Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 74 Entries. Thursday, January 1 View Page New Year's Day. The start of my second growing year and first diary.I want to thank everyone that sent me some of their seeds from their 2008 giants. This is a picture of my patch 150 feet by 20 feet. This morning 16 degrees with a wind chill of ZERO here is Northcentral PA. Saturday, April 4 View Page After heavy downpours on Friday the winter springs started running in the new part of my patch. The winter wheat cover crop has greened up and started to grow after an application of ammonium sulfate and 1.35 inches of rain this week. Sunday, April 5 View Page Since my patch is too wet to work in, I am headed to Elmira, NY to the new grower seminar. It is at Bradley Farms,92 miles away according to Mapquest. I should be able to pick up some good tips. Also meet Tom Privitera and pick up some supplies from him. Saturday, April 18 View Page I saw Rocky Rockwell at a High School track and field invitational last night at Lock Haven University, he coaches the throwing events for his local high school. He was very busy but we got to talk pumpkins for a brief time. Now I am really wound up, between talking with him and Scottie wanting me to plant seeds for him. So I walked down to the patch this afternoon to check the soil moisture. The wheat cover crop is looking great. The soil conditions are not bad. I was thinking of rototilling but there is rain in the forecast for Monday, so I will wait. Saturday, April 18 View Page I dug up some soil today to check the soil moisture. As you can see, the wheat cover crop has an extensive root system. The fall added organic matter, mushroom compost and cow manure, seems to be decomposing. The earthworm population is thriving. Soil aggregation is looking good. I just don't want to work the ground if it is too wet. Letting the wheat grow with help dry it out. Saturday, April 18 View Page Checked the soil temperature tonight at 7 PM. Air temperature high for today was 79F. Soil temp was 68F in the dry part of the patch and 60F in the wet area. I have to visit Scottie D. tomorrow. I am sure he has some plants started. He has a warmer climate, being close to the river. While I am up in the hills. Monday, May 4 View Page I spent yesterday afternoon in the patch. I am planting six pumpkins. Four Christmas tree pattern and two in the flag pattern. My wife, Deb is checking some of the houses in the background. Flag pattern will go in front of the three back plants. My first batch of seeds had difficulty germinating. Local veteran grower Burr Boston gave me a couple of plants including a 526 Jessell, which was a beautiful orange pumpkin from 2005. My second batch of seeds looks like they all might make it. Friday, May 15 View Page Rocky mentioned someone had seed corn maggots attack their pumpkin plants, when I talked to him Wednesday night at the District 4 track meet. Well, today I checked my patch when I got home from work and my 1239 Werner was wilted and laying over. Plenty of moisture around the plant so I pulled it out to examine it further. The base of the stem had collapsed. I pulled it apart and found SEED CORN MAGGOTS! Great! This plant was put in the ground near my leftover manure pile. Big mistake on my part! The fly laid its eggs in the base of the stem? Got out the insecticide and sprayed the bases of the other plants and should spray the manure pile. Replaced the 1239 Werner with the 1031.5 Rose 05 ( 1370 Rose x 723 Bobier) a very healthy plant. Hey Rocky, thanks for mentioning the maggots. You said it, I got it! Next time I see you please talk about a 1500 pounder maybe I will get that also. Friday, May 15 View Page Rocky mentioned someone had seed corn maggots attack their pumpkin plants, when I talked to him Wednesday night at the District 4 track meet. Well, today I checked my patch when I got home from work and my 1239 Werner was wilted and laying over. Plenty of moisture around the plant so I pulled it out to examine it further. The base of the stem had collapsed. I pulled it apart and found SEED CORN MAGGOTS! Great! This plant was put in the ground near my leftover manure pile. Big mistake on my part! The fly laid its eggs in the base of the stem? Got out the insecticide and sprayed the bases of the other plants and should spray the manure pile. Replaced the 1239 Werner with the 1031.5 Rose 05 ( 1370 Rose x 723 Bobier) a very healthy plant. Hey Rocky, thanks for mentioning the maggots. You said it, I got it! Next time I see you please talk about a 1500 pounder maybe I will get that also. Saturday, June 6 View Page I had some visitors near my patch this morning at 5:45 a.m. Three deer on the neighbor's side of the run. This deer was the closest, about 20 yards from my pumpkin plants. It must have rained a little overnight. Everything was wet this morning when I went out with a cup of coffee to inspect my patch. The sun finally shined later today and we warmed up. We could use a week with warm temperatures and sunshine. Monday, June 15 View Page This is my 1154 Doucet plant. It is one with big genetics, 1566 Rodonis x 1689 Jutras . My pumpkin plants are starting to run. With some needed heat and sunshine the plants are now ahead of last year. Thursday, June 18 View Page My patch after 1.6 inches of rain Wednesday night. My 845 Dimarco in the background. The 876 Sandvik 08 in the far right corner and the 335 Gerry on the left. The 335 is actually a plant I pulled out and replanted. It was planted with the 616 Jaser which was growing better. I really like the cross on the 335 Gerry (746 Snyder x 904 Stelts) so I stuck it back in the ground. With all this rain it should rejuvenate. Storms predicted Saturday night. Sunday, June 21 View Page Finally sunshine this evening. After 2.4 inches of rain and no sun the past few days the sun is a welcome sight. Now the forecast is for 2 or 3 days of dry weather. Now maybe I will be able to bury some vines later this week. It is way too muddy to step in the patch right now. Monday, June 29 View Page My 1031.5 Rose 05 which is a 1370 Rose x 723 Bobier. This plant was a replacement for my Werner that had seed maggots. This plant is a little behind. It is running about 9 feet now. Very good main vine. I have been pinching off the females. It is finally dry enough to bury some vines. Monday, June 29 View Page The 526 Jessell 05 . Parents: 978.6 Bernard x 1019 DiMarco. The Jessell was a very pretty orange pumpkin. This plant is growing steady the vine is on the thin size. The first secondary vines are almost out to the edges of the patch, 20 feet. I left a female on at 13 feet on the main vine. I may pollinate this one. I see another female coming at about 15 feet. Monday, June 29 View Page Plant number 3, the 1154.8 Doucet 08. I am growing this plant for a big and heavy pumpkin. Parentage: 1566 Rodonis x 1689 Jutras. My second best plant. Aggressive from the start. I will wait for a 15 foot female flower. The early secondaries are almost to the edge of the patch. Monday, June 29 View Page 616 Jaser 08 from Germany. Cross: 1101 Northrup 04 x 801.5 Stelts 97. The Jaser was orange. The cross should produce orange. This plant was put in with the intent to train the plant in a flag pattern. The plant was put in the ground in the second planting so it is slightly behind but catching up fast. This is my best looking plant. Monday, June 29 View Page My 673 Lawrence 07 is the 423 Gerhardt x self ORANGE parent. My other flag pattern plant. Growing for the orange genetics. Part of the second planting. Right now main vine about 8 feet. Monday, June 29 View Page My 845 Dimarco 06, the parents are the 845 Dimarco ( Gipe female) x 1233.5 Reiss. This is the same seed that I grew my 715 Lengel 08. I sold that pumpkin, a nice orange one, which I did not get any seed from. I thank Burr Boston for giving me this plant. I hope I can get another orange pumpkin from this plant. This is a good solid plant. Monday, June 29 View Page Plant No. 7, 876 Sandvik 08 a 1446 Werner 06 x 1502 Wallace 06 cross. Another plant for big and heavy pumpkin hopefully. This plant was put in late. It is also in the wettest part of the patch. It is an aggressive plant. Tuesday, June 30 View Page The past few days it has been dry enough to bury vines. The forecast is for thunder showers and cool temps the next few days through Saturday. There is plenty of moisture below the soil surface. Now I am just waiting for main vines to grow and female flowers to develop. I am thinking of the best crosses with the genetics in this patch for big and orange. Jaser 616 in the foreground, with the 1154.8 Doucet, the 526 Jessell and the 1031.5 Rose in the background. With this being my second year growing, my plants are about 2 weeks ahead of last year. Last year my first pollination was July 13th. Monday, July 6 View Page First pollination of the season July 3rd. Pollinated the 526 Jessell Friday morning with the 1101 Northrup. A 4-lober at 12 feet. Monday, July 6 View Page First pollination of the season July 3rd. Pollinated the 526 Jessell Friday morning with the 616 Jaser. A 4-lober at 12 feet. Wednesday, July 8 View Page 1154.8 Doucet 08. Pollinated this 4 lober this morning with the 1031.5 Rose 05 (1370 Rose x 723 Bobier) at 11 feet. The first pollination on this plant. Wednesday, July 8 View Page Also today, the second pollination on the 526 Jessell at 14 feet. Pollinated with the 673 Lawrence (423 Gerhardt x self) males. Tomorrow the 616 Jaser with the ??? Thursday, July 9 View Page 616 Jaser. Nice 4 lobe flower ready for pollination this morning after taking the bag off. I picked up two male flowers from Scott Dimarco's 985 Werner. He picked them for me on Tuesday night. I grabbed them Wednesday morning on a "drive by" stored them in the fridge for use this morning. 616 Jaser ( 1101 Northrup x 801.5 Stelts) x 985 Werner. Thanks Scott. Tomorrow morning I will pollinate my 845 Dimarco. Saturday, July 25 View Page Catching up today after my son Seth's graduation party last Saturday. He's off to Penn State for accounting August 21. Also 3 inches of rain in 2 1/2 hours on Thursday night. Pictured is a path of destruction that almost wiped out the first pumpkin on my 526 Jessell plant, this is my largest. I had a culled pumpkin from my 1154 Doucet up on the hill in the wheel barrow with other compost. I was headed to the woods, the wheel barrow tipped and the Doucet rolled all the way down the hill through the patch missing the Jessell pumpkin by 6 inches and ending up in the run! Saturday, July 25 View Page Another picture of the culled pumpkin's path of destruction from the patch with the Jessell pumpkin on the right and the hill in the background. Saturday, July 25 View Page Here is a picture of 2 1/2 inches of the 3 inches of rain Thursday evening. No irrigation needed so far this year! Friday, August 14 View Page This is wind damage from a storm last Sunday afternoon. Possible 60 mph winds. It blew the gas grill off the back porch. We lost electric for 10 hours. Only a half inch of rain whoohoo!! Friday, August 14 View Page A close picture of the wind damage of the Jessell and the Doucet plants. The wind actually reversed direction from the way it blew the gas grill off the porch. Friday, August 14 View Page These are the wind damaged leaves from Sunday's storm. We must have had 60 mph winds. Half the Doucet plant's leaves are damaged. Friday, August 14 View Page 876 Sandvik, Day 29, 209 OTT. This plant is in a wet part of the patch. Very healthy leaves and nice looking fruit. Friday, August 14 View Page 845 Dimarco, Day 33, 233 OTT. Another great plant. I grew this seed last year. It ended up 715 pounds. This year it is a little behind with the cool wet season, with little sunshine. The 5 day weather forecast is sunny and hot, well, mid to high 80's with lows in the 60's. There is plenty of moisture in the ground. Friday, August 14 View Page 616 Jaser, Day 29, 204 OTT. Lots of scarring from early bird damage. Growing slower than expected. This is one of my flag pattern plants. Probably a mistake. The plant health was great and the vine grew fast. I should have given it more space. Friday, August 14 View Page 673 Lawrence, Day 32, 207 OTT. Other flag pattern plant. Odd shaped fruit. Nice color. Friday, August 14 View Page 1154.8 Doucet, Day 30, 228 OTT. Fruit was slow starting and wheel shaped. Now it is bulking up. Hopefully the wind damaged leaves will not slow the it down too much. Early stem split stress on every fruit. Now it has healed and looks fine. Friday, August 14 View Page Side view of the 1154.8 Doucet. Pollinated with the 876 Sandvik. Friday, August 14 View Page 526 Jessell, Day 40, 266 OTT. This is my earliest pollinated pumpkin. Smaller vine diameter and leaf size but excellent plant vigor. Wednesday, August 19 View Page We had 4 tenth of a inch of rain last night. I am glad I was able to throw some ammonium sulfate and potash down when I got home from work. Last night 6:20 pm while canning dill pickles I looked out the kitchen door just in time to see a decent size black bear strolling through our yard, about 40 yards from the house. Had to do a visual on the patch this morning just in case he decided to come back and play with the pumpkins last night. Everything looks fine. Today Deb and I are headed to Ag Progress Days, PA's summer agriculture show just west of State College. Sunday, August 23 View Page Friday we took my younger son Seth to Penn State University to start his freshman year. Here he is with his mother and girlfriend, with some student helpers, unloading the car headed to his dorm, Porter Hall. He is majoring in accounting. He might not accompany me to the weigh off in Altoona this year if Penn State has a home football game. I think they are away on October 3rd. Good luck Seth! Sunday, August 23 View Page The 526 Jessell on day 50, today. 290 OTT. Found a slight crack where the stem meets the vine. There was some stress on the vine so I propped it up and applied Captan. Sunday, August 23 View Page The stem of the Jessell. This is my largest pumpkin so far this year. I hope it keeps gaining. Sunday, August 23 View Page A shot of the front part of my patch. On the left is the 876 Sandvik 08 ( 1446 Werner 06 X 1502 Wallace 06). This is a great plant . Today it measured 260 OTT and still growing decent. On the right is the 845 Dimarco at 270 OTT. Both these plants are very healthy. I sprayed with Quintec and Nova for PM and added some Baythroid for insects. Friday, August 28 View Page My 845 Dimarco measured 281 OTT last night. It is gaining about 12 pounds per day right now. Plant still very healthy. Wednesday, September 2 View Page Taping 300 OTT on 9/1, this is my 1154.8 Doucet 08. Parentage:1566 Rodonis X 1689 Jutras. I crossed this with the 876 Sandvik 08, parentage:1446 Werner X 1502 Wallace. I can't wait to plant this seed next year. Wednesday, September 2 View Page My 526 Jessell gaining slowly with half the stem seperated from the vine, taping 300 OTT. Wednesday, September 2 View Page A very orange pumpkin, the 673 Lawrence 07, has developed with the stem almost touching the ground. This is one of my flag pattern plants. It is taping 261 OTT about 381 lbs. Wednesday, September 2 View Page A comparison of the 845 Dimarco. On the left, the 2008 pumpkin 715 lbs. Picture taken 10-03-08. On the right is this year's 845 Dimarco, picture snapped 8-14-09. These are very similar in shape. Looks like the 09 will be lighter in color. The 2009 may not make 715 lbs. Thursday, September 3 View Page Hey, I found famous pumpkin grower Scott DiMarco away from his pumpkin patch. Here he was tonight, in his backyard, canning peppers. I tried to weasel his secret recipe out of him, but he would not divulge it, saying "I tell you too much!". Actually, he was trying to get finished before it got dark. Anyway, I was able to get one pint out of him. Monday, September 7 View Page My 526 Jessell, with blossom split. It was taping 300 OTT or 572 lbs. Great color good, early growth, stem only half connected to vine, stem rot. Now rotting. The End Monday, September 7 View Page Cut the Jessell in half tonight. What a suprise, about 5 gallons of pumpkin juice spewed out. "OOOOH That Smell...." Monday, September 7 View Page Looks like no salvageable seeds at 60 days. I gathered some up and washed them, but it looks like they are rotten. Sunday, September 13 View Page My wife, Deb and her "medallion" the 673 Lawrence(423 Gerhardt x self) crossed with the 845 DiMarco. I can't touch this one. It's taping 272 OTT about 430 lbs. Great color. Sunday, September 13 View Page Taping 316 OTT , 666 lbs is my 1154.8 Doucet. I hope this one will make the weigh-offs. It's growing a slow steady 7.86 lbs per day. Sunday, September 13 View Page The 845 Dimarco, 295 OTT, about 544 lbs. This pumpkin is also growing slow, hopefully putting on the pounds. Sunday, September 13 View Page I like this pumpkin, the 876 Sandvik taping 300 OTT, it is a great plant. It was planted late and in a wet area. Starting to cantaloupe quite a bit. Not as orange as I would like it. I have a dilemma with this one, a guy wants to buy it now for display at his garden center. I was hoping he would want a smaller one that was brighter orange. Thursday, October 1 View Page Tonight we decided to load up the pumpkins for the Altoona weigh-off on Saturday. There is rain in the forecast for Friday afternoon through Saturday morning. With 1 1/2 inches of rain this past weekend and showers everyday this week we were not going to chance getting stuck or really rutting up the yard and the patch tomorrow night. Here is Deb posing with the 673 Lawrence which "she" is taking to Altoona. Thursday, October 1 View Page Side view of the 673 Lawrence taping about 265 OTT. Thursday, October 1 View Page My Altoona entry will be the 1154.8 Doucet, same seed that Rick Holder set the North Carolina state record. Mine is not that large but, it could possible be a PR for me. That isn't saying much, since this is only my season two in this darn sport. Thursday, October 1 View Page Stem end of the 1154.8 Doucet. This seed is the 1566 Rodonis x 1689 Jutras. I crossed it with the 876 Sandvik the 1446 Werner x 1502 Wallace. This should be a powerful cross. Thursday, October 1 View Page Special thanks to my older son Zach for taking some time from his busy senior year schedule at Penn College of Technology to help load the pumpkins tonight. Zach is majoring in information technology network specialist with a business management minor. Zach lives at home but we have not seen him very much this semester. Also, thanks to John Carpenter for bringing his loader up tonight, before he started milking his cows. He's the one that got me into this hobby. Sunday, October 4 View Page Here is Deb at the PGPGA weigh-off in Altoona yesterday with her 673 Lawrence 07 pumpkin. Now officially the 478 Lengel 09. Sunday, October 4 View Page My 1154.8 Doucet 08 weighed in at 813 lbs at Altoona yesterday. The 813 Lengel 09. This is a PR for me by 98 pounds. Saturday, October 10 View Page The weirdest colored pumpkin in our patch the 1031.5 Rose 05, 1370 Rose x 723 Bobier. It is salmon colored with some green. Pollinated it with the 1154 Doucet for a nice orange for next year? Approx. 400 pounds. Offical weigh at Elmira Sunday. Saturday, October 10 View Page The 845 Dimarco ready to harvest for the trip to Elmira ,NY Sunday. Around 600 pounds. Nice color. Saturday, October 10 View Page We loaded the pumpkins last night between the rain showers. Thanks goes to John Carpenter for bring his tractor with the bale spear loader up before milking. John has about 15 acres of pumpkins and vegetables. This time of year he is busy with a corn maize, hayrides,farm animal petting zoo, and pumpkin pickers on the weekends, along with milking cows twice a day. Anyway, today we are headed to Happy Valley for the Penn State game and to bring Seth home for the rest of the weekend. Then Elmira on Sunday. Tuesday, October 27 View Page A picture from the Elmira, NY weigh-off. On stage with Rocky Rockwell. Me with my exhibition pumpkin from my 1031.5 Rose crossed with the 1154.8 Doucet. Now the 396.5 Lengel 09. 9% Heavy. This pumpkin was grown on a side vine with another about the same size on the main vine. The plant size was probably 250 sq. ft. It might have been much larger with one pumpkin on the plant. Should be a good cross, 396.5 Lengel 09 is the 1031.5 Rose 05 (1370 Rose X 723 Bobier) X 1154.8 Doucet 08 (1566 Rodonis X 1689 Jutras) Tuesday, October 27 View Page My 845 Dimarco being weighed at the Bradley Farms weigh-off in Elmira, NY. The 650 Lengel 09. 30% heavy and nice orange. A favorite of mine. The cross 845 Dimarco 07 (845 Dimarco 06 X 1233 Reiss) X 335 Gerry (746 Snyder X 904 Stelts). Awesome orange genetics. Sunday, after Halloween, I hope to find seeds lots of seeds. I am keeping my fingers crossed. Wednesday, October 28 View Page After a light tilling, I spun on some winter wheat for a cover. Too wet from the 1 1/2 inches of snow/rain on the 15th thru 17th to do a lot of patch work. This picture is from last Saturday the 24th, showing the patch and yard during the 3 inch rain event Friday night into Saturday. Not bad 4 1/2 inches of rain in a little over one week. I think I have seen this a few times too many this year. Thursday, November 26 View Page My 355 Lengel 09 est The 616 Jaser 08 x 1031.5 Rose 05 Seeds available Thursday, November 26 View Page My 322 Lengel 09 est Nice orange cross 528 Boston x 616 Jaser 08 Seeds available Thursday, November 26 View Page My 813 Lengel 09 1154.8 Doucet x 876 Sandvik Thursday, November 26 View Page My 813 Lengel 09 was selected to be carved for a wedding in Virginia. Nice fall wedding and nice pumpkin.