Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 167 Entries. Sunday, January 8 View Page Well a new year is upon us and time to start a new diary. Happy 2012 to all..As you can see the patch is in state of hibernation.. we have already reached are annual snowfall level with 3 months to go ..I'm really wishing I took the roof poly down...to late now ..Let it snow   Friday, March 16 View Page AS you can see not much as changed ... as germination day is only a couple weeks off   Friday, March 16 View Page some how I got dog prints embedded in my roof poly ..hmmm wonder who that was..?   Saturday, March 17 View Page bone brain ..says wasn't me..lol.   Saturday, March 17 View Page Inside... says spring is close and were ready   Saturday, March 17 View Page My basement bunker .. I made a couple seed boxes over the winter..still trying to finalize the line up   Saturday, March 17 View Page To all the growers who plan to plant the 1723 ..it was truly a great plant to grow ..I really hope you are sitting in this position at your weigh-off this fall..best of luck   Tuesday, April 3 View Page Finally got some snow moved around the greenhouses ..makes life easier..hard to beleive we're in april already   Tuesday, April 3 View Page This year's line-up.. Got to go with the 1794 Pugh.. just a huge pumpkin with great genetics,thanks Russ and the 1213 Rea..just a beautiful pumpkin, thanks Glenna.. This was a tough year for choices .. just way to many quality seeds and no room to plant them..it's a bummer.. I loved to have Al's patch back in Maine .. that be great   Tuesday, April 3 View Page the 1794 is up and ready to go to work   Tuesday, April 3 View Page 1723 ,1 of 2 looking good   Tuesday, April 3 View Page the 1213.. She's taking her time .. but I see a little green smile starting to show...   Wednesday, April 11 View Page Hopefully this is the path to a new state record , ... JD's 1287 is going to be tough to beat. only two have made it that far ( one didn't count) so it's no way a sure thing...I'm still hoping he moves to another state..lol..If he had a chance to grow in a decent climate ..look out..   Wednesday, April 11 View Page Another blue bird day, break- up is under way and the pond is filling   Wednesday, April 11 View Page Inside the greenhouse...the fan at the peak is blowing warm air thru 4 inch perf pipe embedded in the soil.. while the soil cables are on.. under the concrete blankets getting ready for transplant day   Wednesday, April 11 View Page close to 70 degrees already with a week to go   Wednesday, April 11 View Page the 3 amigo's, up in the heated house getting ready to rock   Wednesday, April 11 View Page 1213 rea..looking good   Wednesday, April 11 View Page the 1723   Wednesday, April 11 View Page 1794 pugh   Wednesday, April 11 View Page back up 1723.. sad to think this plant will probably get tossed out... no room and no donors.. lol unless somebody wants it mailed to them ..lol   Saturday, April 21 View Page transplanting day is tomorrow ..so the locals are curious to see what I've got going this year   Saturday, April 21 View Page the 3 amigos ready for dirt.. 1794 on the left 1723 middle and the 1213 on the right   Saturday, April 21 View Page Lg's are up, you are looking at the law firm of J young ..martin ..and boyce.. ..look out monsato ..lol..   Tuesday, April 24 View Page trans plant day Sat the 21st.. in the west greenhouse.. the 1213 rea and the 1794 pugh   Tuesday, April 24 View Page both plants will share the greenhouse for now ..If any abnormalities happen then that plant will get the axe .. if both go strong the will head out of the house into the wild.. with the main and a couple of secondaries   Tuesday, April 24 View Page the 1723 ready to hit the dirt , the plant has been doing pretty good so far   Tuesday, April 24 View Page the 1723 in the dirt.. oh yeah.. it's growing season.. gotta love it..   Tuesday, April 24 View Page 1723 in the green house .. inside the greenhouse... tough time of the year right now .. temps can easily reach 85 to 90 during the day ( clear days ) and 28 during the nite .. its a pain to find the happy mediumn for the plant   Tuesday, May 1 View Page Tomato starts for the year ..we have seeds from a lot of great growers .. most are from Germany ,Finland and Canada. The lower right plant is 4 lb Marley..   Wednesday, May 2 View Page most of the will plants go to here for the hardening off process.. along with all garden veggies   Wednesday, May 2 View Page the snow is finally going away..we were lucky enough this year to break are all time record of 132" ...yes that's 11 ft of snow ... I was so happy that I left my poly up on the houses... gave something to do every night ..lol..   Wednesday, May 2 View Page The home of the 1213 and 1794 ..tucked in for the night ..supposed to be 30 degress to nite   Wednesday, May 2 View Page The top 2 pics are the 1213 a nice healthy looking plant ...and the bottomn 2 are the 1794 another nice plant ,,except the main decided it wanted to go opposite of what was planned.. yikes.. the big u turn from the get go..   Wednesday, May 2 View Page the 1723 tucked in for the night as as well..   Wednesday, May 2 View Page A look at 1723, a great plant so far .. it is starting to take off.. great to see my buddy in Nikiski is doing really well also ..this could be a real fun year..of course ,I'm always optimistic at this stage of the year lol..   Wednesday, May 9 View Page finally... some spring color .. in a week or so the leaves on the tree's will be out..yeah.......   Wednesday, May 9 View Page the 1213 and 1794 .. both making good progress   Wednesday, May 9 View Page the 1213 ..it's my sleeper plant..could be interesting   Wednesday, May 9 View Page the 1794 ..almost turned around.. this baby has some power in it ..I'm really excited about growing it..hope I don't screw it up   Wednesday, May 9 View Page the 1723 .. its about of room main at about 7 ft. the mini house is 8 x 8 ..thinking about making it 12 x 8 ..while waiting for night temps to get into the 40's   Wednesday, May 9 View Page the only reason a plant even has a chance to grow up here at this stage of the year ..is in the top right... it's called supplemental heat ..lol..   Wednesday, May 9 View Page the 1st female on the 1723.. it's about a week earlier than I would like ...umm.. what to do   Wednesday, May 16 View Page Another week has gone bye and the weather has good , a little cool but plenty of sun. The plants have out grown the mini houses ..and now are in a delicate part of the season, it was 34 degrees last night but inside the GH was in the mid 40's .. the 1610 x self on the left.. and the 1161 X 1725 on the right   Thursday, May 17 View Page another angle of the 1213 Rea and 1794 Pugh...both at day 46...as you can see the 1794 main has turned around nicely.. they will be grown in a semi flag pattern.. both look good and are growing nicely   Thursday, May 17 View Page the pic that goes with the last post...lol   Thursday, May 17 View Page the 1st female showing on the 1794..   Thursday, May 17 View Page the 1634 x self cross ..starting to fill out and growing well.. the 1st female is right at the 3rd drip line in .. to close to pollinate..I'm going to skip that one and not look back..looks like she'll open up tomorrow   Thursday, May 17 View Page the 1st female off the 1723 , this plant is also at Day 46   Thursday, May 17 View Page A couple of my lg's .. I guess the right one is a double vine..lol..Is that a bad thing for long gourds   Thursday, May 17 View Page Tomato starts   Friday, May 25 View Page Day 55 for the 1213 Rea on the left and 1794 on the right..both are showing their 1st females and should be ready to pollinate in the next week.. both plants are growing nicely now..with both mains past the 12` ft mark   Friday, May 25 View Page The 1st female off the 1794, hoping to pollinate it with the 1723..if pollen is available..   Friday, May 25 View Page Day 55 for the 1634 cross, plant is doing nicely with the main over 14 ft mark and secodaries starting to fill out nicely wiyh females showing on most of them.. the problem is the main ..with the 2nd female appearing 8 feet down the main, from the 1st female. It is still a week away, since the weigh-off date has been moved up and with this late pollination I'm going to lose about 10 growing days..assuming the fruit sets..you can the 1st about mid plant and the 2nd is where the stakes are   Friday, May 25 View Page another angle of the 1723   Friday, May 25 View Page A female off one of the secondaries on the 1723, insurance policy..plus the 1794 has pollen available now..so pollinat now and cull later ..hopefully   Friday, May 25 View Page The 4.46 Marley plant surrounded by LG's..the Young plant already at the 6 ft mark..Boyce plant is sending up 2 strong mains.. the Martin plant is growing steadily..one will have to go pretty soon   Sunday, May 27 View Page Pollinated the 1st female off the 1794 Pugh, it opened quicker than I thought ..luckily the 1723 had some flowers ready   Sunday, May 27 View Page A little weird looking ..not sure just how many lobes that is ..also seeds in the blossum is a concern..not sure if that's bad or not   Sunday, May 27 View Page that covers that..   Sunday, May 27 View Page the 1794 x 1723 cross all wrapped up.. hopefully it will set.. and we can start growing pumpkins..that be great   Thursday, May 31 View Page Finally..the 2nd female on the 1723 main opens..it's sitting a little past the 14' mark and a good 8' past the 1 st female..almost 2 weeks between blossoms..wasn't planing on that   Thursday, May 31 View Page a little hard to see from this pic , but it is a nice normal looking 5 lober   Thursday, May 31 View Page side view   Thursday, May 31 View Page I'm really hoping this sets..I've gathered a small army of Pugh boys ..to get the job done...it's in a optimum spot in the GH and the clock is ticking..89 days to weigh-off.. potential 1723 x 1794 cross   Monday, June 4 View Page The 1st female on the 1213 Rea opened today..another irregular blossom..seems to be the norm for me this year.   Monday, June 4 View Page the picture that goes with the entry   Monday, June 4 View Page the 1213 was crossed with the 1723   Monday, June 4 View Page Hopefully.. it will set as this could be my early weigh -off plant..so far the 1213 has been a nice trouble free plant..   Tuesday, June 5 View Page The 3rd female off the the 1723 main, just 3 ft apart from the 2nd, and 2 ft from the 4th yhat is now showing.. a beautiful 6 lober ..same as last year... only 2 weeks later   Tuesday, June 5 View Page another try at the 1723 x 1794 cross...both times pollen has been iffy ...still waiting for one of the sets to take off.. nothing to exciting.. to report yet ..looks like a normal year ..lol..   Tuesday, June 19 View Page In the grass, behind the patch ..could be trouble..   Tuesday, June 19 View Page Yup ..double trouble..lol..they are cute now..but in the future they eat any shrub , vine or tree.. that doesn't have a fence around it...   Tuesday, June 19 View Page This years patch ...   Tuesday, June 19 View Page The 1213 left and 1794 right establishment   Tuesday, June 19 View Page 1st set off the 1213 ..real nice shape and color   Tuesday, June 19 View Page another look at same set on the 1213...I have a feeling this is my sleeper ..   Tuesday, June 19 View Page Side vine kin on the 1723 in it's last days   Tuesday, June 19 View Page Day 18 .. 1723 .. 2nd female on the main.. this is probably my best chance at the state record   Tuesday, June 19 View Page A stem end view ..off the 1723 set.. with the weather finally turning favorable.. I'm hoping for a growth spurt .. that would be nice   Saturday, June 30 View Page Finally a nice day.. this ia a look at the 1213 on the left and the1723 on the right..at the end of June   Saturday, June 30 View Page The 3rd set on the 1794, after 2 aborts. This plant is a beauty and real strong, the first couple of sets had irregular blossoms with seeds in them , real cool temps at pollination time probably didn't help either. It's all about genetics now , with 3 others pollinated . I still have a shot of a decent pumpkin off this plant   Saturday, June 30 View Page The 1st set off the 1213 Rea..I loving this thing, it has a real nice shape and looks like it's going to have real nice color also .. should be fun to watch it grow   Saturday, June 30 View Page Day 29 ..for the 1723   Saturday, June 30 View Page a different angle of the 1723 kin   Saturday, June 30 View Page LG's are starting to hang around.....   Saturday, June 30 View Page Marrows are starting to gain momentemn..92 Wilde looks good , as long as my Wursten plant   Saturday, June 30 View Page My tomatoes, as you can see with a jungle like that . There won't be any records coming out of that..lol. I need advice on my pruning strategy   Saturday, June 30 View Page My redneck rain barrel system, ..lol..Luke us alaskans are just yor far north kin...we even have camouflage duct tape   Tuesday, July 10 View Page A patch guest on the Pugh plant, growing outside the green house..letting it know it's time to get going   Tuesday, July 10 View Page an overview.. with the 1213 on the left and the 1723 on the right.. the 1213 and 1794 share the left house   Tuesday, July 10 View Page the 1213.. I'm seeing orange..yeah   Tuesday, July 10 View Page The 1794 x 1723 cross..it has a nice plant behind it.. with only a little over 7 weeks to go before weigh-off.. I'm not expecting too much out of it..be cool to see how big it gets in our cooler than normal summer   Tuesday, July 10 View Page A look at the blossom end of the 1723.. not feeling to confident right know after reading JD's diary ..since both look pretty similar..this would be Day 39.. any thoughts on the situation would be appreciated   Tuesday, July 10 View Page A look at the blossom end of the 1723.. not feeling to confident right know after reading JD's diary ..since both look pretty similar..this would be Day 39.. any thoughts on the situation would be appreciated   Tuesday, July 10 View Page side view of the 1723   Tuesday, July 10 View Page This is my only true shot at the state record JD's 1287 lucy lu..it goes without saying that his pumpkin split is a real bummer ..he is a top competitor .. I'm sure he will come back with a vengeance next year   Tuesday, July 10 View Page LG's almost at 5 ft now   Tuesday, July 10 View Page 1st marrow polination off the 92 Wilde   Sunday, July 22 View Page Well it's that time of the year, off to the Kenai river for a little fun.. It's my job to follow that boat for the next 160 miles..ipod is ready..   Sunday, July 22 View Page cruising along the turn agin arm   Sunday, July 22 View Page placer river near portage   Sunday, July 22 View Page Spencer glacier   Sunday, July 22 View Page final destination.. where we will spend the next 3 days.. old cannery site close to the mouth   Sunday, July 22 View Page dip netters on the north beach ..on a Wednesday   Sunday, July 22 View Page south beach dip netters ..   Sunday, July 22 View Page yard art..lol..nice   Sunday, July 22 View Page you can see it better now..oops   Sunday, July 22 View Page the battle begins for alook at the madness ..check out this short video of the ride to get back in line..for the next drift http://youtu.be/4vFczis-hIw   Sunday, July 22 View Page 6 of the 112 fish taken in the battle   Sunday, July 22 View Page less than 24 hrs old .. yum yum   Sunday, July 22 View Page headed to the freezer..reds up here cost about $5 a lb.. plus I need all the brain food I can get lately..   Sunday, July 22 View Page pumpkins still growing .. but so are the glaciers..lol   Monday, July 23 View Page the 1723 pumpkin..Day 52 or so ..no record breaker here but kinda cool looking..a real veteran grower told not to worry about the blossom end .. and that's what I'm going to do   Monday, July 23 View Page stem end view of this years 1723 offspring   Monday, July 23 View Page a veiw of the stump on the 1723   Monday, July 23 View Page this is a side project off the 1723, I pollinated a fruit off one of the first side vines for a different cross then on the main... after a while I sever the vine from the main.. basically it allows me to make 4 crosses off 2 plants for the price of a couple side vines   Tuesday, July 24 View Page the severed end ..by doing this I hope to increase my gene pool and get a couple nice halloween pumpkins..   Tuesday, July 24 View Page 1213 Rea.. a real solid thumper I'm hoping will go as heavy as last years 1197 Matesa.. love the color   Sunday, July 29 View Page the end of line.. for 3rd attempt on the 1794.. it started turning white at the bottom ...either was going to abort or split .. crap   Sunday, July 29 View Page which is a shame .. because it is this years strongest plant .. it's a beast ..I love this plant   Sunday, July 29 View Page Patch security couldn't beleive it either.. had to check for himself.. my wife says when their tail sticks straight out like that ...there gathering information.. then he needs a hellva lot bigger tail then that ..lol..   Sunday, July 29 View Page Leven and myself...cutting her open   Sunday, July 29 View Page actually.. quite a few seeds for a 250 lb kin or so.. this thing was rock solid.. if any body is interested on a few seeds from the 1794 x 1723 cross..send me an email... but grower beware ..the cross is between the 2 largest damaged pumpkins in the world.. not for the feint of heart.. could be hazardous to your mental health ..lol..   Sunday, July 29 View Page a last look   Thursday, August 9 View Page An overview of the patch.. now just 20 days to weigh- off and still in the game.. the 1213 on the left and the 1723 on the right.. security on the prowl   Thursday, August 9 View Page the 1213 Rea... which was crossed with the 1723   Thursday, August 9 View Page the 1723 off spring .. 20 days to go and looking.. OK.. time will tell .. nothing is for sure until you get it off the ground.. patch dog.. Pita.. in his 14th year .. just a great dog in his twilight years   Thursday, August 9 View Page a better look at the old vet.. that's the 1794 plant in the background .. just a real strong plant   Thursday, August 9 View Page this has nothing to due with pumpkins , but I just love this plant.. my hops vine.. dies to ground every year and in a few short months grows 25' high .. some years it puts out cones..and all I have to do is watch it grow ..lol..nice   Wednesday, August 22 View Page you know it's getting close to weigh-off time , when this pulls into you yard..   Wednesday, August 22 View Page giving them the tour, being Anchorage's only grower has its advantages.. really nice people to talk to   Wednesday, August 22 View Page Everybody likes the 1213 Rea   Wednesday, August 22 View Page not the biggest pumpkin in the land, but since it only has 250 of growing space ,and lives next to a nutrient sucking mega plant..not to bad   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Weigh-off day is tomorrow Aug 28 th.. channel 11 is back out to the patch ..to watch the lifting of the 1723 x 1794 cross.. cobra crane is now in position.. I'm trying to remember how to tie a square knot..   Tuesday, August 28 View Page getting ready   Tuesday, August 28 View Page starting the ascent   Tuesday, August 28 View Page getting airborne   Tuesday, August 28 View Page Now , that's always a good site .. no holes there.. flat bottom girls.. rock   Tuesday, August 28 View Page coming in for the landing   Tuesday, August 28 View Page touchdown..   Tuesday, August 28 View Page I'm happy with it..1st in 3 years without a stem split   Tuesday, August 28 View Page another successful lift ..that's great.. in the morning we'll try again with the 1213   Thursday, August 30 View Page 1213 Rea heading to the weigh-off..nice   Thursday, August 30 View Page she's a beauty...   Thursday, August 30 View Page Pioneer Peak ..close to Palmer   Thursday, August 30 View Page unloading the 1213 Rea   Thursday, August 30 View Page checking in   Thursday, August 30 View Page Trying to talk the pumpkin fairy's into giving me a little boost on the weights...they weren't buying it   Thursday, August 30 View Page Scott Robb..one of our more thorough judges and a real nice guy ..checking out the bottom of the 931 to be   Thursday, August 30 View Page here's a bettor look at our 3 judges, Scott,JD (ak record holder ) and gosh .. I can't recall his name..all were very fair .and easily bought..lol..yes ..I'm just joking...if you need more proof ..check out my last years diary   Thursday, August 30 View Page myself and my nephew Jack Lynd..holding a nice new plaque. for heaviest pumpkin.. we also won the Howard Dill Award off the 1213 Rea...now the 771 Marshall (1213 x 1725)..   Thursday, August 30 View Page oops.. the 771 cross is the... 1213 rea x 1723 marshall not the 1725 as posted..   Wednesday, September 5 View Page Woke up this morning to this...going to be one of those days   Wednesday, September 5 View Page more fun..as high winds moved thru the area   Monday, November 5 View Page Off season work is under way, decided to take the roof poly down this year, after last years shovel fest... and since the poly's off why not expand..lol..yep each GH is now 675 sq ft.. nice   Monday, November 5 View Page I also finally decided to put my 30 years of plumbing experience to work.. now plan to heat my soil with radiant tubing.. using a flat plate solar collector ( would love a evacuated tube style instead)as the primary heat source ..the goal being getting as much heat as I can, the most economical way..to easy to just install a small nat gas boiler and pay the bill ..lol..   Tuesday, November 6 View Page kind of hard to see ..a organic composter ..self pro pelled   Tuesday, November 6 View Page for some reason ..the moose like the outerskin the best.. in one end out the other   Thursday, December 20 View Page Since it's going to be a long cold off season.. I thought I would share a few pics of enemy # 1 ..   Thursday, December 20 View Page the big dog..   Thursday, December 20 View Page guilty of garden raiding ..   Thursday, December 20 View Page really wants to get in there bad...   Thursday, December 20 View Page umm.. clemantis ..my favorite   Thursday, December 20 View Page inside at last   Thursday, December 20 View Page now after dropping the horns..I'd close the gate, but he would just bust thru ..dininig on cabbage, cauliflower , brochilli left overs..   Tuesday, December 25 View Page Phase 1 of my off season project.. is now just about done.. my flat plate solar collector I just got to figure out ..how the heck I'm going to move it ..lol.. it's pretty heavy . . 1 1/2" copper manifolds with 22.. 3/4" fin tube risers 4 ft long..The plan is for this to be the primary heat source for all the radiant tubing buried in the greenhouse, after phase 2 is completed..this is the easy part..also a Merry Christmas to all