Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 94 Entries. Wednesday, April 7 View Page Here is my goal to beat in 2010. Front-978.5 Coldwell 24.9% heavy (1354 Young X 1130 Jutras) Middle-763 Coldwell 15% heavy (1408 Daletas X 1026 Young) Back-628uow Coldwell 13%heavy (1026 Young X 1354 Young) Wednesday, April 7 View Page This was an exciting award to win for my 2nd year growing AGs, even though my first name is Ron, not Rod! lol The brick itself is even signed by Mr. Bobier! What an honor! Wednesday, April 7 View Page What over 5,000 pounds of pumpkin looks like cut up last fall. Wednesday, April 7 View Page What it all looks like today. I'm hoping all of those nutrients that the pumpkins took out of the soil have gone right back into the soil, and will provide lots of nutrition for the other veggies that will be planted in this spot this year. Wednesday, April 7 View Page The 3 fruit on the left were all grown on the 1026 Young. 628 uow Coldwell on pallet (1026 X 1354 Young) 13%heavy 387 uow Coldwell peanut shaped one (1026 X 735 Pukos) 11% heavy. 374 uow Coldwell farthest left (1026 X 1408 Daletas)11% heavy. Wasn't able to make the weigh-off I had intended to take them to, so, they were cut up 40 days after being removed from the vine, and each piece weighed on the scale we weigh our show rabbits on (just for truth in advertising) and this is the weight I used for their uow's. Would love to know what they weighed the day they were cut from the vine! Wednesday, April 7 View Page Trying a few new giant things this year. Here are a few of the giant watermelons I have started. Not sure if they will make the cut with how leggy they got, I've started new ones that may take their place. Wednesday, April 7 View Page Also trying giant tomatoes for the first time. These are megablooms from Don Langevin that I got when I ordered the Growing Giant Tomatoes book by Dr. Meisner (hope I got that name right, I just lent the book to a friend today). Wednesday, April 7 View Page Started my first batch of compost tea for the 2010 season. I will be taking a sample to my Veterinarian's office to check it out under the microscope tomorrow. I used to work for him, and he thinks the whole tea thing is fascinating. Last year when I took the first sample to him to check out he thought it was a urine sample from a dog, and didn't think the dog was going to make it! lol Thankfully he is also a farmer and understands a persons obssesion about their garden! Wednesday, April 14 View Page Megablooms one week later. There are 6 or so that are taking off faster than the rest. I like the heavenly glow in this picture! Wednesday, April 14 View Page Here are the 2 that are out in front in the 'great tomato race'. Oh, and by the way, I know that 'heavenly glow' in the last post was the grow lights, no supernatural goings-on going on! lol (or was there!) Wednesday, April 14 View Page Here are the eating tomatoes I started last week. I know it's kind of early, but I can't start my pumpkins yet, and I had to get something else in the dirt that day. What else will I have to do in a few days anyway, but up-pot 120 or so tomato plants! After having bad luck with germination rates the last few years I decided to plant 2 seeds in each pot, and of course nearly every seed sprouted! Varieties are: Aunt Ruby's German Green Green Zebra Purple Russian (purple paste) Sunny Goliath Golden Jubilee Powers Heirloom (yellow paste) Wednesday, April 14 View Page Here's the unique 'little' veggie I'm trying this year. Mexican Sour Gherkins. I thought since I'm trying to grow the biggest cucurbit, I may as well try growing the smallest. They are supposed to look like 1" long 'baby watermelons'. I thought they would make cool little dill pickles. Wednesday, April 14 View Page Incredibly, I was able to till the patch on March 31 this year. Usually it is so wet I can't get out on it until mid May. Got 2" of rain in between then and now, but drying out nicely. Put down the Gypsum today, only ammendment I really needed this year after my soil test. Will till it in tomorrow, and the patch will be ready to go when I need it, probably still a month away before I can safely put plants in the ground. The uncommonly warm spring we are having here in mid-MI has really been tempting me to start the pumpkins early, but I am determined not to give in to the temptation. (yeah, we'll see, I know how I am!) I may have to start a few of my own seeds from last year just to get me by! I have many replacements for those if they get frozen by the inevitable cold snap that will happen if I start plants early. Saturday, April 24 View Page Competition patch is now ready to go. The grass is green now, the pear trees are blooming, I think it might be time to start my seeds! Saturday, April 24 View Page Thanks to a really nice guy (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) I have some amazing seeds to plant again this year! Thanks again Don! I've said it before, and I'll say it again, and again - "You are the pumpkin KING!!!" I have absolutely no doubt that these seeds will perform as well or better than last year. 'Young' seeds seem to like my soil. Saturday, April 24 View Page Another job well done 'Tilly'! Yes, I did name my rototiller, and yes, I realize that it's not a very original name, ha ha! Who cares, I love her much more than the stupid broadfork I contemplated cheating on her with this year! You're the only girl for me Tilly. This will be where most of the other veggies, and maybe a few genetic AG plants will be grown. Saturday, April 24 View Page Eating tomatoes, and 4 CC melon plants. There's that heavenly glow again! These melons are doing much better than the ones I started a few weeks ago. The new lights I finally broke down and got last week are really making a huge difference. All Megabloom tomatoes have been scrapped. Not sure what I did wrong, but these later starts outgrew the MB's in about 2 days. Have new Big Zac's, and Delicious seeds coming in the mail from Totally Tomatoes in the next few days hopefully. Saturday, April 24 View Page New patch tilled up again today, I hate tilling up sod!!! Good thing I don't want to plant the AG's here. Added some rabbit manure, grass clippings, a few leaves, and a generous amount of compost tea to the compost pile today. Pile was started last fall, and didn't have much time to break down before the cold set in. Hoping all of this, and some warm weather will get it to heat up again. I'll be mixing this with patch soil, peat moss, and sand to bury vines this year. Saturday, May 1 View Page This is the first round of AG's. Wasn't sure if it was too early yet, so I decided to only start the ones I have back-up seeds for. This was Wednesday morning, fresh out of the germination chamber. 1354 Young, 1026 Young, 763 and 628 Coldwell's (my own seeds from '09). My 978 hadn't come up yet. Saturday, May 1 View Page Next day, enjoying some sunshine with the giant melons. Having a hard time deciding on the melons. The 2 melons in bigger pots were the best when I re-potted them, but the other 2 seem to be growing faster now. All melons are 120 Bhaskarans (255 Mitchell X Open). Saturday, May 1 View Page Staying inside under lights today. 1354 is starting to take off. 1026 seems to be a bit sluggish. 978 has no chance of getting planted, just wanted to see what it would do compared to the other seeds, slowest of the first batch. Saturday, May 1 View Page Much to my surprise my own seeds seem to be out-performing the others. 628 is twice as big as the rest, already starting 1st true leaf. 763 has really shot out of the starting gates too. Going to wait another week or so before making final cut on this first round. Started the 2nd batch yesterday. 1658 Young, 1622 Young, 1333 Young, and 2 more of my 628's just to see if that first one was a fluke! Only have 4 competition spots, so it will be a hard choice when the time comes. Tuesday, May 4 View Page Melons are coming along nicely. These will be the 2 keepers. Hopefully can get them in the ground soon. Tuesday, May 4 View Page My 628 is still leading the pack, but the 1354 Young is gaining some ground on it. Will be putting these into bigger pots tomorrow. Tuesday, May 4 View Page 1026 Young is picking up steam, especially now that it has to sit next to the newly hatched 1658 young, and 1622 Young. 1333 Young, and the 2 extra 628 Coldwells are almost breaking ground, should be up by this evening. 100% germinations this year! On a side note: Hi Shazzy, I saw the post on the message board that said you check out everyone's diaries, so just wanted to test the theory! lol Tuesday, May 4 View Page Able to put the plants back outside today, might be the last day for a few days, expected highs in the mid 50's for the last half of the week, a few night lows near 32. Side bar: Shazzy, I enjoy checking your diary too, very informative, good for newbies! Tuesday, May 4 View Page Top view, easier to see how each is progressing. Friday, May 7 View Page My eating tomatoes had to come back inside last night due to the cold temps, and I just noticed that the leaf branches are curling back on themselves tonight. Not sure what the problem may be? They looked perfectly normal 24 hrs ago. Could the problem be that they are back in less humid conditions in the house (the furnace has been running all day)? Not being under the grow lights (AG's have taken their spots under lights)? They were watered yesterday, haven't had any ferts in over a week (and even then it was a 1/4 strength fish/seaweed solution watered in from the bottom). Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Saturday, May 8 View Page Plants are looking much better today, some of the leaves are still flipped, but the branches have straightened back out. Big shout out to Deb (OkieGal) for helping me through my first freak-out of the growing season!!!!! Especially so late at night. If we ever meet in person someday down the road, be prepared for a big hug and kiss on the cheek! Basically we decided that the lack of humidity in the house with the furnace running was the culprit. Gave everyone another drink of water, and by this morning all were perked back up. Weather turned out nicer than forcasted, so they went back outside for a bit today and everyone is fat and happy again. Saturday, May 8 View Page 628, and 1354 are into 2 gallon pots now and spreading their wings. 1354 has a bit of an issue with the 2nd leaf, but 3rd is doing fine,so I'm not worried. Saturday, May 8 View Page 1658 and 1622 are growing fast, will be going into 2 gallon pots later today or tomorrow morning. So this is my final line up. 628 Coldwell '09 (1026 Young X 1354 Young) Had to try growing one of my own. 1354 Young '08 (1207 Young X 998 Pukos) Grew my biggest fruit last year at 25% heavy. 1622 Young '09 (1207 Young X 1385 Jutras) Largest of many grown on the 1207 Young, beautiful shape and color. 1658 Young '09 (1288 Wallace X 1026 Young) Awesome genetics, plus was on the Tonight Show getting smashed by a monster truck! Fun story to tell all year. Saturday, May 8 View Page 1333 Young '09 (1483 Werner X 1288 Wallace). May use this as a pollenator for the 1658 Young All 4 parents are 1385 X 1207. May even do the reverse cross, then cross those 2 seeds next year. Talk about in-breeding, might have to name that one Billy Joe-Bob! lol Saturday, May 8 View Page Oops, forgot the picture! Saturday, May 8 View Page 12 Big Zacs, and 12 Delicious. Will pick the best 6 of each to use as competion plants, the rest will be eaters. Saturday, May 8 View Page 12 extra Big Zacs that will be going to live at other homes to try to entice others into our giant veggie addiction! Saturday, May 8 View Page Started last batch of back-ups today. I learned last year to have back-ups for your back-ups just in case. There are 3 seeds in each baggie. Extra plants will be available for anyone who might need them around this area if they lose plants and don't have back-ups. Some interesting genetics here. All 3 were grown on my 1026 Young plant last year (total weight 1385lbs). Crosses were: 628 (1026 X 1354). 387 (1026 X 735 Pukos '01{846 Calai X self}). 374 (1026 X 1408 Daletas '07 {1068 Wallace X 805 Pukos}). Anyone interested in the extra plants or seeds from these crosses is more than welcome for the price of an e-mail. Monday, May 17 View Page I had the best intentions of having everyone in the patch by now, but we got 3"+ of rain last week and it has set the schedule back a bit. Had to have the plants back inside under lights again for 4 days due to the cool temps. Welcome to pumpkin growing in Michigan! They've been back to the hardening off process for the last few days while the patch dries out. Much better forcast starting tomorrow, back up in the mid 70's for the next week. Monday, May 17 View Page Watermelons are doing well despite being cooped up in these small pots. I'm hoping they are leaning in the direction they are supposed to lay down, new at the whole melon thing this year. It's been interesting so far watching how differently they grow from AGs. Monday, May 17 View Page Big Zacs and Delicious are growing like mad! They are easily growing twice as fast as my eating tomatoes. Hope that's a sign of things to come. There are 6 Delicious, and 9 Big Zacs that are starting to outgrow their siblings. I'm hoping to have 10 or 12 competition plants, and the rest will become eaters. As of this moment I have 99 tomato plants growing, so some of both the giants and eaters will be going to new homes. Monday, May 17 View Page Giving these a test run tomorrow. I swore last year to never use walking boards again!!! Of course I'm not the most graceful person in the world, so we'll see how it goes! Thanks goes out to Don Young, yet again, for the idea to only glue the front part of the shoes. Update (or news coverage!) tomorrow. Wednesday, May 19 View Page Plants are finally in the ground!!!!! This is the 628 Coldwell. I'm still surprised that my own seed is in the lead. Wednesday, May 19 View Page 1354.5 Young, most likely going to take the lead soon judging from it's performance last year. I remember my 1354 from last year going crazy as soon as it hit patch dirt. Wednesday, May 19 View Page 1658 Young, starting to take off after early leaf issues. Wednesday, May 19 View Page 1622 Young, not sure why these two plants got burned leaves early on. They were treated the same as the other plants, never had anything sprayed on leaves. They both seem to be doing fine now, so I'm not too concerned. Wednesday, May 19 View Page 120 Bhaskaran #1, both of these melons are very happy to be out of the pots and into real soil. Surprisingly they weren't too terribly root bound. Wednesday, May 19 View Page 120 Bhaskaran #2. Both are starting to vine now. Wednesday, May 19 View Page Tomatoes lined up to get planted. Hopefully the eating tomatoes will be planted tomorrow, they are in desperate need of getting out of their cups. (Note to self: next year don't start the eating tomatoes until April 15th or 20th!). The Big Zacs and Delicious will be a few more days, need to decide who is going to make the team for giant competition, or get cut from the team and demoted down to the 2nd string of eaters. Wednesday, June 2 View Page Sorry, missed my weekly update last week. Been busy getting the tomatoes planted, and the rest of the non-pumpkin veggies. Last count is 91 tomato plants. Wednesday, June 2 View Page 628 Coldwell on 5-26. Wednesday, June 2 View Page 1354.5 Young on 5-26. Wednesday, June 2 View Page 1622 Young 0n 5-26. The day after I had a crazy Ninja bird out in the patch breaking off pumpkins, and the tops of some of the tomatoes. Not sure if it was after bugs or what, but thankfully it's not around anymore. Wednesday, June 2 View Page 1654 Young on 5-26. Another victim of the Ninja bird. Wednesday, June 2 View Page I decided to plant the 1333 Young just in case the 1654, and 1622 don't survive the damage. Wednesday, June 2 View Page 120 Bhaskaran #1 Wednesday, June 2 View Page 120 Bhaskaran #2. Both melon plants are taking off now. Wednesday, June 2 View Page 628 Coldwell. Really taken off in the heat this last week. Main vine at 6', sides at 1.5'. Wednesday, June 2 View Page 1354.5 Young. Main at 6', sides at 2'. Wednesday, June 2 View Page 1622 Young. Looking much better one week after the Ninja bird attack. The leaves don't seem to be opening up right, will give it another week or so to see if it will straighten out after the stress. Wednesday, June 2 View Page 1654 Young. Has 2 secondaries trying to take over as the new main. One will have to settle for staying a secondary. I'm amazed that these 2 plants have recovered from the extensive damage done to them, and in only one week! Wednesday, June 2 View Page 1333 Young. Looking good for a youngster. Wednesday, June 2 View Page 120 Bhaskaran #1. Starting to get secondary growth. Wednesday, June 2 View Page 120 Bhaskaran #2. Wednesday, June 2 View Page I love my new stirrup hoe! I would recommend to anybody that doesn't own one of these beauties go to Home Depot right now and get one!!! Only cost $17.95. Works great for weeding right up to vines without disturbing roots. Did a 10' circle around all 5 plants in around 15 minutes, and half of that was moving walking boards around. Would have taken 2 or 3 hours weeding by hand. Definitely my favorite new garden tool!!!! Monday, June 14 View Page Here's some evidence for why I think everyone should own a stirrup-hoe. This is the before picture. Monday, June 14 View Page This is after spending less than 2 hours weeding with the stirrup-hoe. 2 years ago it took me 20 hours to weed approximately the same space. Never again! Monday, June 14 View Page As usual I didn't have time to post the weekly pics last Wednesday. The following pictures were taken on Thursday June 10th. 628 Coldwell Has given up the #1 spot, but not by far. Monday, June 14 View Page 1354.5 Young. Starting to train vine for the first female that showed up last week. Monday, June 14 View Page 1622 Young. Recovering nicely, starting to take off now. Monday, June 14 View Page 1658 Young. This plant is growing like crazy now. Anyone worried about a broken leaf stalk or main vine should take heart that these plants can recover from the most horrific injuries and look like nothing happened 2 weeks later! Monday, June 14 View Page 1333 Young. Down and running. Monday, June 14 View Page 120 Bhaskaran #1. Monday, June 14 View Page 120 Bhaskaran #2. Monday, June 28 View Page Been too busy in the patch the last few weeks to post pics. Plants have been growing even faster than the weeds (which are obnoxious this year!) These pictures were taken Saturday 6-26. Here's my 628 Coldwell. Have one cross done with the 1658 Young, will be doing another in 2 or 3 more days. Monday, June 28 View Page 1354.5 Young. Have 2 crosses done with the 1658 young. Monday, June 28 View Page 1622 Young. Crossed this cup covered female the next morning with, guess what? The 1658 Young of course! Monday, June 28 View Page The very happy 1658 Young. lol! I'll be crossing this with the 1333 Young in another 2 days. This is my favorite genetic cross/experiment this year. All 4 parents are 1385 Jutras X 1207 Young. Wednesday, July 7 View Page 628 Coldwell, day 13, 45"circ. Largest fruit so far. Some early damage from "bleeping" cuke beetles (who are now all in cuke beetle heaven!) Wednesday, July 7 View Page 1354.5 Young plant started showing some weird colorations on leaves 3 days after culling a fruit. Next 2 fruit aborted. Not sure what caused it, but I cut the main back to before where the discolored leaves started and using last secondary as new main. The rest of the plant looks perfectly healthy. Will pollinate a female tomorrow. Sucks that I had the setback, but should still be OK. Still 2 weeks ahead of last year on pollinations. Wednesday, July 7 View Page Closer shot of weird discoloration. Wednesday, July 7 View Page 1622 Young. Day 10, 27" circ. Nice long stem, hope it helps with stem stress. Wednesday, July 7 View Page 1658 Young. Day 8, 20" circ. Has a little scar from the "bleeping" grower scratching the fruit while weeding 4 days before pollination. Have another fruit on a side vine, self pollinated. One more main vine fruit just pollinated this morning, crossed with 1622 Young. Might possibly grow out all 3 for genetics. Wednesday, July 7 View Page Way overgrown tomato garden. Pumpkins took priority over pruning tomatoes, so probably no giants coming out of my garden this year. Lots of yummy tomatoes though! Sunday, July 18 View Page Here are some of my Cucurbata Minimas, lol! They are very tasty, going to make some real "baby" dill pickles today. Sunday, July 18 View Page 1658 Young #1. Day 19. Circ. 68", 94 lbs. Sunday, July 18 View Page 1658 Young #2. Side Vine. Day 14. Circ. 51", 44 lbs. 7" bigger than main vine fruit on same day. Sunday, July 18 View Page 1622 Young. Day 21. Circ. 83", 158 lbs. Looks like she will be big, round, and orange like her momma. Sunday, July 18 View Page 628 Coldwell. Day 24. Circ. 98", 243 lbs. Sunday, July 18 View Page After cutting off main back to the last healthy secondary, now that last secondary (new main) has turned too. I think I know what the problem was now... Sunday, July 18 View Page I found this 4 days ago. Did a bit of surgery, and everything looks dried out and healed now. Sadly, there is no new growth that isn't affected, so will probably be pulling the plant today. Forgot to mention this is the 1354.5 Young. Disapointing since it grew my biggest fruit last year, and I had high hopes for it this year. Wednesday, July 28 View Page 1658 Young Sidevine Circ. 91" Day 24 Lost the mainvine fruit. Hadn't grown in 5 days, and noticed it was getting soft this morning. Will be cutting it up to get out of patch today. Wednesday, July 28 View Page 1658 Young Pollinated yesterday with 1622 Young. Decided to try one more after losing the mainvine fruit. Wednesday, July 28 View Page 1622 Young. Day 31. OTT 270. 421 lbs. Wednesday, July 28 View Page 628 Coldwell. Day 34. OTT 286. 497 lbs. Wednesday, August 18 View Page Season's over. We got 5+ inches of rain the other night followed by a few hot sunny days, and all remaining fruit have split. Good luck to everyone for the rest of 2010!