Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 82 Entries. Wednesday, January 28 View Page I think I have my picks made for the 2009 season. I had room for 3 plants last year, but I'm going to expand the garden so I can grow 4. Here's my line-up right now, but it may change. 1046.6 Bowles06 (364 Webster x 691 Duchezeau)Thanks EddyZ 1068 Papez07 (1068 Wallace x Sibbed)Thanks Brian Stanley 1156 Hunt08 (1631.5 Mckie x 1689 Jutras)Thanks GVGO 973* Landry08 (1055* Pitura06 x Self)Thanks Russ Back ups are; 961.5 Larue04 (771 Larue x 1104.5 Hester) 1041 Landry08 (998 Pukos x Self) and I have lots of my largest from last year 525est. Nieuwenhoff08 (1388 Larue07 x self) I'll be giving most of those ones away to friends and reletives I'm trying to get hooked on growing AG's Sunday, February 1 View Page Started the onion seeds yesterday (Jan 31) in my newly designed germination box. Also started 5 giant pumpkin seeds to test the germination box. So far it is keeping it between 85 and 87 degrees. Will post pictures of it soon. Monday, February 2 View Page Here is my seed starting area. The lights are on chains so they can be lowered right down within an inch or two from the plants. This is my new germination box. It's about 16x30 inches and about a foot high. Styrofoam taped together with aluminum tape and heated with a seedling heat mat. I used LED rope light last year and it melted and fused to the styrofoam (not good). This setup keeps it right around 85F. Monday, February 2 View Page I started the onions a couple days ago and also some test germination on pumpkin seeds just make sure everything works fine for "the big day" Monday, February 2 View Page Here is the pumpkin patch under the snow somewhere in the bachground. I plan to pump water from the river to the left someday but for now I'm using town water. The conservation area told us we could pump from the river but could only use 50,000 liters a day! The patch is about 40x60 feet and I'll be growing 4 plants this year. If you have any questions or comments feel free to email me at [email protected] Thursday, February 5 View Page The germination box worked great. The onions are up and 5 for 5 on the pumpkin seed test. The room it is in is very cold (about 55F - 13C) and the seedling heeat mat inside the styrofoam box with the lid on keeps it about 85F. Tuesday, April 14 View Page Did the first round of tilling today. The garden is now 40 feet by 60 feet. I plan on growing four plants (3 pumpkins and 1 squash) The final line-up is pretty well set, but may change again. 1156 Hunt (GVGO seed of the year) 1046.6 Bowles 1528 Starr (1350.5 Starr X 1041.5 McKie) 973*Landry (1055*Pitura X self) Back-ups 1068 Papez (1068 Wallace X sib) 1181 Wentzell (1104.5 Hester X 810 Dill) lots of my own 525 Nieuwenhoff (1388 Larue X self) All backups will be grown by friends or family if I don't need them. All going well I plan to cross the Hunt and Starr both ways and cross the Hunt into the Bowles. Saturday, April 18 View Page Seeded some tomatoes. A couple from the GVGO pack, a few from Don Langevin sent along with books, and a few LunchBox variety for eating. Monday, April 20 View Page Sent away soil sample today. Went with the complete test. It will interesting to see what happens as I've never done a test on this soil before. Sunday, May 3 View Page Started seeds today. #1 Line-up : 1528 Starr, 1156 Hunt, 1046 Bowles, 973* Landry. Back-ups 1395 Leonard, 1068 Papez, 1269 Hunt (this one would be in the starter line-up but the seed is moldy so I don't want to count on it). I started 3 of my own 525 Nieuwenhoff (1388 Larue selfed) for back up back ups. Also started 2 Long Gourds - 94.13 Hunt and a Giant Watermelon - 118.5 Joynson. Started some Sugar Baby watermelon and Halona canteloupe for eating. Nothing too fancy for starting the AG's. I lightly filed the seeds and inserted point down in 4" peat pots. Then put them in my germination chamber that is heated with a seedling mat and keeps the soil right at 85 F. Did trials with this method and it worked 100% of the time, so I can't really get any better than that. Wednesday, May 6 View Page First AG's up are my own 525 (1388 Larue selfed) and on e of my back-ups, the 1395 Leonard. We'll see what tomorrow brings. Monday, May 18 View Page Wow, I've been a little busy with work (lawn & tree care) and haven't done much updating. All I can say is sometimes the best made plans can go out the window. All my back-up seeds came up great and most of my top picks are questionable. The 1046.6 Bowles didn't germinate at all (had big hopes for this seed), and the 1528 Starr came up and stopped. The big surprise is the 1395 Leonard and my own 525 Nieuwenhoff (1388 Larue selfed), both were up in less than 3 days and are extremely aggressive plants. When I had trouble with 2 of my top 4 picks I seeded a couple new ones. An 1181 R Wentzell (1104.5 Hester X 810 Dill) and a 1055 Joynson (1462 Gibson X 1231 Pukos). Both are looking great. Monday, May 18 View Page So it looks like my new starting line-up is; 1156 Hunt, 973* Landry, 1395 Leonard (although it was an open pollenation it's the most aggressive plant I have), 1181 R Wentzell. I am going to plant two plants in each spot and get rid of the back-up after a week or so just in case. The back-ups will go along with each of the above in the same order; 1068 Papez, 973* Landry (I seeded a second one), 525 Nieuwenhoff, 1055 Joynson. Monday, May 18 View Page The giant watermelon I seeded never germinated and I never got around to seeding some more. I had seeded 2 94.13 Hunt Long Gourds to give them a try, only one came up so I seeded a 110 Butler LG, not up yet. Wednesday, May 20 View Page Did a final tilling tonight, added 4 oz of Granular Companion to each planting site (my secret weapon...hopefully). Plan on getting the plants in the ground tomorrow night. Friday, May 22 View Page Pumpkin plants went in last night. Changed my mind again. Heres what went in: Spot #1 - 1156 Hunt & 1269 Hunt, Spot #2 - 1395 Leonard & 525 Nieuwenhoff, Spot # 3 - 2 973* Landry's, Spot # 4 - 1181 R Wentzell & 1055 Joynson. Tuesday, June 2 View Page All AG's doing well except the 1156 Hunt has developed a double vine. Not sure what I will do if it doesn't grow out of it. The back-up planted along with it (1269 Hunt) is the poorest looking plant I have. The 1395 Leonard is best looking plant out of the lot. I will try to get some pictures posted this weekend when I have some time. Saturday, June 13 View Page Soil drenched each plant with Essential Plus by Growth Products. Tuesday, June 16 View Page Saw the first Cucumber Beetles today. Sprayed entire patch with Sevin XLR. Sunday, June 28 View Page Sprayed for insects & disease and added Essential Plus to the mix. Tuesday, June 30 View Page Vine burying today. some females showing up but not far enough out yet. Will let them open pollonate anyways just in case. Best plant, 1395 Leonard. Then 1156 Hunt had been nothing but problems after good start. Double vined, then ribbon vined, then double vined again, split into two so I cut one off. Seems to be OK now but I noticed an opening in the stump just below one of the cots. It appears to be healing shut but will it cause problems in the future? If it wasn't the GVGO seed of the year it would have compost by now. Tuesday, July 7 View Page Buried vines again today and added granular Companion along the stems. Last weekend the 1396 Leonard had the entire one foot tip snapped off in the wind along with female that I would have been pollinating the next day...I think I'm at plan "G" or "H" by now. Oh well, I'm learning more with each thing that goes wrong. It was a lot easier when I THOUGHT I knew what I was doing, compared to now when I know what I SHOULD have done. Any way plants are looking healthy although I kept more than I should have. I may cull a couple plants when I get some pumpkins set. Thursday, July 9 View Page Pollinated a female today on the 1181 R Wentzell (1104.5 Hester X 810 Dill) with a 1055 Joynson (1462 Gibson X 1231 Pukos)The only male that was open this morning. I dought this will be a keeper, but you never know. Friday, July 17 View Page Sprayed Garlic Barrier, and Neem concoction as well as foliar feed with Essential Plus. Pollinations are well under way with a few pumpkins growing (July 13). I know it's too late for a monster, but my PB from last year is 525 and it was pollinated on July 15. With a bit of luck I should be able to beat that. I'll update again when I get all the pumpkins set and culled and final selections and crosses determined. Got some interesting ones so far. Thursday, August 6 View Page Long over due pictures. Sizes are quite a bit behind last year due to slow start and continued cool weather. Average day temps have been 22c and lows in the morning around 10c, not good for the pumpkins. Here is the line-up that I have set and growing. I'm just showing pictures for now, I'll have some measurements later. This is the 1395 Leonard crossed with the 1156 Hunt July 21. Very short stem, but nice shape and colour. Thursday, August 6 View Page This is from my own seed (525 est Nieuwenhoff) which was a 1388 Larue X self. It is an awesome football shape and long stem. This pumpkin is tied for first place with another one you will see later. Thursday, August 6 View Page Sorry .... almost forgot the 525 est Nieuwenhoff was crossed with the 1055 Joynson July 17 Thursday, August 6 View Page 1156 Hunt "GVGO" seed of the year. This plant has been nothing but trouble but I've stuck with it. Looking back I should have yanked it as I have too many plants....but that's hind-sight. It was crossed with the 1181 R Wentzell (1104.5 Hester X 810 Dill)on July 19. Nice shape and colour but has several splits in stem that go into the vine as well. Thursday, August 6 View Page The 973* Landry has been a PIA. I finally got a squash set on it, not sure when or by who because I gave up after July 31. This plant will only grow straight up in the air, even the squash that is now set is pionting straight up. I think Russ must have dropped a few "little blue pills" in the patch around this one ;) I'll post some pictures of it another day. Thursday, August 6 View Page This is the 1055 Joynson (1462 Gibson X 1231 Pukos) crossed with the 1156 Hunt on July 21. Nice plant, giant leaves and a real ground hugger. Unfortunately it's not at the best angle to the vine, but I'm working on it. Thursday, August 6 View Page This one is tied for first place right now. The 1181 R Wentzell (1104.5 Hester X 810 Dill) is crossed with the 1156 Hunt on July 19. Great plant and it looks like it will have nice colour and shape. Very long stem. Thursday, August 6 View Page This sad picture is of my Giant Onions. They went from great to gone in about a week. With some research I came to the conclusion it is Downey Mildew. I have not grown onions in this spot before so the spores may have come from infected seed. I don't think there is much hope anymore. Thursday, August 6 View Page Close-up of the Downey Mildew spore production facility. Tuesday, August 11 View Page Emptied 4.75 inches out of the rain gauge (Tues to Tues). You can almost hear the pumpkins growing...as in Snap, Crackle, Pop! Sprayed Essential Plus, Baking Soda, Fertilizer mix. The largest pumpkin (1181 R. Wentzell) is about 40 pounds behind the largest one last year (1388 Larue)at the same number of days but the growth per day is higher now so hopefully it will catch-up and surpass last years PB (525) Sunday, August 23 View Page 1181 Wentzell and the Watering Crew Sunday, August 23 View Page The 525 Est Nieuwenhoff (1388 Larue selfed) Very Long Football. Sunday, August 23 View Page 1156 Hunt "GVGO seed of the year" This plant had been a real pain, but now it is the biggest daily gainer in the patch. I'm glad now I got in bred into most of my other pumpkins. I think the Wentzell X Hunt will be a good one of my own to grow next year. Sunday, August 23 View Page This is the "NO STEM" 1395 Leonard. I can't believe I culled the other ones on this plant because this was the fastest and biggest but never looked at the stem. Rookie mistake, I guess. Sunday, August 23 View Page The 1395 Leonard in the foreground and the 1181 R Wentzell in the background. Sunday, August 23 View Page AND NOW THE SAD NEWS Sunday, August 23 View Page This is the 973* Landry. If you have been following my diary you will know I've had problems with this one. The next picture will show you what happened now. Sunday, August 23 View Page Split at the stem / squash junction. The 973* Landry stopped growing Aug 21. Sunday, August 23 View Page The 1055 Joynson is the only one I covered with a sheet (like most growers recommend) and It developed a rotten spot on the top. Not sure if it's because of the sheet or not, but we've had a lot of wet weather lately. I hope it doesn't spread because this one was gaining 19.75 pounds per day for the last week, one of my fastest growers. Last year the most I got was 13.5 pounds per day peak growth. This year I'm behind on total weight because of the weather, but now gaining more per day, likely because of my greater effort like vine burying and vine control that I didn't do last year. I just hope I can keep some growing longer than last year if there is a chance to beat my PB. Sunday, August 23 View Page Giant sunflower. I know it's not huge but our daughter is extemely excited about "her sunflower". Wednesday, September 2 View Page 1395 Leonard, est weight 403 lbs Wednesday, September 2 View Page 1181 R Wentzell, est 448 lbs Wednesday, September 2 View Page 1156 Hunt, est 425 lbs. Wednesday, September 2 View Page Stem split on 1055 Joynson. Have been trying to patch it up but I think it all the way through now. Was gaining 19.25 pounds a day and now has pretty much stopped. Thursday, September 3 View Page Patch overview with my two helpers. Wednesday, September 16 View Page A new personal best....actually two new personal bests. Just measured the pumpkins here's the numbers. 2008 personal best was 525 pounds. 1395.5 Leonard 492 lbs and 4 day average 5/day. 525 Nieuwenhoff 318 lbs and 4 day average 0/day. 1156 Hunt 539 lbs and 4 day average 5.25/day 1181 R Wentzell 539 lbs and 4 day average 6.75/day 1055 Joynson 398 lbs (including 1 pound of silicone caulking) 4 day average 6.25/day. Monday, September 21 View Page Got rained out with work today so took a drive up to check out Conrads' pumpkins. Nobody home so I had to do some investigative work. Very nice orange one on the 1152 Vader I believe. It was sad to see the 1156 Hunt with the stem split. I think he's going to have a PB on the Vader though. Monday, September 21 View Page Conrads' giant corn. Our daughter was very impressed. She also said "Daddy, he has a bigger pumpkin than we have" Tuesday, September 22 View Page Just measured the pumpkins again Tues night. Had a couple nights with lows of 3 C and a bit of frost. 1395.5 Leonard 518 lbs and 6 day average 4.3/day. 525 Nieuwenhoff 318 lbs Officially stopped, had a kinked vine at the stem end. 1156 Hunt 566 lbs and 6 day average 4.5/day 1181 R Wentzell 544 lbs and 6 day average .8/day, a bit worried about this one as it appears to have stopped all of a sudden. It has some radial cracks around the stem end but I didn't think any went that deep. Will patch it up with sulfur and see what happens. 1055 Joynson I didn't measure it as it is a very odd shape and I can get different measurements each time I do it. I removed the caulking from the stem splits and it appears that it has healed itself up, although the stem is split all to heck I can't probe into the pumpkin itself. I try to get a picture of it. Thursday, October 1 View Page Loaded and ready to head off to Port Elgin on Saturday. I was going to take a different one but I broke this one off the stem a couple days ago while tipping it up to investigate some mole tunnelling. My bigger one is still growing and I'm planning on taking it to Cornerstone weigh-off. Goal is to beat my PB of 525. Thursday, October 1 View Page The one I'm taking to Port Elgin is off an 1181 R. Wentzell (1104.5 Hester X 810 Dill) crossed with the 1156 Hunt. Monday, October 5 View Page Here's the 503.5 Nieuwenhoff At Pumpkinfest(1081 R Wentzell X 1156 Hunt) Unfortunately 11% light so it wasn't the weight I was hoping for. The biggest one I have is still on the vine and growing a bit, so hopefully it won't go light when I take it to the Cornerstone weigh-off Oct 24. Monday, October 12 View Page Pretty hard frost here the last two nights. All the leaves are dead on my one pumpkin remaining in the patch, the 1156 Hunt. I'm hoping to keep it solid for a couple more weeks so I can take it to Cornerstone Weigh-off Oct 24. This one should beat my PB of 525 as the one I took to Pumpkinfest went light. This one tapes 577 pounds and feels very solid. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Saturday, October 17 View Page Added 24 bales (3.8cf) of peat moss. Enough for a couple inches spread over the garden. Also added 55 pounds of Corn Gluten Meal, and some N to help break down all the leaves that will be added over the next few weeks. My pH was very high with the spring soil test so the peat sould help bring it down a bit. I've been covering the 1156 with plastic to heat it up during the day and blankets at night to help keep it warm with lows of -2 the last few nights. Hoping it doesn't turn to mush before the Cornerstone weigh-off next Saturday. Friday, October 23 View Page The garden is empty. Friday, October 23 View Page The van is full. Loaded and ready for Cornerstone weigh-off. My biggest pumpkin on my smallest plant. I almost gave up on the plant so I decided to let another pumpkin grow into it's space. The result...160 square foot plant and a pumpkin taping just under 600 pounds. Saturday, October 24 View Page What a great way to end the season. Went to Cornerstone today, witnessed a new world record Squash, the 1236 Vincent/McGill, and I got a new PB. Went very heavy, was estimated 588 (my PB was 525) and it went on the scale and weighed....... Saturday, October 24 View Page ......682 POUNDS! Grown on the 1156 Hunt, crossed with the 1081 Wentzell and grown in 160 sq ft. Can't wait till next year! Friday, October 30 View Page Here is the difference between a pumpkin that goes 11% light and one that goes 16% heavy. The heavy was my 682 grown on the 1156 Hunt. The light one was my 503.5 grown on the 1081 Wentzell. Both taped almost the same. Friday, October 30 View Page Pumpkin carving day today....here's the line-up. Friday, October 30 View Page Tradional Jack Friday, October 30 View Page The Scream Friday, October 30 View Page Boo Friday, October 30 View Page FEEEED MEEE Friday, October 30 View Page The group picture Monday, November 2 View Page Added 10 bags of alfalfa pellets to the garden and more leaves, leaves, and leaves. Tuesday, November 3 View Page Here's a good picture of a pumpkin that went 11% light grown on the 1081 Wentzell, the next picture is of one that went 16% heavy grown on the 1156 Hunt. Tuesday, November 3 View Page The 682 Nieuwenhoff (1156 Hunt X 1081 Wentzell) 16% heavy, grown in 160 SqFt. Tuesday, November 3 View Page Rest In Pieces, I think I'll try giant Tomatoes and Giant Cabbage in this spot next year. It's amazing how in the spring this pile will be about an inch or two high. Tuesday, November 3 View Page Just looking for my mind....I lost it somewhere. Tuesday, November 3 View Page Added to two bags of Black Earth Humate today. Messy, dusty stuff, I looked like a coal miner when I was done. Maybe shouldn't do it when it's windy. Thanks Conrad for picking it up. Monday, November 30 View Page Pumpkins at the Royal Winter Fair. John Vincent - 1st Monday, November 30 View Page First Place - John Vincent Monday, November 30 View Page Has nothing to with pumpkins...but I love this picture. Poor rabbit having to sit there all day looking at the wonderful meal...if only he knew. Wednesday, December 2 View Page Line-up for 2010 looks like this so far....depends on what other seeds come my way between now and April. 4 plants - 600 sqft each plant 1268.5 HUNT (901 Hunt X 1631.5 McKie) "The Next 901" 1375.5 Liggett (grew the 1636 Liggett this year)"The Beast" 843 Bourne (1207 Young X 1309 Hebb)"The Dark Horse" ??? ??????? (???? X ????) "The GVGO Seed of the Year" Hope to get something in the GVGO raffell worthy of my 4th spot. Maybe some surprises will show up in the mailbox...if not the list is pretty well set. Will grow my own 682 Nieuwenhoff for back-ups...would really like to grow one but there's only so much room. Sunday, December 13 View Page My sister and her husband live in the Muskoka (Bracebridge, Ontario) They've had a bit of snow in the last few days. This is the car. Sunday, December 13 View Page And this is the RV....it may not be available to rent for a couple days. Monday, December 14 View Page My seed line-up has changed already due to unforseen seeds mysteriously appearing in a bubble pack...stay tuned