Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 177 Entries. Saturday, March 29 View Page Hi everyone. This year is the second year I grow big pumpkins. Last year I took Atlantic Giant seeds from a home-improvement-market and the results weren`t very good... So this year I decided to take seeds from professional growers to make sure that the results will be better this year. Therefore I ordered seeds from an Austrian professional Atlantic Giant grower 2 days ago. The seeds will arrive in the first days of April. Here the order can be seen: Monday, March 31 View Page Today I transfered the money for the ordered seeds to the account of the austrian seed merchant. He says he is on holiday so that it will take about a week until they arrive. Thursday, April 10 View Page This will be my Patch this year: Here two Atlantic Giants will grow...But I`m still waiting for the seeds. Will be a lot of work to do in the next weeks: digging, amending, compst, manure etc. Thursday, April 17 View Page Finally my seeds arrived. My line-up: - 683 Riegebauer 07 (F: 658 Helbock 06 M: 838 Pukos 04) - 670 Jöbstl 07 (F: 1315 La Rue 06 M: 1502 Wallace 06) Some days until I start my seeds.. Saturday, April 19 View Page Sowing day: This evening I will sow my seeds, so I have made some preparations this morning. These seeds are ready to soak: left: 683 Riegebauer 07 right: 670 Jöbstl 07 Saturday, April 19 View Page Soaking seeds: they soak from this morning until they are sown this evening Left: 681 Riegebauer 07 Right 670 Jöbstl 07 Saturday, April 19 View Page Preparations for the sowing this evening: Potting soil and compost are mixed and put into the pots. Saturday, April 19 View Page 20h in the evening: The seeds see dirt. They are are finally sown! The two pots on the left: 681 Riegerbauer The other two pots on the right:670 Jöbstl Friday, April 25 View Page This morning at 10 o clock the first two seedlings appeared: 681 Riegebauer and 760 Jöbstl. These small plants will a real slunger this year I hopfe Here: 683 Riegebauer: Friday, April 25 View Page And here the 670 Riegebauer: Saturday, April 26 View Page Today all seedlings can be seen! I`m very happy that all of the four seeds geminated. Saturday, April 26 View Page The first 681 Riegebauer Saturday, April 26 View Page The other 683 Riegebauer Saturday, April 26 View Page And here the first 670 Jöbstl Saturday, April 26 View Page Last but not least: The second 670 Jöbstl I have only space for two Atlantic Giant plants so I will have to chose two in May. Friday, May 2 View Page Worked on the Patch the last days: digged the patch and expanded it. Tomorrow amendments start: horse and cow manure Monday: Compost Pics later--problems with my computer Sunday, May 4 View Page Worked on the patch today: digged it again and spread the manure I fetched from a nice farmer yesterday mixed with some rotten leaves. Tomorrow compost will follow. The pumpkin plants doing quite well... Pictures will follow when my Computer works properly again. Wednesday, May 7 View Page On my the 5th I mixed the cow manure into my patch. Yesterday I added compost and worked it into my patch too. Today I mixed Compost, cow manure and peat humus. Tomorrow I will probably add some cow manure and Friday compost. So Friday the patch will be ready I hope. Friday, May 9 View Page My computer works again! Here my plants on 1st May. Friday, May 9 View Page Now some pics of my plants today: The one 670 Jöbstl Friday, May 9 View Page The other 670 Jöbstl Friday, May 9 View Page 683 Riegebauer Friday, May 9 View Page The other 683 Riegebauer Friday, May 9 View Page Tomorrow I will finish the works on my Patch. And next Monday I will chose two of the pumpkin plants to go into the patch! The other two will be used as back-ups. Saturday, May 10 View Page Today my working on the patch is finished! On monday I will chose two of the four plants to go into the patch. On Friday the 16th the will go into the patch! Monday, May 12 View Page My plants today...the re doing quite well. But tomorrow I will have to chose two of them to go in the patch on Friday...the other two plants will be used as backups. I think I will take the plant on the left the 670 Jöbstl and the 683 Riegebauer the second plant from the right. Tuesday, May 13 View Page This evening I chose two plants to go in the patch on Friday. Here the pics of the chosen ones: 683 Riegebauer Tuesday, May 13 View Page And the 670 Jöbstl Friday, May 16 View Page Planting day: Planted the 670 Jöbstl and the 683 Riegebauer into the patch. The weather is quite fine so I hope they will grow fastly the next days... Will mix the water I give them with nettle slurry 670 Jöbstl Friday, May 16 View Page And 683 Riegebauer Monday, May 19 View Page The plants develope well...the love the sunlight Here: 670 Jöbstl Monday, May 19 View Page 683 Riegebauer Saturday, May 24 View Page Time for a roof shot. Had some nice weather today, plants do well. Sunday, May 25 View Page Another Patch shot Sunday, May 25 View Page one more Sunday, May 25 View Page last but not least Sunday, May 25 View Page I go on holiday on tuesday and will come back on June 1st...hope the plants develope well until then. Monday, May 26 View Page Two pics of my plants today 683 Riegebauer Monday, May 26 View Page 670 Jöbstl Tuesday, June 3 View Page I am back from my journey The last days were very hot: 89°F today! So the plants do very well! 670 Jöbstl Tuesday, June 3 View Page 683 Riegebauer Thursday, June 5 View Page The Patch today The plants really love the sunlight and the warm temperatures, gaining every day! Thursday, June 5 View Page front: 670 Jöbstl rear: 683 Riegebauer Thursday, June 5 View Page I hope they continue growing fast so that I can start the pollinations about June 20th! Monday, June 9 View Page Really bad luck today (my camera can`t tranfer my pics on my computer!!!!! I can`t understand that!? The last month it worked normal, and dow there are these problems. But when it works again you will see my beuatiful pictures of my pumpkin plants from today!! It s perfect weather and the re doing fine. I am very sure to hit the 1000 lbs this year!!! And I suppose one of the plants will even produce a REAL!!! slunger about 1200-1300 lbs!! Monday, June 9 View Page Now my camera works again: Here the pictures of my plants of june 9th. 670 Jöbstl Friday, June 13 View Page And 683 Riegebauer Friday, June 13 View Page 670 Jöbstl on June 13th Friday, June 13 View Page 683 Riegebauer on June 13th Monday, June 16 View Page nice weather today, plants looking great But there are no female or male flowers yet...I think I have to wait one week until I can pollinate Monday, June 16 View Page The two pics above are both from june 9th!! (the entry June 13th for Riegebauer was a mistake) Tuesday, June 17 View Page The 670 jöbstl today: nice plant with great genetics Tuesday, June 17 View Page Another view of the 670 Jöbstl Tuesday, June 17 View Page The 683 Riegebauer Thursday, June 19 View Page Today the first male flowers on the 670 Jöbstl! Thursday, June 19 View Page The 683 Riegebauer develops his first male flowers as well! (when I talked about the 670 Jöbstl i ment male!!! flowers sorry!). Hope to pollinate a female flower on both plant at the end of this week! Monday, June 23 View Page 670 Jöbstl today..he loves the sunlight and the nic weather. Monday, June 23 View Page 683 Riegebauer Monday, June 23 View Page Patch shot in the evening Monday, June 23 View Page Another patch shot Monday, June 23 View Page Another patch shot Tuesday, June 24 View Page Patch overview from my balcony Tuesday, June 24 View Page another shot from this nice sunny morning Tuesday, June 24 View Page The first female on the 683 Riegebauer, almost 10 feet out...hope it will open soon so I can pollinate it with the 670 Jöbstl at the end of the week Tuesday, June 24 View Page Two nice female flowers at the 670 Jöbstl. The first about 13 feet out...will pollinate it with 683 Riegebauer at the end of the week Tuesday, June 24 View Page The second female is closer to the stump Wednesday, June 25 View Page First pollination this morning: Pollinated the female on the 683 Riegebauer with a male from 670 Jöbstl: 683 Riegebauer*670 Jöbstl But it s too close to the stump...so I will pollinate another which is further from the stump the next days.. I will pollinate 6-8 females on each plant the next days and select the best pumpkin until about July 6th. So from july 6th on there will be only one pumpkin on each plant. Wednesday, June 25 View Page Protected females on the 670 Jöbstl. The will open about Friday and pollinated Friday with 683 Riegebauer. Wednesday, June 25 View Page Here the pic Friday, June 27 View Page First pollination today: These are male flowers of the 683 Riegebauer, used to pollinate the female flowers on the 670 Jöbstl. Friday, June 27 View Page Pollinated 2 female flowers of the 670 Jöbstl: 670 Jöbstl x 683 Riegebauer Here a pollinated female of the 670 Jöbstl Friday, June 27 View Page 2 pollinated and protected females on the 670 Jöbstl (670 Jöbstl x 683 Riegebauer) Saturday, June 28 View Page Pollination on the 683 Riegebauer today: 683 Riegebauer x 670 Jöbstl Monday, June 30 View Page Two little pumpkins on the 670 Jöbst..start to grow! Both pollinated on June 27th Monday, June 30 View Page Here`s the one closer to the stump...maybe too close Monday, June 30 View Page And the other pumpkin I prefer...but there will be some more pollinations this week so that I have time to choose the best pumpkin on each plant until July 6/7th. Monday, June 30 View Page And the pumpkin on the 683 Riegebauer pollinated June 28th. Monday, June 30 View Page Finally pics of my plants. 670 Jöbstl doing well Monday, June 30 View Page The 683 is a bit behind...hope it grows well the next days. Wednesday, July 2 View Page Pollination today: 670 Jöbstl x 683 Riegebauer Thursday, July 3 View Page Pollination this morning: 683 Riegebauer x 670 Jöbstl Maybe the last pollination... let s see which fruit develops best! Thursday, July 3 View Page Now there are 3 pollinated females set on the 670 Jöbstl and 2 pollinated females set on the 683 Riegebauer. 670 Jöbstl: 670 Jöbstl x 683 Riegebauer pollinated June 27th 670 Jöbstl x 683 Riegebauer pollinated June 27th 670 Jöbstl x 683 Riegebauer pollinated July 2nd 683 Riegebauer: 683 Riegebauer x 670 Jöbstl pollinated June 28th 683 Riegebauer x 670 Jöbstl pollinated July 3rd Saturday, July 5 View Page This morning I had to cut off the pumpkin closest to the stump on the 670 Jöbstl...one of the 2 pumpkins pollinated June 27th. It is always a hard thing but I had to do it! Couln`t resist to pollinate one last female on the 670 Jöbstl: 670 Jöbstl x 683 Riegebauer. So there are 3 fruits again on the 670 Jöbstl. Now I have to wait some days to which pumpkin will be the leader on both plants. Sunday, July 6 View Page Here the 683 Riegebauer today: The fruit in the front pollinated July 3rd, the fruit rear pollinated June 28th. Sunday, July 6 View Page The 670 Jöbstl today: The fruit in the front was pollinated July 5th, the fruit rear pollinated July 2nd, and the bigger fruit in the background pollinated June 27th...this is a nice fruit but it is too close to the stump...will have to go in some days! Sunday, July 6 View Page zoomed a little bit to see it better Sunday, July 13 View Page Pumpkins today. Set two pumpkins on every plant right now so I will have to choose the best on each plant in some days. The last 10 days we had cool and wet weather so the pumpkins grew very slow, but now we have sunny weather and they really start! Here: pumpkin on the 670 Jöbstl, 18 feet out, pollinated July 5th Sunday, July 13 View Page The other pumpkin on the 670 Jöbstl, 9,5 feet out, pollinated June 27th. It looks nice but I have to cull it off, to close to the stump! Sunday, July 13 View Page Now the two pumpkins on the 683 Riegebauer. Here: The one is 12,5 feet out, pollinated July 3rd!! Sunday, July 13 View Page The other pumpkin on the 683 Riegebauer: 10 feet out, pollinated June 28th...very beautiful but a little bit too close to the stump Monday, July 14 View Page Seaweed arrived today...just sprayed it on my plants..seems to be very good stuff called "fertility booster"...hope my pumpkins will grow like made the next days! Wednesday, July 16 View Page Culled off the small fruit on the 683 Riegebauer today: It didn`t grow and began to rot because of the cold wet weather! But the remaining fruit on the 683 Riegebauer looks very good and healthy...my hopes are with it! Thursday, July 17 View Page 683 Riegebauer today: The remaining pumpkin on my plant...all my hopes are with this keeper! Friday, July 18 View Page Had to cull off the pumpkin on the 670 Jöbstl 18 feet out...it began to rot...now I have one pumpkin on each plant Unfortunately they are not so far out...but they are the best I have Friday, July 18 View Page 670 Jöbstl: OTT: 31 lbs= 14 kg Friday, July 18 View Page 683 Riegebauer: OTT: 26,5 lbs = 12 kg Tuesday, July 22 View Page 670 Jöbstl today...warm sunny weather forecast...so the 2 pumpkins will speed up the next days I hope Tuesday, July 22 View Page The 670 Jöbstl today Wednesday, July 23 View Page Lots of work in the patch today done: All sidevines burried and shade covers built for the pumpkins. Will feed pumpkins with seadweed tomorrow Thursday, July 24 View Page Pics of my patch in the evening sun...both pumpkins start to grow well Thursday, July 24 View Page Front: 683 Riegebauer Rear: 670 Jöbstl Thursday, July 24 View Page Measurements are tomorrow evening...hope they gained a lot of lbs till then. Thursday, July 24 View Page last evening impression for today Friday, July 25 View Page Pumpkin on the 670 Jöbstl (670 Jöbstl x 683 Riegebauer): OTT= 55 lbs= 25 kg Friday, July 25 View Page Pumpkin on the 670 Jöbstl ( 670 Jöbstl x 683 Riegebauer ): OTT: 77lbs = 35 kg Monday, July 28 View Page Nice sunny weather will continue...hope the pumpkins will speed up with growing...I shoud water them a little bit more! 683 Riegebauer today: OTT= 90 lbs= 40,8 kg Monday, July 28 View Page 670 Jöbstl today: OTT= 99 lbs = 45 kg Wednesday, July 30 View Page Sprayed seaweed this evening...now the pumpkins really start gaining...nice warm sunny weather On August 1st I`ll go on holiday for a week, hope the pumpkins develope well till I come back Tomorrow I will do my measurements Thursday, July 31 View Page 683 Riegebauer today: est. 127 lbs = 58 kg Thursday, July 31 View Page 670 Jöbstl: est. 125,5 lbs = 57 kg Friday, August 8 View Page Just came back from my vacation this evening and I saw my patch and was happy: 683 Riegebauer gained really well, but 670 Jöbstl lacks a bit behind. Here a pic of my patch Friday, August 8 View Page Measurements done this evening just after I came back from my vacation 683 Jöbstl: est.: 227 lbs= 103 kg Saturday, August 9 View Page 670 Jöbstl: est.: 156, 5 lbs= 71 kg Saturday, August 9 View Page Fed plants with seaweed this evening. Weather is a bit more wet and cooler but pumpkins keep their growing speed. Monday, August 11 View Page Time for a roof shot in the evening: Patch and part of the garden Tuesday, August 12 View Page 683 Riegebauer today: est. 262,5 lbs = 119 kg Tuesday, August 12 View Page 670 Riegebauer: est. 187, 5 lbs = 85 kg Growing slow because of a big split between the stem and the main vine. Friday, August 15 View Page Patch shot this evening.. Temperatures are a little bit cool and weather starts to be rainy...hoping for better weather conditions Friday, August 15 View Page another shot Friday, August 15 View Page at least we had enough rain Sunday, August 17 View Page nice sunny day yesterday and today...good for growth rates Sunday, August 17 View Page roof shot of the patch and garden in the evening sun Sunday, August 17 View Page Another roof shot Sunday, August 17 View Page in the front: 683 Riegebauer rear: 670 Jöbstl Sunday, August 17 View Page a little bit closer Sunday, August 17 View Page 683 Riegebauer: this pumpkin is doing well, est. 312 lbs = 141,5 kg Sunday, August 17 View Page 670 Jöbstl: this pumpkin makes me worry: detected a stem split which you see on the photo. I just healed the split with "artificial bork"...hope that I can keep this beautitful pumpkin grows very slow because of the split: est 198,5 lbs = 90 kg Monday, August 18 View Page damn!!! lost my 670 Jöbstl pumpkin (670 Jöbstl x 683 Riegebauer, pollinated June 27th) to a stemsplit. It had many soft spots on the stem (the first detected one month ago) which led to the split and a blossom rot...the rot ran into cavity and the whole blossom site was rotten... That was the reason for the slow growing. But I ve got the pumpkin on the 683 Riegebauer which develops well! Friday, August 22 View Page 683 Riegebauer today...growing slow because of the very bad weather: cool temperatures and rain for 5 hours... Friday, August 22 View Page Another pic: It s my last remaining pumpkin: I really hope for better weather for better growth rates. Friday, August 22 View Page Measurements weren t possible today because of the heavy rain all the time, that became very strong after i took the photos will do them tomorrow if possible Saturday, August 23 View Page measurements weren t possible this evening again. Weather became worse, rained all the evening and temperatures became very cold...it s like october/november but it s late summer and should be much warmer!!! Measurements tommorrow I hope...but I fear that they didn t grow very much with THIS weather! Saturday, August 23 View Page couldn t believe it: it s relly 53,6° F this evening...unbelievable cold for august: How can a pumpkin grow well with this crap weather....sun and hot temperatures would be very good for central european growers right now!!! Sunday, August 24 View Page Today we had a mixed day: some sun and some clouds but still cool temperatures. The cold weather had it s effect on the growth rates. 683 Riegebauer x 670 Jöbstl: est.: 346 lbs = 157 kg That shows that the pumpkin grew slow the last 7 days...but weather will become a little bit better so that I can hit AT LEAST the 500 lbs this year! Sunday, August 31 View Page 683 Riegebauer x 670 Jöbstl is now at 374 lbs = 170 kg Tuesday, September 2 View Page Fed plants with seaweed yesterday. More than one month until harvest so I hope the pumpkin hits at least 500 lbs!!! Growth problems in the last 2 months were caused by often cold weather and a small soft spot. But I healed it and I think there s still a chance to hit 500 lbs! Saturday, September 6 View Page Measured the 683 Riegebauer x 670 Jöbstl today: only 390 lbs est. = 177 kg the reason for the slow growing (only 15 lbs = 7 kg /6days) are some soft spots on the stem and the cooler temperatures. Saturday, September 6 View Page Another view of my pumpkin patch Saturday, September 6 View Page view of garden and part of the patch Sunday, September 7 View Page spent the day with fighting the soft spots on my pumpkin as good as i could!! I m fighting since mid-august against a soft stem and soft spots on my pumpkin with scrapping, alcohol and hairdryer! But when one spot just healed, another one occurs! The soft spots on the stem and on the pumpkin slowed down the growth very much since mid-august! The fact that the pumpkin is a little bit too close to the stump is also a reason for slow growth but the soft spots (due to the cool wet august) are the main reason! I lost my 670 Jöbstl to soft spots and blossom rot, and I wanna get the 683 Riegebauer to the weigh-off!!! So next year I have to protect my pumpkin better (from wet weather!!) One month until harvest: I hope that I hit at least 450-500 lbs!!!!! Tuesday, September 9 View Page Nice sunny day today...sunny weather in germany will continue...so there s still a chance to hit the 500 in spite of the spot and all the problems! Roof shot this evening Tuesday, September 9 View Page Patch in the sunlight Saturday, September 13 View Page Nice but cool weather this afternoon...seems like atumn approaches... 683 Riegebauer x 670 Jöbstl is now a 407, 5 lbs est. = 185 kg Sunday, September 14 View Page Another view Saturday, September 20 View Page My patch today: atumn comes and the first leaves begin to die...the sun is shining but the light is different, it s dimmer. Nights are cold at the moment...around 37 °F = 3 ° C Harvest will be in exactly to weeks: october 4th Sunday, September 21 View Page another view Sunday, September 21 View Page side view of the pumpkin Sunday, September 21 View Page 683 Riegebauer x 670 Jöbstl is at 418, 5 lbs = 190 kg Sunday, September 21 View Page one last evening impression Saturday, September 27 View Page Autumn is coming and nights are getting cold. One week until harvest! That s a street near my home village. Saturday, September 27 View Page 683 Riegebauer x 670 Jöbstl is almost at 441 lbs = 200 kg Saturday, September 27 View Page view from behind: you see the large soft spot that i m fighting for one month! Saturday, September 27 View Page my patch now: one week before harvest: the remaining plant with the 683 Riegebauer x 670 Jöbstl pumpkin. leaves are already dying and the life of the plants comes slowly to an end Saturday, September 27 View Page side view Wednesday, October 1 View Page Side view this evening: 683 Riegebauer x 670 Jöbstl stops its growth. Typical weather for autumn in germany: Rain and cool temperatures. Friday, October 3 View Page The pumpkin this morning one day before harvest. Friday, October 3 View Page This evening I prepared the harvest tomorrow: Put away all the leaves and sidevines. Friday, October 3 View Page stump mainvine and pumpkin Friday, October 3 View Page another view Friday, October 3 View Page I hope this one goes heavey! Friday, October 3 View Page see you tomorrow at the harvest, buddy! Saturday, October 4 View Page Harvest today: We needed 4 people to lift the pumpkin and it was very hard...next year when it will go much bigger (because I made a lot of mistakes which I learned from for next year!!) I need a trailor! My mom, my dad and a good friend helped me harvesting it. Saturday, October 4 View Page another view Wednesday, October 8 View Page Damn soft spot and rots destroyed my expectations: After weighing the pumpkin I was shocked: It went light and I m not very happy with this result for my first year: 683 Riegebauer x 670 Jöbstl weighed 408 lbs = 185 kg. It is now called 408 Zier 08. The reason for this disappointing weight is the fact that it had a soft spot since the end of august! The spot became bigger and almost destroyed the stem and caused a whole in the pumpkin as you see on the pic. So it didn t really grow since September 1st. Another reason is that the fruit was too close to the stump but I had to keep this fruit because the other pollinated fruits which were more far out began to rot because early July was very wet. So next year I have to build a better shelter for the pumpkin so that no soft spots occure and I have to set the pumpkin more far out from the stump. Wednesday, October 15 View Page took the seeds of my 408 Zier 08 Wednesday, October 15 View Page began with patch prep: began to spread maple leaves, the rest of my pumpkin and the leaves of the pumpkin plant on the patch. Friday, October 24 View Page Went on with patch prep today and the last days: Spread leaves (mostly maple leaves) on my patch after I cut them into pieces so that they can rot better I put a little bit of compost above the leaves this evening (pic will follow) and above the layer of leaves and and little compost a lot of cow manure will follow in early november. So around november 10-15 my patch will be ready to sleep this winter. In spring (I think march) I will add a lot of compost and some other ingredients and digg the patch! Friday, October 24 View Page roof shot Wednesday, November 12 View Page Spread horse manure on the patch today. In 1-2 weeks cow manure will follow so that the patch can begin its winter sleep Saturday, November 22 View Page I fetched manure last evening from a nice farmer to spread it on the patch so that it can begin its winter sleep. But when I came home it was dark so I put it on the patch as dunghill to spread it today. But it began to snow. I think I will spread it next spring. Saturday, November 22 View Page Snow comes early this year it s only November 22. A winter impression from my village. Sunday, November 23 View Page Western weather from the atlantic and western winds let the snow melt today. So I spread the manure today. Now the patch can have its winter sleep finally! : with one layer of rotten maple leaves, one layer of horse manure, one other layer of rotten leaves above it and cow namure on the bottom. In spring I will add a lot of compost and digg the patch. See you next season! Sunday, November 23 View Page spreading the manure... Sunday, November 23 View Page manure has been spread Sunday, November 23 View Page patch view the work is finished!! Sunday, November 23 View Page patch view from the balcony Sunday, November 23 View Page one last pic. Patch is ready for winter rest. See you next season