Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 13 Entries. Thursday, August 21 View Page Last year I had to grow my first ever big pumpkin. Had to, because I got a tiny, tiny plant as a present from a friend. Growing it was great fun and I got seriously addicted, lol. The last year's pumpkin was a great looking orange one, the seed was ordered directly from Dills. It turned to weigh 42.1 kg. Friday, August 22 View Page I started this season with great enthusiasm - but the troubles started right away. At first I had serious difficulties in getting the seeds to germinate. I was totally surprised. I succeeded to get only 1 plant, 1157 Companion. Many good seeds got waisted. But my pumking fellow Miika was so nice to give me some heavy plants to compensate my failures. Friday, August 22 View Page The chain of troubles went on.... My strong plants started to split their main stems. Still today I feel sad when remembering my hguge Lilja. It split its stems twice and so badly I lost the whole plant. 1157 Companion split its stem only once and the plant survived. Friday, August 22 View Page And then, this summer in Finland has been terrible for growing pumkins: no heat, no sun, only winds and rain... So, not very good growths... At the moment I have 3 plants: The 1157 Companion survived but the pumking is not growing. It's tiny. Friday, August 22 View Page The 2nd is 1130 Jutras. At first the plant did not grow well but by now the foliage is looking great. As to pumkins, Jutras I did not grow well, so I removed it when it weighed 6 kilos. Jutras II is open pollinated and measures today 72 cm at 22 days. It has a serious wound, so not much to expect. Friday, August 22 View Page My 3rd and best plant is 188.5 Mantyniemi. The plant is very strong growing and the leaves were huge already as very young. Friday, August 22 View Page 188.5 Mantyniemi called Teukka is still growing despite of the cold weather. And I do I have some slight hopes to beat my last year's record. Teukka measures today 127 cm at the age of 29 days. If it continues to grow at its present speed of 4 cm a day, there might be enough time before the frosts. Friday, August 22 View Page Well Miika, you have given such great advice to this eager pumking gang that it shall be difficult for you to get the new Finnish record under the open sky, LOL. We are not talking about those huge, huge ones that are growing in the greenhouses.... Let's hope Tuija starts her own diary... We Finns would have something to show to the pumkin world! Saturday, August 23 View Page First thing I ought to do is to learn the right spelling of the word 'pumpkin', lol. Teukka is slowing down... This morning the measurement around it was 130 cm. I'm satisfied with this, every cm more is pure bonus considering the weather. Some sunshine today, but not much to expect as to future temperatures. Monday, August 25 View Page Yesterday we had rain all day, it's going to be the same today. The weather forecast promises frosts in the middle of Finland. Fortunately I live south, in the Helsinki aerea. Teukka's circle measure is 139 cm, growth 4,5 cm a day. He is very pale but otherwise handsome looking. Go Teukka go! 26 cm to grow in order to beat my last year's personal best! Wednesday, September 24 View Page Thanks to Hottis/Kaarina & Miika for very nice photo series from the 1st official Finnish Weigh Off! This was my 2nd season and I succeeded to get my PB: Teukka got 6th place with its 47 kilos (103,6 lbs). Next year I aim to 100 kilos lol. Here he is decorating our entrance, even if the color is too pale for a real Halloween pumpkin! Thanks to all the Finnish pumpkin gang for a fun season! And as Kaarina put it: you Miika should watch out us female growers for we shall be even stronger the next year!!! Thursday, September 25 View Page We have absolutely fantastic weather all the way this week. My zucchinis are still growing. No frosts yet in my garden. It is funny how the frost waves go: frosts nearby but not with us. So I guess I'm lucky. With this nice autumn photo I wish very nice autumn to all pumpkin growers around the world. We'll meet the next year! Saturday, September 27 View Page We Finns have been talking about our 1st official weigh off. Me & my hubby made a little video where you can see our joyful gang. The winner was BIG, others not so big - but we had great fun! The speak is in Finnish, sorry. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hR9eV2HX0oQ