Page Ok this is "Squash Kids" 605* Huff '08.(600*Huff X 848* MacKenzie)I predict something very "Green and Shiney" comming very soon from this plant....... Saturday, May 9 View Page 1350.5 Starr, Vine is really growing quickly it is starting to fall now and I want to be very careful with helping it have a safe landing? i pushed soil up under the gap between stem and bend in the vine and also pushed a little soil under the lower back leaf stalk to help support a little ? Any other suggestions would be welcomed:) Sunday, May 10 View Page Long Gourds are developing nicely...True leaves are getting larger and 2nd true leaves starting to develop. Tuesday, May 12 View Page Set-up the new irrigation system today. Thanks Thad!!!;) Tuesday, May 12 View Page quick connect will be used to make it easier to disconnect and connect the miracle grow sprayer filled with Neptunes Fish and Seaweed. Tuesday, May 12 View Page Would you look at this vine already!!!a little nervous about the slight stem split even tho it's just at the surface? Tuesday, May 12 View Page I did a 4oz. Bayer Tree and Shrub to 2 Gallons of Rainwater Drench of all Plants today.Yesterday I saw what appeared to be a Leaf Miner fly in one of the hoops? With warmer weather comes the nasty Squash Bugs and Cukecumber Beetles, I figured I'd get the systemic protection throughout the plant now. Tuesday, May 12 View Page "Squash Kids" seen what hail can do!!!He invented a kewl quick hail protection rig that only requires the pull of a string.When your growing something "Green and Shiney" you gotta be prepared..;) Sunday, May 17 View Page Frost Advisory Tonight!!!Thought I'd better rig up some lights for heat? Sunday, May 17 View Page 1350.5 Starr and 702 Colbert tucked in and ready to ride out some late frost warnings....... Monday, May 18 View Page Long Gourds where planted today.Watered them in with a good soaking of Neptune's Harvest.left to right: 106" Lovelace,106"lovelace and 111" Lovelace. Monday, May 18 View Page could'nt resist this shot of the 106" lovelace in it's new home...... Monday, May 18 View Page the "Big three" doing well.The are all growing at about the same rate.Left to right: 1102 Pukos,1408 Daletas and 1004 Mohr Monday, May 18 View Page 1350.5 Starr. Tendrils are starting to pop out now, She should be on the ground by the weekend? Wednesday, May 20 View Page 1350.5 Starr is officially on the ground and running!!!High's of 87 degrees today helped the process along nicely. Amazingly, It's between 2 1/2 ft.- 3ft long now. Wednesday, May 20 View Page 1408.5 Daletas starting to laydown nicely...... Wednesday, May 20 View Page 1102 Pukos also starting to laydown nicely..... Wednesday, May 20 View Page ..and how about the 1004 Mohr, Wow!!!!!It's gonna be a very tuff decision in the next couple of weeks?? Wednesday, May 20 View Page Long Gourd transplant looks like a success. 106.50" Lovelace starting to develop tendrils now. Monday, May 25 View Page 1350.5 Starr is cruising right along now, multiple secondaries going now and a few male flowers starting to form near the stump and first and second secondaries.I pinch off a few tertiarys starting to form on the more established 2-3 ft secondaries. Monday, May 25 View Page Wow!!!First males of the season are arriving at the end of May this year!!!WooHoo!!Hoping my plan of a earlier plant this year buys me 2-3 three more weeks of prime sunlight in July and August this year? Wednesday, May 27 View Page 1350.5 Starr Moving out of the hoop....probably be taking the hoop down in the next couple of days? Wednesday, May 27 View Page Drenched the Long Gourds with a warmwater solution of Imidacloprid(Bayer Tree and Shrub)yesterday.The Striped Cukecumber Beetles should be showing up in the next few weeks and I want them to be armed and ready for battle;) Saturday, May 30 View Page The Big Three...(Front,1102 Pukos,Middle,1408.5 Daletas,Back,1004 Mohr).All growing trouble free at about the same rate.It might just come down too Eeenie,Meenie,Minee,Moe???? Saturday, May 30 View Page Culling a back-up Plant has got to be one of the hardest parts in growing them. I waited till the last possible moment until they started interfering with one another and than i knew it was time:( Rest in Peace 702 Colbert,you were a trouble free great growing plant,I just did'nt have enough room..... Saturday, May 30 View Page And than there was One.....1350.5 Starr has plenty of room to develop great secondaries now and with the aggressiveness of this plant will be filling in that 600 sq. ft. very soon!!! Saturday, May 30 View Page The Long Gourds have discovered their "bridge" towards the trellis and are well on their way. Monday, June 1 View Page Gave all the plants a little foliar fish and seaweed this morning. The 1004 Mohr is starting to double-vine on me,will keep a eye on it and see if it can be corrected? Monday, June 8 View Page 1350.5 Starr Pushing 10 1/2 -11 ft. now. Still have the hoops in place as the 10th of June last year we had a bad hail storm,I've been rolling up the sides as the 1st,2nd,and 3rd secondaries are past the walls. Monday, June 8 View Page I guess when your at 10 1/2 feet your bound to see a few flowers? These two should open in the morning.First flowers of the season.Kinda excited now!!! Monday, June 8 View Page Surprise..Surprise. What do we have here? Monday, June 8 View Page Long Gourds would definately be climbing skyward by now if we only could get above 70 degrees? The are healthy and definately ready to run. Tuesday, June 9 View Page First Blooms!!!! Tuesday, June 9 View Page They look normal and healhty.The females should start showing up for the party very soon;) Tuesday, June 9 View Page Mice,mole and chipmunk security on patrol in this patch!!This guy has been cruising the patch for about a week now. I definately feel a little peace of mind now. Saturday, June 13 View Page Plants are doing well; cool nights, so I still have the soil warming cables on to help keeps things nice and warm thru the night. Applied my first insecticide/fungicide applications on the 10th also did a Bayer tree and shrub drench(merit)it's been 30 days since the plants got their first Merit drench.Three females on the 1350.5 Starr two on the 5th and 6th secondary tips and the first female on the mainvine at about 14ft.Should be pollination sometime late next week. Male flowers have been blooming daily now. Saturday, June 13 View Page 1408.5 Daletas is now out to about 7 ft. Secondaries have been very dificult to train as they are extremely ridged and seen to reach for the sky immediately upon developing? The second secondary on the west side started to double on me at about 3ft.I picked one vine and trimmed the other back to hopefully get it growing right again? secondaries are developing slower on this plant, but I anticipate that they will pick-up speed as the roots develop even more and we get some warmer weather? Monday, June 22 View Page Sprayed round 2 of Daconcil and Warrior on the 19th.Rain,rain,rain than on the 20th while inspecting plants in the morning I found the mainvine on the 1408.5 Daletas Exploded:(.The 1350.5 Starr is out past the edge of the patch boundary, their is a female at 15ft ready to open in the next few days; hoping everything goes well and it takes? Monday, June 22 View Page This is the female at 15ft on the 1350.5 Starr.Should open in the next couple of days? Male flowers first started opening on the 1408.5 Daletas this morning so I very well might cross this female with the 1408.5? Monday, June 22 View Page It just can't go perfect without a few bumps in the road at about 11ft on the 1350.5 i noticed a "whitish" discolored area on the mainvine, it felt a little softer than the area on both sides of it so i sprayed a little Daconcil on the area to keep it from rotting with all the rain we have been having? Today upon inspection it seems to have dried out but I'm clueless to what could have caused this?If anyone has experienced this before please shoot me a e-mail. Thanks Monday, June 22 View Page Long Gourds have really started to take off. the rain and now sun today have them shooting towards the top of the trellis. Secondaries are starting to develop along the main. I have been spraying these every 10 days along with the pumpkins. Wednesday, June 24 View Page Awoke to a perfect 5-lobed beauty at 15ft on the 1350.5 Starr!!!Pollinated it 9:00am with flowers from itself. had another 3 flowers open today also all selfed. One on first secondary on west-side,one on first secondary on eastside and another one on the 5th secondary on the westside. Wednesday, June 24 View Page With temps going into upper 80's today giving pollinations everything I have in my arsenal too ensure success!!! Shaded,iced and fan placed next to females. Wednesday, June 24 View Page 1408.5 Daletas is showing a few females at the ends of secondarys and their is one out at the end of the secondary trained to be the new main!!Looks like they will be in prime position for a 1st week of July Pollination!!!WooHoo!!! Love this time of the year!!! Wednesday, June 24 View Page There's just something about this shot that get's me excited!!! All winter long I've been waiting to get to this stage and Bam here we are!!!Hoping for some successful pollinations. Monday, June 29 View Page 1350.5 Starr X Self Pollinated 6/24/09 5-Lobed 15 ft., Mainvine 5 DAP Wednesday, July 1 View Page Well the time has come to gear up for the long haul, With pumpkins starting to grow I figured now is the time to start getting the plants in the best condition to last till October.Started deadheading a few secondaries this morning and payed attention to cleaning up the stump areas for good air circulation and keeping the area dry. 1350.5 Starr stump Before..... Wednesday, July 1 View Page 1350.5 Starr stump After..... Wednesday, July 1 View Page 1408.5 Daletas stump Before...... Wednesday, July 1 View Page 1408.5 Daletas stump After..... Wednesday, July 1 View Page Long gourds are still chugging along, secondarys and male flowers are really starting to develop now.One of them has hit the edge of the top of the trellis today. Thursday, July 2 View Page Pollinated a 5-lobed female at 18ft on the mainvine of the 1350.5 Starr today; crossed her with the 1408.5 Daletas. The first flower on the 1408.5 Daletas open today at 7ft. on the strongest secondary since the mainvine deadheaded itself at 10ft 2 weeks ago.Perfect 5 -lobe beauty crossed her with the 1350.5 Starr. Thursday, July 2 View Page while out washing the dirt splatter off the new pumpkins after the daily rainshowers I spotted a most unwanted visitor to the patch lazily lying on the top side of one of the leaves.It was pretty sluggish, probably from ingesting some of the Warrior residue from the last spraying. Timeline established in the picture for future reference;) Thursday, July 2 View Page Ok this is a testimony to the power of Immunox/Plus!!!I had planned to spray patch tonight with Immunox/plus to keep up with my rotation of Daconcil for fungicide protection. the only problem was that after seeing a SVB at around 6:00Pm tonight I thought I'd better spray a stronger contact insecticide to kill any of those S.O.B.'s that might be hidden in the patch? With all this rain I feared the fungicide rotation was probably more inportant tonight so I went ahead and sprayed the Immunox/Plus(I used under the recommended dose, 3 oz. to 2 gallons of water)after finishing the plants I did one more stare back over the patch and noticed something fluttering on a leaf towards the center of 1350.5 Starr Plant.It was a SVB in a world of hurt tossing and turning on the leaf surface!!!I ran back to the house to get a net and camera and when I returned it was gone? I looked below the leaf at the patch floor and there he was "deader than a doornail"!!!From here on out I swear by Immunox/Plus!!!!! Friday, July 3 View Page Slowly training pumpkins into more of a 90 degree position from the main.Using a piece of rebar and disks made from pool floats,simply slip another disk in every 2-3 days. I will also gradually work the main back in a U-shape if and when we heat up around here a little more. Friday, July 3 View Page First Long Gourd Bloom of the season at 10:00PM on the 106" Lovelace. Tuesday, July 7 View Page Started culling the runts today,had a few helpers offer to carry them out of the patch for me...Big day tommorrow for pollinations on the 1408.5 Daletas, have one set now but two in prime positions for pollinating in the morning.... Wednesday, July 8 View Page Something round and yellow is starting to rise from beneath the canopy of leaves at around 15ft.......??? I have a feeling I might be on my "weigh" for a ride??? Saturday, July 11 View Page 1350.5 Starr 17 DAP She's really starting to grow.............. Wednesday, July 15 View Page Day 21 Wednesday, July 15 View Page Females have been blooming on the Lg's in the last few evenings at around 9:00PM. I've attempted to pollinate a few for practice and should be on track to pollinate a few at the top of the trellis sometime next week? Still undetermined on which pumpkin will be the keeper on the 1408.5 Daletas but should have it narrowed down in the next few days? Did a Immunox application last night and watered pumpkins heavy today after a nice sunny warm 80 degree day!!! Sunday, July 19 View Page 1350.5 Starr 25 DAP She's been averaging 14.5 Lbs the last 4 days..... Sunday, July 19 View Page 106.50" Lovelace x Sibb Sunday, July 19 View Page 1408.5 Dalates X 1350.5 Starr 12 DAP 31" CC Sunday, July 19 View Page "Squash Kids" *605 Huff "Green and Shiney"!!!! Wednesday, July 22 View Page 28 DAP Wednesday, July 22 View Page 106.50" Lovelace x Sibb Long Gourd Wednesday, July 22 View Page 1350.5 Starr 28 DAP 78" cc Sunday, July 26 View Page She's starting to get alittle "hippy"...... Tuesday, July 28 View Page 1408.5 Daletas Thursday, July 30 View Page LG's are chugging along............. Thursday, July 30 View Page pumpkins keep chugging along as well............37 DAP Friday, August 7 View Page LG's are doing well.... Friday, August 7 View Page who said "your not push'in them unless your blow'in them" Posting this to remind all that slow and steady wins the race.:( I was adjusting the vine position alittle on the 1408 Daletas tonight after dinner when i ever so lightly placed a finger on the side of the pumpkin when Boom!!! she Popped!!!!I'll have to reconsider the warm water 3 gallon Neptune drenches at midnight from here on out?Dang!!! Sorry Eddie and Cary for not doing this seed justice:( From mainvine break to explosions I guess it wasn't meant to be? Saturday, August 8 View Page "Hey Dad can I climb up on top?"..... Tuesday, August 11 View Page Long Gourds: 106.50" Lovelace 07'(126.5 Jutras x 107.5 Timm) and 111 7/8" Lovelace 08'(88.5 Eaton X 125.75 Urena). Tuesday, August 11 View Page Created a custom sling to help support and allow Long Gourd to grow longer at a 50 degree angle instead of running out of room at the ground on a lower set. The gourd in the "cradle" is a 106.50" Lovelace 07' X Sibb. approx. 70+ inches ,28 DAP. Tuesday, August 11 View Page Gorgeous sidevine fruit set on the first secondary out of my 1350 Starr plant at around 14ft. Slow gainer but developing very evenly and great color and ribbing.This could be one to watch......1350.50 Starr X Self. It is my ballast with the rain this season for my next pictured pumpkin. Tuesday, August 11 View Page Amazing color from this 1350.5 Starr seed? All my pumpkins have been covered with a white sheet 24/7 since they where the size of a basketball and the orange that is showing up daily is absolutely amazing too me? This "little" Monster is still gaining and has been loving all this hot ,humid,rainy with breaks of sunshine weather we have been getting so far in August.Hope it stays this way up untill October;) Keeping up regimental spray treatments every 7 days of insecticide and fungicide.So far no signs of PM. Saturday, August 29 View Page Got a late set on the 1408.5 Daletas that is growing like a champ!!!! Saturday, August 29 View Page LG's....Hoping for a warm September. Tuesday, September 1 View Page (Actual weight - Estimated weight) divided by Estimated weight * 100 = = (+/-) % to the chart. With night time temps in the 40's I've built a insulated structure out of sheets of insulating styrofoam designed for home use and sold in sheets 4'X 8'. DAP 69. Color is really starting to show....... Friday, September 4 View Page Game Over:( Lost my biggest to a bottom split yesterday, managed to salvage about 100 seeds. Friday, September 4 View Page Still got time with the great weather we have been having to gain a little more on this one? Hope it keeps up;) Friday, September 25 View Page Remember that Pumpkin from back on my August 7th diary post that "Popped" on the 1408 Daletas plant? Well it continued on growing Friday, September 25 View Page would ya just look at the stem on this 1408 Daletas Pumpkin!!? Friday, September 25 View Page Managed to obtain quite a few seeds out of one of my small 70" Long Gourds a few weeks ago. The bottom just started to begin rotting so I quickly made the decicion to harvest the seeds. Test germs have proven to be successful, great cross 106.50" Loveless '07(126.5 Jutras X 107.5 Timm) X sibb. UOL 70". Thanks Again Sam!!! Friday, October 2 View Page Better than nothing? The kids still love it;) Friday, October 2 View Page Had a Blast with the Long Gourds this season. 111 7/8 Lovelace X 106.50" Lovelace. Saturday, October 3 View Page "Pumpkin Row " Oswego,NY Saturday, October 3 View Page Life's Good when you can meet celebrity Giant Pumpkin Growers!!!None other than Deb "The Ring of Death" Sundstrom. Nice meeting ya Deb and Randy Saturday, October 3 View Page Official Taping of my first ever Long Gourd entry. Thursday, November 26 View Page Happy Holidays!!!!!!!!