Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 22 Entries. Thursday, May 7 View Page Last year was our first attempt at AG's and our generic (store-bought)seeds were very fun to grow. This season is late starting due to expanding the patch-should have done it last fall! We met several nice growers last year, and some even sent us seeds! Thank-you Bart, Dan, Tom, Alan, and Joe!!! These are the first six going into the germination chamber. Saturday, May 9 View Page All six have germinated and are moving into warmed starter mix, lightly buried about 3/4" down. Keeping in chamber until cots emerge. Sunday, May 17 View Page Making a wish at Ron & Pap's farm must have worked- came home with a 1106 seedling, a 1288 (1385x1207), and 2 long gourd seedlings from Joe Jutras! Wednesday, May 27 View Page 6 Plants put into parch on 5/23. Added 1250Bowles for a total of 7. With some good luck it will be pretty crowded there in a month or two. Wednesday, May 27 View Page Had to make another spot for the second 840Reynolds and 1106Wallace. Area still has lots of trees around, but hopefully enough sunlight to sustain plants/fruit for local fair pumpkins and additional crosses with proven genetics. Tuesday, June 2 View Page Ended up with one leftover plant from our practice germinations of last years' 245. So, what the heck?-tilled up a corner of the horse paddock and put her in the ground. Might get some nice porch pumpkins, too! Thursday, June 11 View Page Well, in 2 1/2 weeks since planting- The plants are SLOW moving, at best. I think we've had a total of 4 sunny days and the night-time temps haven't broken out of the 50's yet. We had a late start-and this weather sure isn't helping! Striped cukes (and 2 squash bugs)showed up Monday (the 8th), but have not come out(in the rain) since. Tuesday, June 16 View Page Sun came out this afternoon for the first time in 3 weeks. We started late and are really behind now, but the plants actually started growing. 3 of the 7 plants in the main patch have finally touched down. Other 4 not far behind. Wednesday, June 17 View Page View from other side of the patch. Sun came out for second day in a row-hope it doesn't shock the plants as much as it does me! Friday, June 19 View Page Good news= all plants have touched down and night time temps are staying above 60. Bad news= the 1250Bowles has a serious split at the stump. Doesn't look good at all and it's dissapointing to have a casualty this early on. All the wind and rain for 3 weeks sure didn't help it. Sunday, June 21 View Page Not raining tonight so lets go fishing! Sunday, June 21 View Page Wow Dad- a beaver! Hope he doesn't like the taste of pumpkins! Thursday, June 25 View Page 650Privitera- Thick stump, large leaves. No problems. Growing nice. 5ft.main. Thursday, June 25 View Page 1171Toftness- Good stump, large leaves, also doing well. 5 1/2 ft. main. Thursday, June 25 View Page 1250Bowles- actually growing with big split at stump. 42" main. We'll see how it goes-you never know? Thursday, June 25 View Page 895Privitera- Growing well. Nice leaves. No issues. 5 ft. main. Thursday, June 25 View Page 840Reynolds- So far, our best plant. Great growth despite late start to season and terrible weather. 7ft. main. Thursday, June 25 View Page 1288Wallace- Numerous slugs in our patch damaged the foliage on this plant more than any other. But not enough to slow it down- 7 ft. main. Thursday, June 25 View Page 976.5Gerchy- Very nice plant, but stresses a bit in full sun- gets leaf wilt in full sun (which we haven't had much of this season!) Stump is solid, and leaves are large. 6 1/2ft. main. Thursday, June 25 View Page Patch view: All things considered (late start, bad weather) we're actually pleased to see the plants growing well in the last 10 days or so. July 4th pollinations are a big stretch- so if we end up only 1 week late, it will count as a small victory! Friday, June 26 View Page Quoted from WFSB Channel 3 ......... Over the weekend, the humidity will drop off a bit and temperatures will probably come down a few degrees too. Daytime highs will likely reach 80 degrees or higher through next Tuesday, and then readings may fall back into the 70s by next Wednesday and Thursday thanks to more clouds and an ocean flow. So far this June, 5.82" of rain has been measured at Bradley International Airport, which is about 3.0" above normal. We will likely add to that total between now and next Tuesday, the last day of the month. Sunday, July 12 View Page Plants all have at least 1 fruit pollinated-none after 15 ft. though. Disappointed because we can't seem to get any significant side vine growth from them, so we might not have enough plant behind the fruit to push out a real good one. But if they all stay together until the end, we'll be happy with the crosses for next season!