Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 165 Entries. Monday, May 20 View Page So far, not setting the world on fire! This is my 1843 Geddes plant. I just culled his sibling tonight. This was the better looking plant, of coarse! Monday, May 20 View Page This is "THE FREAK"!! I only had 1 of these! I'm a week behind this year. A few early mishaps will do that! But I feel we'll be fine! Monday, May 20 View Page This is my 1610 Lieber plant. I just culled his sibling tonight also. This plant is laying down nicely. So far! Monday, May 20 View Page Ground shot of my patch. I will be watching the extended forecast closely, next sign of extended nice weather, & the hoop houses are gone! Wind fences will be coming out. You can see my rye is sparse in areas. Really dry when I seeded. Couldn't water enough! Monday, May 20 View Page Overview of my patch. 97 ft long x 30 ft wide.It keeps getting bigger! Extended far end last year to allow for a 3rd pumpkin. Far patch - the freak, middle - 1843, closest - 1610. Every time I till, I make it a little wider. Pretty soon the patch will be in my living room! Monday, May 27 View Page Welcome to the Jungle! It rained a lot this week, the rye took off. Time to mow! Monday, May 27 View Page It's mowed! Plants are doing well. One more really cool night, then I'm going to remove the tops of my hoop houses so the plants will get full sun. Tilling cover crop under next week w/ all my amendments. Monday, May 27 View Page This is my grounds keeper! My son Porter is 3 now, & is adapting well to his John deere Gator! Times a flying! Monday, May 27 View Page This is my Freak - close to touching down, couple days at the most. I'm happy w/ this plant. Monday, May 27 View Page 1843 Geddes- real close to touching down - maybe a couple days, good plant. Monday, May 27 View Page 1610 Lieber- close to touchdown, few days away! another good plant. Monday, May 27 View Page When good plants become bad ones, there's always back ups!! I hope I don't need any of these! Monday, May 27 View Page Over view, after cover crop mow. Not as thick as I would have liked it. Friday, May 31 View Page 1843 Geddes is down! Now the fun begins. Friday, May 31 View Page The freak is down! Yes , that is sun burn on that young leaf toward end. 1st day w/ plastic off, 90 deg & full sun! How's that for a transition! Friday, May 31 View Page The 1610 is being stubborn! close, but keeps looking for the sky. Tomorrow I'll get her down. Friday, May 31 View Page Patch & hoop houses stripped down. Mowed cover crop, removed all hoop house plastic. Getting ready for amendments tomorrow morning. Putting down much later than ever before. Plus, I'm adding things I've never added? (mainly micro nutrients) We'll see how it goes. Friday, May 31 View Page Overview of a stripped down, mowed down, ready to till, patch! Friday, May 31 View Page The 2 weeks rule for the plant reaching the tilled under cover crop is going to be calling it close! Oops! Monday, June 3 View Page Tools of the trade are awaiting! Monday, June 3 View Page Some of my major nutrients I'm putting in my patch. Gypsom, kelp, s.o.p., humic acid, & feather meal. I hope the feathermeal breaks down my cover crop faster. Monday, June 3 View Page Some of my micro-nutrients that I'm putting in the patch. Manganese sulfate, copper, zinc sulfate, & boron. Monday, June 3 View Page The micro nutrients were dissolved into warm water, mixed into 5 gallon pails, then dispensed over the patch w/ watering cans. Each 10 gals mix I made covered 1000 sq ft. Keeping the solution stirred was key to putting it out this way. You need a partner for this! Monday, June 3 View Page Everything is in & Tilled under!! Monday, June 3 View Page Wind breaks & hail netting. Storms are coming! Monday, June 3 View Page I feel a lot better about having this netting on my plants. Last year my plants took a direct hail hit! It was a set back! Thursday, June 13 View Page I installed the irrigation over the weekend. 3 seperate zones. Thursday, June 13 View Page The freak is the near plant. 8-9 ft now. The further plant is the 1843 Geddes. 9-10 ft. Females on both mains. I'm hoping to pollinate by the 22nd? I need nice weather, rain, rain, rain lately. Other then the weather, the plants are good. Thursday, June 13 View Page My 1610 lieber is a little behind. 6-7 ft out. But the plant is healthy. All should be good. Sunday, June 16 View Page Overview of the patch. I sprayed round up today. Nearest plant is the 1610, then 1843, then the freak. All plants are a week behind. Mostly due to the recent rainy weather. Sunday, June 16 View Page The 1610 is the shortest of all my plants. (8 ft) 1st to have a male flower open, today! It has a few females that might open in a week or so. Sunday, June 16 View Page 1843 Geddes coming at yah! Despite a 1/2 broken main mishap, this plant is cooking pretty well. out there about 10 ft now. Sunday, June 16 View Page The Freak, about 10 ft. All is well w/ this baby! Friday, June 28 View Page This is my 1610 Lieber. It's been my toughest plant to tame. It has thick vines & never wants to lay down. Friday, June 28 View Page This is a test pumpkin on the 1610 that I think is my keeper. It's a test pumpkin because it's at 6 ft! I think it's in a good spot to make it work, we'll see?! Friday, June 28 View Page This is my fastest grower- the 1843 Geddes. I have a couple pollinated. Perfect 5 lobers! Friday, June 28 View Page Another female ready for tomorrow on the 1843. Friday, June 28 View Page Possible keeper on the 1843. Notice the stem is right on a 1/2 break? This could be a tough set! I may try it, we'll see how things look in a couple days. If other pumpkin sets look good & take, I might opt for another set. Friday, June 28 View Page The freaks 1st set. Long stems, decent shape. I'm not sure this one took? A few more days will tell. Friday, June 28 View Page A today pollination on the freak. I'm pretty sure this one will take. Selfed at 13 ft. Friday, June 28 View Page The Freak is on the move! It's a nice plant to grow! Very manageable. Friday, June 28 View Page Overview of the patch. I did a recent round up dose on those weeds in between the rain drops! I have a tough weed- Purslane- Round up seems to only slow it down. Any advice getting rid of this? I'm all ears! Wednesday, July 10 View Page Things have been hectic! This is my 1610 lieber plant. Set at 7ft. This plant resists burning of the leaves very well? The others burn! Wednesday, July 10 View Page This is my keeper on the 1843 Geddes. Despite some main 1/2 breaks & leaf burning, things are looking up! This is my site prep for the long haul! Wednesday, July 10 View Page Flat ground, double mill fabric. Wednesday, July 10 View Page Stem / vine relationship for the 1843. I'm good w/ this. Wednesday, July 10 View Page 1843, all tucked in! Tarp tomorrow. Wednesday, July 10 View Page This is my 1610 pumpkin all nestled in. A little stem crack were it meets the vine. Caused by me moving the pumpkin for a better relationship w/ the main. It is healing pretty good. It has caused the crack side to be smaller than the non-cracked side. More juice going through the side w/o the crack! Wednesday, July 10 View Page This is the freak. Despite my leaves burning up, & losing my main tip beyond the pumpkin to burn, things are ok now! I've made a secondary the new main, covered all young leaves w/ a tarp. Now we're back on coarse. It's been really hot here lately. Wednesday, July 10 View Page I'm loving this relationship w/ the main on the freak! It's go time! Wednesday, July 10 View Page Overhead of patch. I have not used my irrigation yet! Lots of rain still! 1610 on left, then 1843, then the freak. The 1843 is showing signs of good promise! Wednesday, July 10 View Page Work, work, work! That's what this stage is all about! I tried the tobacco netting on the freak to help prevent the burning. Failed attempt, & a loss of a main tip lesson! Bummer! Pruning & burying like a mad man! This is fun!!! Thursday, July 18 View Page This is my 1610. 25 days old today- 179 ott- not setting the world on fire! But, it has a nice orange color & is my smallest plant. I'll take it! Pollinated at 7 ft too! Thursday, July 18 View Page Here's my freak. Day 20 today! ott is 185.25- not too bad, despite the recent heat wave that has all but shut my plant down. My freak doesn't like the heat. Thursday, July 18 View Page The freak is white as a ghost & has some broad shoulders! Looks like the blossom might disappear some day though! It might tuck under. B O.K.!!! Thursday, July 18 View Page Potential!!! Day 19- ott is 187.25 I really like the shape of this one. You can see the rib lines nicely. Growth is very noticeable. This is the 1st day for measuring any of my pumpkins. You need something to measure 1st! Thursday, July 18 View Page This is a close up of the 1843's 6 lobe blossom end! It has a diameter of at least 5 inches! All flowers on this plant were perfect shapes. Thursday, July 18 View Page Evening overview of a heat protected patch! A few more days! Friday, July 19 View Page Day 20 #'s for the 1843 are 200.5 ott! 33 lb gain from day 19.I'm impressed w/ these #'s considering it was 96 degrees today too! Freak gained 28 lbs, 197.75 1610 is following behind w/ a 19 lb gain & a 188 ott Sunday, July 28 View Page This is my 1610 Lieber on day 35. Not setting the world on fire by no means. It had its largest gain today of 27 lbs. I think the plant is starting to catch up to the pumpkin. 7 ft pollination. It's an orange wheel.357 lbs today. Sunday, July 28 View Page This is Tank Abbot! Day 29 ott = 116.25,77.75,82-total 276/ or 472 by new chart. It gained 42 lbs today! I hope I can contain this beast, the stem is cracking & I'm doing everything I know to control it! Sunday, July 28 View Page This pumpkin is thick. I removed 3 secondary's close to the stem to control the torsional stress on the stem. My fingers are crossed on this one! Sunday, July 28 View Page Then there's the FREAK! This is the last time you'll see under to the blossom end! She's going under! I minimized it's size a week ago. It's sulfur powdered real good! It has an ott of-126,72,75.5-273.50/ 457 lbs--Day 30 It gained 36 lbs today & is chasing after the tank! Sunday, July 28 View Page Stem shot- all good on this one. Sunday, July 28 View Page She's broad! circ is 126! This pumpkin has the most plant, & it's in the newest patch. Lookout Abbot! Monday, August 5 View Page This is a picture of my 1610 Lieber today. I don't like this type of blossom end! But, it's a little late now! Not setting the world on fire. Day 43- 550 lbs Nice orange pumpkin though. Monday, August 5 View Page This is me & my 1843 Geddes. Despite a stem split that I was able to cure. This pumpkin has been very impressive to me. I hope I can get this one to the end. It's 37 days old today & the gains remain in the 30's. It's starting to fill out nicely. I hope the weather cooperates, bring back the heat! Monday, August 5 View Page Here's my Pleasure Dome Jr! My freak is 38 days old today & has been impressive. It has been doing 30's & 40's for some time now. Monday, August 5 View Page The circumference of this baby keeps going! 151.5 today! I know it's much smaller than the "pleasure dome" but it gets more similar looking daily. We'll see? Tuesday, August 13 View Page My freaks stump! A while back I drilled a hole straight down through to drain it. The top had a soft spot. It drained in the mornings & stopped during the day. I used a fan & sulfur powder to keep it in check. Tuesday, August 13 View Page I pulled the soil away to keep it dry. Tuesday, August 13 View Page The 1st secondary started to rot away! 1st sign of trouble. I also had added powdered sevin, captan powder, & sulfur powder mix over the stump. I was trying to control the fruit flies that started to appear. Tuesday, August 13 View Page I was trying everything! Tuesday, August 13 View Page I had to remove the stump. Since the stump was higher than the main. I kept removing plant until the brown rot disappeared. That was 2 secondary's before the pumpkin! Where the main started to rise to the pumpkin. Tuesday, August 13 View Page I hate being proactive! It was either this now, or you know what later. It made me sick. I figure I lost 1000 sq ft. of patch. Growth is sure to decline. Tuesday, August 13 View Page Luckily, I still have 4 secondary's that I have not terminated! I just turned them into the new open area! I'm also burying every stitch of a tap root I see! All growth is staying! Tuesday, August 13 View Page Inside the main. Foam & brown rot. Tuesday, August 13 View Page A sad look at my new main! Tuesday, August 13 View Page At 1st she bleed good. It stopped after an hour or so. Tuesday, August 13 View Page My freak is left w/ about 400 sq ft. of patch! Bummer. Gains have dropped down to 23.5 average for 2 days. Not bad considering?! I will pay attention closely to my new gains & new growth. I might have to bring the Nitrogen levels up a bit!?? Wednesday, August 14 View Page My son Porter & my 1843 Geddes pumpkin. Just starting to web a little. This may be my best pumpkin now?!! Wednesday, August 14 View Page My son & the freak! We have a streak of great weather coming. That will be a good gauge on how pumpkin growth has been affected by my recent plant chop! The skin on this pumpkin is soft & young looking. Hope doesn't go far in this hobby! so, we'll see? Wednesday, August 14 View Page Porter & my 1610 Lieber. It's still growing slow & steady! 7 ft pollination, main to pumpkin issues too! On 8-7 it was 600 lbs. Wednesday, August 14 View Page The freak doesn't have much for height! But look out for her BIG BOTTOM!!Last circumference measurement was close to 170!! Wednesday, August 14 View Page My 1843 is starting to look blocky! It has a nice green color on the stem & blossom ends? To me that means healthy & young! I hope! Time will tell. Sunday, August 25 View Page The Freak is doing ok despite the recent plant removal. New growth is coming along nicely. Last 2 day avg gain was 19.5 lbs. Skin still looks young. circ is over 180! Sunday, August 25 View Page Side view of the Freak. Filling in nicely. Sunday, August 25 View Page Tank Abbot is still doing good! Last 2 day avg gain was 18.5 Powdery mildew is minor on this plant. I spot spray the shaded leaves w/ a pump sprayer mixed w/ stylet oil & eagle 20. Works wonders. I also weekly spray the whole patch w/ stylet oil & eagle. 3rd stage growth is getting crazy! removing many of the older leaves for the new, young variety! Sunday, August 25 View Page This is my 1610 Leiber! 7 ft from the stump! No Lie! Recently showing itself! Just over 900 lbs today! Sunday, August 25 View Page Blossom end of 1610. Keeps growing!! Trimmed the blossom, just in case it folds onto itself. Terminated many secondary's today. Sunday, August 25 View Page Butt end of the FREAK! What Blossom!!! Monday, September 2 View Page My 1610 plant overview- late plant growth growth is mad! I'm trying to end it- too much! Losing the stump now, pumpkin is ok, closing on 1000. 1843 is pumpkin in the middle- can you say green! Monday, September 2 View Page Patch over head shot. Some old growth/ some new growth. Just trying to maintain until weigh offs. Every day I look for problems. On Patrol! Monday, September 2 View Page 1610 plant pop up pumpkin- no need to steal from mommy! Monday, September 2 View Page 3rd stage growth popping everywhere! Dating itself! Monday, September 2 View Page 1843 pumpkin is turning even more green! Recent gains are still in the teens. Come on baby! Monday, September 2 View Page My freak plant is coming back! I'm pruning & burying like it was July!!! Monday, September 2 View Page I'm treating all vines like secondary's. Trimming all 3rd stage. I did miss some in the middle. I could have a vine mess quickly if I don't get it soon! Monday, September 2 View Page The Freak is doing well. Plant is coming back nicely, putting decent growth back into the pumpkin. I'm not complaining about 12 lbs a day. The skin still looks young, I'm guessing that this growth will maintain better than all my others?...If everything continues, this pumpkin will go to a late weigh off. Monday, September 2 View Page My annual "local" pumpkin patch tour should be a good one this year. Any one close enough that wants to attend - by all means, come! 182 Sinclair rd, Northville NY 12134 It's a great time for family & friends to see the Giant Pumpkins.Sept. 14th 11-6! Sunday, September 15 View Page I had my local, open to the public, free patch tour yesterday. Sunday, September 15 View Page I had people show up all day! 11 - 6. We figure we had about 150 people show up throughout the day. Nice turn out. Sunday, September 15 View Page People loved my 1610 Leiber pumpkin! Orange! I made info signs for each of my 3 pumpkins. This was the only pumpkin I allowed the public to get their picture taken w/ & actually touch! Sunday, September 15 View Page My 1843 sign & pumpkin in the background. Sunday, September 15 View Page The "Pleasure dome jr." & it's sign! Sunday, September 15 View Page My, tools of the trade display! Sunday, September 15 View Page Me & a couple of friends checking out the 1843 Geddes pumpkin. Sunday, September 15 View Page People hanging out! Sunday, September 15 View Page Kids enjoying the day! Sunday, September 15 View Page A 1st for me. The freak has run out of tape for it's circumference measurement! I'll take it! In the last 6 days it has put on 34 lbs.5.6 lb average gain now. It's time to terminate the new growth, & put some back into the pumpkin. Skin looking young yet?! Sunday, September 15 View Page I picked up 4-600 sq. ft. of new plant since I lost my stump. That's enough! Pruned, buried, & terminated. Time for the final push! Sunday, September 15 View Page 1843 is still growing! It picked up 47 lbs in the last 6 days! 7.83 lb. average. I'll take it! I terminated everything last week on this plant. Sunday, September 15 View Page I found these babies sucking some weight off my 1843 today! Your gone! Sunday, September 15 View Page My 1610 has an inny! Sunday, September 15 View Page Knock on wood! It's held together all season. Plus 25 lbs. 4.6 lb. average. Sunday, September 15 View Page Patch side view. Ground level. Sunday, September 15 View Page Patch over view. Nice to have couple to go to a few weigh offs. I have only gone to 1 weigh off in the past. It will be nice to venture. Saturday, September 21 View Page Overhead- pre harvest. 1843 has some frost damage. Your it! Saturday, September 21 View Page Frost damaged leaves. Saturday, September 21 View Page The freak I was able to protect w/ tobacco netting. All good. Saturday, September 21 View Page Some awesome roots near the stump,on a secondary of the 1843. It wasn't like this everywhere? This might have been in the heating cable zone. Very close, or just outside. Saturday, September 21 View Page Plant removed. Looking good. Saturday, September 21 View Page Almost a squash! Blossom end is the only orange! Saturday, September 21 View Page My little helper- Porter! Saturday, September 21 View Page This is a close up of my 1st 1/2 main break before the pumpkin! I sulfured it, covered it, & watched it all season. Remained a knot all season. Saturday, September 21 View Page This is my 2nd 1/2 main break before the pumpkin! & an upward split right before it! Same thing, sulfur, keep dry,& constantly watch! Saturday, September 21 View Page Then there's the stem! split! Knife, sulfur, fan, You know the drill! Saturday, September 21 View Page Lifting crew & spectators. Saturday, September 21 View Page Lifting device! Saturday, September 21 View Page Lift, check, pallet slide! All good. Saturday, September 21 View Page On the trailer. Saturday, September 21 View Page Hey, wait for me! Saturday, September 21 View Page Off to the weigh off in Cooperstown NY! Saturday, September 21 View Page Right before the moment of truth! butterflies still!! Saturday, September 21 View Page Oh boy! Saturday, September 21 View Page And there you have it! What a moment. Enough to win the weigh off, & and a memory to last a lifetime! That's why we all do it. Saturday, September 21 View Page Top 5 pumpkins at Cooperstown. Saturday, September 21 View Page 1548.5 Brownell pumpkin specs. Set outside May 1st, pollinated on the 29th of June, 10 ft 4 inches from the stump, 6 lobes, pollinated w/ the 1610 Lieber.(1161 selfed)1000 sq ft patch, insect pressure - light, went 11% heavy to chart, 404 ott. Saturday, September 21 View Page My Dad & my son hanging out at the weigh off. Oh yah, it is my dads birthday! Happy Birthday Dad! Saturday, September 21 View Page THE END! See yah in a bit with my 1610 & freak updates. Tuesday, September 24 View Page Had to bring out the big guns last night! Frost protection! Tuesday, September 24 View Page 30 last night, not under the canopy! Worked well. Now that's a "ToddMod"! Sunday, September 29 View Page It's getting lonely out here! My 1610 is still hanging in there. Friday she gets picked. Recent nice weather has her cracking again! Sweet, I'll take it! It's gained 10 inches since September 14th till today. Sunday, September 29 View Page I'm sun ripening these days! Sunday, September 29 View Page The blossom might be sunken, but there's some meat on the stem end! I hope it at least goes to chart. Sunday, September 29 View Page My freak is still growing. I'm very impressed w/ my stumpless wonder! I'm full sunning this one also. I pick it this Friday Sunday, September 29 View Page Front shot of my freak. There's some meat there! Sunday, September 29 View Page Side view of the freak. Nice weather - recent 7 day gain - 4.75 inches! Not bad for being old & stumpless! Sunday, September 29 View Page This pumpkin is a wide load! There's some meat back there! Friday, October 4 View Page Mr. 5.5 ft from stump is loaded! I measured & was shocked! Friday, October 4 View Page It's go time! Friday, October 4 View Page one loaded Friday, October 4 View Page The freak is good! Friday, October 4 View Page Slip that pallet under, hurry! Friday, October 4 View Page Pallet mods needed! Pumpkin by tape measure, was 65" wide, & 63" long. Friday, October 4 View Page Freak getting loaded. Friday, October 4 View Page Packed the pumpkins in tight w/ 6" foam & pallets. Oswego, here we come! Friday, October 4 View Page The Freak is going to Clarence - Sunday.???????? Pretty excited to see what she'll weigh! Monday, October 7 View Page I had a great time at Oswego, but not as great as this guy! Andy Wolf & his 1461.5 took top honors. 1161 x 1524 Fulk -went heavy! Good job Andy. My 1610 came in 7th overall. Official weight was 1099.5,Just a 1/2 pound more! Not bad considering my 5.5 ft pollination! & some stump issues to boot. Monday, October 7 View Page Sunday at Clarence, some of the Big boys! Monday, October 7 View Page And a couple more! Monday, October 7 View Page There's my - wide load - Freak! 2nd one in, if you couldn't tell! Taped 410 ott at weigh in. That grew a couple of inches in the last 5 days. My last measure was 407.75 Monday, October 7 View Page I was happy when it hit the scales! Good for a second place finish. Pretty good considering I lost about 800-1000 sq.ft of plant on August 11th, including the stump! I will grow this baby again! Monday, October 7 View Page Bill is Back!!! Bill Bobier took top honors at Clarence w/ a 1552, off of the 2009 seed! Great job Bill. We have been back & forth all year, overall, he won! I was glad to make him sweat a little though! It was fun. Karl, Tim, & Andy made me sweat too! Great job everyone. Monday, October 7 View Page Tim Bailey won the HDA with this Big Beauty! Nice job Tim!