Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 54 Entries. Monday, March 3 View Page Hydroponic Indoor Pumpkin. It is a blue pumpkin which will grow to around 6 lbs. First plant I try with hydroponic system. This was pollinated today, March 2nd. The picture was taken on March 1st. Tuesday, March 4 View Page These are the seeds I have started on March 2nd. I will grow 3 of the pumpkins and the squash up to 500-600 sq ft. The rest will be experimental to see if any plants are really strong in the heat. Also to see what kinda fruit growth from extreme small sq footage. They will be grown mainvine only for up to 25'. Will try to pollinate those as well for seeds. 339 Grande 07 (squash), 659 Grande 07, 1178 Rivard 2002, 620 Boyton, 726 Bosworth, 616 Bosworth, 713 Lawrence 07. The following are all VanHook07 1018, 739, 566.5, 312, 323, 819, 913. Monday, March 10 View Page Everything is added to the new patch. Patch is 60'x50' One more tilling and the plants will be put in the patch in about a week. - 4 yards composted horse manure - 4 yards "sugar soil" (topsoil and bagash from sugar mill composted with shrimp shells) - 400 lbs of calcium sulphate (gypsum) - 12 lbs of Ironite - 50 lbs of 6-24-24 fertilizer - 10 lbs "Bug Blaster" Monday, March 10 View Page Here is a look at the basic hydroponic setup. 3 gal bucket, basket, growing media, air pump, water and "Botanicare Pure Blend Pro". Air pump runs 24/7 and water is added as it uses it. It has been drinking around 4-5 cups of water a day. A couple capfulls of the Botanicare is added with each 15- 20 cups or so of water. Monday, March 10 View Page Update on the indoor hydroponic test pumpkin (IHTP). It now has a 9.5" circumference and is growing about an inch a day. This test plant has been completely grown indoors near a window that gets the most sun. The plant was started in the beggining of December. Thursday, March 13 View Page Here is the 1st test before adding manure and "sugar soil" Pumpkin pH (1:1 Water) 5.74 Optimum Phosphorus, ppm 8.17 Very Low Potassium, ppm 79.33 Low Calcium, ppm 741.57 Low Magnesium, ppm 172.25 Very High Sodium, ppm 15.02 Optimum Sulfur, ppm 16.10 High Copper, ppm 1.86 High Zinc, ppm 0.63 Low Value Element (Mehlich3) RECOMMENDATION Crop Form Units: lb/A Nitrogen Phosphate Potash pumpkin 80-120 150 120 Here is the 2nd test after manure and "sugar soil" was tilled in. Pumpkin pH (1:1 Water) 6.78 High Phosphorus, ppm 248.76 Very High Potassium, ppm 478.30 Very High Calcium, ppm 2,471.90 Very High Magnesium, ppm 348.89 Very High Sodium, ppm 58.21 Optimum Sulfur, ppm 38.00 High Copper, ppm 2.75 High Zinc, ppm 5.39 High Value Element (Mehlich3) RECOMMENDATION Crop Form Units: lb/A Nitrogen Phosphate Potash pumpkin 80-120 60 60 Any recommendations? This is my first year so comments to let me know how it is would be great. Sunday, March 16 View Page Here is the 819 Van Hook 07 on planting day March 16, 2008. Sunday, March 16 View Page 819 VanHook07 on planting day March 16. All the plants were about this size when they were put in the ground. Most were in pete pots but this one wasnt. Sunday, March 16 View Page Group picture on planting day March 16, 2008. 3 main plants are 819 VanHook 07 (932 Tanner x 998 Pukos), 566.5 VanHook 07 (1407 Wolf x 1450 Wallace), and 1018 VanHook 07 (1450 Wallace x self). Those 3 will each get 20'x 25' section to grow in. The rest will be grown in 25'or more main vine only plants for genetics and testing. Sunday, March 16 View Page 566.5 VanHook 07 on planting day March 16. Sunday, March 16 View Page 1018 VanHook 07 on planting day March 16. Tuesday, March 25 View Page 3 plants DAMAGED! Looks like frost damage I think. It only got in the 40s so I thought they would be ok. Apparently the combination of the dew, 40 degree weather and the wind made for damaging effect. Plants affected were.. 566.5 VanHook 07 Heavy damage, survival questionable. 616 Bosworth heavy damage. 793 VanHook 07 heavy damage and cracked stim at base survival unlikely. Monday, April 7 View Page This is what im using for insect and fungus control so far. Using the Ortho stuff one week then using the gaden safe stuff the next. I'm still testing the systemic fungicide on a single plant to make sure its ok. If anyone has experiance using these products negative or positive please let me know. If you have any suggestions please let me know. Monday, April 7 View Page 566.5 VanHook 07 This plant was heavily frost damaged but is comming back strong. It is still behind a bit compared to the undamaged plants. Monday, April 7 View Page 819 VanHook 07 on Sunday April 6. This is the best looking plant of 9 that were planted. Its starting to try to lay down. Monday, April 7 View Page 1018 VanHook 07 2nd best looking plant right now. Monday, April 7 View Page 312 VanHook 07 (1407 Wolf x 998 Pukos) lookin good Monday, April 7 View Page 620 Boyton had a funky first true leaf but the rest are lookin fine. Also many of the plants had those yellow spots on thier first leaf. I quickly applied first spray of fungicide and insecticide and no more leaves got them on any plants. Thursday, April 10 View Page Here is a look at the underside of the basket and root system on the hydroponic test pumpkin. Thursday, April 24 View Page 1st female to show up on the 819 VanHook 07. It is only about 7 feet out on the main vine. Thursday, April 24 View Page 819 Van Hook 07 Thursday, May 1 View Page 566.5 Van Hook 07. This is one determind plant. Was heavily damaged 2 times by cold and keeps comming back for more. It now has its first female on the end of the main about 7 feet out. Thursday, May 1 View Page Anyone know what this orange foam lookin stuff is. This is near the stump of the 566.5 Van Hook 07. Its not leakin from the plant.. I think it must be a fungus or bacteria. I removed it after the picture was taken. Thursday, May 1 View Page Stump of the 819 Van Hook 07. Im really happy with this plant so far. Hopfully it will produce nice pumpkins. Thursday, May 1 View Page 819 Van Hook 07 now has 2 females on the main at about 7 and 9 feet out. Thursday, May 1 View Page Stump of 1018 Van Hook 07. This plant has split its vines on at least 3 locations... 1 of which is about 2 feet out on the main. It doesnt seem to be affect the plants growth at this point. It has its first female about 9 feet out. Thursday, May 1 View Page 1018 Van Hook 07. Thursday, May 1 View Page Female about 9 feet out on 1018 Van Hook 07. Tuesday, May 13 View Page 566.5 Van Hook 07 Has a couple pumpkins just pollinated. The target pumpkin to pollinate is a few days away from blooming. This plant has proven to be very resilant. This plant was frost damaged along with 6 other plants. It is 2-3 times as large as the others that had same damage. Only the 819 VH and 1018 VH were fully protected from the damage. Tuesday, May 13 View Page 819 Van Hook 07 This plant has been doing very well so far. It is filling out nicely and has a couple pumpkins pollinated. The 1st pumpkin has a circumference of 10.5" after 6 days. The target female will be pollinated with the 913 Van Hook tommorow morning. Tuesday, May 13 View Page 1018 Van Hook 07 This is the largest plant to date. There are several vine splits on sidevines and 1 on the main. They dont seem to slow it down at all. It has a couple pumpins pollinated. The first is 6 days old and has a circumference of 13". Thursday, May 15 View Page 6:45am May 15 2008 - Sounded like a tornado was comming down right over the house then "boom"! At least $35k damage to the house when the top half of a 100' pine tree came crashing through the roof. At least I have an excuse now if my pumpkins dont do so well. The outside plants survived. However.... Thursday, May 15 View Page The hydroponic pumpkin plant is no longer with us. Sunday, May 18 View Page 819 VanHook 07 circumference = 22.5" Sunday, May 18 View Page 1018 Van Hook 07 11 days after pollination(pollinated same morning as 819vh) circumference = 24.5" Friday, May 23 View Page 1018 VH day 16 Friday, May 23 View Page 819 VH day 16 there is minor splitting where the stem connects to the pumpkin. Is this going to get worse? Monday, May 26 View Page 1018 Van Hook 19 DAP OTT total = 156" Monday, May 26 View Page 819 Van Hook 07 19 DAP OTT total = 146' Sunday, June 1 View Page 1018 Van Hook 25 dap Sunday, June 1 View Page 819 Van Hook 25 dap Monday, June 16 View Page 1018 van hook dap 40 248 OTT Monday, June 16 View Page 819 van hook 40 dap 228" OTT Monday, June 30 View Page 1018 Van Hook (x 566.5 Van Hook) - harvested DAP 54 OTT 260 Vine borers and my mistakes caused it to have a shortend growth time. Official Wieght = 406 Wednesday, July 2 View Page Thanks to the helpfull people at Thibodeaux Feeds Inc. I was able to wiegh the 1018 Van Hook on a certified scale with ease. Official wieght - 406 Gonsoulin Didnt beat the state record but not too bad for my first try I guess. This was the first time I grow any kind of garden. I learned alot and I know what I did wrong. Friday, July 11 View Page Back left was grown on 819 Van Hook 07 and wieghs 408 pounds. Back right was grown on 1018 Van Hook 07 and wieghs 406 pounds. Sunday, July 20 View Page This is the 406 Gonsoulin grown from the 1018 VanHook cut open on July 20. It lasted about 20 days in a garage before it started leakin out the bottem.. eww. Monday, August 25 View Page This pumpkin hobby is starting to get expensive! Purchased this tractor with a bushhog, finishing mower, box blad, and a tiller. Also.. now have 2.24 acres to play with. Sunday, November 9 View Page I made 8 loads total with this 5 yard dump trailer. The atv is sitting on the 5 loads of fresh manure that still needs to compost for next year. I'm standing on the 3 loads of well composted manure that is going to be used this year. I think the methane was starting to get to me.... Dump trailer was only $65 a day to rent.. Money well spent. Sunday, November 9 View Page The pile on the left is fresh so you can still see wood chips and its still hot. The stuff on the right is a couple years old so the wood chips have broken down and the pile is no longer cookin. Saturday, December 6 View Page Getting the new patch ready. Sunday, December 7 View Page Putting sugar soil on new patch. This new dirt scoop was a great investment! Moved about 10 yards in about 3 hours. Sunday, December 7 View Page Here is a closer picture of the sugar soil. The color seems a bit different in the picture. It looks black in person. Sunday, December 7 View Page Each pile is about 1/4 yard. It took about 50 piles to cover the patch. The same thing was done with the composted manure. The manure was spread and tilled in before I started with this sugar soil.