Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 184 Entries. Friday, January 9 View Page Happy New Year and what a way to START the year. I am still deeply, truely, and sincerely grateful to the kind "Santa" who purchased this for me! You know who you are, and I can not thank you ENOUGH! It arrived today, and I have yet to get to read the DT2. Touching some envelopes, knowing I've chatted with you, isn't the same. Closest I will be to some of you I guess unless I can make a major weighoff... Still, WOW. Over three months yet to loading the sproutenator so, Good Luck To Everyone for 2009! Sunday, February 8 View Page This is what they consider a snow here. Two inches or enough to make the grass disappear, is once or twice a winter if we're lucky and it doesn't stay. That is the pond that needs to be redone, the year AFTER this... Sunday, February 8 View Page Look by the corner of the "2"... that is our promised 'chance of rain' today. The air is moist like it rained but that is how much we got... in the oversized scaled raingauge. (the screw head is a normal deck screw for comparison) I have a feeling it's going to be another drought year in spades.... Monday, February 9 View Page Took last picture about 5pm, Sunday the 8th. This is just a minute after midnight... or a minute into Monday the 9th. WOOO.... we're ahead of last year, to the 9th of May or so we had gotten .53" and that was rather late. Moisture! Thursday, February 12 View Page Arrived today, the Matt Winey Mystery Box... thank you! Originally started because of Fat Fred and a bet, thank you Lisa for helping get it to the postoffice. In another note, Frank Finders, yes I received it, and it's in #2 slot, thank you! Matt Teeters, I received yours as well and thank you also! Thursday, February 12 View Page WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 80 and some packs... even some Giant Tomato seeds! Thursday, February 12 View Page 1427 Kopp 07 was the bet seed plus $10... instead he sent all these other seeds... wow... Yes, I found those on the first dumpout, 1248 Ford, 1097.5 Beach, 1142 Van Kooten, 1024 Mombert... Yes some of these seeds are older and going in the freezer after inventory, and will have to be 'used' soon or sprout may not happen. One I have that I need info on: "Hodge genetics 2004" and "F-1024 Mombert 2003" "M-753 Pappas 2003" ...um what was the Hodge pumpkin? Pack has 3 seeds and I have not opened it. Matt, thank you sincerely, it was worth all the heck and patch rash, bugbites, the ugly spiderbite in an unmentionable place, and getting in head to toe garb with a vapor respirator at 95F to spray for SVB's more than once... you really floored me. I guess that bet is part of the reason I'm hooked. Inspiration! Now the next two weeks will be going blind staring at AGGC again and chewing lineup; just in time to start spring patch prep. One more time, Thanks Matt. Friday, March 20 View Page Luscious.... Picking those seeds... 2008 Lineup Is 1446 Werner, 475.5 Bourne, 1428 Reiver, 1026 Young, 1100 Hester, 783 Huff, 275 Van Hook. Backups and I changed my mind 1427 Kopp, 641 Andrews 1112 Barenie, 110 Wright, 736 Gansert, 566.5 VH, 1009 Young If I don't need them they will go to Grower Club members so any backups will see dirt! Tertiary backups are some of Dwight Slone's sleepers, and my own 425 Rebel, of those 7. Round robin: ('next patch over') any of the above and backed up with 804 Carlson, 337 Finders, 940 Mombert and 542 Barenie. The pumpkin patch will get an 897 Finders and a 1112 Barenie for 'Competition Display Vines'. Meeting soon to decide rest of grower club picks here, usual of four starts and I'll be going earliest. A number of great seeds have been set aside for 2010 when I will have more patch. I wish to do them justice and go that year for pretty in spades. So a lot of Andrews, that coveted 893 Privitera, and many others with Northrup, Porier, Calai... will be grown then. Growers and clubs that have shared seeds, you are awesome, thank you! Friday, March 20 View Page Okay, nopic Need to do pretty and have two identical parentage seeds. I won't be happy unless I do pretty. 475.5 Bourne (1689 Jutras x 1248 Ford) 893 Privitera (998 Pukos x 1068 Wallace) 641 Andrews (670 Daigle x 603.5 Mueller) 1026 Young (1385 Jutras x 1207 Young) 1100 Hester (897 Hester x 898 Knauss) 783 Huff (1041.5 McKie x 961.5 Urena) 275 Van Hook (1443 Palmer x 1407 Wolf) Backup 1427 Kopp 1112 Barenie 110 Wright 627 Slone 736 Gansert 566.5 Van Hook 1009 Young 'Next Patch Over' any of the backups above I don't use, then 337 Finders, 940 Mombert, 556 Andrews, 898 Kline Next stop Iowa State Fair.... Saturday, March 21 View Page Third time is the charm, I don't need the strawberry bed; and I can get the heat tape out of the coldframe on the other side of the yard. That 1446 Werner and the 893 Privitera are going to be dueling (998 Pukos x 1068 Wallace) vines... Saturday, March 21 View Page Here's the plan and the expansion across some other garden and strawberry bed space. The four in the lower left are in amended area starting last fall, and will grow outwards from a central point. 7 o'clock, 275 Van Hook, 10 o'clock 641 Andrews, 2 o'clock 475 Bourne, 5 o'clock 783 Huff. Lower right, two, 1446 Werner above and 893 Privitera below. Above in the expansion across the old strawberry bed and an old garden space that will also take out my pot boneyard behind garage, 1026 Young and at top 1100 Hester. Greenhouse is in a corner of the 1446 area, it is moving. The 'grave' which has been a compost pit for two years, is at the lower edge of the 1026 Young. That won't be there either anymore. I have more compost and enough gypsum and alfalfa to give the place the 1026 and 1100 are going. I have just enough heat tapes. Bottom and left side are a few feet to a chainlink fence so no problem with sun. 1026 and 1100 will not have deep pipes but get all the filter flush water from the pond so will be plenty of moisture. Rigging some in-patch baffling for the wind will be my biggest problem, perimeter has a lot of buildings, solid fences, or tarpable chainlink to help out there. Lower right are the two best spots I have. Battle of the two 998 Pukos x 1068 Wallaces! Tuesday, March 24 View Page More to come on heattapes, hoops, and wiring for everything; this is a 12/3 bought cord against a 10/3 commercial custom made cord. It is rated for 30 amps. Kongzilla the Kord should pull four hoops heat tape and brooder lamp needs. The 12/3's I have should handle two each. I have three garage circuits I can tap and two very low use 15 amp circuits to the house if needed. Good worries while playing with electricity is not to heat things, short things, melt something, or blow a fuse or circuit breaker. I have 20 amp GFI 'industrial' 4 way power taps to plug into at the hoop ends. Power and wiring sorting and testing still underway... Sunday, April 12 View Page Seed Montage... upper left, 1446 Werner, 893 Privitera, upper right, 641 Andrews, 783 Huff, and 1026 Young. Thank you Frank Finders (and Quinn too), Tom P, Glenn, Erin, and Don. Erin told me the 783 she sent me (lower right of the three cluster in HER 2008 picture) is named Bob. Bob is kinda dwarfed there but I still expect greatness ... from all of them. Sunday, April 12 View Page Seed sorting, 1 oz portion cups with a rolled tube of scotch tape to hold it still onto the enamel tray. Across back is my first sprout eight, in front are watermelons, cantalope, tomatoes, marrow, sunflowers... I capped the ones not being started right away. I'm still finalizing what my backups are (and what the first wave for the grower club will be) so I didn't pull them yet. Sunday, April 12 View Page Pumpkin seed cups glued to a glass pie plate with a rolled tube of scotch tape under each. Each seed was filed and put back into cup, and a tablespoon of water at room temp plus (85F) put in each one. Left to sit for about 8 hours... I just emptied these into sproutenator. Sunday, April 12 View Page Sproutenator loaded. An old Ferrerio Rochier candy box from spring 2008 clearance (fed hubby candy and kept the box) with doubled paper towels cut to fit and two below and two above seeds. Wetted to just drippy. Lid went on and it's in the warm place to commence sprouting. Monday, April 13 View Page 1446 Werner, 893 Privitera, 475.5 Bourne, 1100 Hester, 275 VanHook, 641 Andrews, 1026 Young, 783 Huff ("Bob") this evening (13 April) in sprouter. Every seed got identical treatment all the way through. Only the 1446 Werner hasn't woken up yet. It went back for some more warming. Monday, April 13 View Page 1446 Werner. Not giving up yet, I'll give it two more days checking every 12 hours. Last year I had a few take their sweet time. Sproutenator is holding at 87-88F....on top my computer monitor. Monday, April 13 View Page 893 Privitera, making with 'grow-it-tude' and looks like it's sticking a tongue out. All seven that were with root had also started splitting, where I filed did help that. I eased most of them farther open gently then planted in the remixed potmix with myco. That is strange looking stuff, that RTI myco. I followed Don and Will's recommendations on how much to add, and parked those seeds lovingly into nice fluffy warm damp potmix. Officially married to patch until I clean it off and remove all record breaking pumpkins :D Tuesday, April 14 View Page First leaf still hoisting, 783 Huff. Bob's got Grow-it-tude. Next to it is one pumpkin off the Fat Fred vine, it made it through the winter stored on the floor in a cool place of the house. Like from last season to this... I am going to cut it and see how the inside fared. It's in my 2008 Halloween shots too... Sunday, April 19 View Page Is she crying or lying? No, here's the sassy little BOB (783 Huff) growing well and waiting to move outside. 1446 Werner is DOA :( so starting the 1156 Hunt for myself, and adding, 897 Finders, 566.5. Van Hook, 1009 Young, 836 Gansert, 1427 Kopp, 1357 Ghaye, 542 Barenie and 1112 Barenie.... Sunday, April 19 View Page Out in the ancient crotty greenhouse shell and looked under the bench while retrieving something... and found this. That IS a full grown female black widow spider. Abdomen is about half an inch long. With hoops you take them down after so long and nothing can hide in there for that long. EWWWWWWWWie.... Sunday, April 19 View Page My backups and Grower Club firsts... all of these that sprout will see dirt in a patch guaranteed. Arranged in a circle to best take advantage of the contact spot for warmth. 897 Finders, 542 and 1142 Barenie, 1156 Hunt (yes I am a GVGO member, that's MINE :D to replace the 1446 Werner :'( ) 1427 Kopp, 1357 Ghaye, 566.5 Van Hook (#151), 836 Gansert, and 1009 (John) Young. My handwriting, some were not ID'd inside their sealed-from-grower pack..., on several. Sunday, April 19 View Page This is where I am now putting my sproutenator box, making hubby happy and stays at a nice 87-88f. It needs the used bubble on top (from GVGO) and the two other things to weigh it down so it stays flat with that part of the monitor. No it does not block the vents. Hubby asked some stuff for the sensors tonight so we are still trying to get that working properly (another reason for Tuesday plantout). At least my rework the hoops and resolder everything seems to have helped, now it's just software glitches.... Friday, April 24 View Page In order, best growers, most with second leaf hoisting: 893 Privitera, 1100 Hester, 783 Huff (Bob), these are very close. 1026 Young, 275 Van Hook, then. First true leaf still unfurling: 475.5 Bourne and last, 641 Andrews. 641 got over the curly cots but is being slow on getting that first leaf hoisted and unfurled. Out of batch two, 566.5 Van Hook is in dirt and working on unfolding those first cots, greening up though. Going to get first taste of sun tomorrow. Rest of those in sproutenator, peeked in the little holes in the points, and looking like they're starting to stick something out on at least half of them. 542 Barenie smells funky out of the whole batch. I pulled, I have seconds or more of everything but the 1427 Kopp. 1156 Hunt, 897 Finders, 836 Gansert, 1009 Young, 1112 and 542 Barenie... 1357 Ghaye really swelled along the crack, I sort of peeled one quarter (half one side) off to look and put it back on crack side up. That was one of the ones looking like it was working on filling the sprout hole in the case. Been spending last few days doing some serious yard clean and such, and have holes dug all over yard and 'crap' all piled up looking for proper storage... my place is so far from House and Yard quarterly... hehehe. Pic: 836 Gansert filed, angle looks like I filed all the way to the point but I didn't. Also had to use the coarser end of the nail file, sort of wore all the grit off the fine end. Thursday, April 30 View Page Nopic - updates... [note: when I say 'pull' 'pulled' it is a seed being taken out of seedbank, not a plant being terminated. Those would be 'culled'] After last week's loss of 8 of 9 sprouts, I pulled seconds of all the seeds other than the 1427 Kopp, which I only had one. A 1248 Ford was pulled for that. Soaked late Sunday, today I have 1248 Ford, 1112 Barenie, and a furry 897 Finders all showing sprout. Rest should be soon. Fixing and warming pots now for those first three. Still in sprouter, 1009 Young, 1357 Ghaye, 542 Barenie, 836 Gansert, 1156 Hunt. Yes I am a member of GVGO and that 1156 is going in my patch if it goes. The others are going to return season Grower Club members... so they will see dirt. I think the great loss of everything but the 566.5 Van Hook last week was a bit too much moisture, thanks everyone that *discussed* that with me! Yes I feel bad but it was a working method... It's a bummer to be starting a season and lose great seeds like that, but honest, I thought I had it down perfect and was getting 100% last spring... with the humble pie scarfed and the butt kick(s), I continue my season. I will post patch pictures probably this weekend, AFTER I get the hoop watering plumbing working. The first 7; 783 Huff, 1026 Young, 1100 Hester, 893 Privitera, 275 Van Hook, 475.5 Bourne, 641 Andrews, are all happy and just need to get 'land and run' figured out. Bummed about the 1446 Werner, and will be. I thank you Frank for the seed... 566.5 Van Hook is going to a grower club grower this weekend, it's just at starting to show that first leaf and hoist. They grew last year, they got their patch ready, hoop up, and they are all excited. They will be part of the big pollen swap, too. Mist Blower came, need to try it out yet. Thank you Tony Vanderpool. Pictures to come. Tuesday, May 5 View Page Everyone but Matt-man can look. Here is the 1026 Young in it's palace on 24 April. I exported it tonight to jpeg. Thursday, May 7 View Page Another peek at a PunkinPalace.... this is the residence of the 1026 Young during construction. Who seems to like it just fine. I draw the line at piping cable out there. Woo.. on having an excuse to call a WC HH tonight; had to RSVP decline the open house... rest of Y'all of the SNGPG have fun at the Wallaces on the 17th! Joe, you do NOT sound like I expected you to on the phone. Makes me feel better finding out I hit patch about the same time you did or a weee bit earlier. Yes I had something snack to the nub on my 641 Andrews, and today I found something also had a touch of snack on my 275 Van Hook. I put out something... and the yardboys let me know I got something... I cleaned up squirrel tonight. I didn't know it until bedtuck and AFTER I talked to Joe... the growing tip and a leaf at the end is still intact so I expect the 275 to pull through. 475.5 Bourne is getting over it's pouts, shaping up nice. 783 Huff slowed down a little (Bob's taking a breather), 1100 Hester has the most fat sassy leaves, and 1026 Young is doing it's daddy proud. Debating filling empty hoop 8 and/or replacing the 641. 1357 Ghaye and 897 Finders are making GREAT fat cots, 1112 Barenie is doing good, 1009 Young is waking up well and doing the green. 1248 Ford was aggressive in spitting sprout but leaves are kinda funked and it's sort of making effort...hoping first leaf will come out and make that one fly right. Tonight starting one more round of seeds, mostly melons, LG's, cantalope and the like. Saturday, May 9 View Page I promised as my new years resolution not to fill my diary with 389,261 sproutie pictures this year, but. This is the replacement for the squirrel ravaged 275 Van Hook. Looks happy today... should make grower proud, the 1357 Ghaye. Tuesday, May 19 View Page 1100 Hester is making up mind about is it going up or going to go out... 783 Huff is heading for over... and 893 Privitera is growing straight up. Out of the older set 475.5 Bourne is finally working on some leaf it was super slow to get going. Younger ones, 1357 Ghaye has grow-it-tude, 1248 Ford mended some ways and is now doing the grow, and 961.5 Urena is the smallest but being very good. 641 Andrews and 897 Finders are in 'next patch over' and she is doting on them. 1009 Young and 1112 Barenie are also doing well, the current travelling trophy holder has big hopes. I still have seven plants, going to go to new homes by this weekend. 440 and 627 Sloan, 803 DuRoss, 755 Gansert, 196 Fiedler, 110 Wright, 900 est Langevin... 803 DuRoss makes me wish I had patch space, 110 Wright, Will that plant is incredible. 1026 Young and it is INDEED lying down. Every leaf is coming off straight up then it heads outwards again.... stump is under middle of that lowest leaf. There are good starts of secondaries, and male blossom buds, just out of principle I think. That has been one spoiled vine. Tuesday, June 2 View Page Update of ... 1026 Young, not as big as I'd like but growing well. Yes you can see plastic, I had to get the covers back out from some dips at night into the 40's to protect plants. Tuesday, June 2 View Page 783 Huff, Bob. Doin' ErinErin proud... took awhile after making the patch to get some grow on, very happy with it now. Tuesday, June 2 View Page 893 Privitera, finally went over. Stocky plant just like 783 Huff. This is the 998 Pukos x 1068 Wallace, same as 1446 Werner cross. Tuesday, June 2 View Page 475.5 Bourne, finally getting some good grow on, it's same age as 1026 Young. 1631.5 McKie x 1689 Jutras, I did want to grow this one. Tuesday, June 2 View Page 897 Finders, from espionage trip :) to patch a block away. One reason I'm actually starting to worry I might get my heinie grown off. She took first in adult last year, second overall, in our weighoff. Tuesday, June 2 View Page 1112 Barenie, espionage trip; our travelling trophy holder and first place overall junior grower. She wants to keep her trophy. Another reason I may get my heinie grown off this year. Tuesday, June 2 View Page A patch-y picture. 961.5 Urena in foreground, the other frame is where the 475.5 Bourne lives. Friday, June 19 View Page Yes I am pollenating but I don't want to spook the 1026, it already aborted once... here is 783 Huff, Bob... I am going to have to take this one off but it is definitely making tendrils, kicking keysters, and taking names. Friday, June 19 View Page A shot through my own patch fence... saving Matt Winey that long trip to do an espionage patch intelligence gathering session. Friday, June 19 View Page Tony Vanderpool made me this sprayer. He was kind enough to put one shot of 2 stage oil in too, all I needed was to assemble, read directions before and after that, find a gallon of gas, mix, fill, and start'r up. Hubby is taking pictures, and I am out front so excuse some of my backgrounds.... Friday, June 19 View Page Tony Vanderpool's backpack mist blower. I will say the full tank is not bad to hoist even on 5'5" me. I do have to put the blower ON a clean flat surface (it sucks air from underneath) or I can not pull it fast enough to start, I have no wrist strength. I am adjusting the controls on the blower motor after it is running. That is not at all bad to carry either. Friday, June 19 View Page Tony Vanderpool's backpack mist blower. You MUST wear hearing protection with this and I strongly suggest full spray gear. I am posing and trying it out the first time in these pictures so just spraying water. It was after this that I figured out how to get it to really kick the stuff not just that little pbbbyht you can see, but these are the best 'see what it is on a little gal' I have. Sooo Sorry, Tony for not posting or sending them to you earlier. Tuesday, June 23 View Page Okay, is she trying, crying, lying, or dying? Very well, here will be third try on the 1026. Almost perfect placing in patch for angle and everything. Had a leaf under it, I cut that off. The secondary will stay for a few days until I see if it takes. Survey of pollen gives me 1100 Hester or 893 Privitera, everybody else bloomed off TODAY or Yesterday, and won't be ready in the morning. I have two males bagged, one on each; and the female bagged. Water bottles and coldpacks crammed in freezer. I'm ready! Wednesday, June 24 View Page Morning of 24th unused 'take' of boys. There are 5, one behind you can't really see. One on far left is 893 Privitera, the bagged backup for this am's 1026 Young x 1100 Hester. Other four are off the 1026... it is daily, 1100 is almost daily, rest are still not pollen factories yet. Third time has to be charm, 1026 x 1100 Hester, may this one take. Tuesday, June 30 View Page Finally, my patch is starting to look more like that and less like 'volunteer exercise program' that you will see in the next two pictures. I've been off my feed and not running the stirrup hoe around for a few days and it SHOWS. I plan to get back on it in the next few...before it's 'weedeater' time. Tuesday, June 30 View Page The 'oghods' I found at patch check last night, 893 Privitera RARING to go, this morning tucked in with 1357 Ghaye pollen. I found the bags and got them all tucked in last night... and yes, the serious 'weed issues' I let go for a few days because I have been housebound. I had looked at that bloom at 4 pm and it was as green as 'three more days' and at sunset, yellow and tips barely parted. Boys were not quite awake, as I held them in hands and stripped, they warmed up and the pollen literally POPPED up. Strangest thing... This is at 10.5 feet and one nice looking female. Tuesday, June 30 View Page The other Ohgod I found AFTER I tied up the 1357 Ghaye and 1009 Young (in another patch) and did one last check. This is on first secondary of the 783 Huff, but it is way out. First two secondaries took off and did unreal growth, so much so I'd almost terminated them to get growth in the main... I have a feeling this plant is going to get a few genetics set because there's so few of them... and I might try to clone it too. The main is past 12 feet, it did put out a nice looker there at 12 that is in the next few days. Yes it also is in a 'weed issues' zone. I need to get some wheeze back so I can ram in the temp windbreak fence posts along there and get the stirrup hoe after things. Friday, July 3 View Page 783 Huff x 1009 Young, pollenated morning of 30 June well out on a strong first secondary. Picture taken after dark 02 July. I almost had to cut the bloom bag off to get it out of the bag. I *was* going to set 4 genetics crosses on this plant, will be pollenating the main on 4th or 5th of July... if that one does this, I'll be cutting this off and going with grow for huge. Saturday, July 4 View Page YES! First visual aid picture in patch! 4 day old, 783 Huff x 1009 Young.... This one has me pumped! Even if it slows down, it still is *exactly* what I needed to see! Go Bob Go (Erin named the seed, okay?) Saturday, July 4 View Page Nopic. Patch Notes [to be appreciated March 2010] This morning (see previous entry) has me so pumped up... and. I have measured and will remove 1026 Young x 1100 Hester in favor of the re-set 1026 Young x 783 Huff. That one is growing better. That only leaves me one double-set to choose between in the next few days, and set for mid to late week pollenating two more vines. THAT will leave me with two left, my Five State Cimarron Weighoff chances... (Oct 17th). Stirrup hoe 1, weeds -841,932,746,871,506 Me, -23# through my pores! What a great way to spend the holiday, working in the patch :) 1026 Young x 783 Huff(1July), 893 Privitera x 1357 Ghaye(30 June), 1100 Hester x 961.5 Urena (1July 2nd secondary@10' huge5lober), 783 Huff x 1009 Young (30 June first secondary@11'), and 783 Huff x 1026 Young (main@13',1 July). Still to come but has one coming, 1100 Hester Main, 1357 Ghaye Main, 961.5 Urena Main. 1248 Ford and 475.5 Bourne still growing and looking for that female. 1100 Hester had one on main that aborted, set secondary because looked so good and backup. 783 Huff took time too on main female... Sunday, July 5 View Page 5 Days, 783 Huff x 1009 Young... whatta baby! 12.5" circumference! Sunday, July 5 View Page 1026 Young x 1100 Hester, much bigger plant, day 10, 22.5" I have set again on this one, that is kind of disappointing, will see if another set will gain better. I will know in a few more days, having numbers from this one to compare. Sunday, July 5 View Page I bagged over 20 flowers on 6 vines to have choices this morning. That only cost me 9 mosquito bites and getting cinder showers from neighbor's fireworks (had a nice request they aim a little further that way please) after dark. LD phonecall caused it to be flashlight bagging. One female wasn't ready and the other two were set. And a few halfbakes (opened late yesterday and were open overnight) that were cut off this am. Bloom bags sewn double seam from old sheer curtains and drawstrings of yarn. Never can have enough, some flowers got tied into old grocery bags. Sunday, July 5 View Page Very familiar isn't it? Think a pumpkin grower lives here??? (my back deck side steps) Monday, July 6 View Page Day 6, 783 Huff x 1009 Young, 14.75 inches. After picture taken a different shade erected and that vine to the right has been moved, and I was death on all the 'weed issues' you can still see. Monday, July 6 View Page 893 Privitera secondary, I let it bloom to see what it was like. Bloom fused to tendril stalk, but female is perfect five lober inside. It has since been trimmed. Yes weed issues... that is the side I had to terminate for hitting end of patch already (just tipping) and it hasn't seen me and the stirrup hoe yet, waiting for it to dry out so I don't sink to my knees. Monday, July 6 View Page Okay 783 Huff x 1009 Young in new digs. Until I decide to cull or build it a real shelter (and lug some sand in and put in the mill fabric). The celery stalk thing is a leaf I didn't have the heart to cut off today. Monday, July 6 View Page Took a big tomato cage I mostly broke the bottom ring off, finished that job and cut the legs off. Then sewed some tarp scraps to the top with yarn and made outriggers by bending the leg trim tops into loops and sewing those to the tarp bits. Plenty of open for air circulation, and gives shade on worst of sun angles here. Replacement for lawn chairs until I build shelters for the fruit or cull. (got about ten more to make) Great way to use up ratty holed tarps and beat up tomato cages. Monday, July 6 View Page Other side of shelter, sides staked up and out to allow air movement. It allows plenty of space for any radiative heat from the sun hitting tarp to dissipate and with one side completely open, vents all rising hot air straight out. Same principle without clear center span that I use on the permanent shelters. Monday, July 6 View Page 1026 Young x 1100 Hester, day 11. 25.5 cir, gained 3" from yesterday. Also took OTT, combined 64.0... much happier with it today. See the 'snout' by the bloom end? I've been told that is a very good sign, snouts mean no blossom end blowing. Monday, July 6 View Page For Jos. Pollenation this morning, 1357 Ghaye x 475.5 Bourne. Um... 1248 Ford x 1502 Wallace, meet 1689 Jutras x 1248 Ford. Shape of things to come? :) Monday, July 6 View Page For Lave (Curt) and gma sudu (Sue). This is the thingy I put for morning glories to take over... to the right is the 1357 Ghaye stump, to the left the 475.5 Bourne stump. Double wide patchboards are under there somewhere. This is early July, I shudder to think what six weeks more would look like. It's pretty to have the flowers, but. Just wanted you to see... Friday, July 10 View Page 1026 Young usually does 4 lobers, nice big healthy ones, it did this one for me about 17' on the main. I have also seen fives, nice looking, on it. After the heat breaks I need to build two shelters, real shelters, and dig trench and install mill fabric. FINALLY, into real GROWING. Phew. Friday, July 10 View Page I desperately wanted Dan microheads and can't afford some of the plumbing this pass, plus some financial stuff was snarled up. Instead I put three of these up on poles and set the controller to blast the patch in 15-20 min sessions. These are above 5' and below 6' -I can't look at them (5') but I can easily reach them to adjust. I also don't have enough water pressure to run more than one at a time so they have to take turns (only one hydrant back there). Yesterday I got some over-drooped leaves and a few dealing with lightly crispy, ONLY where they haven't rooted in mind you, today they're happier campers even if it is a slick swamp. Friday, July 10 View Page Started removing 'in plant' feed tubs, turned three over in a row that were with the 1357 Ghaye, and found a half grown black widow female in each one... These are my patch guards, beware snoopers! [actually they all ate green raid after I took the picture with zoom... I'm getting brave in my old age and consoled my nerves after with some adult beverage] Saturday, July 18 View Page 1026 Young x 1100 Hester, day 23, OTT 170.0" and est 114#. I terminated the main because of shoulder issues and I had a tortuous 90 degree turn in the vine already. I moved this like eight times during this shuffle and this is about all I can pick up. And it will be the last time I dare try to pick it up! Saturday, July 18 View Page 1026 Young, this was AFTER I severed main and picked it up about eight times VERY carefully and shifted it. I might go out and pull it back down slightly away from the vine, move #8 I sent it back. Stem is pointing down so will be my last real clearance issue, I am hoping daily wedging under main vine will ease it up and out. You can see the two secondaries above the fruit, I am probably going to take the closest one off as well. Rest of plant is good sized and mostly laid out right so plenty to feed it. Wednesday, July 22 View Page 1026 Young x 1100 Hester, day 28, OTT 200", Weight 179#. Having picked this thing up at 114# est, I swear it's going heavy. The tarp makes it look a little strange but it IS losing the baby-kin yellow and might even vein. In meantime it was measured after 2 days and posted 18.5# a day for those two. WEEHOO... Okay there's others doing better with this vine but I am a happy grower, as long as it does that for a month and holds together I would take the record and eclipse PB. Did hopefully last backup set, seen a PERFECT 5 lober on main of 1248 Ford and crossed it with 893 Privitera; it finally got down to business. That's my two extremes. Friday, July 24 View Page Now I don't know how they do it down in Texas, or anywhere else, but here, we consider this a cull bloom, don't bother to set it... 5 lober too. :D Friday, July 24 View Page Big Boy... 1026 Young x 1100 Hester, day 30, 211.5 OTT and 209.5 # est. Gains are seesawing but staying above 14.5# a day for the last six days. I can tell when it's fighting the heat. I was hoping for heavier and gaining 20# or more a day. I'll take anything. Sunday, July 26 View Page Like it's thumbing nose at me. But look at the pollen stalk. Not that I need it, I am through setting come heck or high water. End of this week, everyone else will be done and I can prune all blooms. 1026 Young x 1100 Hester, 32 days, OTT 223.25", est 245# 783 Huff x 1009 Young back main, OTT 166.5", est 108# 783 Huff main, OTT 162.75" est 101.5# 893 Privitera, OTT 176.0" est 126# 1100 Hester back main; OTT 158" est 94# and more. Pat I'm not worried. I got lots in the wings and like 1357 Ghaye, 961.5 Urena, 475.5 Bourne, 1248 Ford still coming online. You still have August to get through. Good luck though. Sunday, July 26 View Page Pumpkin going pale white=going soft from water, that one on the left had been hidden and was sitting in a puddle when I found it, it was losing structural integrity as I watched. Center, bloom that day bloom from 783 Huff. Right, set 2.5 days ago, on 783 Huff, and it shrunk instead of puffing up. That is a definite 'didn't take and is aborted' failure to set. All that was on way to dumpster as I don't keep vines to keep disease problems down. I wanted to set a backup on the 783 main but "Bob" has spoken; it was just insurance. Tuesday, July 28 View Page I was working on one side of patch about 10 am, sounded like a stick broke... got over to the far side a bit later with the 'make a shelter' tools and found, it smiling at me! 1357 Ghaye x 475.5 Bourne, day 23, OTT 167" est 109#, chunkNweigh, 143#. I'll cry later, there IS a backup doing well on this one on the back main. Tuesday, July 28 View Page The whole thing laid out and a tape in there. I found out that knife is a Quikcut Quikkle and like 40-50 years old; but it cuts fruit well; and I got another one off eBay in case something happens to that one. Cutting this up was like cutting custard, by no means a maturing woodyfiber shell. Thursday, July 30 View Page 1026 Young x 1100 Hester, day 34, 241.5" OTT and est 305#. Today was cool and socked in, yesterday it rained, it finally got more than 14.5# a day, 17.5#.... still my lead pumpkin. Weeping both ends, toes crossed on it holding. Thursday, July 30 View Page Picked off the 1100 Hester this evening (30th). Can't decide if it's open yet or not. It's like it's 12 hours off schedule. I'm used to finding males that the tips have started to split but they didn't open far enough to let a bug get down them, at night on most of my plants but.... Thursday, July 30 View Page Another view. This was definitely a 'spoiled bloom' for controlled pollenating unless I'd bagged it about noon. I picked it about 5 pm... Saturday, August 1 View Page Leading off the hit parade, the 1026 Young x 1100 Hester, 36 days, aka "Big Boy". My lead pumpkin in age and size, at 246.75" OTT and est 324.25#. It has been gaining pretty steady against some hard hot weather, and will take my #2 all time on Sunday. If it holds another week I hope to at least break my PB. I hope it keeps going to early Sept, and at current rates will easily crawl over the state record. Sunday, August 2 View Page 893 Privitera, prettiest pumpkin. Too bad it had a runin with something so it's not Howard Dill Quality. Day 32, 195.5 OTT and 168#. Going very well. Love the orange it is showing already. Sunday, August 2 View Page 783 Huff x 1009 Young, the 'WunderPunkin'. Set on back main and started out like gangbusters. Still doing steady, 192.25 OTT, 160.5# Sunday, August 2 View Page 783 Huff Main set. 184.75 OTT and 143.5# This vine is amazing, both are doing well, and it's pulling both like a trooper. Gains I'm happy with. I set WunderPunkin before this one, it took it's time to do a female on the main. Sunday, August 2 View Page 1100 Hester on back main, the backup pumpkin. Main had a few issues so this one stayed. 185" OTT, 144 lbs. Sunday, August 2 View Page 1100 Hester main set. Man I worked hard to get this one. One up the main got culled for being a non-wonder and a few sets did abort, and when I had the patch visit someone kicked the flower off the bulb of the one after this one which was the 'perfect place' so this one... survived. 95.5" OTT, 25.5 lbs. Sunday, August 2 View Page 1357 Ghaye backup on back main. This one wants to put a female every foot! Trim Trim Trim. This was on when the main blew early in the week. It is in the "Sunday's project" as I let it go a few days. Which means vine redone, mill fabric, shade shelter. Also less of a wheel than the one that blew. 132" OTT, 58.3 lbs. Sunday, August 2 View Page 475.5 Bourne. This one is one of the late sets so heading for Mid October. Patch Tour visitors thought it was aborting and I told them no, indeed it's doing well. Backup set farther down did abort, done after they were here. 124" OTT, 49.6 lbs. Sunday, August 2 View Page Stem on that 475.5 Bourne. Gads that's gonna be a punkin if it has that to feed it... Sunday, August 2 View Page 961.5 Urena. One of my last sets of this run... crossed with 783 Huff, it's a father/daughter cross (783 Huff is 1041.5 McKie x 961.5 Urena) 120.5 OTT, 46.1 lbs. Sunday, August 2 View Page A set on the 1248 Ford, crossed with 893 Privitera. Everything on 1248 I set with the 893. I think that's gonna be a serious lunker for 2010. This is about 5-6 days old, passed the 2 day 'did it set or is it aborting' and the 4 day 'heat fried abort' hurdle. Sunday's project is to sort the vine and set it up for this one to be lawn chaired and millfabric/shelter'ed when the next order of mill fabric gets here. No measurements. Sunday, August 2 View Page What one of my pumpkins gets to look at once it gets 10 days to 'too big for lawn chair'. The vent hole at top (one on each side) allows the sun heated air to spill out, and gives pretty good rain/watering protection and sun protection. Bottom is open all the way around too, aiding in ventilation. I have worked inside one of these in 110F and it's not frying the fruits. My pumpkin sets range from 36 days to 6-8 days, I am aiming for six events over 44 days. From 3 Sept to 17 Oct... I will be very glad to finish the changeover to 'growing fruit'. 8 vines, 11 fruit-one blew-still have 10. Two vines have two fruit, at this point they are staying that way. I have plenty of chances, plenty of wiggle room, and August to get through yet. Toes crossed, there's 1 to 2.5 months left. Sunday, August 9 View Page Weekly update done today because I fell pretty bad on Friday in patch. Hubby came to see if I was okay because it took so long. This is the 1026 Young x 1100 Hester, "Big Boy" who is 262.5" OTT and 388#. I usually measure in evening so these may all be a bit light comparatively... but. This should eclipse my current PB of 425 by next update. Gains are off already, so this one is just expected to push my PB. Sunday, August 9 View Page 893 Privitera, doing it's daddy proud. Nice color, just getting better with time. OTT 225.25, 250# 998 Pukos x 1068 Wallace, same cross as 1446 Hester, and crossed with the 1357 Ghaye, which is 1248 Ford x 1502 Wallace. Sunday, August 9 View Page 1100 Hester on back main. 205.5" OTT and 193 lbs. Coloring nice, good looking fruit. Glad now it didn't taste the culling knife. Sunday, August 9 View Page 1100 Hester main. The survivor, and family resemblance to the backup. 153" OTT and 86# Sunday, August 9 View Page The rare 783 Huff (1041.5 McKie x 961.5 Urena) aka "Bob". This is the back main Wunderpunkin set with 1009 Young. 212" OTT, 211# est. 213" is where the chart reverses, with poundage greater than inches, it should be there tonight. Sunday, August 9 View Page 783 Huff main set. It is one day younger and still not caught up with Wunderpunkin, 201" OTT and 181# est. I was originally going to put 4-5 genetics on this plant and stopped here. Vine is doing very well pulling both pumpkins. Sunday, August 9 View Page 1357 Ghaye backup set. Main blew; and this one looks wonderful so far. This is also the one I fell near and got trashed up, I lightly touched the pumpkin with a foot when I sprawled and you have to look to find it (phew) Sunday, August 9 View Page 1357 Ghaye Backup. 205.5" OTT, 193# est... one that blew was 31% over, hope this cinderella wheel is doing thick walls like that one did... and this one did 41# gain in two days. FIRST pumpkin to go over 20# a day gain in my patch. (hope it wasn't because I bled on the mill fabric) Sunday, August 9 View Page 475.5 Bourne. Look at that stem. The warple at the bottom is not a split, it is solid. 159" OTT and 95# This was a very slow vine to start, very slow to grow, and took it's time to produce girls and set. Told it's the 1689 Jutras mother showing up. Finally figured out GROW and happy with plant, more competitive growers might have cut it early spring as a plant cull. Glad I waited. Sunday, August 9 View Page 961.5 Urena, father of the 783 Huff. This one is doing me LONG blimpy, and looking good. Almost last set in patch. 146.75" OTT and 77# est. Sunday, August 9 View Page 1248 Ford back main set. I would have had this to rights had I not messed myself up. Hope to rally this afternoon, shift this to mill fabric, and toss up the shelter. Another long fruit producer. These are really starting to pick up on the gain. No measure today. Sunday, August 9 View Page Found this fellow/gal on the 783 Main set while documenting stems for personal notes. Stayed put while I ran a tape measure past. The 783 Main is one of the three 'leftie' pumpkins I have, the thicker side and shoulder is on left not right so I measure on that side of stem over top. I had a big all tan last year, one tan/green, and several green, that made mature size (about 4") Sunday, August 9 View Page Tap root AT pumpkin... didn't know I hadn't trimmed it off or spaced it. It was hanging in air, I know I pulled it loose when I set vine. It was trimmed after this picture. Sunday, August 9 View Page Pumpkin "Tear". They range from a lot smaller than this to a bit bigger, and some are almost clear. This is a rather ambery one I found on the 1100 Hester Main. Sunday, August 9 View Page Entry #91, the 893 Privitera is the 998 Pukos x 1068 Wallace, same cross as the 1446 WERNER. Entries #101 and 102, yes, that kinkle is on the downside of the main and I did readjust things to take the stress off that. Another view of the 475.5 Bourne just because it needed to be seen, that is one nice pumpkin and going to go orange. How large, I'll find out soon enough. With a stem like that it should... [(1689 Jutras x 1248 Ford) and was crossed with 1248 Ford...] Monday, August 10 View Page Okay, expecting Big Boy to swell past 120" any time now; made up a new tape. 1357 Ghaye, still holding in, pale creamy, and still gaining. Up on the daily gain average, 22.5# today and OTT 213.75 and weight 215.5 est. In 10 days it has gone 15.7# day average...(1 to 10 Aug), 7th to 9th, 20.5#, 9th to 10th, 22.5#. I have not had one break 20 before. Go Go Go. I still check carefully every day to see if I have to clean it up instead, so far that blossom end is beautiful. Sunday, August 16 View Page Corrected weight, between bad math and brewski... 1026 Young, at day 54 and 74.75" ss, 73.0" ee, 120" cir, 267.75" OTT and 411# est. It is going heavy I hope and it is still gaining. Might sail past PB before some other pumpkin does. It's fate is county fair 15 Sept if it makes it. Sunday, August 16 View Page Monster, the 1357 Ghaye backup. At 245.5 OTT and 320#. It's still growing and still showing how it's done. This picture is retouched in that I turned down the highlights and lightened the shadows so you could see it. Gonna be a pale ghost. Sunday, August 16 View Page Looking good and hefty, bright orange, 893 Privitera, 238" OTT and 293# Sunday, August 16 View Page 783 Huff "Wunderpunkin" back main, 221" OTT and 233# .. Bob is doing well with two... Sunday, August 16 View Page 783 Huff main, 207" and 197#. Like said, Bob is doing well. Must be the 1041.5 McKie mummie. Sunday, August 16 View Page 1100 Hester back main, this was the backup set because main didn't want to set or grow anything. 214" OTT and 216# Sunday, August 16 View Page 1100 Hester main set. Nice little feller and pretty photogenic. 190" OTT and 155# Sunday, August 16 View Page 1248 Ford on back main. Main was crappy at best, lumpy missformed pumpkins if they took or 3 lobes and seeds in blossom. Debut with measurments; 184.5" OTT and 143# Growing like it's in a HH's patch. Sunday, August 16 View Page The 475.5 Bourne. Been a slow vine. Awesome stem on this pumpkin. 180.25" OTT and 134.5# Sunday, August 16 View Page 961.5 Urena, father of the 783 Huff. 162.25" and 100.5# More gains means even more aggressive heat management next summer. I am ahead of numbers off last year on most everything but had the extreme heat pulse a month earlier and it's showing now on gains in general. I am far from done with season and should still get 3-4 over my PB and still have a very good chance of pulling a state record. Of course there are many things that I still have to get past. We'll know in the next few months. Sunday, August 16 View Page This is very light cantaloping, look at Don Young's 2007 and 2008 big ones and some of the Wallace's pictures for some really heavy veining and roughing. This is on the 1026 (Don)Young I'm growing that has 1068 Wallace genes, those tend to cantalope. Sunday, August 23 View Page Got out to patch late, so didn't get everyone tonight, however. 1357 Ghaye, tonight OTT 270.25 and 422# est, currently leader in patch, overtook Big Boy. 102# over a week and still gaining well, it is still in the teens for daily gains. This one if it holds is my chance at greatness possibly. Sunday, August 23 View Page 1026 Young, Big Boy, 270 OTT and 421# est. It may go heavy, it's at threshold of my PB, and it was dethroned by the 1357 Ghaye. I am making plans to remove it after a few more things to see if I can get it to start doing a few pounds a day again and get it out to the County Fair on Sept 15th... else it goes to certified scale. Sunday, August 23 View Page 893 Privitera, gotta love that orange. I did not do this vine justice this year... This one should make it to the county fair and awe the crowd at least. 244.75 OTT and 317#, very good. Still gaining enough it should vinesit for a few more weeks. Sunday, August 23 View Page 783 Huff on the back main, Wunderpunkin, at 228.25 OTT and 259.75#. This one has been staying ahead of the main set, it was the one that had astounding early numbers, one of those make you feel gooders. Bob's doing good, Erin. Sunday, August 23 View Page 783 Huff Main. This really is lighter colored than Wunderpunkin. 2 days younger, 219.75 OTT and 233.25# I was originally going to put 4-5 on this one for genetics and left it at these two. Still growing well. Sunday, August 23 View Page 1100 Hester on back main. I am considering removing this one carefully (a few days amputation). 217 OTT and 225# Sunday, August 23 View Page 1100 Hester main. This is the one I can see out the kitchen window (and watch the plant pout all afternoon when it's not on the zone getting watered) Nice gains this week, at 211.75 OTT and 210.75# Just about to 'tip over' on OTT/lbs ratio. Didn't get the other three done before dark, will do them Monday. Those are all younger late sets and are just coming into growing good for mid Oct. Thursday, August 27 View Page Thursday August 27, in the last rays of sun, me in the only clean tee around (3x swimming) and the 1357 Ghaye aka "Monster" at 281.25" OTT and 473 lbs est. It isn't this yellow, it's pretty creamy pale, sun is doing it. Oh, my est? 180, I have lost 9# since early July. That is the 1357 vine in front, behind, and all around. This is about the furthest corner of my patch, and quite a hike, hubby came on request to take the picture in case something happened to this fruit in near future. Another 31" of OTT and it would be at state record... and if it's going heavy... it'll stay here until it blows, or grows and goes to scale. Thursday, August 27 View Page Monster looks yellow here, but. This is the view I usually post. I got it almost vertical when small, so when I tape I am careful about over stem and below bellybutton to be horizontal, and it floats across some airspace at both ends, but I think I'm pretty accurate with where tape lands for all three measurements. Hoping she hangs in for another 166# Monday, August 31 View Page 1357 Ghaye, Monster, day 47.. (all these say 31st but were done Sunday the 30th), light creamy butter yellow, even has that sheen in person. 290.5 OTT and 520.5 # est. It is off a little, we got 1.4" of rain overnight and it was very cool and cloudy and I didn't water it extra. Monday, August 31 View Page This appeared between uncover time this morning and cover up time this evening. I liken it to a hemorroid... it was gently felt and has the same texture as any other part of the pumpkin. One good thing, pumpkin still feels 'tender' not tough and hardened up. Other arrow is where a few tiny surface furrows appeared and a tiny clear weepy tear. I am praying this isn't indication of her giving up Monday. Monday, August 31 View Page The Lord Gourd of the patch. 1026 Young, 68 days, 276 OTT and 448#. The second one that is over my last year PB. It is very close to where the 425 grew up too. It is still gaining, might make county fair on the 15th after all. Monday, August 31 View Page 893 Privitera, has bulk even if it isn't over 1k. Did very good showing and hitting that 'I'm getting close to done'. Gotta love that orange, it's a lot more intensely awesome in person. Is a nice looker. 250.25 OTT and 338# Monday, August 31 View Page 783 Huff, back main set, the WunderPunkin that took off like gangbusters. Very mature and scruffy looking. 229 OTT and 262#. Good shape and good orange though. Monday, August 31 View Page 783 Huff main set. Pretty pumpkin, a little lighter color and not as intense, in person. This is the set that almost didn't happen. Main took ForEVER to show a good girl. 224 OTT and 246# Monday, August 31 View Page The peanut that would NOT give up. 1248 Ford, back main, finally got started and going despite everything. 232.5 OTT and 273.5 # est. That patch to the right of the cap was from a tarp being stuck to it and weight of water caught in tarp pulled it on the skin. It seems firm and seed cavity is NOT compromised. Monday, August 31 View Page 1100 Hester Main set. This was a late one, and not where I wanted it exactly, but at least it started growing compared to the earlier one. Too late to remove the backup so just letting it go as a possible Howard Dill or halloweener... 224.25 OTT and 247# Monday, August 31 View Page 1100 Hester set on backmain. The main finally sailed past it, too late and too big to really want to sacrifice it, so letting it go. 218.5 OTT and 229.5 # est. Monday, August 31 View Page 475.5 Bourne. Shows Jutras 1689 in that stem, it has a heckuva stem. This vine has been slow all over, but gave it a full chance because of the cross. Gaining steady, one of the last sets, so doing what it wants to for genetics. 203 OTT and 187# Monday, August 31 View Page The last set, 961.5 Urena; very pretty and long. 177 OTT and 128#, yes she has to live with the hose cutting through her area to the back zone. It's not as close as it looks in the picture. Saturday, September 5 View Page Monster this afternoon, at 300.75" OTT and 575# est. Might go 301 tonight (row 8 on chart, another of my goals) it has 11.25" ott to being over state record, might want to go to 322 before cutting (about 700#). It did 15# gain from last night so still has the potential! Saturday, September 5 View Page I noticed that as I step off back deck and head for the fork (right to pond, left to patch)these all lined up and look a lot closer than they are! Two Hesters, the 1026 Young (Big Boy) and 1357 Ghaye (Monster) all lined up between here and far fence. You are looking across the nearest to farthest corners of my patch, from the one I can see out the kitchen window to the one that's a long hike. Enjoy Matt; that's the view you're getting. Sunday, September 6 View Page Monster this evening, at 302.5" OTT and 585#. Found a 30# cull hiding in the place you can't see, find, or get to, so that should fix the gain yoyo. Been doing 10-15# a day yet... at 10% that would be 643. Now comes the wait for scale day. I have arrangements for a certified weigh with witnesses if needed. Sunday, September 6 View Page 1026 Young, came up with two sets of measurements, going to call it holding it's own about 448#. Going to county fair the 15th and they asked me to get it scaled the 14th if I'm entering it. Sunday, September 6 View Page 893 Privitera, going to the fair too. 256.5 OTT, 363.5# It is slowing down enough and the vine is looking like roadkill except the last 6' of the main hiding in 'out of bounds' under that rosebush. Between the glowing sunside bit and the shadow, that line IS about the real color, bright intense dayglow orange. Sunday, September 6 View Page 783 Huff Wunderpunkin. OTT of 238.75" and 295#. This is another going to fair as it's feeling maturity. Hope it's full of fat seeds, crossed with 1009 Young. Sunday, September 6 View Page 1100 Hester main, 231 OTT and 269# It is finally pulling ahead smartly from the other one. This is the one I can see out the kitchen window and the vine around it always pouts if the temp goes over 75 or so. Sunday, September 6 View Page 783 Huff main set. 228.5 OTT and 260.5 lbs. Also going to fair. Need this one to move to get at the Privitera. Sunday, September 6 View Page 1100 Hester backup. Got to be too late to remove it so left it to grow. 220 OTT and 234 lbs. Sunday, September 6 View Page The 475.5 Bourne. 211.5 OTT and 209.5 lbs. One of the last sets so small but. It still has a heckuva stem for the size it's gotten to so far. Hope the TKO turbos it. Sunday, September 6 View Page 961.5 Urena. Father of the 783 Huff. 181 OTT and 136 lbs. This is the last set in patch so still getting going. Sunday, September 6 View Page 1248 Ford, big huge blob that has been going like gads. However, no measure tonight and being removed from patch as well as vine so next weeks yank of four can happen. See next picture too. Sunday, September 6 View Page The blems with the black, that's about the size of a man's palm. I'm going to yank and weigh the 1248 before it turns into putrid sunbaked maggot farm. It will also allow me then to get into the patch to pull the four going to the fair, and leave Monster and a few others to grow some more. (AND cut my workload) Friday, September 11 View Page Little Lady (Praying Mantis) I found this morning. About 3" not 4" like I usually see; and getting very preggers. Organic buggie control I highly encourage. As for Monster, yesterday was 308.5" OTT and 620# estimated. She's still hanging at average 10# a day, a few more days is all I am going to try to push (yes I am pushing)double digit gaining. 1357 Ghaye got kelp, fish, TKO 3-18-18, and I am watering it as I submit this. At 10% light I need 323 OTT, at 10% heavy, read'm and weep. I still have to get it out of there and to a scale too... Friday, September 11 View Page My about-to-be-culled 'relief valve' for 1357 Ghaye. This is the end of the main, not where Monster is. Monster as of 6:30 pm CDT is at 311.0" OTT and est 635#. Gain of 15#. This is the last time I am going to feely and tape her until she either blows or goes to scale. She's done the run, now she can just be pampered and cared for until I determine it's scaletime! Hubby gives me three days on this one.... <until I measure again> Oklahoma State Record is 638#, one half inch OTT will put it at a tie. Friday, September 11 View Page Nopic. I was informed this evening that my paternal grandfather died peacefully on September 9th at the age of 107. Funeral is tomorrow morning so I will not be able to attend. 6 August 1902- 9 Sept 2009. He had lived a good life and it was time. Monday, September 14 View Page I went to show someone Monster, took off the blanket and found a black widow. Went back to take picture and found a jumping spider there too. Trained Patch ATTACK Arachnids on duty! Feeling run over, sudden trip canned my trailer puller and the forklift (theirs) so no pumpkins of mine going to county fair. Going to coast what I can as close to Halloween and our weighoff now that I can. I need to get up to probably one of the Colorado WO's coming up, with or without pumpkin. Tuesday, September 15 View Page A few wanted to see them, the first round of the 'can-ny' tomato trophies. Plastic canvas, metallic thread, yarn, a plastic tomato attached with yarn stitched into it with curved needle... inside has cardboard tubing and quilt batting, and three washers couched to the inside bottom to give it enough weight it doesn't tip. The recipients thought they were very cute... several fair visitors asked what kind of tomatoes 'those' were and I got to tell them, uh, plastic. They are a little larger than a soda can, 3" diameter plastic canvas rounds top and bottom.... Saturday, September 19 View Page I figured someone would bless a pumpkin blanket sooner or later, I found the egg case, then this very pregnant female praying mantis came crawling up the blanket. It's not hers, she's still working on her brood. I cut a small chunk of blanket off then used a corner to repair the hole. I strongly encourage my organic aphid control! Oh, Monster is still hanging in there but it's turning ORANGE now, light orange... and losing it's lovely butter color. She's not ready for scale yet and neither am I up to the work to pull it out of there. Sunday, October 4 View Page Now Now Now, Pat-ty... yer jumpin da gun! I'm still growing for greatness. If it's anything it'll be humble pie, and I just got in from having a nice little chat with Monster with the above... it's gonna do it's best. Monday, October 5 View Page There it is. We can handle all pumpkins now. The small platform we have will go to 1000 lbs, this will go to 2500 by 1/2 pound and is certifiable for trade. I also moved some appointments giving me back three plus days before weighoff. As for when Monster Meets Scale, no set time yet. That one will be the platform. Now if my load of bales shows and I get permission to use lot across from site, I almost have my sanity back! Tuesday, October 6 View Page Asked to put up some right now... All three judges. Woman in white sweater was 'lead' and had main authority to DQ (and my full permission to if it warranted it) Tuesday, October 6 View Page Main judge scraping some sow bugs off bottom to probe for solidness. Tuesday, October 6 View Page Fellow from local USDA Service Center (Farm Service Agency) and another witness. Fellow in hat was asked to attend to document and produce proof letter. Tuesday, October 6 View Page Moving fruit after reslinging after weighing. Wednesday, October 7 View Page Dumped and recovered another camera. That is a ziptie in her mouth as anything soft, suspicious, or needing probing is searched for. Wednesday, October 7 View Page Yes I know it doesn't show much else but it's being held in front of hanging pumpkin so the camera can see it. 702.5#, pumpkin with rigging. Wednesday, October 7 View Page Another wish it showed more, rigging was bundled up and that was weight of rigging by itself. 13#. 702.5-13 = 689.5 Wednesday, October 7 View Page Verifying accuracy of scale used, first picture. Back of scale display unit with factory applied and filled out sticker. Since the other part is a loadcell they put the info on the display unit. Wednesday, October 7 View Page Next one, letter from the company that scale was purchased from. It was faxed and notation of receipt at phone number it was faxed to (I have no fax). Later today it goes to Oklahoma State Official (by appointment) to be certified. If that shows it to be accurate then I believe that proves the validity of scale used. Tuesday, October 13 View Page Some things had to happen on another's schedule. State Agent came and certified the sling scale in question. Another small platform scale that belonged to another business was also done that day, so paper shows two passed. The lower one is the one pictured. Scale is certified accurate by scale company in previous posted letter; scale is certified for trade by the State of Oklahoma. It was and is accurate. Tuesday, October 13 View Page Close up of certification letter including witness and agent signature. Scale is verified accurate and legal for trade in State of Oklahoma. Tuesday, October 13 View Page Expert Witness (one of four witnesses) at the weighing October 6th, local USDA director, who witnessed inspection of and weighing of, 689.5 Rebel 09 off the 1357 Ghaye 08. Tuesday, October 13 View Page Stem, Top View, taken 3 days later. Tuesday, October 13 View Page Stem Bottom View, taken three days later. Tuesday, October 13 View Page BellyButton end, taken 3 days later, complete with dirt in the dip. Unedited except for cropped picture. Tuesday, October 13 View Page Taken 3 days later, blossom on left to stem on right. Tuesday, October 13 View Page Stem to blossom end, taken 3 days later. Tuesday, October 13 View Page Underside on Oct 9th, just under stem end. Tuesday, October 13 View Page Farther down from stem end going towards blossom end. Underside three days later. Tuesday, October 13 View Page Bottom at blossom end, three days later. Tuesday, October 13 View Page One closer to stem end from blossom end. Three days later. Yes that rib was probed with a business card and a bamboo skewer after all the sowbugs had been scraped off, earlier pictures shows that being done. It was dry and sound. Tuesday, October 13 View Page I think I posted the darker copy of this. Scale verified as accurate when left factory. Scale certified by state as accurate. Scale was and is accurate. Three judges; under four witnesses including expert witness; examined to determine if fruit was sound. No soft spots, leaks, cracks, wet and dripping, damage, or holes into the seed cavity were found on body of fruit or stem or vine area. Pictures of exam, and readouts of scale witnessed by expert witness; and pictures to confirm sound fruit; posted. Oklahoma State Record is 689.5# Wednesday, October 14 View Page Garden Club member brought this to the meeting today. She said there are several on the tree. A few others said they have seen this happen before but been quite a while. Just goes to show how messed up the weather is here this fall. I happen to LOVE lilacs so she gave it to me and it is smelling up my work area tonight ! Better than a bouquet of roses!!! Thursday, October 15 View Page Our prettiest pumpkin ribbon to go with plaque. More to come.... Saturday, October 24 View Page Cut up the 689.5 today and halloweenied it. 692 seeds, most fat and plump and mature. Very few pips that weren't. I expect some airseeds but expect about 1/2% at most. Very few whities or part coated. Rinsed off and had one turn already, drying well. Blade on the Quikkle is 12" Put two 2 gallon bags of 'fillet' in the freezer for making into thanksgiving pumpkin pie. Saturday, October 24 View Page I try to carve and reach through carve holes to clean out, this was when I decided I needed 2' longer arms or cut a hole in back, 434.5 Rebel (aka 1026 Young aka Big Boy). 535 seeds, more tyvek papery seeds that I didn't collect and more incomplete coats and five total misfires you have to see to believe. Expect 2% or so airseeds. Big flat blady seeds like the 1026 were. Saturday, October 24 View Page Just one of the Monstervator, didn't get the LED's in before dark so put in small pluggable holes to light up snout. Eyes covered with a greenish plastic, makes it look eerie in person.